Page 58 - Just Enough English Grammar Illustrated Book

Note: Because most nouns can be replaced by third-person
pronouns, we sometimes speak of nouns as being in the third
person also.

Gender does not differentiate
the pronouns “I,” “you,” “we,” and “they.”

The pronouns I, you, he, she, and it replace singular nouns,
but only the third-person forms differentiate gender. The
pronouns we, you, and they replace plural nouns, and none
of the plural pronouns differentiate gender.

The chart below shows singular and plural personal pronouns
for all three persons, and highlights the double role that the
pronoun they can have, replacing nouns for both people and
things. Even when they refers to people, it does not differentiate
gender. They can refer to both males and females.
Personal Pronouns
Number
Person Singular Plural
First Person 1 I we
1
Second Person you you
2
2
Third Person he, she, it they
3
3
Replace Singular Nouns Replace Plural Nouns
they
they People or Things

the boys the girls the flippers

3.8 Another Personal Pronoun: Possessive Pronouns

A pronoun used to show possession
is called a possessive pronoun.

You have learned that a possessive noun establishes a
relationship between the owner and what is being owned.
The form of the pronouns mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours,
yours,and theirs also indicates a relationship to a person or
thing.
45