Pronouns

I / me

1. Pronouns.

Choose the correct option. What do the pronouns (in bold) refer to?

2. Referring to an indefinite person or to people in general.

They and them can refer to a singular indefinite person without needing to say he or she.
  • If someone looks happy, we tend to believe they are happy.

You can refer to people in general.

  • When you put on a false smile, this doesn't happen.

We or us can refer to everybody including you (the listener) and me (the speaker).

  • If someone looks happy, we tend to believe they are happy.

Complete the sentences, using they, them, you, we and us.

See explanations for the answers.

1. they refers to someone and means "he or she"
2. you means "people in general"
3. we means "everybody including you and me"
4. them refers to anyone and means "him or her"
5. us means "everybody including you and me"
6. you refers to "people in general"
7. them refers to any student and means "him or her"
8. them is a plural object pronoun and refers to "most people"

3. Using it and this to refer back.

It and this can both be used as pronouns to refer back to something mentioned previously in a clause, sentence or sentences.

It is used to refer back to a specific thing mentioned in the previous clause or sentence.

  • I went to a party at the weekend. It finished at 6 a.m.
    (It refers to the party.)

This is normally used to refer back to a complete clause, sentence or group of sentences:

  • In a real smile, a muscle around the eye contracts, which causes the skin around the eye to tighten and create lines. When you put on a false smile, this doesn't happen.

    (This refers back to the whole of the sentence before)

 

Choose the correct pronoun to complete these sentences.