What is the Difference Between They and Them in English Grammar?

The main difference between "they" and "them" in English grammar is that "they" is a subject pronoun, while "them" is an object pronoun. Both words are used to refer to plural nouns or noun groups in the third person. Here are the key distinctions between the two:

1. They:

• Used as the subject of a clause, representing the doers of the action described by the verb.
• Can be used instead of "he" or "she" to refer to non-binary people or an unspecified gender.
• May take a plural verb despite having a singular referent.
• Examples: They've given Pablo another pay rise. They are the authors of the book.

1. Them:

• Used as the object of a clause, representing the group of people or things that have experienced the action described by the verb.
• Refers back to two or more people or things that were mentioned earlier.
• Can be used instead of "him" or "her" to refer to a person without explicitly stating their gender.
• Examples: I've bought some apples for them. She loves them.

In summary, "they" is used as the subject of a sentence, while "them" is used as the object.

Comparative Table: They vs Them in English Grammar

The main difference between "they" and "them" in English grammar is that "they" is a subject pronoun, while "them" is an object pronoun. Both words are used as third-person plural pronouns, but they serve different functions in a sentence. Here is a table highlighting their differences:

In summary:

• "They" is used as the subject of a sentence, replacing plural nouns or noun groups in the third person.
• "Them" is used as the object of a verb or preposition, or as a predicative after the verb "be", replacing plural nouns or noun groups in the third person.