Pronoun “You” – 23 Common Grammar Topics in the Cambridge Starters Exam

The pronoun “you” is one of the personal pronouns used to refer to the person or people being spoken to, meaning it directly refers to someone in a conversation. Unlike other personal pronouns, “you” is unique because it works for both singular and plural situations. In summary, “you” is simple and flexible, used for one or more people, both as subject and object. It always matches with a plural verb form and stays the same in all formalities.

1. Meaning and Usage: Singular and Plural Use:
“You” as a singular pronoun: Used when speaking to one person.
Examples:
📝 You should review your notes before the exam tomorrow to feel more confident.
☕ You left your coffee cup on the counter, and it’s still warm.
🚴 You need to fix the tire on your bike before the long ride this afternoon.

“You” as a plural pronoun: Used when speaking to a group of people.
Examples:
🎉 You all did an amazing job on the presentation, and your hard work paid off.
🏕️ You need to set up your tents before it gets dark at the camping site.
🏫 You are expected to attend the school assembly at 9:00 a.m. in the auditorium.

When speaking to more than one person, “you” stays the same.

2. Grammatical Role: Subject and Object Form:
“You” can function as the subject (the person doing the action) of a sentence, meaning it performs the action of the verb.
Examples:
🧑‍🏫 You need to complete your assignment before the teacher collects all the papers.
🎉 You are invited to the birthday party this weekend at my house.
🧳 You should pack warm clothes because the weather will be cold in the mountains.

“You” can also be the object of a sentence, receiving the action of the verb.
Examples:
🍰 I saved a slice of cake for you because I know you love chocolate.
🚗 She will give you a ride to the event if your car is still broken.
📚 I borrowed these books for you, knowing that you enjoy reading about history.

3. Verb Agreement: When using “you” as the subject, the verb is always in the plural form, even if referring to one person.
Examples:
📚 You are responsible for organizing the books in the library by tomorrow morning.
🍲 You have finished your meal, but the dessert will be served soon.
🎤 You are all expected to give a short presentation during the team meeting next week.
🎒 You need to pack your bags quickly because the bus will leave in ten minutes.

4. Formal and Informal Use: “You” does not change whether you are speaking formally or informally. It’s the same whether addressing a friend or a boss or someone in authority
Examples:
🎮 You should come over this weekend, and we can play some video games together.
🍕 Are you free tonight? We can grab pizza at that new place downtown.
📊 You requested the report by today, and I’ll send it over by 5 p.m.
📅 Could you please confirm your availability for the team meeting next Monday at 9 a.m.?
🏛️ Could you provide further guidance on how we should proceed with the project?
🎓 You gave great advice during the seminar, and it has inspired many of us.

5. Possessive Forms:
The possessive adjective form of “you” is your, used to show ownership
Examples:
🖊️ Your pen is on the table, next to the stack of notebooks.
📱 Don’t forget to charge your phone before you leave for the trip.

The possessive pronoun form of “you” is yours, used to indicate possession without repeating the noun.
Examples:
📚 The blue book is yours, but the red one belongs to Sarah.
🍴 This seat is yours, and I reserved it just for you at the dinner.