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Object pronouns trip up even intermediate students because English doesn’t force you to think about grammar the way many other languages do. You can say “I gave the book to him” or “I gave him the book” in either order, and both sound fine to native ears. But choose wrong between “him” and “he,” and suddenly your sentence sounds like a non-native speaker wrote it — and that’s a signal to readers that you’re not confident in English.
I’ll show you the seven object pronouns, exactly where they sit in a sentence, how to tell them apart from subject pronouns, and the most common mistake my students make (the “between you and me” trap). By the end, you’ll know instinctively which form to reach for.
Key Takeaways
- Seven object pronouns total — me, you, him, her, it, us, them (the direct and indirect object pronouns use the same set).
- Object pronouns receive the action — they appear after verbs or prepositions, not before them.
- Subject vs. object matters for clarity — “I gave the book to him” vs. “I gave the book to he” (second is wrong).
- After prepositions, always use object pronouns — for, to, with, at, between, about, from, etc.
- Compound objects use the same pronouns — “Give the book to him and me” (not “him and I”).
Understanding Object Pronouns
An object pronoun is a word that replaces a noun that receives the action of a verb, or that comes after a preposition. Object pronouns do not perform the action — they receive it.
Subject performs action: “She gave the book to John.” (John receives the book.)
Replace with object pronoun: “She gave the book to him.” (him receives the book.)
This is the opposite of subject pronouns (I, you, he, she, it, we, they), which perform the action. Object pronouns are the “recipients.”
The Seven Object Pronouns
| Object Pronoun | Person | Number | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| me | First | Singular | She gave me the book. |
| you | Second | Singular or plural | I saw you at the store. |
| him | Third (male) | Singular | He helped him with homework. |
| her | Third (female) | Singular | The teacher praised her for the essay. |
| it | Third (non-human) | Singular | The dog chased it down the street. |
| us | First | Plural | They invited us to the party. |
| them | Third | Plural | We saw them at the park. |
Notice that “you” and “it” have the same form for both subject and object use. “You are my friend” (subject) vs. “I like you” (object). Only context tells us which.
Direct Object vs. Indirect Object
English has two types of objects, but they use the same set of pronouns. The difference is what they receive.
Direct Objects
A direct object receives the action of the verb directly.
| Sentence | Direct Object | Why |
|---|---|---|
| She bought the book. | the book | The book directly receives the action (buying) |
| She bought it. | it | The pronoun “it” directly receives the action |
| He saw the car. | the car | The car directly receives the action (seeing) |
| He saw it. | it | The pronoun directly receives the action |
Common verbs with direct objects: buy, see, hear, watch, help, find, teach, kick, hit, love, hate, like.
Indirect Objects
An indirect object receives the direct object. It’s the beneficiary or recipient of the direct object.
| Sentence | Direct Object | Indirect Object | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| She gave him the book. | the book | him | Him receives the book; the book is what’s being given |
| Can you tell me the time? | the time | me | Me receives the time; the time is what’s being told |
| They showed us the photos. | the photos | us | Us receives the photos; the photos are what’s being shown |
Common verbs with indirect objects: give, send, tell, show, teach, bring, buy, make, pass, promise.
Quick check for indirect objects: Ask “to whom?” or “for whom?” after the direct object. If you can answer that question, you have an indirect object. Example: “She gave the book to whom? To him.” So “him” is indirect.
Where Object Pronouns Appear in a Sentence
Position 1: After Verbs (Most Common)
Direct object after the verb:
I saw her at the store.
The teacher helped us with the problem.
They didn’t invite me to the event.
Indirect object (often with “to” or “for”):
She gave him a book. (or: She gave a book to him.)
Can you tell me the answer?
I’ll buy you a coffee.
Position 2: After Prepositions
When an object pronoun follows a preposition (to, for, with, at, in, about, from, between, among, etc.), it’s in the object form.
Examples:
This is for you.
I spoke with him yesterday.
That secret is between you and me. (Not “between you and I”)
She was thinking about them.
Register note: Many native speakers incorrectly say “between you and I” in casual speech, but it’s grammatically wrong. After any preposition, use the object form. This is one case where correcting yourself marks you as more educated in writing.
Subject Pronouns vs. Object Pronouns: Side-by-Side
| Subject Pronouns | Object Pronouns | Function |
|---|---|---|
| I | me | I do the action; me receives it |
| you | you | (same form for both) |
| he | him | He does the action; him receives it |
| she | her | She does the action; her receives it |
| it | it | (same form for both) |
| we | us | We do the action; us receives it |
| they | them | They do the action; them receives it |
Quick test: Replace the object pronoun with “him.” If the sentence still makes grammatical sense, you need an object pronoun. If it sounds wrong with “him,” you probably need a subject pronoun.
Example: “She gave the book to [him]” — makes sense, so use an object pronoun (him, her, me, etc.).
Example: “Between you and [him]” — makes sense, so use an object pronoun (him, me, etc.).
Common Mistakes with Object Pronouns
Mistake #1: Confusing subject and object pronouns in compound objects
✗ Incorrect: She gave the book to John and I.
✓ Correct: She gave the book to John and me.
Why: The compound object (John and me) comes after the preposition “to,” so both pronouns must be in the object form. A quick check: remove John. “She gave the book to me” (not “to I”).
Mistake #2: Using subject pronouns after prepositions
✗ Incorrect: Between you and I, I don’t think he’s right.
✓ Correct: Between you and me, I don’t think he’s right.
Why: Prepositions always take object pronouns, not subject pronouns. This is one of the most common errors even educated native speakers make in speech, but in writing it marks you as unsure of grammar.
Mistake #3: Using object pronouns as the subject of a sentence
✗ Incorrect: Him and I went to the store.
✓ Correct: He and I went to the store.
Why: The subject of the sentence needs a subject pronoun, not an object pronoun. This is one of the easiest mistakes to catch once you know the rule.
Mistake #4: Using the wrong pronoun with “whom”
✗ Incorrect: Whom did you invite? I invited he.
✓ Correct: Whom did you invite? I invited him.
Why: “Whom” asks for an object, and the answer must be an object pronoun. Because “whom” is rarely used anymore, this mistake is common. (Modern casual English often drops “whom” entirely: “Who did you invite?”)
Object Pronouns with Infinitives
When an object pronoun comes after an infinitive verb (to + verb), it’s still an object pronoun.
Examples:
She asked me to help her with the project.
I want him to teach us the method.
They told us not to invite them to the meeting.
In each case, the pronoun receives the action of the infinitive or comes after a preposition, so the object form is used.
Sample Dialogue
Manager: Did you send the report to the client?
Employee: I sent it to them yesterday. I also gave them a call to confirm.
Manager: Good. Did they ask you any questions?
Employee: Just one — they wanted to know if you could meet with us next week.
Manager: Tell them I’ll call them on Monday to set it up.
Object Pronouns in Formal vs. Informal English
| Context | Formal | Informal |
|---|---|---|
| After a preposition | Between you and me, I disagree. | Between you and me, I don’t agree. |
| With “whom” | To whom did you send this? | Who did you send this to? |
| Passive construction | We were given the task. | They gave us the task. |
| Indirect object | I shall inform him of the decision. | I’ll let him know. |
Object pronouns are the same in both formal and informal English. The difference is usually in sentence structure, not the pronouns themselves.
Quick Quiz
Fill in the blank with the correct object pronoun (me, you, him, her, it, us, them):
- She gave _______ the keys yesterday.
- Between you and _______, I think the plan is risky.
- The teacher asked _______ to present our project.
- I saw _______ at the mall last weekend.
- They want _______ to join their team.
Answers: 1. me (direct object after verb) · 2. me (after preposition “between”) · 3. us (object after preposition “asked”) · 4. them (direct object after verb “saw”) · 5. me (direct object; or us if plural, but context suggests singular)
Related Articles
- Subject Pronouns: I, You, He, She, It, We, They
- Possessive Pronouns: Mine, Yours, His, Hers, Ours, Theirs
- ↑ Back to pillar: English Pronouns (Pillar)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an object pronoun?
An object pronoun is a word that replaces a noun receiving the action of a verb (direct object) or a noun that comes after a preposition. The seven object pronouns are: me, you, him, her, it, us, and them. They do not perform the action — they receive it.
What is the difference between a direct object and an indirect object?
A direct object receives the action directly: “She bought the book” (book is direct). An indirect object receives the direct object: “She gave him the book” (him is indirect; book is direct). Both use the same set of object pronouns in English.
Why is “between you and me” correct, but “between you and I” is wrong?
Prepositions (like between, to, for, with) always take object pronouns in English. “Me” is the object form; “I” is the subject form. Therefore, “between you and me” is grammatically correct. “Between you and I” is technically wrong, though many native speakers use it in casual speech.
Can I use “whom” instead of “who”?
“Whom” is the object form of “who” and should be used when the pronoun is in the object position. However, “whom” is becoming rare in modern English, even in formal writing. Many native speakers avoid it entirely. In casual speech, “who” is almost always used.
What is the difference between “him” and “he”?
“He” is a subject pronoun — it performs the action. “Him” is an object pronoun — it receives the action or comes after a preposition. Example: “He gave the book to him.” The first “he” is the subject (performer); “him” is the indirect object (receiver).
Should compound objects use the same rules as single objects?
Yes. A compound object (two or more objects joined by “and”) uses the same rules as a single object. If a single pronoun in that position would be an object pronoun, all pronouns in the compound must be object pronouns. Example: “She gave the book to him and me” (not “him and I”).
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