English grammar
It / them — no gender, always after the verb
Say what you found, saw, left or lost, using it / them.
From the scene I saw it on the stairs
In short
Things are it or them, not him or her. Put it or them after the verb: I found them.
Your turn
Which one goes with negative?
Options: I left it (NOT "I left her") · I didn't see them · I found them (NOT "them I found")
Show answer
negative → I didn't see them
How it works
Things are always it (one) or them (more than one): the pan, the button → it; the keys, the footprints → them.
Good to know
These words go after the verb: I found them, not "them I found". A thing is never her or him: my plant... I left it, NOT "I left her".
after the verb I found them (NOT "them I found")
Elena
I found them on the stairs this morning.
Las encontré en la escalera esta mañana.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) on the stairs this morning.
Options: I left it · I found them · I didn't see them
Show answer
Elena
I found them on the stairs this morning.
Las encontré en la escalera esta mañana.
negative I didn't see them
Elena
From slippers. Last night I heard footsteps, but I didn't see them.
De zapatillas. Anoche oí pasos, pero no los vi.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
From slippers. Last night I heard footsteps, but (blank).
Options: I found them · I left it · I didn't see them
Show answer
Elena
From slippers. Last night I heard footsteps, but I didn't see them.
De zapatillas. Anoche oí pasos, pero no los vi.
one thing (the plant) I left it (NOT "I left her")
Nuria
And my plant... I left it on the stairs.
Y mi planta... la dejé en la escalera.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
And my plant... (blank) on the stairs.
Options: I didn't see them · I left it · I found them
Show answer
Nuria
And my plant... I left it on the stairs.
Y mi planta... la dejé en la escalera.
more than one (the keys) I lost them
Javi
Me? I lost them yesterday!
¿Yo? ¡Las perdí ayer!
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Me? (blank) yesterday!
Options: I found them · I didn't see them · I lost them
Show answer
Javi
Me? I lost them yesterday!
¿Yo? ¡Las perdí ayer!
Common mistake
Not it or him here. Las huellas = footprints, plural.
I found them on the stairs this morning.
Las encontré en la escalera esta mañana.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| after the verb | I found them (NOT "them I found") |
|---|---|
| negative | I didn't see them |
| one thing (the plant) | I left it (NOT "I left her") |
| more than one (the keys) | I lost them |
More lines from the story
- ElenaLook at this, Nuria. I found some footprints.Mira esto, Nuria. Encontré unas huellas.
- NuriaFootprints? Where did you find them?¿Huellas? ¿Dónde las encontró?