them

them
them
1. see they.
2. Use of them as a demonstrative pronoun and adjective is non-standard or dialectal in current English:

• Them's my sentiments —E. M. Forster, 1924

• I didn't know much about planes in them days —P. McCabe, 1992.

————————
they, them, their
These three pronouns have all been used since the 16c to refer back to a singular pronoun, especially an indefinite pronoun such as anyone, everyone, nobody, someone, etc.:

• If someone walks across it, they interrupt the beam —P. Niesewand, 1979

• It could be you, your sister or your girlfriend who tries to abandon their child next —Big Issue, 1998

• Before you entrust your children to a babysitter, ask them into your home so that you can talk over what's involved in the job —BUPA Factsheet, 2004 [OEC].

The value of this device has been enhanced in recent years by its validity as a gender-neutral option in place of more awkward conventions such as he or she, his or her, etc. For a fuller discussion of this issue see gender-neutrality.

Modern English usage. 2014.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Them — is the English third person accusative (i.e., used after a preposition or as the object of a verb) plural personal pronoun. They is the nominative form (i.e., subject of a phrase). Them is sometimes also used in the singular as the accusative… …   Wikipedia

  • Them — ([th][e^]m), pron. [AS. [eth][=ae]m, dat. pl. of the article, but influenced by the Scand. use of the corresponding form [thorn]eim as a personal pronoun. See {They}.] The objective case of they. See {They}. [1913 Webster] Go ye rather to them… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Them! — For the films of the same name, see Them (2006 film) or Them (film). Infobox Film name = Them! caption = Original film poster director = Gordon Douglas producer = David Weisbart writer = Ted Sherdeman Russell Hughes George Worthing Yates (story)… …   Wikipedia

  • Them or Us — Infobox Album | Name = Them or Us Type = Album Artist = Frank Zappa Released = October 18 1984 Recorded = most November 1981 June 1984 Genre = Hard rock, progressive rock, art rock, comedy rock Length = 70:45 Label = Barking Pumpkin… …   Wikipedia

  • them — I. pronoun Date: bef 12th century objective case of they 1. they 1 used as object of a verb or preposition < took them back > < gave it to them > 2. those used especially as antecedent to a relative pronoun < the best of them that speak this… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Them — He He (h[=e]), pron. [nom. {He}; poss. {His} (h[i^]z); obj. {Him} (h[i^]m); pl. nom. {They} ([th][=a]); poss. {Their} or {Theirs} ([th][^a]rz or [th][=a]rz); obj. {Them} ([th][e^]m).] [AS. h[=e], masc., he[ o], fem., hit, neut.; pl. h[=i], or hie …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Them — She She, pron. [sing. nom. {She}; poss. {Her}. or {Hers}; obj. {Her}; pl. nom. {They}; poss. {Their}or {Theirs}; obj. {Them}.] [OE. she, sche, scheo, scho, AS. se[ o], fem. of the definite article, originally a demonstrative pronoun; cf. OS. siu …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • them — Speed Speed, v. t. 1. To cause to be successful, or to prosper; hence, to aid; to favor. Fortune speed us! Shak. [1913 Webster] With rising gales that speed their happy flight. Dryden. [1913 Webster] 2. To cause to make haste; to dispatch with… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Them, Denmark — Them is a small town in central Denmark, located in Silkeborg municipality (formerly Them municipality) in Jutland, lying a few kilometers south west of Silkeborg, and north east of Bryrup. BusinessThe town is home to the Danish headquarters of… …   Wikipedia

  • Them (band) — Infobox musical artist Name = Them Img capt = Background = group or band Alias = Origin = Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK Genre = Rock, blue eyed soul, garage rock, blues rock Years active = 1964 1971 1979 Label = Decca, Parrott Records Happy Tiger …   Wikipedia

  • Them Bones — For the novel of the same name, see Them Bones (novel). For the spiritual song, see Dem Bones. Infobox Single Name = Them Bones Caption = Artist = Alice in Chains from Album = Dirt A side = B side = Released = 1992 Format = |CD, Cassette, Vinyl… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”