Meaning & use
you
Last updated
Meanings
pronoun
The person or people someone is speaking or writing to.
Grammar: Used as the subject or object of a verb; the same form serves for one person or many.
Patterns
- you + verb
- verb + you
- you + noun
You are standing on my foot.
I called you three times yesterday.
If you want to leave early, just tell me.
pronoun
People in general, including the speaker and the person addressed.
Grammar: Used to make general statements about everyone; it does not refer to a specific person.
Patterns
- you + verb
You never know what will happen next.
In this city, you can get everywhere by bike.
You learn a lot from your mistakes.
pronouninformal
Used to address a particular person directly, especially to show annoyance or to make a request.
Grammar: Often stressed in speech; can sound rude if used to single someone out.
Patterns
- you + verb
You, come here for a moment.
You sit down and listen to me!
Hey you, you dropped your glove.
Common combinations
- you know
- It's a kind of bird, you know, with a long tail.
- you see
- You see, I can't come because I have to work.
- you guys
- Are you guys ready to go?
- you two
- You two should work together on this.
- thank you
- Thank you for helping me.
- see you
- See you tomorrow!
Word family
Commonly confused: you or youse? you or y'all?
you vs youse
A dialect form used in some regions (e.g., Ireland, Scotland, parts of the US) to mean 'you' plural. Not standard in formal writing.
you vs y'all
An informal plural form of 'you' common in the southern US. Use with care in formal contexts.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'you' correctly to refer to people in general?
Choose one answer.
'You' takes a plural verb even when referring to one person, so 'you never know' is correct. 'You is', 'you am', and 'you was' are nonstandard.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “you”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.