Personal Pronouns
Personal Pronouns may be divided into Subject Pronouns and Object Pronouns.[1]
Subject Pronouns
 yo |
nosotros, nosotras |
| tú |
vosotros, vosotras |
| él |
ellos |
| ella |
ellas |
| usted (Ud.) |
ustedes (Uds.) |
Note: yo = I, tú = you (informal), usted (Ud.) = you (formal), él = he, ella = she, nosotros = we (males/mixed group), nosotras = we (females), vosotros = you guys (informal, males/mixed group), vosotras = you guys (informal, females), ellos = they (males/mixed group), ellas = they(females), ustedes (Uds.) = you all (formal)
Spanish Subject Pronouns are used in a similar way as in English. Exception: These pronouns do not need to be expressed since the verb itself will identify the subject. In the examples below the subject pronoun is omitted without changing the meaning:
Yo quiero comer. - I want to eat.
Quiero comer. - I want to eat.
Tú quieres salir. - You want to leave.
Quieres salir. - You want to leave.
El quiere dormir. - He wants to sleep.
Quiere dormir. - He wants to sleep.
Ellos quieren escribir. - They want to write.
Quieren escribir. - They want to write.
Usually, the subject pronoun is omitted when no emphasis is required and where no ambiguity is possible, as:
Compro las telas. - I buy the cloths.
Gira las letras y firma las cartas - He draws the bills and signs the letters.
Ha tenido una entrevista con su abogado. - She has had an interview with her lawyer.
The subject pronoun is used to create emphasis, as:
Yo he comprado el yate y no usted. - I have bought the yacht and not you.
Related Topics
Footnote 1: Grammarians often give the names:
- Nominative case for the Subject pronouns
- Accusative case for the Direct object pronouns
- Dative case for the Indirect object pronouns
Category: General Spanish