Grammar
Pronouns: choose the right form in a sentence
Do you pause over I or me when you name two people?
A pronoun (a short word that replaces a name or thing) helps you avoid repeats. Its place helps you choose the form.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
pronoun PROH-nown
The short answer
Use a subject form for the actor. Use an object form for the receiver.
She called me after work.
Why it works: She does the action. Me receives the call.
3 more examples
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Calling a friend
I called him before dinner.
You can ask who receives the call. I does the action, while him receives it.
Not this:Me called
hebefore dinner. What changes: The forms do not match their places in the sentence. -
Finding a bag
That blue backpack is mine.
You already named the backpack, so mine can stand alone.
Not this:That blue backpack is
my. What changes: My needs a noun after it, so the sentence is unfinished. -
Describing a trip
My sister and I took the bus.
You can remove the other name. I took the bus still works, so sister and I fits.
Not this:My
sister and metook the bus. What changes: Me is an object form, so it cannot lead this action.
Quick check
Which sentence uses both forms correctly?
Answer: I called him yesterday.
Show the answer
Answer: I called him yesterday.
I comes before called. Him receives the action after called.
Read the full guide
At a busy front desk, you may name several people. Check who does the action. Then check the receiver and any owner.
Choose by sentence place
The problem: I know the rule, but I still choose the wrong form when I speak.
At the station, you see Maya. First find the action. The name on the left usually does it. The name on the right receives it.
| Subject form | Object form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I | me | I know Maya, and she knows me. |
| you | you | You called, so I answered you. |
| he | him | He saw Ben and waved to him. |
| she | her | She met Lena and sat with her. |
| it | it | It fell, so I picked it up. |
| we | us | We arrived, and Kim welcomed us. |
| they | them | They waited, and I joined them. |
Your turn
Choose the sentence with the right forms.
Answer: She invited us to dinner.
Show the answer
Answer: She invited us to dinner.
She acts before invited. Us receives the invitation after the verb.
Name the person or owner
The problem: I mix up him and his, or them and their.
At the door, you greet Ben. Then you take his coat. Use him for the person receiving an action. Use his before a noun to show the owner.
You see or help the person.
I helped him with the boxes.
You name something linked to the person.
I carried his boxes upstairs.
Your turn
Choose the word that fits before car.
I saw Ben near ___ car.
Answer: his
Show the answer
Answer: his
Car is a noun owned by Ben, so his fits before it.
Keep the noun after my
The problem: I use my and mine in the same place.
Your friend points at two bags. Use my before the noun you name. Use mine alone when the listener already knows the thing.
-
Not this:
This is mine bag.Say: This is my bag.
My comes before the noun bag.
-
Not this:
This bag is my.Say: This bag is mine.
Mine stands alone after is.
Your turn
Complete the sentence with my or mine.
Answer: This umbrella is mine.
Show the answer
Answer: mine
The umbrella is already named, so mine stands alone.
Test pairs with and
The problem: I cannot choose I or me when another name comes first.
At lunch, you speak about yourself with Sam. Treat the two names as one group. Its place around the action decides between I and me.
Test it alone: I ordered lunch.
Sam and I ordered lunch.
Test it alone: the server spoke to me.
The server spoke to Sam and me.
-
The manager thanked Priya and me.
Why it works: You hear the manager thank the pair. Priya and me fits after the action.
-
Priya and I thanked the manager.
Why it works: You hear the pair give thanks. Priya and I fits before the action.
Your turn
Choose the form that fits after between.
Keep this between you and ___.
Answer: me
Show the answer
Answer: me
Between is a little word before an object, so me fits.
Before you go
Question 1 of 2
Choose the sentence that shows ownership.
Answer: We borrowed their car.
Show the answer
Answer: We borrowed their car.
Their comes before the owned noun car.
Remember this
Check the words around the gap. Decide who acts or receives. Then check the owner and say the full sentence.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Pronouns: choose the right form in a sentence"
What is the difference between a subject pronoun and an object pronoun?
A subject pronoun names the person or thing doing the action. An object pronoun names the receiver after a verb or a linking word such as to. Check the pronoun’s place in the full sentence.
She called me after lunch.
Which pronoun should I use after a preposition?
Use an object form after a preposition, which is a little linking word such as to, with, from, or between. Choose me, him, her, us, or them when that person follows the linking word.
This message is from him.
What is the difference between my and mine?
Use my before a noun, as in my coat. Use mine when the noun is already clear and no noun follows. Mine replaces the whole phrase my coat, so do not put another noun after it.
This is my coat, and that one is mine.
What is the difference between him and his?
Use him when a male person receives an action or follows a linking word. Use his to show that something belongs to him. His can come before a noun or stand alone when the thing is already clear.
I saw him carrying his bag.
What is the difference between its and it’s?
Its has no apostrophe and shows ownership before a noun. It’s is the short form of it is or it has. Expand it’s in your sentence. If it is or it has fits, keep the apostrophe.
The dog moved its bed because it’s raining.
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