ESL Grammar: Pronouns - Subject vs Object Pronouns, I/me, he/him, they/them

What It Is

Subject vs Object Pronouns are words that replace nouns in a sentence. They help us talk about people or things without repeating the same word. For example, "John gave him the book" instead of "John gave John the book." This topic causes difficulty for ESL learners because their first language might use different pronouns or word order.

Key Rules

• Subject Pronouns replace the person doing the action: I, you, he, she, it, we, they. Example: I (subject) am going to the store.
• Object Pronouns replace the person or thing receiving the action: me, you, him, her, it, us, them. Example: Him (object) is going to the store.
• Use me as an object, not I: "John gave me the book" (not "John gave I the book").
• Use him as an object, not he: "John gave him the book" (not "John gave he the book").
• Use them as an object, not they: "John gave them the book" (not "John gave they the book").
• Use it as an object, not he/she/it: "John threw it to the dog" (not "John threw he to the dog").
• Use us as an object, not we: "John invited us to the party" (not "John invited we to the party").
• Use you as both subject and object: "You (subject) are going to the store" and "John gave you the book" (object).
• They is both subject and object: "They (subject) are going to the store" and "John gave them the book" (object).
• He and him are often confused, but he is a subject and him is an object: "He (subject) is going to the store" and "John gave him the book" (object).
• She and her are often confused, but she is a subject and her is an object: "She (subject) is going to the store" and "John gave her the book" (object).
• It is a subject and object pronoun: "It (subject) is going to the store" and "John threw it to the dog" (object).
• We and us are often confused, but we is a subject and us is an object: "We (subject) are going to the store" and "John invited us to the party" (object).
• They is a subject and object pronoun: "They (subject) are going to the store" and "John gave them the book" (object).
• Me and I are often confused, but I is a subject and me is an object: "I (subject) am going to the store" and "John gave me the book" (object).
• Him and he are often confused, but he is a subject and him is an object: "He (subject) is going to the store" and "John gave him the book" (object).
• Her and she are often confused, but she is a subject and her is an object: "She (subject) is going to the store" and "John gave her the book" (object).
• It is a subject and object pronoun: "It (subject) is going to the store" and "John threw it to the dog" (object).

Common ESL Errors

• Error: "John gave I the book."
• Why it happens: Interference from the learner's first language, where the subject pronoun is used as an object.
• Correction: "John gave me the book" (use me as an object pronoun).
• Error: "John gave him the book to."
• Why it happens: Overgeneralization of the object pronoun him.
• Correction: "John gave him the book" (use him as an object pronoun).
• Error: "John gave they the book."
• Why it happens: Interference from the learner's first language, where the subject pronoun is used as an object.
• Correction: "John gave them the book" (use them as an object pronoun).

Practice Exercises

1. Fill in the blank: "John gave _ the book." Correct answer: him. Reason: Use him as an object pronoun.
2. Fill in the blank: "She _ (go) to the store yesterday." Correct answer: went. Reason: Use the past tense of the verb go.
3. Fill in the blank: "John invited _ to the party." Correct answer: us. Reason: Use us as an object pronoun.

Last-Minute Revision

It is a subject and object pronoun.
Me and I are often confused, but I is a subject and me is an object.
Him and he are often confused, but he is a subject and him is an object.
Her and she are often confused, but she is a subject and her is an object.
They is a subject and object pronoun.
We and us are often confused, but we is a subject and us is an object.
You is both a subject and object pronoun.
Subject pronouns replace the person doing the action: I, you, he, she, it, we, they.
Object pronouns replace the person or thing receiving the action: me, you, him, her, it, us, them. Use me as an object, not I. Use him as an object, not he. Use them as an object, not they. Use it as an object, not he/she/it. Use us as an object, not we.