He (pronoun) facts for kids

In Modern English, he is a word we use to talk about one male person. It's a pronoun, which means it takes the place of a noun, like a name. When you use he, you're talking about someone else, not yourself (first person) or the person you're talking to (second person).

How He Changes Form

The word he can change its shape depending on how it's used in a sentence. These different shapes help us understand its role.

• he: This form is used when he is the one doing the action. For example, "He runs fast."
• him: This form is used when he is the one receiving the action. For example, "I saw him."
• his: This form shows ownership. For example, "That is his book" or "That book is his."
• himself: This form is used when the person doing the action is also the one receiving it. For example, "He hurt himself."

The History of He

The word he has a long history, going back to Old English, which was spoken many centuries ago. In Old English, there was one main pronoun for talking about a third person, and it had different forms for male, female, and neutral things, as well as for plural (more than one).

The word it (for neutral things) started to become separate from he around the 1100s. The word her (for female people) also developed from the Old English forms. Other forms for female people and plural groups were replaced by different words over time.

Here's a look at some of the Old English forms:

By the 1400s, the forms of he we use today became common in English.

He and Gender

In Old English, the word that became he could refer to male, female, or neutral things. But over time, the forms for neutral things (which became it) and female people (which became she and her) separated. Today, he is used only for male people or animals.

For a while, in the 1700s, some people suggested using he to refer to any person, whether male or female, when the gender wasn't known. For example, "If a student finishes early, he can read a book." This was taught in schools for many years, up until about the 1960s.

However, this use of he can sometimes sound strange, especially when talking about situations that clearly involve females. For example, "When someone gives birth, it's good for him to have assistance."

Today, many people prefer to use the singular they (like "If a student finishes early, they can read a book") or rephrase sentences to avoid using a gender-specific pronoun when the gender is unknown. In 2019, the Merriam-Webster dictionary even added the singular they to reflect how people use it.

How He Works in Sentences

The word he and its different forms can play several roles in a sentence.

Roles of He

• Subject: The person doing the action.

* He is there. * His being there was a surprise.

• Object: The person receiving the action.

* I saw him. * He saw himself.

• Predicative Complement: Describes the subject after a "to be" verb (like is, was).

* The only person there was him.

• Dependent Determiner: Shows ownership before a noun.

* I met his friend.

• Independent Determiner: Shows ownership without a noun following.

* This is his.

• Adjunct: Adds extra information, often emphasizing.

* He did it himself.

• Modifier: Sometimes used to describe a noun.

* The he goat was missing.

Words That Go With He

Even though pronouns are usually simple, he can sometimes have other words that describe or go with it, just like other noun phrases.

• Relative Clause Modifier: A phrase that gives more information about he.

* He who arrives late will miss the start.

• Determiner: A word that helps identify or specify he.

* A: "Somebody was here, and he left this." B: "I'm that he."

• Adjective Phrase Modifier: Words that describe he.

* The real him.

• Adverb Phrase External Modifier: Words that modify the whole phrase with he.

* Not even him.

What He Means

Generally, he refers to a single male person. It doesn't include the person speaking or the person being spoken to. When you use he, you're usually talking about a specific male person.

Generic Use of He

As mentioned before, he was sometimes used to refer to an unspecified person, like "If you see someone in trouble, help him." However, this can sound awkward, especially in sentences like:

• When somebody gives birth, it's good for him to have assistance.
• If either your mother or father would like to discuss it, I'll talk to him.

In modern English, especially in writing, using they as a singular, gender-neutral pronoun is much more common and accepted. Many style guides now suggest avoiding the generic he.

Talking About Deities

Some Christians use a capital letter for He, His, and Him when writing about God, Jesus Christ, or the Holy Spirit. You might see this in some Bible translations.

How to Say He

Here's how the different forms of he are usually pronounced:

See also

• English personal pronouns
• Gender neutrality in languages with gendered third-person pronouns
• Generic antecedent
• Third-person pronoun