Subject & Object Pronouns
A1 BeginnerSubject pronouns perform the action in a sentence, while object pronouns receive the action or follow a preposition.
Overview
Personal pronouns replace specific nouns to avoid repetition. Subject pronouns (I, you, he, she, it, we, they) function as the agent of the verb. Object pronouns (me, you, him, her, it, us, them) function as the recipient of the action or the complement of a preposition.
Subject vs. Object Forms
Note that you and it remain the same in both subject and object positions.
| Person | Subject Pronoun | Object Pronoun |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Person (Singular) | I | me |
| 3rd Person (Male) | he | him |
| 3rd Person (Female) | she | her |
| 1st Person (Plural) | we | us |
| 3rd Person (Plural) | they | them |
Examples
Common mistakes
Me and him are friends.
He and I are friends.
Use subject pronouns for the people performing the action, even in a list.
Can you help he?
Can you help him?
The pronoun follows the verb 'help', so the object form is required.
Practice
Sarah is my friend. I like ____ very much.
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her
Answer:her
Why:The pronoun follows the verb 'like' and refers to Sarah (female), so the feminine object pronoun 'her' is used.
____ are at the park because the weather is nice.
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They
Answer:They
Why:The pronoun is the subject of the verb 'are', so a subject pronoun is required.
This gift is for ____ (we).
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us
Answer:us
Why:Pronouns following a preposition like 'for' must be in the object form.