first person: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Formal, Academic, Technical
Quick answer
What does “first person” mean?
A grammatical person used by a speaker to refer to themselves or a group including themselves, typically expressed by pronouns like 'I', 'me', 'we', 'us'.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A grammatical person used by a speaker to refer to themselves or a group including themselves, typically expressed by pronouns like 'I', 'me', 'we', 'us'.
A narrative perspective where the story is told by a character using first-person pronouns (e.g., "I walked down the street"). In gaming, a viewpoint where the player sees the game world as if through the character's own eyes.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Usage is identical across varieties.
Connotations
Neutral technical term in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in both UK and US English in academic and literary contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “first person” in a Sentence
[verb] + in + the + first person (e.g., 'write in the first person')[noun] + of + the + first person (e.g., 'pronoun of the first person')[adjective] + first-person + [noun] (e.g., 'a compelling first-person narrative')Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “first person” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The author chose to first-person the entire novel, which was a bold stylistic move.
American English
- The game developers decided to first-person the campaign for greater immersion.
adverb
British English
- The story is narrated first-person, which limits the reader's knowledge.
adjective
British English
- It was a gripping first-person account of the expedition.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in reports recommending a personal, client-focused tone: 'The proposal should be written in the first person to build rapport.'
Academic
Common in linguistics, literature, and game studies to analyse perspective.
Everyday
Used when discussing books, films, or video games: 'I prefer games with a first-person view.'
Technical
Core term in grammar, literary theory, and game design.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “first person”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “first person”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “first person”
- Confusing 'first person' with 'first-person' (hyphenated when used as a compound adjective before a noun).
- Using 'first person' to mean 'the most important person' (a hyperliteral error).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The first person includes both singular ('I', 'me') and plural ('we', 'us').
'First person' is a noun phrase (e.g., 'write in the first person'). 'First-person' (with a hyphen) is a compound adjective used before a noun (e.g., 'a first-person narrative').
It depends on the discipline. In sciences, it's often avoided for objectivity. In humanities, especially in reflexive or personal analysis, it is frequently accepted and sometimes encouraged.
A genre of video game where the player experiences the action through the eyes of the protagonist, typically involving weapon-based combat.
A grammatical person used by a speaker to refer to themselves or a group including themselves, typically expressed by pronouns like 'I', 'me', 'we', 'us'.
First person is usually formal, academic, technical in register.
First person: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfɜːst ˈpɜːsən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfɜːrst ˈpɜːrsən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “In the first person (as a grammatical or narrative mode)”
- “First-person experience (direct, personal involvement)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
FIRST PERSON = 'I' am FIRST in line to speak. Think of introducing yourself: 'I am...' That's the first person.
Conceptual Metaphor
SEEING IS KNOWING (First-person perspective offers a direct, 'seen' experience).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'first person' LEAST likely to be used?