“They” and “them” are personal pronouns in English. Pronouns are words that replace nouns so that we do not need to repeat the same noun again and again. For example, instead of repeating a person’s name many times, we can use a pronoun such as he, she, they, or them.
“They” and “them” are commonly used to refer to people, animals, or things, usually in the plural form. However, in modern English they can also be used to refer to one person whose gender is unknown or not specified. Understanding how these pronouns work is important for both speaking and writing clearly.
1. “They” as a Subject Pronoun
“They” is a subject pronoun, which means it is used as the subject of a sentence. The subject is the person or thing that performs the action of the verb.
Examples:
- They are playing basketball after school.
- They live in Osaka.
- They finished their homework early.
In these sentences, they is the subject doing the action (playing, living, finishing).
We use they when talking about two or more people or things.
Examples:
- Ken and Taro are my friends. They play on the same team.
- The students studied hard. They passed the test.
Here, “they” replaces the plural nouns Ken and Taro or the students.
2. “Them” as an Object Pronoun
“Them” is an object pronoun. It is used as the object of a verb or preposition. The object receives the action of the verb.
Examples:
- I saw them at the park.
- The teacher helped them with their homework.
- She invited them to the party.
In these examples, them receives the action:
- saw them
- helped them
- invited them
“Them” can also follow prepositions such as to, for, with, about, and from.
Examples:
- I spoke with them yesterday.
- This gift is for them.
- She heard the news from them.
3. “They” and “Them” for Groups of Things
Although these pronouns are often used for people, they can also refer to animals or objects.
Examples:
- The dogs were barking because they were hungry.
- I bought new shoes, but they are too small.
- The cookies look delicious. Can I have some of them?
In these sentences, “they” and “them” refer to dogs, shoes, and cookies.
4. Singular “They”
In modern English, “they” and “them” can also refer to one person when the person’s gender is unknown, not important, or not specified. This is called singular they.
This usage has existed in English for hundreds of years and is very common in everyday speech.
Examples:
- Someone left their bag. I hope they come back for it.
- If a student has a question, they should ask the teacher.
- Anybody can join if they want to.
In these sentences:
- someone
- a student
- anybody
are singular words, but we use they to refer to them because we do not know whether the person is male or female.
5. “They” for People Who Prefer It
Sometimes they/them is used for a specific person who prefers these pronouns. In this case, “they” still refers to one person, but we use it because that is the pronoun the person chooses.
Example:
- Alex said they will arrive at 6 p.m.
- I met Sam yesterday and gave them the book.
Even though Alex or Sam is one person, the verb usually stays plural:
- They are happy. (not they is happy)
6. Difference Between “They” and “Them”
A simple way to remember the difference is:
| Pronoun | Type | Position in Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| They | Subject pronoun | Before the verb |
| Them | Object pronoun | After the verb or preposition |
Examples:
- They called me yesterday.
- I called them yesterday.
Another pair:
- They invited us to dinner.
- We invited them to dinner.
7. Common Mistakes
English learners sometimes confuse subject and object pronouns.
Incorrect:
❌ Them are my friends.
Correct:
✅ They are my friends.
Incorrect:
❌ I met they yesterday.
Correct:
✅ I met them yesterday.
Remember:
- They = subject
- Them = object
8. “They” and “Them” with Possessive Forms
“They” and “them” also connect to possessive forms:
- their (possessive adjective)
- theirs (possessive pronoun)
Examples:
- They forgot their jackets.
- That basketball is theirs.
Conclusion
“They” and “them” are important third-person pronouns in English. “They” is used as a subject pronoun, while “them” is used as an object pronoun. These pronouns usually refer to two or more people or things, but they can also be used as singular pronouns when the gender of a person is unknown or when a person prefers these pronouns. Learning how to use them correctly helps make English sentences clearer and more natural.
