What is a Third Person Pronoun?

S2-SA1-0369

Grade Level:

Class 1

NLP, Law, History, Social Sciences, Literature, Journalism, Communication

Definition

What is it?

A third person pronoun is a word that replaces the name of a person or thing that is being talked ABOUT. It is used when you are not talking directly to the person (second person) or about yourself (first person). Examples include 'he', 'she', 'it', 'they', 'him', 'her', 'them'.

Simple Example

Quick Example

Imagine your friend, Rohan, scored a century in his cricket match. Instead of saying 'Rohan scored a century,' you can say 'He scored a century.' Here, 'he' is a third person pronoun because you are talking about Rohan.

Worked Example

Step-by-Step

Let's find the third person pronouns in these sentences: --- Step 1: Read the first sentence: 'My sister loves mangoes. She eats them every day.' --- Step 2: Identify who is being talked about: 'my sister'. --- Step 3: Find the word that replaces 'my sister': 'She'. So, 'She' is a third person pronoun. --- Step 4: Identify what is being talked about: 'mangoes'. --- Step 5: Find the word that replaces 'mangoes': 'them'. So, 'them' is a third person pronoun. --- Step 6: Read the second sentence: 'The dog wagged its tail when it saw the delivery boy.' --- Step 7: Identify who/what is being talked about: 'The dog'. --- Step 8: Find the word that replaces 'The dog': 'it' (used twice). So, 'it' is a third person pronoun. --- Answer: The third person pronouns are 'She', 'them', and 'it'.

Why It Matters

Understanding third person pronouns helps you write and speak clearly, making your stories and reports easy to follow. Journalists use them constantly to write news articles, and authors use them to tell engaging stories about their characters. This skill is vital for anyone who wants to communicate effectively.

Common Mistakes

MISTAKE: Using 'he' for a girl or 'she' for a boy. For example, 'My friend, Priya, went to the market. He bought vegetables.' | CORRECTION: Use the correct gender pronoun. 'My friend, Priya, went to the market. She bought vegetables.'

MISTAKE: Using 'it' for people. For example, 'My neighbour is a doctor. It helps many patients.' | CORRECTION: 'It' is for objects or animals, not people. Use 'he' or 'she'. 'My neighbour is a doctor. He/She helps many patients.'

MISTAKE: Confusing 'they' with a singular person. For example, 'Someone left their bag. They should come back for it.' (If 'someone' is clearly singular) | CORRECTION: While 'they' can be used for singular unknown gender, for clarity or known singular, use 'he' or 'she'. 'Someone left their bag. He/She should come back for it.' (Or, for general unknown, 'They should come back for it' is acceptable in modern English, but know the singular vs. plural distinction.)

Practice Questions

Try It Yourself

QUESTION: Which word is a third person pronoun in this sentence: 'My uncle works in a factory. He builds cars.' | ANSWER: He

QUESTION: Fill in the blank with the correct third person pronoun: 'The children are playing outside. _____ are having fun.' | ANSWER: They

QUESTION: Identify all the third person pronouns in the following paragraph: 'My mother loves to cook. She makes delicious biryani. My brother often helps her. They both enjoy spending time in the kitchen.' | ANSWER: She, her, They

MCQ

Quick Quiz

Which of these is NOT a third person pronoun?

She

They

The Correct Answer Is:

I' is a first person pronoun, used when you are talking about yourself. 'He', 'She', and 'They' are all used when talking about someone or something else.

Real World Connection

In the Real World

When you read news reports about cricket matches or political events, journalists constantly use third person pronouns. For example, a sports reporter might write, 'Virat Kohli scored a century. He led his team to victory.' Or when you chat with friends about a movie, you might say, 'Did you see that new film? It was amazing!' You're using 'it' to refer to the movie without repeating its name.

Key Vocabulary

Key Terms

PRONOUN: A word that replaces a noun to avoid repetition. | FIRST PERSON: Talking about yourself (I, me). | SECOND PERSON: Talking directly to someone (you). | THIRD PERSON: Talking about someone or something else (he, she, it, they). | GENDER: The state of being male or female.

What's Next

What to Learn Next

Great job learning about third person pronouns! Next, you can explore first and second person pronouns to understand all types of pronouns better. This will make your sentences even clearer and more interesting.