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# they

pronoun (they, them, their, theirs, themselves)

«they» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. They means the people or things already named, more than one. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/they/#m1)
2. They can mean people in general: «They say it will rain». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/they/#m2)
3. They can also be used for one person when you do not know or do not say if the person is a boy or a girl. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/they/#m3)
4. (casual) «They» can mean the people in charge: «They're closing the pool». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/they/#m4)
5. (casual, nonstandard) «They» is said for «there» or «their» in some speech: «they was», «they got» (UK, US South); «they're» is often typed «there». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/they/#m5)
6. (formal) Exams avoid «they» and repeat the noun or say «the said persons», «the aforementioned pupils». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/they/#m6)

### In the lessons

the people or things just counted; «they» may mean several people together; phrases: «they have in all», «between them», «each of them»; in casual talk «they reckon», «they was» (nonstandard), «y'all» (US South, you all); in rough talk «they're idiots», «they can get lost»; in the exam voice «the said parties», «the aforementioned», «the two persons collectively»

### Examples

- Tom and Mia have 5 apples each. How many do they have in all? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/they/#x1)
- They share 12 cookies equally. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/they/#x2)
- My grandparents live far away, but they visit at Christmas. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/they/#x3)
- The ducks swam over, and we fed them. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/they/#x4)
- Someone left their bag on the bus. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/they/#x5)
- They say the new park opens soon. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/they/#x6)
- The twins did it all by themselves. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/they/#x7)
- They reckon the bus'll be 10 minutes late. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/they/#x8)
- They was gonna come but they never (nonstandard). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/they/#x9)
- They can sod off, I'm not giving 'em my chips. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/they/#x10)
- The two pupils, collectively, possess 10 apples. Ascertain the share of each, given equal division. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/they/#x11)
- They're closing the pool for a week. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/they/#x12)
- They complain most who suffer least. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/they/#x13)

### Note

Forms: they (subject), them (object), their (owner), theirs. Trap: «their», «there» and «they're» sound the same. «N of them» is a part taken from the whole just named. «they» may mean several people together: count each one. «they was» is common in speech but school English says «they were». «collectively» in an exam means all of them together.

## In Jewish tradition

the people or things just counted; «they» may mean several people together; phrases: «they have in all», «between them», «each of them»; in casual talk «they reckon», «they was» (nonstandard), «y'all» (US South, you all); in rough talk «they're idiots», «they can get lost»; in the exam voice «the said parties», «the aforementioned», «the two persons collectively»

### Examples

- And they brought Joseph into Egypt. (Torah GEN.37.28, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/they/#x1)
- I am the LORD their God. (Torah EXO.29.46, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/they/#x2)
- 'Harass the Midianites, and smite them; (Torah NUM.25.17, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/they/#x3)
- And they went out at noon. (Prophets 1KI.20.16, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/they/#x4)
- Then the king hearkened unto them. (Writings 2CH.24.17, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/they/#x5)
- So they executed judgment upon Joash. (Writings 2CH.24.24, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/they/#x6)

### Note

Forms: they (subject), them (object), their (owner), theirs. Trap: «their», «there» and «they're» sound the same. «N of them» is a part taken from the whole just named. «they» may mean several people together: count each one. «they was» is common in speech but school English says «they were». «collectively» in an exam means all of them together.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «they» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/they/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«they» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/they.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «they» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/they/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«they» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/they.html) on Mova free.