The Plural of “It”: A Comprehensive Guide to Usage and Rules

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2. INTRODUCTION

Pronouns are essential building blocks of English, but pluralizing them can sometimes be tricky—especially with the pronoun “it”. Unlike other personal pronouns, which have clear singular and plural forms, “it” poses a unique challenge for learners and even native speakers. Since “it” is a singular, neuter, third-person pronoun, many wonder what happens when referring to multiple non-human or inanimate objects: is there a plural of “it,” and if so, what is it?

This question matters for accurate and nuanced communication. While plural forms like “they” exist for “he” or “she,” “it” lacks a straightforward plural equivalent.

The plural of “it” is rare and context-dependent, often appearing in scientific texts, literature, or when referring to multiple unidentified things. Understanding when and how to pluralize “it” helps avoid confusion and improve clarity in writing and speech.

This article is designed for English learners at all levels, teachers, editors, writers, and linguists aiming to master this nuanced topic. We’ll explore definitions, grammatical classifications, usage contexts, common substitutes, errors to avoid, many examples, and practice exercises.

By the end, you’ll have a thorough command of how to handle the plural of “it” with confidence and precision.

Table of Contents

3. DEFINITION SECTION

3.1 What is “It”?

“It” is a third-person singular pronoun used to refer to:

  • Animals of unknown or unspecified gender: The cat disappeared. Did you see it?
  • Objects: I found the book. I’ll return it tomorrow.
  • Abstract ideas: Love is powerful, but sometimes it hurts.
  • Weather, time, or impersonal subjects: It is raining. It’s 5 o’clock.

In all these cases, “it” serves as a singular, neuter substitute for a noun or as a dummy subject.

3.2 What Does “Plural of It” Mean?

Most English pronouns have clear plural forms:

  • “he” → “they”
  • “she” → “they”
  • “I” → “we”
  • “you” → “you” (same form, singular/plural)

But “it” lacks an official plural pronoun. When we refer collectively to multiple non-human or inanimate things, English doesn’t provide a standard plural form of “it.” Instead, speakers find alternative strategies, leading to some ambiguity and creativity in usage.

Understanding what the “plural of it” means is knowing how English users replace or work around this gap to refer to multiple “its.”

3.3 Grammatical Classification

  • Pronoun Type: Personal pronoun, neuter, inanimate
  • Number: Singular by default; plural is context-dependent and lacks a distinct form
  • Functions:
    • Subject: It is cold.
    • Object: I found it.
    • Dummy pronoun: It seems so.
    • Anticipatory pronoun: It is important to study.

3.4 Contexts Requiring a Plural of “It”

The plural concept arises mainly in these contexts:

  • Referring collectively to multiple previously mentioned objects or ideas: The boxes were heavy, but they moved them.
  • Academic/scientific writing: To discuss multiple specimens, samples, or data points
  • Informal speech or dialects: Speakers may invent or adapt plural forms
  • Literature/creative writing: For stylistic or poetic purposes

4. STRUCTURAL BREAKDOWN

4.1 Why English Lacks a Formal “Its” Plural

Historically, Old English had a neuter plural demonstrative (“þa,” meaning “those”), but no dedicated plural pronoun for “it.” Over time, “it” developed solely as a singular neuter pronoun. In contrast, “he,” “she,” and “they” maintained plural counterparts.

This grammatical gap leaves English without a neat plural of “it.” Instead, speakers rely on context or substitution, which sometimes causes confusion or stylistic choices.

4.2 Common Substitutes for the Plural of “It”

Here are the main strategies:

  • “They/them/their” (plural pronouns even for inanimate objects)
  • Repetition of the noun or noun phrase
  • Demonstrative pronouns: “these,” “those,” plus a noun
Table 1: Substitutes for Plural “It” with Example Sentences
Substitute Example
“They” I bought five apples. They are fresh.
Noun repetition I found the coins. The coins were old.
“These/those” + noun Look at those stars. Aren’t those beautiful?

4.3 “Its” vs. “They” – Number and Agreement

Because “it” is singular, when referring to multiple items, we often switch to “they.”

  • Singular: The book is interesting. I like it.
  • Plural: The books are interesting. I like them.

Using “they” ensures correct subject-verb agreement and clarifies plurality. Always check that your pronoun matches the number of its antecedent to avoid errors.

4.4 Dummy “It” and Plurality

When “it” acts as a dummy subject (weather, time, impersonal expressions), it never pluralizes.

  • Correct: It is raining.
  • Incorrect: *They are raining.

Only referential “it” (pointing to a noun) has plural substitute options.

4.5 When “Its” is NOT the Plural of “It”

“Its” is the possessive pronoun related to “it,” meaning “belonging to it.”

  • Example: The dog wagged its tail.

It is never used as a plural form. Using “its” as a plural is incorrect and causes confusion.

5. TYPES OR CATEGORIES

5.1 Referential vs. Dummy “It”

  • Referential “it”: Refers to a specific noun; can be pluralized conceptually using substitutes.
    • I bought a toy. I like it.
    • I bought toys. I like them.
  • Dummy “it”: Fills a grammatical role without referring to anything specific.
    • It is raining.
    • Cannot be pluralized.

5.2 Formal vs. Informal Pluralizations

  • Formal writing: Prefers repeating the noun or using “they.”
  • Informal speech: Sometimes invents plural “its” or uses “them” loosely.

5.3 Context-Specific Pluralizations

  • Scientific writing: Describing multiple items/specimens may push the limits, e.g., “the its,” but usually avoided.
  • Creative writing: Authors may pluralize for stylistic effect.
  • Slang/dialect: Some dialects attempt plural “its,” but it’s non-standard.

5.4 Pronoun Substitution Strategies

  • Demonstratives: “these,” “those” + noun
  • Plural nouns: Repeat the noun explicitly
  • “They”: The most common substitute for plural “it”

6. EXAMPLES SECTION

6.1 Singular “It” in Context

  1. The dog chased the ball. It was red.
  2. The idea sounds complicated, but it is simple.
  3. The bird flew away before it was photographed.
  4. It is snowing heavily today. (dummy subject)
  5. It seems that the meeting is canceled. (anticipatory/dummy)

6.2 Using “They” as Plural for “It”

  1. The apples are ripe. They look delicious.
  2. I bought some pencils. They were cheap.
  3. My keys are on the table. They are shiny.
  4. Where are the letters? They were here a moment ago.
  5. The paintings are beautiful. They brighten the room.
  6. The toys are broken. They need fixing.
  7. The rocks are heavy. They hurt my back.
  8. The documents are missing. They must be found.
  9. The stars are bright tonight. They light up the sky.
  10. The cookies smell great. They just came out of the oven.

6.3 Repetition of Nouns Instead of “It”

  1. I found the shoes. The shoes were muddy.
  2. I lost the papers. The papers were important.
  3. She bought the plants. The plants are growing well.
  4. He took the photos. The photos are blurry.
  5. We packed the bags. The bags are heavy.

6.4 Demonstrative Pronouns as Substitutes

  1. Those paintings are stunning.
  2. These cookies taste delicious.
  3. Look at those stars! Aren’t they amazing?
  4. I like these ideas.
  5. Those shoes don’t fit me.

6.5 Incorrect Attempts at “Its” as Plural

  1. *The apples? I put its in the bag. → Correct: them
  2. *The books? Did you read its? → Correct: them
  3. *Where are the toys? I can’t find its. → Correct: them
  4. *The coins? I lost its. → Correct: them
  5. *The photos? I developed its. → Correct: them

6.6 Comparative Examples Table

Table 2: Singular “it” vs. Plural Substitutes
Context Singular Plural Substitute
Object I found the ring. I polished it. I found the rings. I polished them.
Animal I saw the bird. It flew away. I saw the birds. They flew away.
Idea The plan is risky. It may fail. The plans are risky. They may fail.
Demonstrative N/A Those ideas are great.
Noun repetition The book is old. It is valuable. The books are old. The books are valuable.

6.7 Table of Contextual Examples

Table 3: Multiple Contexts with Preferred Pluralization Strategy
Context Preferred Strategy Example
Scientific writing noun repetition The samples were tested. The samples showed growth.
Informal speech “they” Where are my keys? They are on the table.
Creative writing any, stylistic choice Those stars—they hide their secrets well.
Formal writing noun repetition or “they” The documents were reviewed. They were approved.
Dummy pronoun never pluralized It is raining.

6.8 Historical and Dialectal Examples (Optional)

  • In some dialects: “I put the its away.” (non-standard, rare)
  • From early literature: “The many its of the world…” (poetic license)
  • Middle English often used “they” even for inanimates

7. USAGE RULES

7.1 General Rule: No True Plural Form

English does not have a formal plural of “it.” Instead, use substitutes like “they,” noun repetition, or demonstratives.

7.2 Using “They” for Inanimates

Modern English accepts using “they” to refer to multiple inanimate objects:

  • The papers are on the desk. They need sorting.

Ensure correct subject-verb agreement:

  • Correct: They are important.
  • Incorrect: They is important.

Also, confirm that “they” clearly refers to a plural noun, avoiding ambiguity.

7.3 Noun Phrase Repetition

Repeating the noun clarifies what you mean:

  • I packed the bags. The bags are heavy.

Use this especially in formal writing for precision.

7.4 Demonstratives “These/Those”

Use “these/those” with plural nouns:

  • I like these photos.
  • Those ideas are interesting.

They help make your reference clear and natural.

7.5 Avoiding “Its” as Plural

“Its” is only possessive singular:

  • The dog wagged its tail.

Never use “its” as plural.

7.6 Special Cases and Exceptions

  • Scientific contexts: May prefer noun repetition for clarity.
  • Creative writing: May take liberties with pronoun use.
  • Dialectal speech: Sometimes uses non-standard plural forms.

7.7 Summary Rule Table

Table 4: Summary of Pluralization Strategies
Strategy Use Do Don’t
“They” Multiple inanimates Use for plural referents Use if singular antecedent
Noun repetition Formal, precise writing Repeat noun for clarity Overuse causing redundancy
“These/those” Pointing to plural nouns Use with plural nouns Use without noun (if unclear)
“Its” Possession (singular) Use to show ownership Use as plural form
Dummy “it” Weather/time/impersonal Keep singular Attempt pluralization

8. COMMON MISTAKES

8.1 Using “Its” as a Plural Pronoun

Incorrect: The toys? I put its in the box.

Correct: The toys? I put them in the box.

Explanation: “Its” is possessive, not plural.

8.2 Agreement Errors with Substitute Plural Pronouns

Incorrect: The books are missing. They is gone.

Correct: The books are missing. They are gone.

Always match plural pronouns with plural verbs.

8.3 Ambiguous Pronoun Reference

Unclear: The coins and the stamps are here. They are valuable.

Better: The coins and the stamps are here. Both are valuable.

Be specific to avoid confusion.

8.4 Overuse of Noun Repetition

Awkward: The shoes are dirty. The shoes are wet. The shoes smell bad.

Better: The shoes are dirty, wet, and smelly.

Balance clarity with conciseness.

8.5 Misidentifying Dummy “It” as Pluralizable

Incorrect: *They are raining.

Correct: It is raining.

Dummy “it” never pluralizes.

8.6 Table of Common Errors

Table 5: Frequent Mistakes with Corrections
Mistake Correction Explanation
I found the toys. I put its away. I put them away. “Its” is possessive, not plural.
The coins are new. They is shiny. They are shiny. Plural subject needs plural verb.
The cats and dogs are noisy. It are loud. They are loud. Use plural pronoun for plural nouns.
The bags are heavy. The bags are big. The bags are old. The bags are heavy, big, and old. Combine for conciseness.
*They are snowing. It is snowing. Dummy subject stays singular.

9. PRACTICE EXERCISES

9.1 Fill-in-the-Blank

Choose the correct plural substitute: “they,” noun, or “these/those.”

  1. I bought some oranges. ______ are sweet.
  2. The pictures are blurry. ______ need to be retaken.
  3. I cleaned the dishes. ______ are now dry.
  4. The toys were on the floor. I put ______ away.
  5. Look at ______ stars! Aren’t ______ beautiful?
  6. The books are heavy. I carried ______ upstairs.
  7. We saw the paintings. ______ were amazing.
  8. The emails were important. I saved ______.
  9. Those cookies smell delicious. Did you bake ______?
  10. The samples are ready. ______ will be tested today.

Answer Key:

  1. They
  2. They
  3. They
  4. them
  5. those / they
  6. them
  7. They
  8. them
  9. them
  10. They

9.2 Error Correction

Correct the pluralization mistakes:

  1. The keys? I put its in the drawer.
  2. The books is on the table.
  3. The coins is shiny.
  4. Where are the letters? I can’t find its.
  5. The photos is missing.
  6. I found the toys. I gave its to my sister.
  7. The bags was heavy.
  8. The stars is bright tonight.
  9. The apples? I washed its.
  10. The shoes is dirty.

Answer Key:

  1. I put them in the drawer.
  2. The books are on the table.
  3. The coins are shiny.
  4. I can’t find them.
  5. The photos are missing.
  6. I gave them to my sister.
  7. The bags were heavy.
  8. The stars are bright tonight.
  9. I washed them.
  10. The shoes are dirty.

9.3 Identification Exercise

Identify if the pronoun is: (a) singular “it,” (b) plural substitute, or (c) incorrect usage.

  1. I found the phone. It was on the sofa.
  2. The apples? I put its in the basket.
  3. The books are missing. They were here.
  4. It is raining today.
  5. The stars? They are beautiful.
  6. The toys? I gave them away.
  7. The bag? It is heavy.
  8. The letters? I mailed its.
  9. The paintings? They are amazing.
  10. My dog? It loves to play.

Answer Key:

  1. (a) singular “it”
  2. (c) incorrect usage
  3. (b) plural substitute
  4. (a) singular dummy “it”
  5. (b) plural substitute
  6. (b) plural substitute
  7. (a) singular “it”
  8. (c) incorrect usage
  9. (b) plural substitute
  10. (a) singular “it”

9.4 Sentence Construction

Rewrite each singular sentence for plural items:

  1. I found the coin. I kept it.
  2. The bird flew away. It was fast.
  3. I read the letter. It was long.
  4. The cat is cute. I like it.
  5. I bought the toy. I gave it away.

Sample Answers:

  1. I found the coins. I kept them.
  2. The birds flew away. They were fast.
  3. I read the letters. They were long.
  4. The cats are cute. I like them.
  5. I bought the toys. I gave them away.

9.5 Advanced Transformation

Rewrite using plural noun or pronoun strategies:

  1. The document was reviewed. It was approved.
  2. The animal was released. It ran quickly.
  3. The sample was tested. It showed positive results.
  4. The coin was found. It was valuable.
  5. The book was interesting. It sold well.

Sample Answers:

  1. The documents were reviewed. They were approved.
  2. The animals were released. They ran quickly.
  3. The samples were tested. They showed positive results.
  4. The coins were found. They were valuable.
  5. The books were interesting. They sold well.

10. ADVANCED TOPICS

10.1 Historical Evolution of Pronoun Pluralization

In Old English, pronouns were more gendered and had case endings. Neuter plural was expressed with demonstratives like “þa” (those).

Over centuries, neuter plural pronouns faded, leaving “it” only as singular. “They” came to serve plurals for any gender or animacy, filling the gap.

10.2 Gender Neutrality and “They” for Non-Humans

Using “they” for plural inanimates has become widely accepted, even in formal writing. Style guides increasingly endorse plural “they” not just for people but also for objects or concepts, where appropriate.

10.3 Dummy “It” in Complex Sentences

In sentences like It is important to study, “it” is anticipatory/dummy, not referring to any noun, so it never pluralizes. Even in complex structures, dummy “it” remains singular.

10.4 Stylistic Choices in Academic and Technical Writing

Writers often favor noun repetition or “these/those” for clarity when referring to multiple items. Pronoun ambiguity can harm precision, so explicit plural nouns are preferred in scholarly contexts.

10.5 Dialectal Variations

Some regional dialects have experimented with plural “its,” but this is non-standard and rarely seen in writing. Instead, “they” or noun repetition remains dominant in all varieties of English.

11. FAQ SECTION

  1. Is there a true plural form of “it” in English?
    No, English lacks an official plural form of “it.” Speakers use substitutes like “they,” noun repetition, or demonstratives.
  2. Why can’t we use “its” as a plural pronoun?
    Because “its” is the possessive form of “it,” meaning “belonging to it,” not a plural pronoun. Using “its” as plural is incorrect.
  3. When is it correct to use “they” instead of “it”?
    When referring to multiple inanimate or non-human objects or concepts, “they” serves as the plural substitute.
  4. Can “it” ever refer to people? Does this affect plurality?
    Rarely. “It” might refer to a baby or pet affectionately, but generally not people. Pluralization rules remain the same—use “they” for plural people.
  5. How do I avoid ambiguity when pluralizing “it”?
    Clarify your antecedent, use noun repetition, or demonstratives to make references clear.
  6. Is using “they” for objects grammatically correct?
    Yes, modern English accepts “they” as plural for objects and concepts.
  7. What’s the difference between “its” (possessive) and a plural form?
    “Its” shows possession (belonging to it); it is never plural.
  8. Are there dialects that pluralize “it” differently?
    Some dialects may attempt “its” as plural, but this is non-standard.
  9. What happens with dummy “it” in plural sentences?
    Dummy “it” remains singular and is never pluralized, regardless of sentence complexity.
  10. How do I teach this pluralization to ESL students?
    Emphasize substitutes like “they,” noun repetition, and demonstratives. Practice with examples and exercises.
  11. Are there formal rules in style guides about plural “it”?
    Most recommend using substitutes, avoiding “its” as plural, and ensuring clarity through noun repetition or “they.”
  12. What strategies can improve clarity with plural references to inanimates?
    Use explicit plural nouns, demonstratives, or “they,” and avoid ambiguous pronouns.

12. CONCLUSION

English lacks a true plural form of “it,” which can make plural references challenging. However, by mastering strategies such as using “they,” repeating plural nouns, or employing demonstratives like “these” and “those,” you can communicate clearly and accurately.

Remember:

  • Never use “its” as a plural pronoun.
  • Use “they” for plural non-human or inanimate referents.
  • Repeat nouns when clarity demands it, especially in formal writing.
  • Be cautious with dummy “it,” which is always singular.
  • Practice these strategies to avoid common errors and achieve precise communication.

This comprehensive guide will help learners, teachers, writers, and editors understand and confidently handle plural references involving “it,” contributing to clearer, more effective English usage.

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