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Frequent learner mistakes involving English pronouns.
Use subject pronouns as subjects and object pronouns as objects.
Common mistakes include Me went home, between you and I and Him likes football instead of I went home, between you and me and He likes football.
I went home after work.
Я пошел домой после работы.
"I" is a subject pronoun because it performs the action.
She called me after dinner.
Она позвонила мне после ужина.
"She" is the subject and "me" is the object.
He likes football.
Он любит футбол.
"He" is the subject pronoun, not "him".
The manager spoke to him after the meeting.
Менеджер поговорил с ним после собрания.
"Him" is used because it is the object of the preposition "to".
Between you and me, the plan needs work.
Между нами, план требует доработки.
"Me" is the correct object form after the preposition "between".
Sarah and I went to the store.
Мы с Сарой пошли в магазин.
"I" is correct because the coordinated phrase is the subject.
The teacher gave John and me extra time.
Учитель дал Джону и мне дополнительное время.
"Me" is part of the object phrase after the verb "gave".
They invited us to the party.
Они пригласили нас на вечеринку.
"They" is the subject and "us" is the object.
Do not confuse possessive determiners with possessive pronouns.
Compare my car with The car is mine. Errors such as mine car and this is mys are incorrect.
This is my car.
Это моя машина.
"My" is a possessive determiner and must be followed by a noun.
This car is mine.
Эта машина моя.
"Mine" is a possessive pronoun and stands alone.
That is your seat.
Это твое место.
"Your" modifies the noun "seat".
That seat is yours.
То место твое.
"Yours" replaces the noun phrase and stands alone.
Their house is on the corner.
Их дом находится на углу.
"Their" is followed by the noun "house".
The house on the corner is theirs.
Дом на углу принадлежит им.
"Theirs" functions as a possessive pronoun.
My laptop is faster than yours.
Мой ноутбук быстрее твоего.
"My" modifies "laptop", while "yours" stands alone.
I like your idea, but mine is different.
Мне нравится твоя идея, но моя отличается.
"Your" is a determiner; "mine" is a pronoun.
Use reflexive pronouns only when they are grammatically required or used for emphasis.
Avoid forms such as Please contact myself or John and myself attended the meeting.
Please contact me if you have any questions.
Пожалуйста, свяжитесь со мной, если у вас есть вопросы.
"Me" is the normal object pronoun; "myself" is unnecessary here.
Sarah and I attended the meeting.
Мы с Сарой присутствовали на собрании.
"I" is required as part of the subject; "myself" is incorrect here.
The manager spoke to John and me.
Менеджер поговорил с Джоном и со мной.
"Me" is correct after the preposition "to".
I made the presentation myself.
Я сам сделал презентацию.
"Myself" is correct because it emphasizes that the speaker personally did the work.
She taught herself how to code.
Она сама научилась программировать.
"Herself" is required because the subject and object refer to the same person.
Please send the documents to me.
Пожалуйста, отправьте документы мне.
"Me" is the normal object form after "to".
The director herself approved the proposal.
Сама директор утвердила предложение.
"Herself" is emphatic and adds focus to "the director".
I washed before going to bed.
Я помылся перед сном.
English normally does not require "myself" after "wash" in this ordinary meaning.
Reflexive pronouns refer back to the subject, while reciprocal pronouns express mutual actions.
Compare They blamed themselves with They blamed each other.
They blamed themselves for the mistake.
Они винили себя за ошибку.
"Themselves" means each person blamed their own self.
They blamed each other for the mistake.
Они винили друг друга за ошибку.
"Each other" expresses a mutual action between the people.
The two brothers looked at themselves in the mirror.
Два брата посмотрели на себя в зеркало.
"Themselves" refers to each brother individually.
The two brothers looked at each other.
Два брата посмотрели друг на друга.
"Each other" means that one brother looked at the other and vice versa.
The teammates congratulated themselves after the win.
Члены команды поздравили сами себя после победы.
"Themselves" means the teammates congratulated their own group.
The teammates congratulated each other after the win.
Члены команды поздравили друг друга после победы.
"Each other" indicates mutual congratulations.
The neighbors were talking to themselves.
Соседи разговаривали сами с собой.
"Themselves" gives a reflexive meaning.
The neighbors were talking to each other.
Соседи разговаривали друг с другом.
"Each other" gives a reciprocal meaning.
Choose demonstratives according to number and distance.
Typical errors include this books, these car and using this instead of that for distant reference.
This book is mine.
Эта книга моя.
"This" is singular and refers to something near the speaker.
These books are mine.
Эти книги мои.
"These" is plural and refers to things near the speaker.
That car across the street is mine.
Вон та машина через дорогу моя.
"That" refers to one distant object.
Those cars across the street are mine.
Вон те машины через дорогу мои.
"Those" is plural and indicates distance.
These shoes are comfortable.
Эти туфли удобные.
"These" agrees with the plural noun "shoes".
This shoe is comfortable.
Эта туфля удобная.
"This" agrees with the singular noun "shoe".
Could you hand me that pen over there?
Можешь передать мне ту ручку вон там?
"That" is natural for a singular object viewed as relatively distant.
Could you hand me these pens?
Можешь передать мне эти ручки?
"These" is used for several objects that are near the speaker.
Choose who, which, whose, whom and that according to their grammatical function.
Common mistakes include using which for people, omitting necessary relative pronouns and misusing whom.
The woman who lives next door is a doctor.
Женщина, которая живет по соседству, — врач.
"Who" refers to a person and functions as the subject of the relative clause.
The car that I bought is very reliable.
Машина, которую я купил, очень надежная.
"That" refers to a thing in a defining relative clause.
The student whose laptop was stolen called the police.
Студент, чей ноутбук украли, вызвал полицию.
"Whose" expresses possession.
The restaurant which opened last month is already popular.
Ресторан, который открылся в прошлом месяце, уже популярен.
"Which" refers to a thing such as "restaurant".
The person whom I called did not answer.
Человек, которому я позвонил, не ответил.
"Whom" is the formal object form of "who".
The book I bought yesterday is excellent.
Книга, которую я купил вчера, отличная.
The object relative pronoun can be omitted here.
The company whose products we use has expanded.
Компания, чьими продуктами мы пользуемся, расширилась.
"Whose" can refer to an organization as well as a person.
The employee who answered the phone was helpful.
Сотрудник, который ответил на звонок, был полезен.
"Who" is used for people; "which" would be inappropriate here.
Choose what, which, who and whom according to meaning and context.
Learners often confuse what and which or overuse whom in informal English.
What book are you reading?
Какую книгу ты читаешь?
"What" asks for general information about the book.
Which book are you reading, the blue one or the red one?
Какую книгу ты читаешь — синюю или красную?
"Which" is used because the options are limited.
Who called you?
Кто тебе позвонил?
"Who" is the subject of the question.
Who did you call?
Кому ты позвонил?
"Who" is the object of "call".
Whom did you invite?
Кого ты пригласил?
"Whom" is possible as a formal object, but "who" is more common in conversation.
Which of these options is cheaper?
Какой из этих вариантов дешевле?
"Which of" is used with a known and limited set.
What happened after the meeting?
Что произошло после собрания?
"What" asks about an event or situation.
Do you know which train we should take?
Ты знаешь, на какой поезд нам сесть?
The indirect question uses "which", and normal statement word order follows it.
Use the correct pronoun and verb agreement with indefinite pronouns.
Typical errors include Everybody are..., double negatives with nobody and incorrect adjective placement such as interesting someone.
Everybody is ready.
Все готовы.
"Everybody" takes the singular verb "is".
Nobody came to the meeting.
Никто не пришел на собрание.
Do not add another negative verb after "nobody".
I did not see anyone at the station.
Я никого не увидел на станции.
Use "anyone" naturally with the negative verb "did not see".
I saw someone interesting at the party.
Я встретил на вечеринке кого-то интересного.
The adjective follows the indefinite pronoun: "someone interesting".
Is there anything useful in this box?
В этой коробке есть что-нибудь полезное?
The adjective "useful" follows "anything".
Everyone should bring their own lunch.
Каждый должен принести свой обед.
"Everyone" takes singular agreement, while singular "their" can refer back to it.
Nothing was damaged in the storm.
Во время бури ничего не было повреждено.
"Nothing" is already negative, so another negative is unnecessary.
Someone left their phone on the table.
Кто-то оставил свой телефон на столе.
Singular "their" is a natural gender-neutral reference to "someone".
Ensure pronouns agree with their antecedents in number, person and gender.
Modern English widely accepts singular they where appropriate.
The student forgot their notebook.
Студент забыл свою тетрадь.
Singular "their" agrees with the singular indefinite antecedent "the student" without specifying gender.
The students forgot their notebooks.
Студенты забыли свои тетради.
The plural antecedent "the students" requires "their".
Maria said she would arrive at six.
Мария сказала, что приедет в шесть.
"She" agrees with the feminine antecedent "Maria".
John said he would arrive at six.
Джон сказал, что приедет в шесть.
"He" agrees with the masculine antecedent "John".
The company changed its pricing policy.
Компания изменила свою ценовую политику.
"Its" agrees with the singular organizational antecedent "the company".
The companies changed their pricing policies.
Компании изменили свои ценовые политики.
"Their" agrees with the plural antecedent "the companies".
If someone calls, tell them I will call back.
Если кто-нибудь позвонит, скажи им, что я перезвоню.
Singular "they" is appropriate for the unspecified antecedent "someone".
John and Maria said they would send the documents.
Джон и Мария сказали, что отправят документы.
"They" agrees with the plural compound antecedent "John and Maria".
Every pronoun should clearly identify its antecedent.
Rewrite sentences when a pronoun could refer to more than one noun.
Sarah told Maria that she was late.
Сара сказала Марии, что она опоздала.
"She" could refer to either "Sarah" or "Maria".
The manager spoke to the employee about his performance.
Менеджер поговорил с сотрудником о его работе.
"His" could refer to either the manager or the employee.
The dog chased the cat until it ran away.
Собака преследовала кошку, пока та не убежала.
"It" may refer to either "the dog" or "the cat".
John told Mark that he needed more time.
Джон сказал Марку, что ему нужно больше времени.
"He" is ambiguous between "John" and "Mark".
The company told the contractor that they needed more information.
Компания сказала подрядчику, что им нужно больше информации.
"They" could refer to the company or the contractor.
Sarah gave Emily her jacket.
Сара дала Эмили свою куртку.
"Her" could refer to Sarah or Emily.
The father told his son that he was tired.
Отец сказал сыну, что устал.
"He" could refer to the father or the son.
The teacher spoke with the principal after she left the classroom.
Учитель поговорила с директором после того, как вышла из класса.
"She" is ambiguous unless the context makes the intended person clear.
Some pronoun constructions are acceptable in conversation but should be avoided in formal writing.
Examples include between you and me versus between you and I, the declining use of whom and unnecessary reflexive pronouns in business English.
Between you and me, I think the plan will fail.
Между нами, я думаю, что план провалится.
"Me" is the correct object form after "between".
Who should I contact about the problem?
К кому мне обратиться по поводу проблемы?
"Who" is normal in contemporary spoken American English, even as an object.
To whom should I address the letter?
Кому мне адресовать письмо?
"Whom" with a fronted preposition is formal and common in careful written English.
Please contact me if you need more information.
Пожалуйста, свяжитесь со мной, если вам нужна дополнительная информация.
"Me" is standard here; the reflexive "myself" would be unnecessary.
The report was prepared by me.
Отчет был подготовлен мной.
"By me" simply identifies the agent.
The report was prepared by myself.
Отчет был подготовлен мной.
"By myself" can add the meaning "alone", so it should not automatically replace "by me".
The woman whom I interviewed had ten years of experience.
У женщины, которую я собеседовал, было десять лет опыта.
"Whom" is formal; in ordinary American English, "who" is also common here.
The woman who I interviewed had ten years of experience.
У женщины, которую я собеседовал, было десять лет опыта.
"Who" is widely used as an object in modern conversational English.
Check every pronoun for agreement, reference, form and clarity when editing your writing.
A systematic review of pronouns helps eliminate many common grammar mistakes before publishing or submitting a text.
Maria finished her report and sent it to the manager.
Мария закончила свой отчет и отправила его менеджеру.
"Her" agrees with "Maria", and "it" clearly refers to "the report".
The employees submitted their forms before they left.
Сотрудники подали свои формы, прежде чем ушли.
"Their" and "they" agree with the plural antecedent "the employees".
Everyone should review their application before submitting it.
Каждый должен проверить свою заявку перед ее отправкой.
"Their" refers to singular "everyone", while "it" refers to "application".
The manager spoke to Sarah about her performance.
Менеджер поговорил с Сарой о ее работе.
"Her" clearly refers to Sarah because the intended antecedent is made explicit.
John told Mark that he needed more time.
Джон сказал Марку, что ему нужно больше времени.
"He" is ambiguous and should be clarified during proofreading.
When the company changed the policy, it notified all employees.
Когда компания изменила политику, она уведомила всех сотрудников.
"It" clearly refers to "the company", while "the policy" is the object of "changed".
The manager and the employee reviewed the report, and they signed it.
Менеджер и сотрудник проверили отчет и подписали его.
"They" refers to the compound antecedent "the manager and the employee", while "it" refers to "the report".
The company launched a new policy, which improved employee communication.
Компания ввела новую политику, что улучшило коммуникацию между сотрудниками.
"Which" refers to the preceding policy change or situation; the intended reference should be clear from context.