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Object Pronouns in English: Me, You, Him, Her, It, Us, Them
The 7 pronouns that go after the verb in English, with examples and what they're really for.
Written by Bryan López, Profesor de inglés · Updated
Object pronouns in English are me, you, him, her, it, us, and them: they go after the verb or a preposition and receive the action instead of doing it. Their main job is avoiding repeating a name you already mentioned.
The 7 object pronouns in English
They go after the verb or a preposition
An object pronoun almost never opens a sentence: it goes right after the verb (Help me! / I will miss him.) or after a preposition like for, to, with, from, about (Wait for us. / Listen to her. / Come with me.).
What they're for: avoiding repetition
You use an object pronoun once you've already mentioned who you're talking about. "It's Angelica's birthday today. I sent her some flowers" sounds more natural than repeating "I sent Angelica some flowers" right after already saying her name. That's why you rarely hear the same name said twice in a row in the same conversation.
With the imperative (orders and instructions)
Object pronouns show up constantly with the imperative, when you give a direct order or instruction: Help us! Stop him! Listen to me! Give me the ball. The verb comes first and the object pronoun goes right after it, with no subject.
Direct object and indirect object
The direct object receives the action directly: "I read it" (it = the book). The indirect object is who the action is done for: "I sent her some flowers" (her = who, flowers = what). The same sentence can often be said with a preposition instead: "I sent some flowers to her."
Common mistakes with object pronouns
Putting the object pronoun before the verb out of habit. Some languages attach the object pronoun before the conjugated verb, but in English it always comes after: "I see it," never "I it see." Dropping the object pronoun because the context already makes it clear. In some languages you can say the equivalent of just "I already did" without repeating what, but English almost always needs the explicit pronoun: "I already did it," not "I already did."
Practice object pronouns with real audio
Interactive exercises, real pronunciation, and the full lesson taught in English.
After prepositions too
Object pronouns are not only for verbs. They also follow prepositions: "with me," "for you," "about him," "to us." "She is talking to me" is correct, and "She is talking to I" is not. A very common mistake happens with "between you and me," which is correct, although many native speakers say "between you and I." Learners who write formally should use me.
Subject and object pronouns
Who does what: the question method
To choose between subject and object, ask who does the action. In "She called me," she does the action (subject) and me receives it (object). If the pronoun is doing the action, use a subject pronoun (I, he, she, we, they). If it is receiving the action or following a preposition, use an object pronoun (me, him, her, us, them). This simple question avoids almost every error.
Examples of object pronouns
- Can you help me with this?
- I don't know him very well.
- She gave us a beautiful gift.
- Please call them after lunch.
- He is angry with her.
Subject pronoun in the wrong place
Incorrect
Give the book to she.
Correct
Give the book to her.
object pronouns in a real conversation
A: "Did you talk to Sara?" B: "Yes, I called her this morning." A: "And what did she say?" B: "She told me she'll call us tonight."
Frequently asked questions
What are the 7 object pronouns in English?
Me, you, him, her, it, us, and them. They go after the verb or a preposition and receive the action of the sentence.
What are direct object pronouns?
They're the object pronouns that receive the action directly from the verb, with no preposition in between: "I read it" (it = what you're reading). They're the exact same 7 pronouns, just a different role in the sentence.
Where does the object pronoun go in a sentence?
Right after the verb (Help me!) or after a preposition (Wait for us). It never opens a sentence as the subject.
Why do you use object pronouns instead of the name?
To avoid repeating a name you already mentioned. Once you've said "Angelica," the next sentence uses "her" instead of saying her name again.
How are object pronouns used in commands?
They go right after the verb, with no subject: Help us! Stop him! Listen to me! The imperative in English uses object pronouns constantly.
Can I use me in Me and John went shopping?
In informal speech, many native speakers do. In correct grammar, it should be "John and I went shopping," because the pronoun is the subject.
What is the difference between him and his?
Him is an object pronoun (I saw him). His is a possessive (his car).
Do object pronouns change for gender with it?
No. It is used for things and animals in general, both as a subject and as an object: "I bought it."
Which pronouns are the same as subject and as object?
You and it. "You called me" and "I called you" both use you, and "It is big" and "I like it" both use it.
Practice object pronouns with real audio
Interactive exercises, real pronunciation, and the full lesson taught in English.
Keep learning
- Subject Pronouns: The Complete List, Rules, and ExamplesThe 7 words that go before the verb in English, explained with examples and the mistakes learners make most often.
- Possessive Pronouns in English: Mine, Yours, His, Hers, Ours, TheirsThe 6 possessive pronouns in English, with examples and the rule almost everyone breaks: no apostrophe, ever.
- Possessive Adjectives in English: My, Your, His, Her, Its, Our, TheirThe 7 possessive adjectives in English, with examples and the two mix-ups everyone makes: its/it's and your/you're.