Grammar · Pronouns
Generic Pronouns & Singular They
How English talks about people in general, and how they, them and their can mean just one person. Learn it with the film Wonder.
Grammar › Pronouns › Generic Pronouns & Singular They
The rule in one sentenceTo talk about people in general, use you in everyday English or one in formal writing; to talk about one unknown person after words like someone, anyone or everyone, use they, them and their.
About the film
Wonder (2017) is a family drama about Auggie Pullman, a ten-year-old boy from New York who was born with a face that looks different from other children’s. After years of lessons at home with his mother, he starts fifth grade at a real school. When you walk into a new school, you notice every look, and Auggie feels as if everyone in the corridor turns their head.
What does it do?
Sometimes we want to talk about people in general, not about anyone in particular. English has no special word for this, so it borrows ordinary ones. In conversation, you is the natural choice: You never forget your first day at a new school is not about the listener personally. It means anybody at all. In formal writing, one does the same job, but it can sound stiff and old-fashioned in speech.
A different situation is one unknown person. After someone, anyone, everyone or nobody, we do not know, or do not need to say, who the person is. Here English uses they, them and their, even though we mean just one person. This use is centuries old and is accepted in careful, formal English today.
In the first two tiles, the pronoun means anybody, anywhere. In the last two, it points back to a single person we have not named. Notice that they still takes a plural verb: they look, not they looks.
At a new school, you quickly find out who your real friends are.
If a student feels lonely, they can always talk to Mr Tushman.
The first sentence is about everyone who has ever changed schools. The second is about one student, but we do not know who, and it does not matter whether the student is a boy or a girl.
Visual guide
Teacher Teddy’s illustrated guide to this rule is being drawn — the full swipe-through infographic will appear here soon.
How to make it
people in general — anybody at all
You can’t choose the face you are born with.
One doesn’t always know what to say to a new student.
One is formal. In speech, most people would say you.How do you make friends at a new school?
A general question, not a personal one.one unknown person — someone, anyone
Someone has left their bag in the classroom.
If anyone doesn’t understand, they shouldn’t be afraid to ask.
Plural verb forms: they don’t, they are, they have.Has everyone finished their science project?
Everyone takes a singular verb (has), but their afterwards.When to use each one
people in general — you, one, they
one unknown person — they, them, their
Words that help: in general or one person?
The words in the sentence usually show which meaning you need.
people in general → general truths
one unknown person → words for one person
Common mistakes
❌ One should be kind, even when you are nervous.
✅ You should be kind, even when you are nervous.
Choose one pronoun and keep it. Do not mix one and you in the same sentence.
❌ Everyone in the class has to bring his lunch.
✅ Everyone in the class has to bring their lunch.
His is old-fashioned for a mixed group. Their is the modern choice.
❌ If someone is rude to Auggie, tell they to stop.
✅ If someone is rude to Auggie, tell them to stop.
After a verb, use the object form: them.
❌ If anybody wants to sit with Auggie, they is welcome.
✅ If anybody wants to sit with Auggie, they are welcome.
They always takes a plural verb, even when it means one person.
One more thing
This part goes a little further, so come back to it when the basics feel easy.
Themselves is the safe reflexive, and formal writing avoids a vague they. The standard reflexive of singular they is themselves. You will sometimes see themself, but it is still informal, and theirselves is never correct. Also, in an essay, a vague they (they say the film is moving) can sound lazy, so name the people instead.
✅ Anyone who watches Wonder will recognise themselves in at least one character.
✅ Critics describe the film as moving. (clearer than they say it is moving)
Practice: which pronoun?
Eight questions. Choose the best answer and read why.
1. When ___ start a new school, you feel nervous.
The sentence continues with you, so keep you. Do not mix one and you.
2. Formal essay: “___ leaves the cinema feeling hopeful.”
In formal writing, one is the general pronoun.
3. Someone has left ___ helmet on the bus.
We do not know who the person is, so use their.
4. If anyone needs help, tell ___ to come to my office.
After tell, use the object form them.
5. Everybody in the room turned ___ head.
Everybody means people, so use their.
6. If a new student feels lost, ___ talk to a teacher.
They is the modern choice for one unknown person.
7. If somebody asks about the film, they ___ my answer straight away.
They always takes a plural verb: they get.
8. Anyone can teach ___ to be kind.
The reflexive is themselves. Theirselves is never standard English.
Your turn
Choose one ending. Then listen to your sentence.
Every sentence here is correct. In the first frame, you means anybody; in the second, them means one person we have not named. Pick the ones that are true for you.
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