Practice
English practice: subject and object pronouns
Sign in to saveMaya calls Daniel. She calls him. The people stay the same, but each pronoun has a different job.
Choose a subject pronoun for the person or thing doing an action and an object pronoun for the person or thing receiving it.
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
She called him after work. /ʃiː kɔːld hɪm ˈɑːftə wɜːk/
The short answer
Use a subject pronoun for the person or thing that does an action. Use an object pronoun after a verb or preposition when the action happens to that person or thing.
The manager called her after lunch.
Why it works: Her receives called, so it is an object pronoun.
5 more examples
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Elena works at the library on Saturdays.
Elena is the person who works, so she is the subject.
Not this:
Sheworks at the library on Saturdays. What changes: She replaces Elena as the subject pronoun. -
The coach thanked Omar after practice.
Omar receives the action thanked, so he is an object.
Not this:The coach thanked
himafter practice. What changes: Him replaces Omar as the object pronoun. -
Rita and I cook dinner on Fridays.
The pair does the cooking, so I is part of the subject.
Not this:Our friends visit
Rita and meon Fridays. What changes: The friends do the visiting, so the pair is the object. -
Please sit next to Carla and me.
The phrase follows a preposition, so it uses me.
Not this:
Carla and Isit near the window. What changes: Carla and I do the sitting, so the pair is the subject. -
We invited the new neighbors to dinner.
We do the inviting, so it is a subject pronoun.
Not this:We invited
themto dinner. What changes: Them replaces the new neighbors as the object pronoun.
Read the full guide
Find the action first. In She carries the boxes, she does the carrying. In The driver helps her, her receives help.
Find the person who does the action
The subject does the action. Look for the verb, then ask who performs it.
They start the meeting at ten.
They is the subject because the group starts the meeting.
Who does the action in She opens the door?
She does the opening, so she is a subject pronoun.
Use subject pronouns before the verb
The main subject forms are I, you, he, she, it, we, and they. They usually come before the main verb.
He checks the schedule every morning.
He does the checking. Him checks the schedule is not standard English.
Choose the subject pronoun: ___ live near the station.
Use They if a group lives near the station.
Find the person who receives the action
An object receives or is affected by an action. After you find the verb and subject, ask who or what receives the action.
The guide showed us the museum map.
The guide does the showing. Us is the object of showed.
Who receives the message in I sent her a message?
Her is the person who receives the message, so use the object pronoun her.
Use object pronouns after verbs
The common object forms are me, you, him, her, it, us, and them. They often come after a verb such as see, call, help, invite, or thank.
I saw them at the bus stop.
Them is the object of saw. They saw at the bus stop is missing an object.
Complete the sentence: Our teacher knows ___.
Use us when the teacher knows a group that includes the speaker.
Use object pronouns after prepositions
A pronoun after to, for, with, from, near, or another preposition uses an object form.
The package is for him.
For is a preposition, so use him rather than he.
Choose the correct phrase: with they or with them?
Use with them because a preposition takes an object pronoun.
Check a pair with and
When another name is joined with and, decide the job of the whole pair. Use I when the pair does the action and me when the pair receives it or follows a preposition.
Tariq and I are waiting outside.
Tariq and I do the waiting. The receptionist called Tariq and me uses me because the pair receives called.
Which word fits after between: I or me?
Use me. Between is a preposition, so it needs an object pronoun.
Before you go
Remember this
Find the action, then find who does it. Use a subject pronoun for that person or thing. Use an object pronoun for the person or thing receiving the action or following a preposition.
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 "English practice: subject and object pronouns"
What is a subject pronoun?
A subject pronoun names the person, group, or thing that does an action. Use I, you, he, she, it, we, or they before the main verb when that pronoun is the subject.
Elena works at the library on Saturdays.
What is an object pronoun?
An object pronoun names the person, group, or thing affected by an action. Use me, you, him, her, it, us, or them after a verb when that pronoun receives the action.
She works at the library on Saturdays.
How do I choose between he and him?
Use he when the man does the action, as in He arrives early. Use him when an action happens to the man, as in The receptionist greeted him. Find the verb first.
The coach thanked Omar after practice.
Why do I say with her instead of with she?
With is a preposition, and a pronoun after a preposition uses the object form. Say with her, for them, to us, or near me. The same rule applies after many other prepositions.
The coach thanked him after practice.
Should I use I or me in a phrase with and?
Check the job of the whole pair. Use I when the pair does the action, as in Amina and I arrived. Use me when the pair receives an action or follows a preposition, as in The guide spoke to Amina and me.
Rita and I cook dinner on Fridays.