Pronouns: Subject and Object Pronouns Explained Clearly with Examples

In English grammar, pronouns play a central role in avoiding repetition and improving sentence flow. Among the most commonly used pronouns are the subject pronouns and object pronouns. Understanding when and how to use them correctly helps make your speech and writing sound natural and accurate.

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What Are Pronouns?

Pronouns are words that replace nouns in sentences. Instead of repeating names or things, pronouns are used to make communication smoother.

Example:
Instead of saying: Maria loves ice cream. Maria eats it every weekend.
You can say: Maria loves ice cream. She eats it every weekend.
Here, she replaces Maria and it replaces ice cream.

Types of Pronouns

Subject Pronouns – Used when the pronoun is performing the action in a sentence.
Object Pronouns – Used when the pronoun receives the action of the verb or follows prepositions.

Subject Pronouns Explained

A subject pronoun represents the doer of the action—the one who performs the verb.

Person	Singular	Plural
1st person	I	We
2nd person	You	You
3rd person	He / She / It	They

Examples:

I play football every evening.
She runs very fast.
They are cooking dinner together.

Object Pronouns Explained

Object pronouns are used when the pronoun receives the action of the verb or comes after a preposition.

Person	Singular	Plural
1st person	Me	Us
2nd person	You	You
3rd person	Him / Her / It	Them

Examples:

John saw me at the park.
Can you help us with this project?
I will call them tomorrow.

Subject vs Object Pronouns: Comparison Chart

Function	Subject Pronoun	Object Pronoun
Performs the action	I, You, He, She, It, We, They	—
Receives the action	—	Me, You, Him, Her, It, Us, Them
Example sentence	She helps others.	Others help her.

Interactive Practice: Identify the Pronoun Type

Try this quick exercise! Read each sentence below and decide if the pronoun is a subject pronoun or an object pronoun:

They visited the museum yesterday.
The teacher gave us homework.
He loves playing cricket.
The gift is for her.

Answer Key:

They → Subject Pronoun
Us → Object Pronoun
He → Subject Pronoun
Her → Object Pronoun

How to Remember the Difference

Here are some easy tricks to remember:

Subject pronouns always do something (e.g., “He eats”).
Object pronouns have something done to them (e.g., “I like him”).
If you can replace it with a name and it still makes sense, it’s likely a subject pronoun.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t mix subject and object pronouns together incorrectly. For example: ❌ “Me and him went” → ✅ “He and I went.”
Always check pronouns after prepositions like “to,” “for,” or “with.” Example: “This is for her,” not “for she.”

Summary

Subject and object pronouns are the backbone of clear English sentences. Knowing which one to use depends on whether the pronoun performs or receives the action. With practice, using them correctly becomes second nature and makes your communication more polished and professional.

Practice regularly, read English content aloud, and notice how native speakers use pronouns in everyday conversations. That’s the fastest route to mastery!