Second-Person Pronouns │List & Examples
The second-person pronouns—“you,” “yours,” “yourself,” and “yourselves”—refer to the person or people that you’re speaking or writing to.
They are a type of personal pronoun that can be a subject, an object, possessive, or reflexive just like third-person and first-person pronouns.
There are fewer second-person pronouns than first- or third-person pronouns for two reasons:
- The second-person subject pronouns and object pronouns are both “you,” but first- and third-person pronouns have different subject and object forms (e.g., “I” and “me”).
- “You” and the possessive pronoun “yours” can be plural or singular whereas first- and third-person pronouns have different singular and plural forms (e.g., “I” and “we”).
Second person is common in everyday speech and some formal writing, but it’s usually unnecessary and too informal in academic writing.
| Subject | Object | Possessive | Reflexive | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | you | you | yours | yourself |
| Plural | you | you | yours | yourselves |
The second-person subject and object pronoun (you)
There’s no distinction between subject pronouns and object pronouns in the second person. As a subject or object pronoun, “you” can play any of these roles in sentences:
| Use | Example | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Subject | You will receive an email confirmation when the order has been shipped. | “You” can be a plural or singular subject of a sentence. |
| Predicate nominative | My favorite traveling companions are you, Bert, and Chad. | As a singular or plural object pronoun, “you” goes after a linking verb and describes or renames the subject. |
| Direct object | After careful consideration, we chose you for the position, and we want you to start next week. | When “you” is a direct object, it receives the action of a verb like “chose” or “want.” |
| Indirect object | Louis is knitting you a hat for your birthday, but it’s not finished yet. | As an indirect object, “you” receives a direct object like “hat” in this sentence. |
| Object of a preposition | Could I carpool with you on Friday? | “You” can be the object of a preposition like “with,” “from,” or “to.” |
You in contractions
“You” is a subject pronoun in a few contractions that also include a to-be verb or an auxiliary verb. The apostrophe goes after “you” in contractions like “you’re” to represent the missing letters in the abbreviated verb.
| Contraction | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| you’re | you are | You’re one of my favorite people, and I can’t wait to spend more time together. |
| you’d | you had or you would | When I saw your LinkedIn profile, I knew that you’d be perfect for the business analyst role. |
| you’ll | you will | If you enjoy Thai cuisine and smoked meats, then you’ll love Chef Liberdo’s new restaurant. |
| you’ve | you have | After you’ve chilled the crust for 30 minutes, bake it at 375 for 15 minutes. |
Implied you in imperative sentences
In sentences that use the imperative mood for instructions or commands, “you” is the implied subject, but it’s not directly stated. Imperative sentences often begin with action verbs in the simple present tense. They’re common in recipes, how-to articles, and technical manuals.
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Plant the spinach seeds 4 inches apart and ¼ inch deep.
The second-person possessive pronoun (yours)
The second-person possessive pronoun “yours” represents another noun (the antecedent), which belongs to the person or people being addressed (e.g., “These turquoise boots must be yours”).
“Yours” is similar to the possessive determiner “your,” which must modify a noun (e.g., “your boots”). But as a possessive determiner, “your” can’t be used without the noun it modifies. “Yours” can stand on its own because it’s a possessive pronoun.
Possessive pronouns like “yours” are useful when you need to ask or explain whom something belongs to. “Yours” is also part of the email and letter sign-offs “yours truly” and “sincerely yours.”
If this car is yours, I will need you to move it because it’s blocking my driveway.
I’m sorry, but my dog is so much cuter than yours.
Second-person reflexive pronouns (yourself and yourselves)
The second-person reflexive pronouns are the only ones with different singular and plural forms. “Yourself” is singular, and “yourselves” is plural.
“Yourself” or “yourselves” can be a direct object, indirect object, or object of a preposition when the subject of the sentence is “you.” These reflexive pronouns are often part of imperative sentences, where “you” isn’t stated directly, but rather, implied (e.g., “Buy yourself something nice”).
Second-person reflexive pronouns are sometimes intensive pronouns, in which case, they emphasize “you” (e.g., “You said yourself that we should stay in tonight”). An intensive pronoun can go after “you” (e.g., “you yourself”), after “you” and a verb (e.g., “you said yourself”), or at the end of a sentence (e.g., “I know all of you can do this yourselves”).
| Use | Example |
|---|---|
| Direct object | If you could travel back in time and interview yourself at 10 years old, what would you ask? |
| Indirect object | You should give yourselves a full hour to complete this test. |
| Object of a preposition | Always be kind to yourself. |
| Intensive pronoun | You said yourself that we can’t afford another pet. |
Second-person pronouns in academic writing
In academic writing, it’s almost never necessary to address the reader directly with second-person pronouns. For example, an essay or research paper usually shouldn’t include “you” or imperative sentences.
A common mistake is to use “you” for a hypothetical group of people. This is imprecise when the sentence doesn’t apply to the reader. Similarly, phrases like “as you can see” are too conversational for academic writing. If you see second-person pronouns in your academic writing, replace “you” with the name of a specific group of people or with “one.”
- In order to qualify for a loan, you need a good credit score and proof of income.
- In order to qualify for a loan, prospective homebuyers need a good credit score and proof of income.
- In order to qualify for a loan, one needs a good credit score and proof of income.
If you’re writing a process or how-to essay, though, second-person pronouns are probably necessary.
There are many other formal and informal modes of writing that require second-person pronouns and determiners, such as cover letters, thank you messages, instruction manuals, and blog posts.
I’d like to set up a meeting with you to discuss your organization’s needs.
Other second-person pronouns
There are a few other second-person pronouns that aren’t part of formal modern English but that you might encounter in everyday speech or older writing.
Y’all and other plural forms
There are a few plural versions of “you” that are common in casual writing and everyday speech depending on the region.
| Pronoun | Notes |
|---|---|
| y’all | A contraction for “you all” that’s common in the US, especially in the South where it originated |
| yinz | A short version of an older colloquial term “you ones” that’s mainly used in Western Pennsylvania |
| you guys | This plural for “you” is common in the US, the UK, Canada, and Australia, but workplaces are increasingly asking employees to avoid it as part of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives |
| you lot | Used in the UK and Australia |
| yous(e) | Used in Ireland and parts of the UK, Australia, and Canada |
| you and yours | An idiom for “you and your family” that’s common in salutations and well wishes (e.g., “Happy New Year to you and yours!”) |
Archaic second-person pronouns
If you’re reading historical documents or literature in Early Modern English, you might encounter archaic second-person pronouns such as “thou” or “ye.” Early Modern English had different forms for singular and plural and formal and informal speech or writing.
| Subject | Object | Possessive | Reflexive | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singular informal | thou | thee | thine | thyself |
| Singular formal | ye/you | you | yours | yourself |
| Plural | ye/you | you | yours | yourself |
Frequently asked questions about second person pronouns
- Is you singular or plural?
-
The subject pronoun “you” can be singular or plural.
If you’re talking to one person, “you” is singular (e.g., “You are a motivated student”).
If you’re talking to two or more people, “you” is plural (e.g., “You are all great students”).
If you’re unsure about when to use you in your writing, QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you choose the correct pronoun.
- Is they a second-person pronoun?
-
They is not a second-person pronoun. It’s a third-person pronoun that can be plural or singular. Plural “they” refers to two or more people or objects (e.g., “The cats are sleeping because they are tired”). Singular “they” refers to one nonbinary or hypothetical person whose gender is irrelevant or unknown (e.g., “I don’t know who painted this mural, but they are so talented”).
QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you use pronouns like “they” correctly.
- Is you a pronoun?
-
You is a second-person pronoun that refers to the person or people you’re speaking or writing to (e.g., “A package arrived for you today”). It can be plural or singular and serve as a subject pronoun or object pronoun in a sentence.
QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you use second-person pronouns correctly.
