It vs. Them – Which is Correct?
It and them are both correct pronouns, but they do not mean the same thing. Use it for one thing, animal, idea, or situation, and them for multiple people or things; them can also refer to one person when gender is unknown or when they use singular they in conversation.
It or Them – Which is Correct?
It and them are both correct English pronouns, but they serve different purposes. Use it as an object pronoun for one thing, one animal, an idea, or a situation. Use them as an object pronoun for two or more people or things.
Them may also refer to one person in gender-neutral English. This use is the object form of singular they, as in “Someone left their phone, so I will return it to them.” In that sentence, it refers to one phone, while them refers to one person whose gender is unknown.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the one-versus-more test: if the object is one nonhuman thing, choose it; if the object is several people or things, choose them. For a person whose gender is unknown or unspecified, choose them rather than “him or her.”
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| it | Object pronoun | One thing, animal, idea, or situation | I found the key and put it on the table. |
| them | Object pronoun | Two or more people or things; sometimes one person in singular-they usage | I invited them to the meeting. |
How to Use It
It is a third-person singular object pronoun. It usually refers to one nonhuman noun that has already been mentioned or is clear from context. It can refer to a physical object, an animal, an abstract idea, a weather condition, a time, or a general situation.
English also uses it as a dummy or anticipatory subject in sentences such as “It is raining” and “It is important to check the details.” In these structures, it does not refer to a specific object. The word is common in both casual and formal writing.
Example 1: The package arrived, and I opened it immediately.
Example 2: Mia adopted a dog and takes it for a walk every morning.
Example 3: It was difficult to understand the instructions.
What are the different forms of It?
The main object form is it. Its related forms include itself, the reflexive form, and its, the possessive determiner or possessive pronoun. Do not confuse its with it’s, which is a contraction of “it is” or “it has.”
- Subject form: it
- Object form: it
- Possessive form: its
- Reflexive form: itself
Etymology of the word It
It comes from Old English hit, a neuter third-person pronoun. Over time, the initial h disappeared in ordinary use, producing the modern form it. Its use expanded beyond physical objects to include animals, ideas, weather, time, and situations.
How to Use Them
Them is the objective form of they. Use it after a verb or preposition when referring to multiple people or things. For example, “I saw them,” “Give the documents to them,” and “The teacher spoke with them” all use them correctly.
Them can also be the objective form of singular they. This is appropriate when a person’s gender is unknown, irrelevant, or when that person uses they/them pronouns. The singular use is standard in contemporary English and appears in casual, professional, academic, and institutional communication.
Example 1: I saw the students and gave them their assignments.
Example 2: Someone called while you were away, so I asked them to leave a message.
Example 3: The documents are ready; please send them to the client.
What are the different forms of Them?
Them is the object form of the pronoun set they. The same set includes they as the subject form, their as the possessive determiner, theirs as the possessive pronoun, and themselves as the reflexive form.
- Subject form: they
- Object form: them
- Possessive determiner: their
- Possessive pronoun: theirs
- Reflexive form: themselves
When them refers to one person, the related verb is still typically singular with the subject they: “They are waiting for me.” However, after a verb or preposition, the correct object form remains them: “I called them.”
Etymology of the word Them
Them developed from Old Norse þeim, which influenced the English pronoun system during the Middle English period. It gradually replaced the older English object form hem. Today, them functions as the object form of both plural and singular they.
Related Concepts
Understanding object pronouns, antecedents, and singular they makes the difference between it and them much easier to apply.
- Object pronouns: Object pronouns receive the action of a verb or follow a preposition. Examples include it, them, him, her, and us.
- Antecedents: An antecedent is the noun or idea that a pronoun refers to. In “I bought a lamp and placed it by the window,” lamp is the antecedent of it.
- Singular they: Singular they refers to one person without specifying gender. Its object form is them, as in “I emailed them the information.”
- Pronoun agreement: A pronoun should match its antecedent in number and meaning. Use it for one nonhuman referent and them for plural referents or an individual using singular they.
Examples from Media and Literature
Both pronouns appear frequently in books, films, journalism, and everyday media language. The following examples illustrate their ordinary grammatical roles.
- Children’s literature: A story may introduce a lost object and later say, “The child found it,” because it refers to one object.
- Film dialogue: A character might say, “I warned them,” when referring to several people. The pronoun follows the verb warned.
- News writing: A report may state, “Officials announced the decision and defended it,” where it refers to one decision.
- Workplace communication: A manager may write, “A colleague requested assistance, so I sent them the relevant documents,” using singular them for an unspecified individual.
- Titles and themes: In a title such as It, the word may function as a name or symbolic reference rather than an ordinary pronoun. Its grammatical meaning depends on the sentence surrounding it.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence.
- The museum received a painting and displayed ___ near the entrance.
- I met the new volunteers and thanked ___ for their help.
- Someone left an umbrella here, so I will give ___ to the receptionist.
- The applicant did not provide a phone number, so I emailed ___ instead.
- The children found the books and returned ___ to the library.
Answer Key
- it — “It” refers to one painting.
- them — “Them” refers to multiple volunteers.
- it — “It” refers to one umbrella.
- them — “Them” refers to one applicant whose gender is unspecified.
- them — “Them” refers to multiple books.
It Synonyms
Pronouns rarely have exact synonyms, but the following expressions can replace it when the context makes the referent clear.
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| this | Refers to one nearby or recently mentioned thing, idea, or situation. |
| that | Refers to one thing, idea, or situation that is more distant or previously mentioned. |
| the object | A specific noun phrase that identifies the single physical thing. |
| the situation | A noun phrase that identifies a circumstance or event. |
Them Synonyms
Depending on the context, them can be replaced by a specific plural noun phrase or by a phrase that identifies one person without assigning gender.
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| those people | Refers explicitly to multiple people. |
| those things | Refers explicitly to multiple objects, ideas, or items. |
| the group | Refers to multiple people considered as one collective unit. |
| that person | Refers to one individual without specifying gender, although it may require changing the sentence structure. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “it” singular or plural?
It is singular. It normally refers to one nonhuman thing, animal, idea, or situation.
Question 2: Can “them” refer to one person?
Yes. Them can refer to one person when the person’s gender is unknown, irrelevant, or when the person uses singular they pronouns. For example: “I spoke with Alex and gave them the message.”
Question 3: Should I say “give it to them” or “give them to it”?
Usually, say “give it to them” when it is one object and them is the person or people receiving it. For example: “Give the package to the neighbors” becomes “Give it to them.”
Conclusion
It and them are both correct, but they cannot usually replace each other. Choose it for one nonhuman object, idea, animal, or situation. Choose them for multiple people or things, or for one person represented by singular they. Pro Tip: Accurate pronoun use makes professional emails and reports clearer, more respectful, and more polished.
