English Reference

Word

them

US/ˈðɛm/

UK/ðˈɛm/

Definition

pron. the group of people, animals, or things you are talking about. You use this word when they are the ones receiving an action.

pron. the third-person plural object pronoun. Used as the direct or indirect object of a verb or the object of a preposition to refer to two or more people or things previously mentioned.

Examples

“I saw my friends and waved to them.”

“If you find the keys on the table, please bring them to me in the kitchen.”

“The manager interviewed several candidates yesterday and plans to contact them regarding the final decision by the end of the week.”

Examples

simple

“I saw my friends and waved to them.”

contextual

“If you find the keys on the table, please bring them to me in the kitchen.”

complex

“The manager interviewed several candidates yesterday and plans to contact them regarding the final decision by the end of the week.”

Usage

Acts as the object form of 'they'; also increasingly used as a gender-neutral singular object pronoun.

Pitfall

I gave it to they.

I gave it to them.

Learners sometimes use the subject pronoun 'they' after a preposition instead of the object pronoun 'them'.

Etymology

Etymology tree Old Norse þeimbor. Middle English þem English them From Middle English þem, from Old Norse þeim.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Related words

heherherselfhimhimselfhisitselfmeMiNEmymyselfone

Grammar

Subject & Object Pronouns

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
Frequency
Very common
Level
A1 · BeginnerOxford
Updated

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