You, You Guys, Y'all: Second-Person Pronouns in American English
2021-03-05
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1In an episode of the humorous television show Family Guy, an unusual short discussion takes place:
2Hey! You're not in uniform. Are you guys cops?
3Are you guys cops?
4They know we're not cops!
5Today's report is not about police, criminals, or funny shows.
6Instead, it is about pronouns.
7In this Everyday Grammar, we will explore second-person plural pronouns in American English and other kinds of English.
8Personal pronouns are among the first pronouns you learn in English.
9Think of words such as I, you, we, and they.
10In English grammar, we often describe pronouns in terms of person and number.
11The person can be 1st, 2nd, or 3rd.
12The number can be singular or plural.
13Take the pronoun I. It is the first-person singular pronoun.
14The first-person plural pronoun is we.
15The third-person pronoun also has its singular and plural forms.
16But the second-person pronouns are a little unusual.
17You is both the singular and plural form.
18You might wonder how English speakers deal with speaking to others.
19How do they show if they are already speaking to one person or more than one person, especially in everyday discussions?
20English speakers around the world have different ways that they deal with this problem, as we will see.
21Speakers of American English have many ways to show the difference between second-person singular and second-person plural.
22Sometimes they use both of you when speaking to two people; sometimes they use all of you or some of you when speaking to groups.
23Imagine a lawyer needs two people to sign a document.
24The lawyer might say:
25I need both of you to sign this document.
26If the same lawyer were speaking to a group of people, he or she might say:
27I need all of you to sign this document.
28Or:
29Some of you need to sign this document.
30In everyday speech, Americans have several other ways they show the difference between the second-person singular and the second-person plural.
31Think back to the words you heard at the beginning of this report:
32Hey! You're not in uniform. Are you guys cops?
33Are you guys cops?
34They know we're not cops!
35Note that both speakers used the term you guys to show that they were speaking to several people.
36Imagine this situation. Schoolchildren are getting out of control. One student might tell two or more other students:
37You guys need to calm down!
38In some parts of the United States, speakers use the term y'all as the second-person plural.
39A video called The Many Meanings of "Y'all" explores the many uses of the term.
40The video notes that a speaker might greet two or more people by saying the following:
41Hey y'all!
42But please note that the video also makes fun of the difference between y'all and you guys, which we will explore in detail in a future report.
43"Hey you guys, what are you all looking at?"
44Another second-person plural pronoun, youse, is also used in America, but such usage is growing increasingly rare, a 2017 opinion story in the Chicago Tribune suggests.
45The opinion story described the decline of youse in America and noted that you guys and y'all have risen to take the place of youse.
46When you listen to English speakers from around the world, you will hear slightly different second-person plural pronoun usage.
47In a paper on New Zealand English, Laurie Bauer notes that some speakers use a second-person plural form youse, as well as other forms such as youse guys and you guys.
48Bauer suggests that youse likely comes from Ireland, "although it is also found in parts of Scotland and the north of England."
49He adds that you guys likely comes from America.
50For now, you should be very careful about using any pronouns other than you.
51On writing tests, for example, you would probably not want to use y'all or you guys.
52The next time you are watching films or listening to everyday discussions in English, pay careful attention to how speakers use the second-person plural pronouns.
53Over time, you will build a strong understanding of when and how to use different pronouns.
54I'm John Russell.
1In an episode of the humorous television show Family Guy, an unusual short discussion takes place: 2Hey! You're not in uniform. Are you guys cops? 3Are you guys cops? 4They know we're not cops! 5Today's report is not about police, criminals, or funny shows. Instead, it is about pronouns. In this Everyday Grammar, we will explore second-person plural pronouns in American English and other kinds of English. 6Pronouns 7Personal pronouns are among the first pronouns you learn in English. Think of words such as I, you, we, and they. 8In English grammar, we often describe pronouns in terms of person and number. 9The person can be 1st, 2nd, or 3rd. The number can be singular or plural. 10Take the pronoun I. It is the first-person singular pronoun. The first-person plural pronoun is we. The third-person pronoun also has its singular and plural forms. 11But the second-person pronouns are a little unusual. You is both the singular and plural form. 12You might wonder how English speakers deal with speaking to others. How do they show if they are already speaking to one person or more than one person, especially in everyday discussions? 13English speakers around the world have different ways that they deal with this problem, as we will see. 14American English 15Speakers of American English have many ways to show the difference between second-person singular and second-person plural. Sometimes they use both of you when speaking to two people; sometimes they use all of you or some of you when speaking to groups. 16Imagine a lawyer needs two people to sign a document. The lawyer might say: 17I need both of you to sign this document. 18If the same lawyer were speaking to a group of people, he or she might say: 19I need all of you to sign this document. 20Or: 21Some of you need to sign this document. 22In everyday speech, Americans have several other ways they show the difference between the second-person singular and the second-person plural. 23Think back to the words you heard at the beginning of this report: 24Hey! You're not in uniform. Are you guys cops? 25Are you guys cops? 26They know we're not cops! 27Note that both speakers used the term you guys to show that they were speaking to several people. 28Imagine this situation. Schoolchildren are getting out of control. One student might tell two or more other students: 29You guys need to calm down! 30In some parts of the United States, speakers use the term y'all as the second-person plural. A video called The Many Meanings of "Y'all" explores the many uses of the term. 31The video notes that a speaker might greet two or more people by saying the following: 32Hey y'all! 33But please note that the video also makes fun of the difference between y'all and you guys, which we will explore in detail in a future report. 34"Hey you guys, what are you all looking at?" 35Another second-person plural pronoun, youse, is also used in America, but such usage is growing increasingly rare, a 2017 opinion story in the Chicago Tribune suggests. 36The opinion story described the decline of youse in America and noted that you guys and y'all have risen to take the place of youse. 37Different kinds of English 38When you listen to English speakers from around the world, you will hear slightly different second-person plural pronoun usage. 39In a paper on New Zealand English, Laurie Bauer notes that some speakers use a second-person plural form youse, as well as other forms such as youse guys and you guys. Bauer suggests that youse likely comes from Ireland, "although it is also found in parts of Scotland and the north of England." 40He adds that you guys likely comes from America. 41Closing thoughts 42For now, you should be very careful about using any pronouns other than you. On writing tests, for example, you would probably not want to use y'all or you guys. The next time you are watching films or listening to everyday discussions in English, pay careful attention to how speakers use the second-person plural pronouns. Over time, you will build a strong understanding of when and how to use different pronouns. 43I'm John Russell. 44John Russell wrote this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. 45____________________________________________________________ 46Words in This Story 47episode - n. a television show, radio show, etc., that is one part of a series 48uniform - n. a special kind of clothing that is worn by all the members of a group or organization (such as an army or team) 49singular - adj. grammar : showing or indicating no more than one thing 50plural - adj. grammar : relating to a form of a word that refers to more than one person or thing 51greet -- v. to meet (someone who has just arrived) with usually friendly and polite words and actions