GrammarBook.com

Your #1 Source for Grammar and Punctuation

Subject Pronouns

A subject pronoun—also referred to as a subjective pronoun—replaces a noun that is in the subject position of a dependent or independent clause. This means that it performs rather than receives the action of the clause.

Subject pronouns serve language by helping us avoid redundancy and be more frugal with language. Consider the following text:

Steadman plays cards. Steadman also plays competitively. Steadman will be entering the next $100,000 poker tournament.


Now let's replace Steadman with the personal pronoun he in the second and third sentences:

Steadman plays cards. He also plays competitively. He will be entering the next $100,000 poker tournament.


Although the two versions share the same structure, which do you find easier to read? The first version's use of Steadman becomes repetitive while also using more character space. The second version exchanges the personal pronoun he for Steadman to prevent such redundancy and establish better, more-readable content.

Note that a subject pronoun should have a clear antecedent, which is the word, phrase, or clause that replaces the main noun being referred to. In our example above, Steadman is the antecedent of he.

A subject pronoun can also be plural:

The Robinsons will visit for dinner tonight. They will bring the dessert.



Subject Pronouns: Types

Subject pronouns can be different kinds of pronouns. Their antecedents also can be either personal or impersonal.

Examples

Arnie works at the candy factory. He (personal pronoun; antecedent Arnie) is a packaging-machine operator.

Your former high-school classmates are in town. All (indefinite pronoun; antecedent classmates) are welcome to join us at the lake.

The car needs a new battery. It (impersonal pronoun; antecedent car) probably won't run much longer without one.

Here are the report files. These (demonstrative pronoun; antecedent files) have kept me busy all week.

Kristin has been promoted to store manager, which (relative pronoun; antecedent the full clause Kristin has been promoted to store manager) should make daily operations more efficient.



Subject Pronouns: Different from Object Pronouns

As reinforcement, we'll quickly review the difference between subject pronouns and object pronouns.

We pointed out above that subject pronouns perform an action (object pronouns receive an action). Consider the following sentences:

There's Luke. He has a light saber.


In the second sentence, the subject pronoun he stands in for its antecedent, Luke, and performs the action of having a light saber.

Now consider this:

There's Luke. Who gave him a light saber?


In this pair of sentences, the pronoun him likewise stands in for its antecedent, Luke. However, in this case, the pronoun is receiving the action. The pronoun who is performing the action (and we don't know from the context what the antecedent is).

Now you that you further understand what subject pronouns are, when to use them, and how they differ from object pronouns, you can use them with even greater effect in your mission for precision and eloquence.

Related Topics

Pronouns
Pronoun Tips

View and comment on this
article on our website.


Pop Quiz

Applying what you've learned from this discussion, identify the subject pronouns in the following sentences (not all will include an antecedent; also remember that subject pronouns can appear in both dependent and independent clauses).

1. She is driving him to the train station.

2. I have the case of motor oil that they are looking for. I will bring it to them tomorrow.

3. Stacy would to like to learn the violin. She is ready to start practicing.

4. It might bite you if you keep petting it that way.

5. The students will begin the exam at 1:00 p.m. Each should have at least two sharpened pencils.

The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation


by Lester Kaufman and Jane Straus

Revised and Expanded Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation Now Available!

The twelfth edition of The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation made its debut on May 4, 2021. It has been seven years since the eleventh edition was published. So when the publisher, Jossey-Bass, requested another go-round, the team at GrammarBook.com was elated.

You will find the new, extensively revised and expanded version in keeping with our consistent vision of a direct, concise, unfussy grammar book.

The Blue Book, which started life as a booklet for California state employees, has now sold hundreds of thousands of copies. Over the years, we’ve seen the number of subscribers to our weekly newsletter grow from dozens to scores to hundreds; now, there are over 40,000 of you worldwide.

The new edition continues to stress the difference between rules on the one hand and conventions, customs, and tendencies on the other. We also added previously uncovered material, such as irregular verbs, that have been popular topics in our newsletters and blogs. In addition, the Confusing Words and Homonyms section has been greatly expanded, and we have developed all-new quizzes covering even more topics.

The new Blue Book takes on English in all its often maddening complexity, acknowledging its quirks, gray areas, exceptions, limitations, and contradictions. We realize that people want straight answers, but with English, there sometimes aren’t any, and we would be remiss in saying otherwise.

Order your copy of the new edition of The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation from Amazon now!

Get Even More Useful Grammar Tips

In addition to our weekly newsletter, we post new entries about American English grammar on Mondays and Fridays. The following are two of our most recent articles. Bookmark our GrammarBook blog and be sure to check it often.

Is It Coworker or Co-Worker?

Should You Capitalize "The" Before Country Names?

Free BONUS Quiz for You!

[[firstname]], because you are a subscriber to the newsletter, you get access to one of the Subscribers-Only Quizzes. Click here to take a Commas and get your scores and explanations instantly!

We will be adding many more quizzes this year to our already substantial list of quizzes. If you have suggestions for topics we have not yet covered, please send us a message at help@grammarbook.com.

Hundreds of Additional Quizzes
at Your Fingertips

Subscribe now to receive hundreds of additional English usage quizzes not found anywhere else!


Teachers and Employers

Save hours of valuable time! You may assign quizzes to your students and employees and have their scores tallied, organized, and reported to you! Let GrammarBook.com take the hassle out of teaching English!

"Fun to test my skills."

"The explanations really help ... thanks!"

"I can select the quizzes to assign to my students, and then the results are reported to me automatically!"

Find out more about our
subscription packages

99¢

QUIZZES

Don't need all the quizzes?

You can now purchase the same quizzes individually for ONLY 99¢ each.

Purchase yours here.

If you think you have found an error in a quiz, please email us at help@grammarbook.com

The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation


by Jane Straus, Lester Kaufman, and Tom Stern

The Authority on English Grammar! Eleventh Edition Also Available

An indispensable tool for busy professionals, teachers, students, homeschool families, editors, writers, and proofreaders.

Available in print AND as an e-Book! Over 2,000 copies are purchased every month!

To order the book, simply click the link to order the book from the GrammarBook.com website.

Order Your Copy Today!
 

Wordplay





Pop Quiz Answers

1. She is driving him to the train station.

2. I have the case of motor oil that they are looking for. I will bring it to them tomorrow.

3. Stacy would to like to learn the violin. She is ready to start practicing.

4. It might bite you if you keep petting it that way.

5. The students will begin the exam at 1:00 p.m. Each of them should have at least two sharpened pencils.

English In A Snap:
68 One-Minute English Usage Videos FREE

Learn all about who and whom, affect and effect, subjects and verbs, adjectives and adverbs, commas, semicolons, quotation marks, and much more by just sitting back and enjoying these easy-to-follow lessons. Tell your colleagues (and boss), children, teachers, and friends. Click here to watch.

Forward this e-newsletter to your friends and colleagues.

If you received this FREE weekly e-newsletter from a friend, click here to have it sent to you each week.

Look for more grammar tips or writing advice from GrammarBook.com next week.

Miss a recent newsletter? Click here to view past editions.