Grammar Lesson: Personal Pronouns

A personal pronoun refers to people, places, things, and ideas.

• A first-person personal pronoun refers to the one (or ones) speaking. The singular first-person pronouns are I, me, my, and mine. The plural first-person personal pronouns are we, our, ours, and us.
  We told our story.
  I offered my opinion to the reporters.
  Ours is the less expensive model.
  The new family moved next door to us.
• A second-person personal pronoun refers to the one (or ones) spoken to. The singular and plural second-person personal pronouns are the same three words—you, your, and yours.
  Can you bring your book back here today?
  The present will be given to you.
  This award is yours.
• The third-person personal pronoun is the one (or ones) spoken about. The singular third-person personal pronouns include he, his, him, she, her, hers, it, and its. The plural third-person personal pronouns include they, their, theirs, and them.
  He and she wanted to take their children on a vacation.
  They asked him and her if the house had kept its appeal.
  Do you think that they will think that this car is theirs?

Activity

Underline the appropriate personal pronoun in each of these fifteen sentences.

1. (We, Us) love to read books.
2. Most of these dresses had belonged to (her, hers).
3. (I, Me) will be waking up early tomorrow.
4. Emma has finished (her, mine) piano lesson.
5. Is this sweater (your, yours)?
6. You and (they, us) were invited to the graduation ceremony.
7. (Their, Theirs) is the cutest dog in this show.
8. Please pass the ball to (him, his).
9. Her grade is higher than (mine, him).
10. Does this instrument belong to (him, hers)?
11. (Our, Ours) car needs an inspection.
12. Were you able to hear (us, we) from that spot?
13. (We and they, Us and them) will meet at the movies.
14. Please help (they, us) lift this heavy box.
15. Listen to what (she, her) is telling (you, your) about the ship's cargo.

Answers

1. we
2. her
3. I
4. her
5. yours
6. they
7. theirs
8. him
9. mine
10. him
11. our
12. us
13. we and they
14. us
15. she, you