It vs He vs She
What’s the difference between them?
It
Meaning:
'It' is a pronoun used to refer to a thing previously mentioned or easily identified. It is also a pronoun that refers to animals and things.
Examples:
1. It was an exciting day for everyone involved.
2. It looks like it's going to rain.
3. It was a pleasure meeting you.
He
Meaning:
He is a personal pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal.
Examples:
1. He gave me a hug before he left.
2. He ran all the way to the store.
3. He is going to be late for dinner.
She
Meaning:
She is a pronoun used to refer to a female.
Examples:
1. She had the most beautiful eyes.
2. She was always the first one to arrive at work.
3. She knows how to cook the best dishes.
Learn similar and opposite words to spot the difference
Synonyms
Antonyms
It
There are no direct synonyms for this word.
There are no direct antonyms for this word.
He
There are no direct synonyms for this word.
She
She
There are no direct synonyms for this word.
He
Tricks for mastery
Useful tips to understand the difference between confusing words "It", "He", "She".
1. Remember the acronym HITS (He, It, She).
2. 'It' is usually used to refer to non-living things such as animals, objects, and ideas.
3. 'He' is used to refer to a male person.
4. 'She' is used to refer to a female person.
5. Practice using these words in sentences.
6. Visualize the words by associating them with images or people. For example, you can picture a man for 'he', a woman for 'she', and an object for 'it'.
Practice English with the Promova app and avoid misusing confusing words
Frequently asked questions
When to use the first word?
The first word, 'it', is used as a pronoun when referring to things, animals, or ideas that are not human. For example, you might say 'It is raining outside' to refer to the weather, or 'It is a beautiful day' to refer to the overall atmosphere. 'It' can also be used to refer to a specific thing or concept, such as 'It is my favorite movie'.
When to use the second word?
The second word, 'he', is used to refer to a male person, animal, or thing. For example, you might say 'He is my friend' to refer to a male friend, or 'He is a brave dog' to refer to a male dog.
When to use the third word?
The third word, 'she', is used to refer to a female person, animal, or thing. For example, you might say 'She is my teacher' to refer to a female teacher, or 'She is a beautiful cat' to refer to a female cat.
Do the words have the same pronunciation?
No, all three words have different pronunciations. 'It' is pronounced as /it/, 'he' is pronounced as /hi:/ and 'she' is pronounced as /ʃiː/.
What are common mistakes associated with words?
One common mistake associated with these words is confusing 'it' and 'he/she' and using the wrong one when referring to a person. For example, saying 'it is my friend' instead of 'he/she is my friend'. Also, another mistake is using the wrong pronoun to refer to a thing, such as saying 'he is a book' instead of 'it is a book'.
Fill in the gaps to check yourself
1. ___ is raining outside.
2. My brother loves to read; ___ reads a book every week.
3. Anna is a great pianist; ___ practices every day.
4. Can you see the cat? ___ is on the roof.
5. Tom is very punctual; ___ always arrives on time.
6. I think ___ is going to be a sunny day.
7. Jane loves chocolates; ___ cant resist them.
8. I couldnt fix the computer; ___ has a major issue.
9. I spoke to Mark; ___ said hell call you back.
1. It is raining outside.
Explanation: It is often used as an impersonal subject for things like weather or time. In this case, it refers to the weather condition, which is raining.
2. My brother loves to read; he reads a book every week.
Explanation: He is a pronoun that refers to a male. Here, it refers to the previously mentioned male subject, my brother.
3. Anna is a great pianist; she practices every day.
Explanation: She is a pronoun that refers to a female. In this sentence, it refers to the previously mentioned female subject, Anna.
4. Can you see the cat? It is on the roof.
Explanation: It can refer to animals or objects when the gender is not specified or not important. Here, it refers to the cat.
5. Tom is very punctual; he always arrives on time.
Explanation: He refers to the male subject in the sentence, which is Tom.
6. I think it is going to be a sunny day.
Explanation: Once again, it is used as an impersonal subject, this time referring to the day.
7. Jane loves chocolates; she cant resist them.
Explanation: She is referring to the female subject of the sentence, Jane.
8. I couldnt fix the computer; it has a major issue.
Explanation: It here refers to the previously mentioned object, which is the computer.
9. I spoke to Mark; he said hell call you back.
Explanation: He is referring to the male subject of the sentence, which is Mark.
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Download the PDF with a list of commonly confused words made as flashcards for comfortable learning.
List of Commonly Confused Words
Finding your way around the English language can be hard, especially since there are so many confusing words and rules. So, a list of the most confusing words in English is an extremely useful tool for improving language accuracy and sharing the ideas clearly.