them

Everyday

1. Them means the people or things already spoken about, more than one. tree →
2. Them can be used for one person when you do not know or say if it is a boy or a girl. tree →
3. (casual) «'em» is a short way to say «them»: «give 'em here». tree →
4. (casual, nonstandard) «Them» is used for «those»: «them sweets is 2 dollar each» (school English: «those sweets are 2 dollars each»). tree →
5. (casual) «Them» can mean people in charge or another group: «us and them». tree →
6. (formal) Exams say «the said items», «the aforementioned», «the latter», «the former» or «the persons concerned». tree →

In the lessons

the things or people just named; «between them»: the named people together; «N of them» is a part of the whole just named; phrases: «both of them», «all of them», «each of them», «between them»; in casual talk «'em», «give 'em here», «them ones», «them sweets»; in rough talk «tell 'em to get lost», «I can't stand them lot»; in the exam voice «the said items», «the latter», «each of the aforementioned»

Examples

• How many apples do Max and Tom have between them? tree →
• There were 10 books. Zoe read 2 of them. tree →
• Lily has 6 shells and gives 2 of them away. tree →
• Pick up the toys and put them in the box. tree →
• Each of them got a sticker. tree →
• If someone is hurt, stay with them and call an adult. tree →
• All of them laughed at the joke. tree →
• sod it, just split 'em, 3 each tree →
• Them sweets is 2 dollar each, how much for 4? tree →
• Tell 'em to wait, we're nearly done. tree →
• Of the ten volumes, two of the said items have been read. State the number unread. tree →
• I can't stand them lot, they never share. tree →

Note

«them» is the object form of «they»: «They saw us. We saw them.» «between them» asks for the sum of the people named just before. «N of them» is a part of the whole just named. «'em» is the same as «them». «them sweets» means «those sweets», a common nonstandard form. «the said items» in an exam points back to the things named.