What Are Object Pronouns? Definition, Examples and Practice Exercise

Object pronouns are words that replace nouns receiving an action in a sentence. They include me, you, him, her, it, us, and them. For example, in She helped me, “me” replaces the noun receiving help. These pronouns follow verbs or prepositions and make sentences clearer and smoother. To explore object pronouns, their usage, and how they differ from subject pronouns, keep reading the blog. Also, you will find questions related to pronouns in this blog. Solve them and strengthen your English grammar.

What Are Object Pronouns?

Object pronouns replace nouns and receive the action in a sentence. The main object pronouns in English are me, you, him, her, it, us, and them. For example, in She gave me a gift, me is the object pronoun receiving the action. These pronouns help avoid repetition and make sentences smoother. Understanding them is essential for improving grammar and fluency in English.

While subject pronouns (I, we, she, he, who) perform an action, object pronouns receive the action. Object pronouns can be first, second, or third person and singular or plural:

Third-person singular object pronouns can indicate gender: her (feminine), him (masculine), and them (nonbinary). Them is also used when the gender is unknown or irrelevant.

List of Object Pronouns

The list of object pronouns that receives the action in a sentence and replace nouns to avoid repetition are as follows:

• Me (first-person singular)
• Us (first-person plural)
• You (second-person singular and plural)
• Her (third-person singular, feminine)
• Him (third-person singular, masculine)
• Them (third-person singular and plural, nonbinary or gender-neutral)
• Whom (third-person singular and plural, formal or literary usage)
• It (third-person singular, for things, animals, or concepts)

Example Sentences

Object Pronouns	Example Sentences	Explanation
Me (first-person singular)	My brother helped me with my homework.	Me is the object pronoun receiving the action of being helped.
Us (first-person plural)	The teacher gave us extra time for the project.	Us is the object pronoun receiving the action of gave.
You (second-person singular)	I called you yesterday.	In this case, you is the object pronoun receiving the action.
Her (third-person singular, feminine)	John saw her at the library.	Her is the object pronoun receiving the action of saw.
Him (third-person singular, masculine)	I sent him an email this morning.	Him is the object pronoun receiving the action of sending.
Them (third-person singular and plural, nonbinary or gender-neutral)	Shyam wasn’t home, so I left them a message. (singular, nonbinary or unknown gender) The coach praised them for their hard work. (plural)	In both cases, them is the object pronoun receiving the action. The subjects I and The coach perform the actions.
Whom (third-person singular and plural, formal or literary usage)	She is the professor whom I respect the most. (singular) The students, whom the teacher congratulated, won the award. (plural)	Whom is the object pronoun receiving the action of respect and congratulated.
It (third-person singular, for things, animals, or concepts)	I found the book and returned it to the library.	It replaces the book as the object pronoun receiving the action of being returned.

Also Read: What are Pronouns?

Rules for Using Object Pronouns

Object pronouns play an important role in sentences by replacing nouns that receive an action. They make speech and writing smoother and clearer. Here is how they are used in different ways:

1. Use Object Pronouns as the Receiver of an Action

An object pronoun should always act as the receiver of an action in a sentence, either as a direct or indirect object.

Example: Ryan invited me to the party.

Explanation: Me is the correct object pronoun because it receives the action of invited. The subject Ryan performs the action, while me is affected by it.

2. Use Object Pronouns After Prepositions

When a pronoun follows a preposition such as to, for, with, or about, it must be in object form.

Example: This gift is for her.

Explanation: Her is the correct object pronoun because it follows the preposition for. Using a subject pronoun (she) here would be incorrect.

3. Use Object Pronouns in Comparisons

In informal and conversational English, object pronouns sound more natural when making comparisons.

Example: Liam is taller than me.

Explanation: Me is used correctly because it serves as the object of the comparison. While I is technically correct in formal grammar (Liam is taller than I am), using me is more common in everyday language.

4. Use Object Pronouns in Short Answers

Object pronouns are often used in short answers instead of full sentences.

Example: Who wants ice cream? Me!

Explanation: Instead of saying I want ice cream, the object pronoun me is used for a quick, natural response. This is a common way people speak in casual conversations.

5. Use Object Pronouns to Avoid Repetition

Replacing nouns with object pronouns makes sentences smoother and avoids unnecessary repetition.

Example: I saw Maria and Tom at the mall, so I waved at them.

Explanation: Instead of repeating Maria and Tom, the object pronoun them replaces their names, making the sentence more concise.

Check out: What are Possessive Pronouns? 

Common Mistakes when Using Object Pronouns

Many people make errors when using object pronouns. Here are some common mistakes and their corrections:

1. Using a Subject Pronoun Instead of an Object Pronoun: Subject pronouns like I, he, she, we, and they are used as the subject of a sentence, while object pronouns like me, him, her, us, and them are used as the object of a verb or preposition. Using a subject pronoun instead of an object pronoun leads to incorrect grammar.

For example:

Incorrect: Rahul gave the book to I.

I is a subject pronoun, but it is incorrectly used as the object of the verb gave.

Correct: Rahul gave the book to me.

Me is the correct object pronoun here because it follows the verb gave.

2. Using an Object Pronoun Instead of a Subject Pronoun: A subject pronoun should be used when the pronoun is performing the action in a sentence. Object pronouns should not be used in the subject position.

For example:

Incorrect: Me and Pooja went to the store.

Me is an object pronoun, but it is being incorrectly used as the subject of the sentence.

Correct: Pooja and I went to the store.

I is the correct subject pronoun. It correctly represents one of the people performing the action of going to the store.

3. Incorrect Use of Object Pronouns After Prepositions: After a preposition like from, to, with, between, or about, we must use object pronouns instead of subject pronouns.

For example:

Incorrect: This gift is from she.

She is a subject pronoun, but it comes after the preposition from, making the sentence grammatically incorrect.

Correct: This gift is from her.

Her is the correct object pronoun used after the preposition from.

4. Incorrect Use of Object Pronouns in Compound Subjects: When two or more subjects are joined by and or or, a subject pronoun should be used, not an object pronoun.

For example:

Incorrect: Me and my sister love to dance.

Me is an object pronoun, but it is incorrectly used as part of the subject.

Correct: My sister and I love to dance.

I is the correct subject pronoun because it is part of the subject performing the action.

Must Read: Emphatic Pronouns: Definition, Functions, Examples

Difference Between Subject and Object Pronouns

Here is an informative table that explains the difference between subject and object pronouns.

Feature	Subject Pronouns	Object Pronouns
Function	Subject pronouns do the action in a sentence.  Example: She baked a cake for the party. She is the one baking.	Object pronouns receive the action or come after a preposition.  Example: The dog chased him down the street. Him is the one being chased.
Placement	Subject pronouns usually come before the verb.  Example: They are going to the park to play.	Object pronouns usually come after the verb or a preposition.  Example: Please give me the keys to the car.
Case	Subject pronouns are in the nominative case.  Example: We watched the movie at the theater. We is in the nominative case.	Object pronouns are in the objective case.  Example: The teacher gave us homework to complete. Us is in the objective case.
Compound Subjects and Objects	Subject pronouns are used when there is more than one subject.  Example: He and I went to the store to buy snacks. This is correct because I went to the store is also correct.	Object pronouns are used when there is more than one object.  Example: They invited her and me to the party. This is correct because They invited me to the party is also correct.
Formal and Informal Use	Subject pronouns are used the same way in both formal and informal speech.  Example: Who is responsible for this work.	Whom is more formal than who when used as an object.  Example: To whom did you speak about the meeting. This is formal.
After To Be Verbs	In formal English, subject pronouns are used after to be verbs.  Example: It is I who called you yesterday.	In informal English, object pronouns are used more often after to be verbs.  Example: It’s me who called you yesterday.

Solve: 

• Pronoun Exercise with Answers
• Personal Pronoun Exercises
• Subject Pronouns Exercises
• Relative Pronoun Exercises

Object and Subject Pronouns Exercise

In this section, we have compiled some subject and object pronouns questions to test your understanding of this topic. Let’s practice!

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Instructions: Choose the correct subject or object pronoun to complete each sentence.

1. ___ enjoys playing the piano every evening. (She/Her)

2. The teacher gave ___ extra homework for being late. (he/him)

3. My sister and ___ love going on road trips. (I/me)

4. Mom asked ___ to help her in the kitchen. (they/them)

5. ___ always go for a walk after dinner. (We/Us)

6. Could you tell ___ the truth about what happened? (I/me)

7. Alex and ___ are planning a surprise party. (she/her)

8. The principal selected ___ for the student council. (he/him)

9. ___ wants to be a doctor when she grows up. (She/Her)

10. The teacher spoke to Jack and ___. (I/me)

Answers:

1. she 2. him 3. I 4. them 5. we 6. me 7. she 8. him 9. she 10. me

Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Pronoun

Instructions: Pick the correct pronoun in each sentence.

1. The coach asked (we/us) to practice harder.

2. (He/Him) always completes his assignments on time.

3. Can you help (they/them) carry the boxes?

4. (She/Her) and I are best friends.

5. This letter is for (he/him).

6. (They/Them) are going on a school trip next week.

7. The teacher called (she/her) to the office.

8. (I/Me) love spending time with my family.

9. Please give (we/us) a little more time to finish the test.

10. (Him/He) and his cousin play football every evening.

Answers:

1. us 2. He 3. them 4. She 5. him 6. They 7. her 8. I 9. us 10. He

Getting the hang of object pronouns makes speaking and writing in English much easier. They help sentences flow better by replacing nouns and avoiding repetition. The more you practice, the more natural they’ll feel. So, keep at it, and soon, using it correctly will be second nature to you!

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