Language/Spanish/Grammar/Subject-Pronouns

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Spanish Grammar → Introduction to Spanish → Subject Pronouns

As a Spanish language teacher with 20 years of experience, I know that the best way to begin learning a new language is by starting with the basics. In this lesson, we will cover one of the most fundamental concepts in Spanish grammar: subject pronouns.

Subject pronouns are words that replace the subject of a sentence. In English, they include "I," "you," "he," "she," "it," "we," and "they." In Spanish, subject pronouns have the same function, but their forms are different.

Once you've mastered this lesson, take a look at these related pages: Use the letters V and B & Comaratives and Superlatives.

What are Subject Pronouns?

Subject pronouns serve as the subjects of sentences. They indicate who or what is performing the action in a sentence. Spanish subject pronouns have singular and plural forms, as well as masculine and feminine forms.

Here is a list of Spanish subject pronouns:

• Yo (I)
• Tú (You - informal)
• Él (He)
• Ella (She)
• Usted (You - formal)
• Nosotros (We - masculine or mixed gender group)
• Nosotras (We - feminine group)
• Vosotros (You all - informal masculine or mixed gender group in Spain)
• Vosotras (You all - informal feminine group in Spain)
• Ellos (They - masculine or mixed gender group)
• Ellas (They - feminine group)
• Ustedes (You all - formal or informal in Spain and Latin America)

Keep in mind that in Spain, they use "vosotros" instead of "ustedes," and you may also hear "vos" in some Latin American countries as a substitute for "tú."

Pronunciation of Subject Pronouns

To properly use subject pronouns, it's essential to understand their pronunciation. Here is a table with Spanish subject pronouns, their pronunciation, and English translations:

Spanish	Pronunciation	English
Yo	Yoh	I
Tú	Too	You (informal)
Él	Ehl	He
Ella	Eh-yah	She
Usted	Oos-tehd	You (formal)
Nosotros	Noh-soh-trohs	We (masculine or mixed gender group)
Nosotras	Noh-soh-trahs	We (feminine group)
Vosotros	Bo-soh-trohs	You all (informal masculine or mixed gender group in Spain)
Vosotras	Bo-soh-trahs	You all (informal feminine group in Spain)
Ellos	Eh-yohs	They (masculine or mixed gender group)
Ellas	Eh-yahs	They (feminine group)
Ustedes	Oos-teh-dehs	You all (formal or informal in Spain and Latin America)

Note that the "r" sound in "nosotros" and "vosotros" is rolled, indicating a distinctive Spanish pronunciation.

Examples of Subject Pronouns in Use

Here are some examples of subject pronouns in action:

• Yo como una manzana. (I eat an apple.)
• Tú eres mi amigo. (You are my friend.)
• Él trabaja mucho. (He works a lot.)
• Ella canta muy bien. (She sings very well.)
• Usted es un buen maestro. (You are a good teacher.)
• Nosotros vivimos en España. (We live in Spain.)
• Vosotras sois muy inteligentes. (You all are very intelligent.)
• Ellos juegan fútbol los fines de semana. (They play soccer on the weekends.)
• Ustedes hablan español muy bien. (You all speak Spanish very well.)

Summary

Subject pronouns are essential for constructing clear and concise sentences in Spanish. By learning and understanding them now, you will have a solid foundation for more advanced grammar topics in the future.

Remember, in Spanish, subject pronouns match the gender and number of the subjects they refer to, so make sure to use the correct forms. Practice makes perfect, so I encourage you to use subject pronouns frequently in conversation and writing to help master them.

Sources

• Subject Pronouns in Spanish
• Subject Pronouns in Spanish: Explained For Beginners
• Subject Pronouns - StudySpanish.com

Table of Contents - Spanish Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Spanish

• The Spanish Alphabet and Pronunciation
• Nouns and Gender
• Definite and Indefinite Articles
• Subject Pronouns

  ---

Verbs

• Present Tense Verbs
• Ser and Estar
• Reflexive Verbs

  ---

Adjectives

• Descriptive Adjectives
• Demonstrative Adjectives

  ---

Pronouns

• Direct Object Pronouns
• Indirect Object Pronouns

  ---

Common Words and Phrases

• Greetings and Salutations
• Numbers and Counting
• Days of the Week and Months of the Year

  ---

Food and Drink

• Common Foods
• Restaurant Phrases

  ---

Travel and Directions

• Asking for Directions
• Hotel Vocabulary

  ---

Spanish-Speaking Countries

• Spain: History and Culture
• Latin America: History and Culture

  ---

Celebrations and Festivals

• Día de los Muertos
• Cinco de Mayo

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Hispanic Heritage Month

• Notable Hispanic Figures
• Hispanic Influence on Music and Dance

Other Lessons

• Indirect Object Pronouns
• Definite and Indefinite Articles
• Los Articulos
• Be Polite
• Use of verb Haber
• Plural
• Imperfect Tense
• Present Progressive
• Tener
• How to Use Be (SER and ESTAR)

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