Referring to people
Use a person’s name first, then keep pronouns tied to the right person and role.
Who acts? · он, она, они
After naming someone, use он, она or они when the reference is clear. Repeat a name when two people could fit.
- Это Олег. Он мой брат.
- This is Oleg. He is my brother.
- Это Тамара. Она врач.
- This is Tamara. She is a doctor.
- Олег и Тамара дома. Они готовят ужин.
- Oleg and Tamara are at home. They are making dinner.
Whom? To whom?
A pronoun changes with its role: вижу его/её, but звоню ему/ей. Learn these with the verb, not as interchangeable forms.
- Я вижу Олега. Я вижу его.
- I see Oleg. I see him.
- Я звоню Тамаре. Я звоню ей.
- I am calling Tamara. I am calling her.
- Я даю детям книгу. Я даю им книгу.
- I give the children a book. I give them a book.
У него and его книга
After у, use него, неё, них for a person. Possessive его/её/их describes whose item it is and stays unchanged: его сумка, его книги.
- У него есть сумка. Это его сумка.
- He has a bag. This is his bag.
- У неё есть книги. Это её книги.
- She has books. These are her books.
Check the difference
Read the situations and choose the wording or detail that fits.
Write the word form
Complete four short sentences.
Introduce someone to a friend
Introduce someone and suggest meeting together.
Meet someone
Continue with a separate conversation about people and interests.
Open conversation →