She (pronoun) facts for kids

She is a word we use in English to talk about a single girl, woman, or female animal. It's a personal pronoun, which means it stands in for a noun. For example, instead of saying "My sister is here, and my sister is happy," you can say "My sister is here, and she is happy."

Different Forms of She

The word she can change its form depending on how it's used in a sentence. Think of it like different outfits for the same person!

• she: This is the main form, used when she is doing the action.

* Example: She runs fast.

• her: This form is used when something is done to her, or when something belongs to her.

* Example: I saw her. (Something done to her) * Example: That is her book. (Something belonging to her)

• hers: This form also shows something belongs to her, but it stands alone.

* Example: That book is hers.

• herself: This form is used when the person doing the action is also the one receiving it.

* Example: She taught herself to play guitar.

A Look at She's History

Words change over time, just like fashion! The word she has an interesting history.

Long, long ago, in Old English (which was spoken before the English we know today), there wasn't a word exactly like she. Instead, there was a word that meant "the" but also worked as a pronoun for females.

Over many years, as English changed into Middle English, new words developed. The word her came from older forms that meant "to her" or "of her."

The word she itself is a bit of a mystery! Experts aren't completely sure how it became the word we use today. Some think it came from an old word for "the" that was used for females. Others believe it came from a different Old English word that sounded a bit like "he-o." No matter how it started, by the 1400s, the forms of she we use now were pretty much set.

How She is Used for Gender

Today, she is the main pronoun we use for females in English.

Sometimes, she can be used in a general way, even if you don't know the person's gender. For example, a teacher might say, "If a student finishes early, she can read a book." However, it's more common and often preferred to use "they" in these situations (like "If a student finishes early, they can read a book").

She for Non-Humans

You might hear she used for things that aren't people, especially:

• Countries: When talking about a country as if it's a political group or a team, people sometimes use she.

* Example: Canada found her place in the world during WWII.

• Ships or important objects: People often refer to ships, cars, or other important objects they own as she, especially if they have a strong connection to them.

* Example: The captain guided her ship through the storm.

It's good to know that some people think using she for countries or objects is a bit old-fashioned or not always the best choice.

She for Gods

Sometimes, when talking about a goddess or a God seen as female, the word She might be written with a capital "S" to show respect.

How She Works in Sentences

The word she can play different roles in a sentence.

• Subject: The person doing the action.

* Example: She is happy.

• Object: The person receiving the action.

* Example: I saw her.

• Possessive: Showing who something belongs to.

* Example: This is her book. (Dependent) * Example: This book is hers. (Independent)

• Reflexive: When the person does something to themselves.

* Example: She helped herself.

• Modifier: Sometimes, she can describe a noun, like in "the she goat."

How to Say She

Here's how people usually say the different forms of she:

Fun Fact About She

In 1999, the word she was chosen as the "word of the millennium" by a group called the American Dialect Society!

See also

• English personal pronouns
• Third-person pronoun