Subject and Object Pronouns: English Grammar Guide

Understanding subject and object pronouns is essential for clear and natural English communication. Pronouns help us avoid repetition and make sentences smoother. In this guide, we’ll explore what subject and object pronouns are, how to use them correctly, and common mistakes to avoid.

What Are Pronouns?

Pronouns are words that take the place of nouns in a sentence. Instead of repeating the same noun over and over, we use pronouns to make our sentences more fluent and less repetitive.

For example:

• Maria is a teacher. She loves her job.
  Here, she replaces Maria.

Pronouns can serve different functions in a sentence—some act as the subject, while others serve as the object.

Subject Pronouns

A subject pronoun performs the action in a sentence. It tells us who or what is doing something.

List of Subject Pronouns

Examples

• I study English every day.

• You look happy today.

• He works at a hospital.

• She likes reading novels.

• It is raining outside.

• We are from Japan.

• They live in Cebu.

Notes on Usage

• “I” is always capitalized, no matter where it appears in a sentence.

• “You” can refer to both singular and plural subjects.

• “It” is used for things, animals, or situations (when the gender isn’t known or relevant).

Object Pronouns

An object pronoun receives the action in a sentence. It tells us who or what the action happens to.

List of Object Pronouns

Examples

• The teacher helped me.

• I saw you at the mall.

• We invited him to the party.

• She called her friend yesterday.

• The dog followed us home.

• Can you tell them the news?

• I don’t like it very much.

Comparing Subject and Object Pronouns

To use pronouns correctly, it’s important to know whether they are performing or receiving an action.

Another Example:

❌ Her loves I.
✅ She loves me.

In this correct version, she performs the action (subject) and me receives it (object).

Using Pronouns in Compound Sentences

When there are two subjects or two objects in one sentence, make sure to choose the correct pronoun for each part.

As Subjects:

• She and I are classmates.

• He and we work in the same company.

As Objects:

• The teacher gave the books to him and me.

• Can you invite them and us to dinner?

Tip: If you’re unsure which pronoun to use, remove the other person and check what sounds right.
For example:

• The teacher gave the books to me (correct).
  So, “to him and me” is correct, not “to him and I.”

Pronouns After Prepositions

After prepositions (like to, for, with, about, at), we usually use object pronouns.

Examples:

• The gift is for you.

• She is talking to him.

• Don’t worry about us.

• The teacher is angry with them.

Remember: prepositions always take an object, not a subject.

❌ This is for I.
✅ This is for me.

Pronouns in Short Answers

Subject pronouns are used when giving short answers.

Examples:

• Who called you? — He did.

• Are you coming? — Yes, I am.

• Did they help you? — Yes, they did.

Here, we don’t repeat the whole sentence. The subject pronoun stands in for it.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

1. Using the Wrong Case After “and”

❌ Me and John went to school.
✅ John and I went to school.

Use subject pronouns for subjects of a sentence. Also, it’s polite to mention yourself last.

2. Mixing Up “I” and “Me”

❌ Between you and I, this is a secret.
✅ Between you and me, this is a secret.

After prepositions like between, use an object pronoun (me).

3. Forgetting “It” for Weather or Time

In English, sentences about the weather, time, or distance need a subject—even if nothing specific is doing the action.

✅ It’s raining.
✅ It’s 5 o’clock.
✅ It’s far from here.

Even though “it” doesn’t refer to a person or object, it’s necessary in these expressions.

Practice Exercise

Identify whether each pronoun should be a subject or an object:

1. ___ am learning English.

2. She gave ___ a book.

3. ___ and Tom are best friends.

4. The teacher called ___ after class.

5. Please sit with ___.

✅ Answers:

1. I (subject)

2. me (object)

3. I (subject)

4. me (object)

5. me (object)

Quick Summary

Remember these patterns:

• Subject pronouns come before verbs.

• Object pronouns come after verbs or prepositions.

Why Learning Pronouns Matters

Using correct pronouns helps you:

• Speak more naturally and fluently.

• Avoid repetitive sentences.

• Sound grammatically correct in both writing and speaking.

Mastering subject and object pronouns is a basic yet powerful step toward English fluency. By practicing them in daily conversations, you’ll notice that your sentences become smoother and clearer.

Example Summary Sentences

• I love my dog.

• My dog loves me.

• She helps him every day.

• They invited us to the party.

• We told them the truth.

Practice using both forms regularly, and you’ll soon use them correctly without even thinking!

Conclusion

Subject and object pronouns may seem simple, but they are the foundation of clear English communication. Knowing when to use I or me, he or him, and they or them can completely change the meaning of a sentence.

Subject pronouns are used to show who is doing the action, while object pronouns show who receives the action. Once you understand this basic difference, you can easily build more natural and accurate sentences.

Here are the key takeaways:

• Use subject pronouns before verbs (e.g., She studies English.).

• Use object pronouns after verbs or prepositions (e.g., I called her.).

• Never mix them up — She loves me is not the same as Me loves she!

Finally, the best way to master pronouns is through practice. Listen to native speakers, read English materials, and create your own sentences every day. Over time, correct usage will become automatic — helping you sound both fluent and confident in English.

FAQs

What are subject and object pronouns?

Subject pronouns perform the action of the verb (e.g., I, you, he, she, it, we, they). Object pronouns receive the action of the verb or follow a preposition (e.g., me, you, him, her, it, us, them). In “She helped him,” she is the subject pronoun and him is the object pronoun.

How do I know which form to use: “I” or “me”?

Use I when the pronoun is the subject: “I called the office.” Use me when the pronoun is the object: “They called me.” With compound subjects or objects, remove the other noun to test: “(Tom and) I arrived early” vs. “The manager praised (Tom and) me.”

Can “you” be both subject and object?

Yes. Unlike many pronouns, you does not change form. It can be singular or plural and can function as subject or object: “You are ready.” / “I’ll help you.” Context clarifies number in most situations, or you can add a qualifier such as “you all,” “you guys,” or “you two.”

What about “they” vs. “them”?

They is the subject form and them is the object form. “They finished the report.” / “The team thanked them.” Never use them as a subject: “Them are ready” is incorrect; say “They are ready.”

Is singular “they” acceptable?

Yes. Singular they is widely accepted in modern English for an unknown, unspecified, or nonbinary person. Subject: “If a student forgets, they should email.” Object: “The director will mentor them.” While some formal contexts once discouraged it, most current style guides accept singular they as clear and inclusive.

Why do we use “it” as a subject for weather, time, and distance?

English requires an explicit subject even when no specific agent exists. Use dummy subject it for weather, time, and distance: “It is raining,” “It is 6 p.m.,” “It is five kilometers from here.” In these cases, it does not refer to any particular noun.

Should I say “me and John” or “John and I”?

As a subject, use “John and I”: “John and I are presenting.” As an object, use “John and me”: “The coach congratulated John and me.” Politeness convention places the other person first, but grammar determines I vs. me.

Which pronoun follows a preposition?

Use object pronouns after prepositions such as to, for, with, about, between, at: “This is for her,” “Speak with them,” “Between you and me.” Avoid subject forms here: “Between you and I” is a common error; the correct form is “Between you and me.”

Why do people say “It is I” vs. “It is me”?

Traditional grammar prescribes “It is I” because the verb be takes a subject complement, not an object. However, in everyday English, “It is me” is natural and widely used. In very formal writing or contexts, prefer “It is I.” In conversation and most writing, “It’s me” is acceptable and idiomatic.

How do pronouns work in short answers and emphasis?

Short answers and emphasis use subject pronouns: “Who called?” — “He did.” / “Is she coming?” — “Yes, I am.” For emphasis, you can stress the subject pronoun: “I did it,” or use a cleft sentence: “It was she who solved it.”

What is the difference between “who” and “whom” as subjects or objects?

Who functions as a subject; whom functions as an object. Subject: “Who is at the door?” Object: “To whom did you speak?” In modern usage, whom often yields to who in speech (“Who did you speak to?”). In formal contexts—especially after prepositions—whom remains preferred.

How do reflexive pronouns relate to subject and object pronouns?

Reflexive pronouns (myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves) reflect the action back to the subject: “She taught herself.” Do not use a reflexive where a simple object pronoun is needed: “Please contact me,” not “Please contact myself.”

Can I start a sentence with “me”?

Generally, no—unless me is part of an elliptical construction in informal speech or a fixed expression. Grammatically, subjects take subject pronouns: “I finished the draft,” not “Me finished the draft.” In dialogue, you may see “Me? I disagree,” where the first “Me?” is an interjection, not the sentence subject.

How do I choose pronouns in compound subjects and objects?

Use subject forms in compound subjects (“She and I will lead”) and object forms in compound objects (“The client called him and me”). To test, remove the other element: “She will lead” / “The client called me.” If the sentence still sounds correct, your pronoun choice is right.

What are common mistakes with subject and object pronouns?

• Subject–object swap: “Me and Lisa went” ✗ → “Lisa and I went” ✓
• After prepositions: “Between you and I” ✗ → “Between you and me” ✓
• Object as subject: “Them are ready” ✗ → “They are ready” ✓
• Reflexive misuse: “Email myself” ✗ → “Email me” ✓

Are there dialect or register differences I should know?

Yes. Informal speech often relaxes prescriptive rules (e.g., “It’s me,” “Who did you talk to?”). Formal writing prefers traditional patterns (“It is I,” “To whom did you speak?”). Business and academic contexts usually sit between these extremes: clear, natural, and correct without sounding stiff.

How can I quickly check if a pronoun is correct?

Three quick tests: (1) Position test: subjects come before the main verb; objects follow the verb or preposition. (2) Removal test: drop the other noun in compounds to hear what remains. (3) Substitution test: swap in a clear pair like he/him to see which case your sentence needs.

Do object pronouns always follow action verbs?

Usually, yes: “The manager thanked them.” However, linking verbs (be, seem, become) take subject complements, not objects: “It is they (formal)/them (informal).” After phrasal verbs and prepositions, always use object pronouns: “Look after her,” “Come with us.”

What about emphasis like “me, I think” at the end of sentences?

In informal speech, tags like “…me, I think” or “…me personally” occur for emphasis or rhythm. Grammatically, ensure the main clause uses the correct case: “I would choose option B—me, I prefer clarity.” In careful writing, prefer standard structures without such tags.

How can I practice subject and object pronouns effectively?

Try these steps: (1) Minimal pairs: write sentence pairs switching subject/object (e.g., “She likes him” ↔ “He likes her”). (2) Preposition drill: create lines with common prepositions (“for me,” “to him,” “with them”). (3) Pronoun swap: replace nouns in a paragraph with appropriate pronouns while keeping meaning. (4) Listening: notice pronoun choices in podcasts or videos.

Is there a quick reference chart I can memorize?

Yes. Subject: I, you, he, she, it, we, they. Object: me, you, him, her, it, us, them. Remember two golden rules: (1) Use subject forms before the verb (unless after a preposition or as a complement in very formal usage), and (2) use object forms after verbs that take objects and after all prepositions.

Can pronouns be omitted in English like in some languages?

No. English is not a “pro-drop” language; subjects are typically required. Do not omit subject pronouns even when context is clear: say “It seems difficult,” not “Seems difficult.” The only common omissions occur in notes, headlines, or informal commands, which often imply “you”: “Check your email.”

What final tip will prevent most mistakes?

Identify the verb first, then ask two questions: “Who/what does the action?” — use a subject pronoun; “Action happens to whom/what?” — use an object pronoun. This two-step check—plus the removal test for compounds—will keep your sentences clear, natural, and correct.

English Grammar Guide: Complete Rules, Examples, and Tips for All Levels