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Subject Pronouns: The Complete List, Rules, and Examples
The 7 words that go before the verb in English, explained with examples and the mistakes learners make most often.
Written by Bryan López, Profesor de inglés · Updated
Subject pronouns are the words that perform the action of a verb: I, you, he, she, it, we, and they. They always come before the verb, and in English you can never drop them, unlike many languages where the verb ending already tells you who's speaking. They're the building block of every English sentence.
The 7 subject pronouns in English
Why you can never drop the pronoun in English
In many languages, the verb ending already tells you who's doing the action, so the pronoun is optional. English verbs barely change (work, work, work), so dropping the subject pronoun leaves the sentence incomplete. "Work in a bank" isn't a valid English sentence, you need "I work in a bank." This is the single most common mistake for learners whose first language allows dropping the subject.
Subject pronouns vs. object pronouns
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Practice subject pronouns with real audio
Interactive exercises, real pronunciation, and the full lesson taught in English.
Which one goes where
"She calls him every day." Here "she" performs the action of calling and "him" receives it. Swap them around, "Her calls he every day," and the sentence stops making sense. The same rule applies after a preposition (for, to, with, from, about): always use the object pronoun. Can you help me? / This gift is for her. / We work with them.
'She and I' or 'her and me'?
"She and I went to the mall" is correct. "Her and me went to the mall" is not, even though it might sound natural in casual speech. The trick: drop the other pronoun and test the sentence on its own. "I went to the mall" sounds right, so the full sentence is "She and I went to the mall." The same slip happens in reverse: a lot of people say "Me and my friend went to the party" when it should be "My friend and I went to the party."
Other common mistakes
Using "it" for people. "It" is only for things and animals without a name, never for a person: say "He is my friend" or "She is my friend," never "It is my friend." Mixing up "you" singular and plural. English uses the same word for one person or a whole group: "You are late" works whether you're talking to one person or five. Using the object pronoun as the subject out of habit, like "Him is my teacher" instead of "He is my teacher," usually comes from memorizing set phrases instead of the actual rule.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a subject pronoun in English?
It's the pronoun that performs the action of the verb and comes before it: I, you, he, she, it, we, and they. In "She works in Guatemala," "she" is the subject pronoun.
What are the 7 subject pronouns in English?
I, you, he, she, it, we, and they. Those are the only 7, and they always come before the verb.
What's the difference between subject and object pronouns?
The subject pronoun performs the action and comes before the verb (I, he, she...); the object pronoun receives it and comes after the verb or a preposition (me, him, her...). Compare: "He calls her" vs. "She calls him."
When do I use 'I' and when do I use 'me'?
"I" when the pronoun is doing the action, meaning it's the subject: "I like coffee." "Me" when it's receiving the action or follows a preposition: "Coffee makes me happy" / "This is for me."
Can you drop the subject pronoun in English?
No. Unlike languages where the verb ending already shows who's speaking, English verbs barely change, so the pronoun is required. "Work in a bank" isn't correct, it has to be "I work in a bank."
Do you use he, she, or it for an animal?
Use "it" for animals without a name or unknown gender. If the animal has a name or you're close to it, like a pet, most speakers use "he" or "she": "My dog is happy, he loves walks."
Practice subject pronouns with real audio
Interactive exercises, real pronunciation, and the full lesson taught in English.