Everybody knows the ordinary ‘I’, ‘we’, ‘you’, and ‘me’ pronouns. However, there are other more colloquial pronouns that native speakers use which can be a little tricky for non-natives.
The first-person singular ‘us’
This is pronounced as /uz/ and is used in place of ‘me’. It is used throughout Britain, though not as much in Southern England. In books it is sometimes written as ‘us’, ‘uz’ or ‘ays’, the last one especially in Scottish literature.
“Lend us a pen. Mine’s run out.”
‘Me’ as a possessive pronoun
In colloquial British English and English in some of the former colonies, especially Australia and New Zealand but also Jamaica, ‘me’ is used in place of the Standard English ‘my’. In Caribbean literature and some British literature it is sometimes written as ‘mi’. Americans think that only pirates speak like this.
“Me mum says I have to go home.”
‘Y’all’ and ‘youse’, the second-person plurals
The American ‘y’all’ is used mainly in the South of the USA and by some African Americans. It is used in place of the plural ‘you’.
“Y’all have to do what I say. I’m the boss.”
The British ‘youse’ or ‘yous’ is used in the same way. It is used in Australia, New Zealand and Britain. In Scottish literature ‘yiz’ is often written.
“Youse have to do your homework or the teacher’ll be cross.”
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