Is Them A Pronoun: 7 Facts You Should Know

In this article, we are going to learn facts related to the question ‘Is Them A Pronoun?’.

The word ‘them’ can be regarded as ‘Personal Pronoun’ because it has the ability to refer any person, animal or thing of 3^rd person plural number.

Is “them” a pronoun or adjective?

The word ‘them’ comes under the category of ‘Pronoun’ in English ‘Parts of Speech’. The pronoun ‘them’ is mainly used as personal pronoun to refer the object of a verb or object of a preposition. We must keep in mind that the pronoun ‘them’ must be used in plural sense to refer any of the below listed objects.

First, People

Second, Animals

Third, Things

Example – As you are living with your grandparents, you must spend some time with them.

Explanation –

Here, the word ‘them’ can be regarded as ‘Pronoun’ because it replaced the object ‘grandparents’.

Is “them” a personal pronoun?

At first, we need to know the concept of ‘Personal Pronoun’. Pronouns which refer proper name of any person, animal or thing can be regarded as ‘Personal Pronouns’. The word ‘them’ can be regarded as personal pronoun because it has the ability to refer any noun or noun equivalent. We must note the point that the personal pronoun ‘them’ can replace only ‘Third Person Plural Number’. We must keep in mind that all the personal pronouns must be always in ‘Objective Case’.

Let’s look at the list of personal pronoun –

Example – Pijush has four kittens and he takes utmost care of them.

Explanation –

Here, the word ‘them’ can be regarded as ‘Personal Pronoun’ because it refers ‘four kittens’. Here, the 3^rd person plural personal pronoun ‘them’ is in similar mode with the ‘four kittens’ in terms of person, gender, case and number.

When “them” is a personal pronoun?

The word “them” can be a personal pronoun when it fulfills below listed aspects to refer the noun or noun equivalent of the respective sentence.

Let’s look at those aspects.

Aspect 1 – The personal pronoun ‘them’ must match the noun or noun equivalent in terms of ‘Person’.

Aspect 2 – The personal pronoun ‘them’ must match the noun or noun equivalent in terms of ‘Gender’.

Aspect 1 – The personal pronoun ‘them’ must match the noun or noun equivalent in terms of ‘Number’.

Aspect 1 – The personal pronoun ‘them’ must match the noun or noun equivalent in terms of ‘Case’.

Example – Pijush used to teach the subject English to his sisters Mina and Renu. He used to give good basic lessons of English to them.

Explanation –

Here, the word ‘them’ can be regarded as ‘Personal Pronoun’ because it refers the third person plural number ‘Mina and Renu’. Here, we can see that the personal pronoun ‘them’ match with the nouns ‘Mina and Renu’ in terms of all the four aspects; person, gender, number and case.

Where “them” is a personal pronoun?

The pronoun “the” can be marked as ‘Personal Pronoun’ in below listed situations.

Situation One –

The pronoun ‘them’ can be marked as ‘Personal Pronoun’ when it is in use to refer peoples of 3^rd person plural number.

Situation Two –

The pronoun ‘them’ can be marked as ‘Personal Pronoun’ when it is in use to refer animals of 3^rd person plural number.

Situation Three – 

The pronoun ‘them’ can be marked as ‘Personal Pronoun’ when it is in use to refer things or objects of 3^rd person plural number.

Example of Situation One –

I love my friends and I don’t want to enjoy my mountain trip without them.

Explanation – Here, the pronoun ‘them’ can be marked as ‘Personal Pronoun’ because it is in use to refer the third person plural number ‘friends’.

Example of Situation Two –

There are lots of peacocks in my garden. I can’t event spent a day without watching them to chirp.

Explanation – Here, the pronoun ‘them’ can be marked as ‘Personal Pronoun’ because it is in use to refer the third person plural number ‘peacocks’.

Example of Situation Three –

There are so many racks in my new kitchen. I can keep lots of boxes and jars in them.

Explanation – Here, the pronoun ‘them’ can be marked as ‘Personal Pronoun’ because it is in use to refer the third person plural number ‘racks’.

How “them” is a personal pronoun?

The word “them” becomes a personal pronoun by referring any proper person, animal or thing of plural number. We must keep certain points to frame the word “them” as “personal pronoun”.

Point One – The pronoun ‘them’ must be in use to refer the object of a verb or object of a preposition.

Point Two – The word “them” must refer 3^rd person plural number.

Point Three – The personal pronoun “them” must be in “Objective Case”.

Point Four – The pronoun ‘them’ must be in use to refer the object of a verb or object of a preposition.

Example – Sandip loves all the members of his joint family and he loves to spend time with them.

Explanation –

Here, the pronoun ‘them’ can be framed as ‘Personal Pronoun’ because it refers the 3^rd person plural number ‘all the members of joint family’.

Examples of “them” as a personal pronoun?

Example 1 – I have made some banana flavoured pan cakes. Please come and taste them.

Example 2 – I tried to stop my children to play outside in this rainy season but it was impossible for them to be inside.

Example 3 – Pijush and Rina will take Manju with them to visit the jungle. Manju will be a helping hand to them.

Example 4 – You always control your junior siblings. Why don’t you leave them to fulfill their dreams?

Example 5 – Please don’t introduce me to your brothers, Sandip and Pijush. I already know them.

Example 6 – Don’t admit me to any boarding as I am living with my grandparents and l love them.

Example 7 – I have placed some new mango plants in the garden. I have already warned Mina for not to mess with them.

Example 8 – We have two little rabbits in our family and my son loves to play with them.

Example 9 – You must pick all the tomatoes from the field in day time. You may miss them to pick at night.

Explanation 1 – Here, the pronoun “them” can be regarded as “Personal Pronoun” because it is in use to refer 3^rd person plural number “banana flavoured pan cakes”.

Explanation 2 – Here, the pronoun “them” can be regarded as “Personal Pronoun” because it is in use to refer 3^rd person plural number “children”.

Explanation 3 – Here, the pronoun “them” can be regarded as “Personal Pronoun” because it is in use to refer 3^rd person plural number “Pijush and Rina”.

Explanation 4 – Here, the pronoun “them” can be regarded as “Personal Pronoun” because it is in use to refer 3^rd person plural number “siblings”.

Explanation 5 – Here, the pronoun “them” can be regarded as “Personal Pronoun” because it is in use to refer 3^rd person plural number “Sandip and Pijush”.

Explanation 6 – Here, the pronoun “them” can be regarded as “Personal Pronoun” because it is in use to refer 3^rd person plural number “grandparents”.

Explanation 7 – Here, the pronoun “them” can be regarded as “Personal Pronoun” because it is in use to refer 3^rd person plural number “new mango plants”.

Explanation 8 – Here, the pronoun “them” can be regarded as “Personal Pronoun” because it is in use to refer 3^rd person plural number “two little rabbits”.

Explanation 9 – Here, the pronoun “them” can be regarded as “Personal Pronoun” because it is in use to refer 3^rd person plural number “tomatoes”.

Can “them” be a possessive pronoun?

No, the pronoun “them” can not be regarded as ‘possessive pronoun’ because the pronoun “them” used to replace the main noun or noun equivalent of the sentence and not to show possession.

Conclusion –

The personal pronoun ‘them’ must be in use to refer only plural forms and not singular forms. We must keep in mind that we can not start a sentence with ‘them’ because it is an ‘Object Pronoun’.