They vs. These – Which is Correct?
They and these are both correct English words, but they serve different grammatical purposes. They is a personal pronoun referring to people, animals, or things, while these is a demonstrative pronoun or determiner identifying multiple nearby items. Choose they for subjects; choose these for specific plural nouns in everyday sentences.
They or These – Which is Correct?
They and these are both correct, but they cannot usually be substituted for each other. They is a personal pronoun used as the subject of a sentence. It can refer to multiple people, animals, or things, and it can also refer to one person when the person’s gender is unknown, irrelevant, or intentionally unspecified.
These is a demonstrative pronoun or demonstrative determiner. It points to two or more people, animals, or things that are near the speaker, near the listener, or currently under discussion. When it appears before a noun, it describes that noun: “these books,” “these instructions,” or “these students.”
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the subject swap test: if you can replace the word with “the people,” “the animals,” or “the things,” use they. If you can point to several specific nearby items and replace the word with “this group” or “these particular items,” use these.
Remember: they do something, but these are something. For example, “They are studying” identifies who is acting, while “These are expensive” points to particular objects.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| They | Personal pronoun | Refers to people, animals, things, or one person using singular “they” | They finished the project on time. |
| These | Demonstrative pronoun or determiner | Identifies multiple nearby or recently mentioned people or things | These shoes are comfortable. |
How to Use They
They is a third-person personal pronoun. It commonly refers to two or more people, animals, or objects already mentioned. As a subject pronoun, it normally comes before the verb: “They arrived early,” “They need repairs,” or “They look tired.”
They can also refer to one person. This use, called singular they, is standard when a person’s gender is unknown or when the person uses they/them pronouns. The word may also be used when speaking generally about any individual: “If someone calls, tell them they can leave a message.”
Example 1: The volunteers completed their work before sunset, and they returned home.
Example 2: The company said they would publish the results on Friday.
Example 3: Jordan left their umbrella here, so they may come back for it.
What are the different forms of they?
They is the subject form of the pronoun. Its related forms are them as the object form, their as the possessive determiner, and theirs as the independent possessive form. The reflexive form is usually themselves; themself is also used in some singular-they contexts.
- Subject: They called the office.
- Object: We invited them to dinner.
- Possessive determiner: Their car is outside.
- Independent possessive: The decision was theirs.
- Reflexive: They prepared themselves for the exam.
Etymology of the word they
They entered English through Old Norse influence and gradually replaced earlier Old English plural pronouns in many dialects. Its modern use developed over centuries. The singular use of they is also longstanding in English, appearing in informal, literary, and formal writing well before modern discussions of gender-neutral language.
How to Use These
These is the plural form of this. It points to multiple people or things that are physically close, currently visible, recently mentioned, or about to be discussed. It can function as a determiner before a noun or as a pronoun without a noun.
When these comes before a noun, the noun must generally be plural: “these questions,” “these problems,” or “these paintings.” When it stands alone, the surrounding context identifies what it refers to: “These are mine.”
Example 1: These documents contain the information you requested.
Example 2: Could you move these boxes closer to the door?
Example 3: These are the photographs we took during the trip.
What are the different forms of these?
These is already the plural form of this. The related demonstrative forms are this for one nearby item, that for one more distant item, and those for multiple more distant items.
| Number | Near | Farther Away |
|---|---|---|
| Singular | This | That |
| Plural | These | Those |
Etymology of the word these
These developed from Old English demonstrative forms related to this. Over time, its spelling and pronunciation changed into the modern plural form used to identify nearby people or things. It remains part of the four-word demonstrative system: this, that, these, and those.
Related Concepts
Understanding pronouns, demonstratives, and grammatical number makes the difference between they and these easier to recognize.
- Personal pronouns: Personal pronouns stand in for nouns that refer to people, animals, or things. They can serve as subjects or objects, as in “They called us” and “We called them.”
- Demonstrative pronouns: Demonstrative pronouns point to specific people or things. This and these usually indicate nearby items, while that and those generally indicate items farther away.
- Singular and plural number: They can be plural or singular when used as a gender-neutral pronoun. These is always plural.
- Determiners: A determiner comes before a noun and helps identify it. In “these articles,” the word these determines which articles are being discussed.
Examples from Media and Literature
Writers and speakers use they to identify people or groups and these to point to particular plural subjects. The following examples show how each word works in recognizable contexts:
- News reporting: A report may state, “They announced the policy after the meeting,” using they for the officials or organization previously mentioned.
- Instructional writing: A guide may say, “These steps will help you reset the device,” using these to introduce specific steps that follow.
- Fictional dialogue: A character might say, “They are waiting outside,” when referring to visitors or another group.
- Historical writing: A biography may explain that “these letters reveal the author’s concerns,” using these to point to particular letters under discussion.
- Film dialogue: A character may gesture toward objects and say, “These belong in the archive,” using these as a demonstrative determiner or pronoun.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence.
- _____ are the keys I was looking for.
- The students finished their presentation, and _____ answered questions.
- Could you place _____ files on my desk?
- Maria said _____ would arrive after lunch.
- _____ are the rules that apply to every participant.
Answer Key
- These — It points to specific nearby keys.
- They — It refers to the students and acts as the subject.
- these — It identifies specific files before the noun.
- they — It is a singular, gender-neutral pronoun referring to Maria.
- These — It points to specific rules being presented or discussed.
They Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Those people | A noun phrase referring to a particular group of people |
| The group | A collective noun that identifies multiple people or things |
| The individuals | A formal phrase emphasizing separate people within a group |
| That person | A singular alternative in contexts where one individual is meant |
These Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| These particular ones | Emphasizes the specific items being identified |
| The following | Refers to items that are about to be listed or explained |
| Such items | Refers generally to items of the type under discussion |
| The ones here | A conversational phrase for nearby or currently visible items |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “they” singular or plural?
They can be either plural or singular. It is plural when referring to multiple people, animals, or things, and singular when referring to one person in a gender-neutral way or when that person uses they/them pronouns.
Question 2: Is “these” always plural?
Yes. These is the plural form of this and refers to two or more nearby or currently relevant people or things. For one item, use this instead.
Question 3: Can “they” and “these” be used before a noun?
They normally cannot directly modify a noun because it is a pronoun: “They arrived.” These can modify a plural noun: “These visitors arrived.”
Conclusion
They and these are both correct, but they have different jobs. Use they as a personal pronoun for people, animals, or things, including a singular gender-neutral person. Use these to point to multiple nearby or specifically identified items. Pro Tip: Choosing the correct pronoun or demonstrative in professional writing improves clarity and strengthens your credibility.
