Practice
Pronouns exercise 1: choose clear subject and object pronouns
Sign in to saveA friend says, “Can you call I later?” The meaning is clear, but the pronoun is in the wrong job. This lesson helps you spot the place where a pronoun belongs.
Choose subject pronouns and object pronouns accurately in everyday English sentences.
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 me yesterday. /ʃiː kɔːld miː ˈjestədeɪ/
The short answer
Use I, you, he, she, it, we, or they as the subject. Use me, you, him, her, it, us, or them as the object.
Nora called me after lunch.
Why it works: Me receives the action called, so it is an object pronoun.
4 more examples
-
She carries the boxes upstairs.
She is the person doing the carrying, so it is the subject pronoun.
Not this:The boxes are heavy
for her. What changes: Her follows the preposition for, so it is an object pronoun. -
The coach thanked us after the match.
Us receives the coach's thanks, so it is an object pronoun.
Not this:
We thankedthe coach after the match. What changes: We performs the action thanked, so it is the subject form. -
They are waiting outside the library.
They is the group doing the waiting.
Not this:I can
see themoutside the library. What changes: Them receives the action see, so it is an object pronoun. -
Can you send him the address?
Him names the person who receives the address.
Not this:
He sentthe address yesterday. What changes: He is the sender, so the subject form is needed.
Read the full guide
Find the verb first. Ask who performs the action and who receives it. That question usually tells you which pronoun form to choose.
Start with the action
Look for the verb before choosing a pronoun. In They opened the door, they does the opening. In The guard stopped them, them receives the action. The same people can need different forms in different sentences.
He invited us to the meeting.
Use subject pronouns before the verb
I, you, he, she, it, we, and they usually come before the verb in a statement. Use I with your own action: I need a receipt. Use she or he for one person when that pronoun is appropriate, and they for more than one person.
We meet at the station every Friday.
Use object pronouns after a verb
Me, you, him, her, it, us, and them often come after an action verb. Compare I know the answer with The answer surprised me. In the second sentence, me is the person affected by surprised.
Please email her the final timetable.
Check pronouns after prepositions
After to, for, with, from, about, and similar prepositions, use an object pronoun. Say This seat is for him, not This seat is for he. The preposition gives the pronoun its object job.
Mina travelled with them last summer.
Handle two people without guessing
When a sentence names two people, remove the other name for a quick check. Sam and I arrived early becomes I arrived early. The manager spoke to Sam and me becomes The manager spoke to me. This check shows why Sam and I is different from Sam and me.
Rosa and he organised the welcome table.
Keep the meaning clear in conversation
A pronoun should point clearly to the person or thing you mean. If two people have been mentioned, repeat a name when a pronoun could confuse the listener. Clear reference matters as much as the form of the pronoun.
Use a pronoun when its reference is clear. Repeat the noun when the listener could choose the wrong person or thing.
Before you go
Remember this
Use a subject pronoun for the doer of an action and an object pronoun for the receiver or after a preposition. Find the verb or preposition, then choose the form that fits that position.
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 exercise 1: choose clear subject and object pronouns"
What is the difference between a subject pronoun and an object pronoun?
A subject pronoun does the action, while an object pronoun receives the action or follows a preposition. In She carries the boxes upstairs, she is the person doing the carrying.
She carries the boxes upstairs.
Should I use I or me with another person's name?
Use I when the pair does the action and me when the pair receives it. Remove the other name to check: I arrived early, but the manager spoke to me.
The boxes are heavy for her.
Why do I use him after for?
For is a preposition, and prepositions take object pronouns. This seat is for him uses him because the pronoun comes after for.
The coach thanked us after the match.
Can they be a subject pronoun?
Yes. They can be the subject when the group performs the action. They are waiting outside the library places they before the verb phrase are waiting.
We thanked the coach after the match.
When should I repeat a noun instead of using a pronoun?
Repeat the noun when a pronoun could refer to more than one person or thing. A clear noun can prevent confusion after a sentence mentions several people.
They are waiting outside the library.