Pronouns
I / me
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.