What is Person in English Grammar?

Person in the English language determines if someone is speaking, being spoken to, or being spoken about in a sentence, in a story, article, or even essay. In English grammar, there is the first, second, and third person. The usage of the different classifications of person, offers unique incite into the point of view of characters or author in any text.

First person is the person speaking about the events in a sentence.

I walked 30 miles to the village. (In this sentence the person is talking to someone, the person is telling someone the story, the person is speaking.)

Having being separated at birth, we talked for hours and hours. (In this sentence the person is talking to someone, this person is telling someone their story, the person is speaking.)

My dog is sick. (In this sentence, the person is telling someone, what happened, the person is speaking)

Disgusted by the cook's coughing we left the restaurant. ( In this sentence the person is telling the story, the person is speaking, the person is speaking of an event.)

Pronouns such as I, we, me, us, my, mine, our, and ours are in the first person. To get a good idea of whether what you are reading or writing is in the first person keep an eye out for those pronouns mentioned above, but when looking for these pronouns be sure that in the sentences that the person is speaking, and not being spoken to, for instance;

Why did you leave me?- Is not in first person but in second person because the person in this sentence is being spoken to, the person is being asked a question.

I asked him why he left me. -Would be in the first person because in this sentence the person is speaking, the person is speaking of an incident, the person is talking to someone, and not being spoken to.

Here is an example of first person in a passage from a story entitled Survival at Sea by Ariane Randall;

My trip to a resort in Haiti began at New York's La Guardia Airport, two weeks after my fourteenth birthday... While waiting around, I met Anna Rivera and Delia Clarke... I had a great time during my week in Haiti, waterskiing, snorkeling, swimming, and suntanning- things I don't get to do much in New York City.

Second person is the person being talked (spoken) to.

You walked 30 miles to the village? (In this sentence the person is being spoken to by someone else.)

Because the two of you were separated at birth, you spent hours and hours talking. (In this sentence the person is being spoken to by someone else.)

What happened, is your dog sick? (In this sentence the person is being spoken to by someone else.)

So you left the restaurant because you were disgusted by the cook's coughing?

Here are more sentences in the second person.

Wow! Look at how much you have grown.
When do you go to sleep?
You did such a good job at painting the house.

There are only three pronouns that are in the second person form (you, your, and yours)

Third person also known as the third person objective point of view it is when a person or thing is being talked (spoken) about.

She walked 30 miles to the village. (The person is being talked about)

Having been separated at birth, they talked for hours and hours. (The people are being talked about)

Their dog is sick.

Here are more sentences in the third person.

He left dinner without a word.
The scary Lion sat on top of the rocks and roared. (The thing which in this case is the lion, is being spoken about.)
The old man gave them the tickets.
With much hesitation they approached the dark house.
The children ran into the house, their clothes were all soiled.

All nouns are in the third person;
Cat
Dog
School
Tree
Car

Here is an example of third person from a book entitled; Wicked by Gregory Maguire;

Frex was more concerned for Melena than she knew. He stopped at the first Fisherman's hut he saw and spoke with the man at the half-door. Could a woman or two spend the day and if needed the night with Melena? It would be kindness. Frex nodded with a wince of gratitude, acknowledging without words that Melena was not a great favorite in these parts.

The pronouns he, she, it, him her, his, hers, its, they, them, their, and theirs are all in third person.