Ella is singular.
Understanding "Ella" in Spanish Grammar
In Spanish, ella serves as a third-person singular subject pronoun, directly translating to "she" in English. Subject pronouns are fundamental in grammar, as they indicate who or what is performing the action of a verb. The form of the pronoun, such as ella, tells us important information about the subject's grammatical number (singular or plural) and gender (masculine or feminine).
Specifically, ella is used when referring to a single female person or a singular feminine noun. For example, if you wanted to say "She reads a book," you would use Ella lee un libro. This highlights its role in specifying a singular, female subject.
Comprehensive Overview of Spanish Subject Pronouns
To further clarify the position of ella within the Spanish pronoun system, here is a table illustrating common Spanish subject pronouns, their English equivalents, and their grammatical number:
| Spanish Pronoun | English Equivalent | Number |
|---|---|---|
| yo | I | singular |
| tú | you (informal) | singular |
| él | he | singular |
| ella | she | singular |
| usted | you (formal) | singular |
| nosotros/nosotras | we | plural |
| vosotros/vosotras | you (informal plural, Spain) | plural |
| ellos | they (masculine or mixed group) | plural |
| ellas | they (feminine group) | plural |
| ustedes | you (formal plural) | plural |
Source: Spanish Subject Pronouns Guide
As shown in the table, ella is unequivocally listed under the "singular" category. Its corresponding plural form, used when referring to a group of two or more females, is ellas.
Practical Usage Examples of "Ella"
- Ella es mi mejor amiga. (She is my best friend.)
- ¿Dónde está la profesora? Ella está en la biblioteca. (Where is the teacher? She is in the library.)
- Ella trabaja mucho. (She works a lot.)
These examples consistently demonstrate that ella is employed to denote a single female entity, reinforcing its singular nature within Spanish sentence construction. Understanding this distinction between singular pronouns like ella and their plural counterparts, such as ellas, is crucial for accurate and fluent communication in Spanish.
