What Part Of Speech Is Them

What Part of Speech Is "Them"?

Understanding what part of speech them belongs to is essential for clear communication and mastering English grammar. Plus, in this article, we explore the role of them as a pronoun, its various functions, and how to use it correctly in both spoken and written English. By the end, you will have a solid grasp of why them is classified as a pronoun and how it fits into the broader landscape of English parts of speech.

Definition and Basic Function

Them is primarily classified as a pronoun. A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun or noun phrase, allowing speakers and writers to avoid repetition while maintaining clarity. In the case of them, it serves as an object pronoun, meaning it receives the action of a verb or follows a preposition. For example:

• The teacher gave the books to them. (object of the preposition to)
• Please pass them the salt. (direct object of the verb pass)

Because them replaces a noun that is the recipient of an action or the object of a preposition, it is not used as a subject. The subject form of this pronoun is they.

Types of "Them" in English

Although them is most commonly recognized as an object pronoun, it appears in several related forms and contexts. Recognizing these variations helps prevent common grammatical errors.

Personal Pronoun (Object Case)

The most frequent usage of them is as a personal pronoun in the object case. It refers to two or more people, animals, or things. Examples:

• We invited them to the meeting. (direct object)
• She sat next to them. (object of the verb sat)

Demonstrative Pronoun

When them is used to point out specific items, it functions as a demonstrative pronoun. It indicates specific nouns that are near or far from the speaker. For instance:

• I like them because they are colorful. (demonstrating particular items)
• Those are them we discussed earlier. (identifying previously mentioned items)

Possessive Pronoun

The possessive form related to them is theirs. While theirs is not a direct inflection of them, it is part of the same pronoun family and expresses ownership:

• The project is theirs. (indicating possession by multiple entities)

Reflexive Pronoun

When the pronoun reflects the action back onto the subject, the reflexive form themself is used. Though themself is increasingly common as a gender‑neutral reflexive, traditional grammar often pairs themselves with plural antecedents:

• The team completed the report themselves. (reflexive action)

How "Them" Functions in Sentences

Subject vs. Object

A crucial distinction in English grammar is the difference between subject and object positions. Them belongs to the object category:

• Subject: They went to the store. (subject pronoun)
• Object: We saw them at the store. (object pronoun)

Using them as a subject is a common mistake, often arising from informal speech. In formal writing, always replace them with they when it serves as the subject Easy to understand, harder to ignore. Less friction, more output..

Prepositional Phrases

Them frequently appears after prepositions such as to, for, with, by, from, and of. In these constructions, them functions as the object of the preposition:

• The gift was for them. (object of for)
• She argued with them. (object of with)

Complement

In sentences with linking verbs, them can act as a subject complement when the sentence structure implies a plural subject:

• The winners were them. (subject complement, though this construction is rare and often replaced by they)

Common Mistakes and Tips

Confusing "Them" with "Their" or "Themselves"

• Their is a possessive adjective, used before a noun: Their house is blue.
• Themselves is a reflexive pronoun, used when the subject and object refer to the same group: The students helped themselves.

Remember: Them never modifies a noun; their does It's one of those things that adds up..

Using "Them" as a Subject

Informal speech sometimes blurs the line between subject and object forms. While them is correct as an object, they is the appropriate subject pronoun:

• Incorrect: Them went to the park.
• Correct: They went to the park.

Gender‑Neutral Considerations

Modern English increasingly uses they/them as singular gender‑neutral pronouns. When referring to a single person whose gender is unknown or non‑binary, them functions as a singular object pronoun:

• I saw the student; I’ll give the book to them.

This usage is widely accepted in contemporary writing and speech.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is "them" a noun?

No, them is not a noun. It is a pronoun, which replaces nouns. Nouns name people, places, things, or ideas, whereas pronouns stand in for those nouns That's the part that actually makes a difference..

Can "them" be used as an adjective?

Them cannot function as an adjective. The adjective form that indicates possession for a plural noun is their. For example: Their car is parked outside.

How does "them" differ from "those"?

Them is a pronoun that directly stands in for a noun. Those is a demonstrative adjective used before a noun to point out specific items:

• I like them. (pronoun)
• I like those books. (adjective + noun

Understanding the distinct roles of pronouns is fundamental to clear and effective communication. As we've explored, them is consistently an object pronoun, serving as the recipient of an action or following a preposition. Its counterpart, they, is reserved for the subject position. While informal usage sometimes blurs these lines, adhering to this distinction in formal writing ensures grammatical precision.

The evolution of language is also evident in the widespread acceptance of singular they/them for gender-neutral reference, a testament to English's adaptability. Because of that, by recognizing these contexts—whether them follows a verb, a preposition, or stands in for a singular individual—you can figure out its usage with confidence. In the long run, the correct application of them hinges on identifying its grammatical function within the sentence, a skill that sharpens both writing and speech.

I like those books.* (adjective + noun)

Quick Reference: Them vs. Related Words