# him

/ˈhɪm/ (US) · /hˈɪm/ (UK) · CEFR A1 · Pronoun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/him
Updated: 2026-05-31

## Definition

the word you use to talk about a man or boy who has already been mentioned. It is used when he is the person receiving an action.

For teachers: the objective case of the third-person singular masculine pronoun. Used as the direct or indirect object of a verb or as the object of a preposition.

## Examples

- I saw him at the park yesterday.
- If you see the manager today, please tell him that the reports are ready on his desk.
- The committee decided to appoint him as the lead investigator, citing his extensive experience in international law and his previous success with similar high-profile cases.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I gave it to he." but "I gave it to him." — Learners sometimes use the subject pronoun 'he' after a preposition instead of the object pronoun 'him'.

## Usage notes

- Acts as the object form of 'he'; used after verbs or prepositions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.