A1 Spanish GrammarPersonal Pronouns
Learn Spanish subject pronouns (yo, tú, él, ella, etc.) and understand when to use or omit them. Spanish often drops subject pronouns since verb endings indicate the subject.
1Subject Pronouns
Spanish has specific pronouns for each person. Unlike English, Spanish distinguishes between informal (tú) and formal (usted) 'you'. In Latin America, ustedes replaces vosotros for all plural 'you' forms.
Spanish Subject Pronouns
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | yo (I) | nosotros/as (we) |
| 2nd informal | tú (you) | vosotros/as (you all - Spain) |
| 2nd formal | usted (you) | ustedes (you all) |
| 3rd | él/ella (he/she) | ellos/ellas (they) |
Examples
Yo soy María.
I am María.
yo - first person singular
¿Tú hablas español?
Do you speak Spanish?
tú - informal 'you'
Ella es mi hermana.
She is my sister.
ella - third person feminine
Nosotros vivimos en Madrid.
We live in Madrid.
nosotros - masculine/mixed we
2Tú vs. Usted (Formal vs. Informal)
Tú is used with friends, family, children, and peers. Usted (often abbreviated Ud.) is formal, used with strangers, elders, and in professional settings. Usted takes third-person verb forms.
Tú vs. Usted
| Situation | Pronoun | Example |
|---|---|---|
| friends, family | tú | ¿Cómo estás? |
| strangers, formal | usted | ¿Cómo está usted? |
| children | tú | ¿Qué quieres? |
| boss, elder | usted | ¿Qué desea? |
Examples
¿Cómo te llamas? (tú)
What's your name? (informal)
tú form with friend
¿Cómo se llama usted?
What is your name? (formal)
usted - polite form
¿Tienes tiempo?
Do you have time? (informal)
tú - tienes
¿Tiene usted tiempo?
Do you have time? (formal)
usted - tiene (3rd person)
3Gender in Pronouns
Spanish pronouns show gender. Nosotros/ellos are masculine or mixed groups. Nosotras/ellas are used for all-female groups only. This gender distinction is important in Spanish.
Gender Forms
| Pronoun | Masculine | Feminine |
|---|---|---|
| we | nosotros | nosotras |
| you all (Spain) | vosotros | vosotras |
| they | ellos | ellas |
Examples
Nosotras somos estudiantes.
We (women) are students.
nosotras - all female
Ellos son mis amigos.
They are my friends (m/mixed).
ellos - male or mixed
Ellas trabajan juntas.
They (women) work together.
ellas - all female
Vosotras sois de España.
You all (women) are from Spain.
vosotras - Spain only
4Omitting Subject Pronouns
Spanish often omits subject pronouns because verb endings indicate the subject. Use pronouns for emphasis, contrast, or clarity. This is called 'pro-drop' and is natural in Spanish.
When to Use/Omit Pronouns
| Situation | Use Pronoun? | Example |
|---|---|---|
| normal sentence | omit | Hablo español |
| emphasis | use | YO hablo español |
| contrast | use | Él come, ella no |
| clarity (3rd person) | use | Ella trabaja aquí |
Examples
Hablo español.
I speak Spanish.
pronoun omitted - verb shows 'I'
Yo hablo español, no él.
I speak Spanish, not him.
yo for emphasis/contrast
¿Tienes hambre?
Are you hungry?
tú omitted - clear from verb
Ella estudia, él trabaja.
She studies, he works.
pronouns clarify who