Compared to many languages, English is surprisingly simple when it comes to gender — and at the same time, surprisingly emotional. Some languages give every noun a gender. English does not. Instead, English uses gender mostly through pronouns, and understanding how they work helps you speak more clearly, respectfully, and naturally.
This guide will walk you through how English handles gender, how pronouns function, and how modern English speakers use gender-neutral language in daily communication.
English And Gender: The Basics
English nouns do not have grammatical gender. A chair is not masculine. A table is not feminine. A Yak is… well, majestic, but still grammatically neutral.
Where gender shows up is mainly in:
• personal pronouns (he, she, they)
• possessive pronouns (his, her, theirs)
• reflexive pronouns (himself, herself, themselves)
These pronouns refer to people, not objects — and this is where the gender element appears.
The Three Main Personal Pronoun Groups
1. Masculine
• he
• him
• his
• himself
Examples:
“He forgot his keys.”
“Please give him the message.”
2. Feminine
• she
• her
• hers
• herself
Examples:
“She finished her assignment early.”
“That book is hers.”
3. Gender-Neutral
• they
• them
• their
• theirs
• themselves
Examples:
“Someone left their umbrella.”
“Tell them I’ll call later.”
Even though “they” traditionally refers to more than one person, English speakers have used singular they for hundreds of years. Today, it’s common, natural, and widely accepted — both for unknown gender (“Someone…”) and for people who personally use “they” as their pronoun.
Using Pronouns When You Don’t Know The Person’s Gender
This is one of English’s most practical features. When you don’t know whether a person is male or female, you simply use they.
Examples:
• “If anyone calls, tell them I’ll be back soon.”
• “Every student must submit their form.”
• “Someone forgot their phone.”
This avoids guessing, assumptions, and awkward moments.
Talking About Objects And Animals
Most objects use it — not he or she.
Examples:
• “Where is the remote? I can’t find it.”
• “The fridge stopped working. It needs repair.”
Animals can be:
• it (general animal)
• he/she (pets or animals with known gender)
Examples:
• “The bird built its nest.”
• “My dog is very smart. She knows five tricks.”
If English gave yaks pronouns, they would, of course, demand special majestic treatment… but we’re sticking with “it” for now.
Gender-Neutral Language In Modern English
You’ll often hear English speakers use gender-neutral options in situations where the gender doesn’t matter or shouldn’t be assumed.
Gender-Neutral Job Titles
Many old-fashioned job titles used gender (policeman, fireman, mailman). Modern English uses neutral forms:
• police officer
• firefighter
• letter carrier / mail carrier
• server (instead of waiter/waitress)
Neutral Words For People
• person
• friend
• colleague
• partner
• sibling (instead of brother/sister)
Using these helps keep communication clear and inclusive — and avoids mistakes.
Matching Pronouns To The Person You’re Talking About
This is simple:
• If someone uses he/him, use those.
• If someone uses she/her, use those.
• If someone uses they/them, use those.
English pronouns reflect identity, not grammar rules. Using the correct pronoun shows respect — just like calling someone by the name they prefer.
Common Mistakes Learners Make
Mistake 1: Using “it” for people
In English, “it” is almost never used for humans.
Incorrect:
“Where is your friend? It was here earlier.”
Correct:
“Where is your friend? They were here earlier.”
Mistake 2: Mixing up possessive forms
• his → belongs to him
• her → belongs to her
• their → belongs to them
Example:
“The student forgot their notebook.” (Correct for unknown gender)
Mistake 3: Thinking “they” is always plural
Singular they is completely natural and widely used.
Incorrect:
“Someone left their keys. They is late.”
Correct:
“Someone left their keys. They are late.”
Yes — even when singular, “they” takes are, not is.
How To Practice Gender And Pronouns
A. Replace The Noun With A Pronoun
• “Maria is tired.” → “She is tired.”
• “The kids are playing.” → “They are playing.”
B. Use “They” For Unknown People
Imagine a situation:
“A customer arrived early. They want to speak to you.”
C. Describe People You Know
• “My brother loves his job.”
• “My sister brought her laptop.”
• “My coworker Jamie said they’re coming later.”
D. Listen For Pronouns In Real Conversations
Podcasts, conversations, movies — pronouns fly around constantly. Spot them and ask yourself why a speaker chose that one.
Practice Exercises
Exercise A: Fill In The Correct Pronoun
- ___ forgot their wallet. (someone unknown)
- This is Emma. ___ will join us later.
- The dog wagged ___ tail.
- If a student needs help, tell ___ to come to my office.
Exercise B: Correct The Sentence
- “Every passenger must show his ticket.”
- “A person should always express himself clearly.”
- “Someone left his water bottle.”
Rewrite them using modern, neutral English.
Exercise C: Write Your Own
Write three sentences about real people in your life using different pronouns — he, she, and they.
Yak’s Final Chewables
Understanding gender in English and pronouns unlocks clearer, more confident communication. Because English doesn’t use grammatical gender for objects, you can focus on what really matters — talking about people clearly, respectfully, and naturally.
Once you get the hang of he, she, they, and it, you’ll notice that English pronouns work like helpful little signposts guiding the listener through your meaning. And if you ever forget which pronoun to use… just do what a polite Yak would do: ask kindly, listen carefully, and carry on with confidence.