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In my classroom, the pronoun mistake I see most often isn’t about rare verb tenses or obscure grammar rules — it’s about getting subjective and objective pronouns right. Students write sentences like “Me and him went to the store” or “Between you and I,” and the pattern becomes clear: subjective and objective pronouns are genuinely confusing, even for advanced learners. The reason is that English uses the same pronouns in different roles, and the rule isn’t always obvious from how they sound.
I’ll walk you through the core distinction: subjective pronouns perform the action (the “doer”), while objective pronouns receive the action (the “receiver”). Once you know that rule and learn a few tests, you’ll spot the right pronoun in any sentence.
Key Takeaways
- Subjective pronouns are the doer — they perform the action in a sentence (I, you, he, she, it, we, they).
- Objective pronouns are the receiver — they receive the action or follow prepositions (me, you, him, her, it, us, them).
- The swap test — replace the pronoun with its opposite case. If the sentence sounds wrong, you picked the right one.
- Prepositions always take objective — after “to,” “for,” “with,” “between,” and “about,” always use the objective form.
- Compound subjects and objects are tricky — test each pronoun alone: “Sarah and I” works, but “Me and Sarah” doesn’t.
Subjective Pronouns: The Doer of the Action
Subjective pronouns (also called nominative pronouns) are the words that stand in for the person or thing performing the action in a sentence. Think of them as the “actor” on the stage.
The complete list of subjective pronouns: I, you, he, she, it, we, they
Example 1: I went to the store. (“I” is the one doing the going.)
Example 2: She loves to read. (“She” is doing the loving.)
Example 3: They are coming over for dinner. (“They” are the ones coming.)
In each of these sentences, the subjective pronoun appears right before the verb—it’s the subject performing the action. When you write a sentence, always ask yourself: “Who is doing the action?” That’s your subjective pronoun.
Subjective pronouns also appear in compound subjects, where two or more people perform the action together:
Example 1: Sarah and I went to the movies. (Both Sarah and I performed the action of going.)
Example 2: He and she are getting married. (Both he and she are performing the action of getting married.)
Objective Pronouns: The Receiver of the Action
Objective pronouns (also called accusative pronouns) are words that receive the action of the verb. They’re the “patient” in the scene—something is being done to them.
The complete list of objective pronouns: me, you, him, her, it, us, you, them
Example 1: He gave her the book. (“Her” is receiving the book.)
Example 2: I saw them at the park. (“Them” is being seen.)
Example 3: The teacher told us to read the chapter. (“Us” is receiving the instruction.)
Notice that objective pronouns often come right after the action verb (gave, saw, told). They’re on the receiving end.
Objective pronouns also follow prepositions—words like “to,” “for,” “with,” “about,” “between,” and “at.” This is the most important rule to remember:
Example 1: She is going with him to the concert. (“Him” follows the preposition “with.”)
Example 2: They talked about us at the meeting. (“Us” follows the preposition “about.”)
Example 3: I am writing a letter to her. (“Her” follows the preposition “to.”)
Example 4: He is waiting for them at the airport. (“Them” follows the preposition “for.”)
Example 5: Between you and me, this is a secret. (“Me” follows the preposition “between.”)
Subjective vs. Objective: Side-by-Side
| Feature | Subjective Pronouns | Objective Pronouns |
|---|---|---|
| What they do | Perform the action (the doer) | Receive the action (the receiver) |
| Where they sit in the sentence | Before the verb (subject position) | After the verb or after a preposition |
| Test phrase | “Who is doing it?” | “To/for/with whom?” |
| Singular examples | I, you, he, she, it | me, you, him, her, it |
| Plural examples | we, they | us, them |
| After prepositions? | No — never use after prepositions | Yes — always use after prepositions |
The Position Test: Where It Sits in the Sentence
One of the easiest ways to figure out which pronoun to use is to look at where it sits in the sentence. Subjective pronouns come before the verb; objective pronouns come after the verb or after a preposition.
Example: “_______ gave the book to _______.” (Who did the giving? Who received it?)
→ “He gave the book to her.” (He = before the verb = subjective. Her = after the verb = objective.)
Example: “Is _______ coming with _______?” (Who is coming? Coming with whom?)
→ “Is she coming with him?” (She = before the verb = subjective. Him = after the preposition “with” = objective.)
The Replacement Test: Swap the Case
If you’re unsure, try replacing the pronoun with the opposite case. If the sentence suddenly sounds strange, you’ve picked the right one.
Example: “Me and him went to the store.”
→ Test by swapping: “I and he went to the store.” (This sounds overly formal, but it’s grammatically correct!)
→ Correction: “He and I went to the store.” (The original “Me and him” is wrong because both pronouns follow the verb; they should come before it.)
Example: “Between you and I, this is confidential.”
→ Test: Remove the conjunction: “Between I” sounds wrong.
→ Correction: “Between you and me” is correct (both pronouns follow the preposition “between,” so both must be objective).
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
✗ Incorrect: Me and him is going to the store.
✓ Correct: He and I are going to the store.
Why: Both pronouns perform the action (subject position), so both must be subjective. Also note the verb agreement: plural “are,” not singular “is.”
✗ Incorrect: Between you and I, I think she’s wrong.
✓ Correct: Between you and me, I think she’s wrong.
Why: The preposition “between” always takes an objective pronoun. “Me,” not “I.”
✗ Incorrect: The teacher gave the assignment to him and I.
✓ Correct: The teacher gave the assignment to him and me.
Why: Both pronouns follow the preposition “to,” so both must be objective: “him and me,” not “him and I.”
✗ Incorrect: Her and them were at the party.
✓ Correct: She and they were at the party.
Why: Both pronouns perform the action (subject position), so both must be subjective: “she and they,” not “her and them.”
Pronouns in Compound Subjects and Objects
One of the trickiest situations is when you have a compound subject or object—two pronouns or a noun plus a pronoun connected by “and.”
Compound subject (both perform the action):
“Sarah and I” (correct) — not “Sarah and me”
“He and she” (correct) — not “Him and her”
Compound object (both receive the action):
“Give it to Sarah and me” (correct) — not “to Sarah and I”
“The teacher asked him and her” (correct) — not “asked he and she”
The secret: test each pronoun alone. Would you say “Me went to the store”? No. So “Me and Sarah went to the store” is wrong. Would you say “Give it to I”? No. So “Give it to Sarah and I” is wrong.
Ana (ESL teacher): Okay, let’s check your sentences. You wrote, “Her and him are working on the project together.” Hear the difference?
Marco: Hmm, I’m not sure what’s wrong.
Ana: Try saying just the pronoun: “Her are working…” Does that sound right?
Marco: Oh! No, it should be “She are working.” Wait—”She is working”?
Ana: Right. So your sentence should be: “She and he are working on the project together.” Both pronouns are subjective because they’re performing the action.
Marco: So the test is to say each pronoun by itself?
Ana: Exactly. Try that test anytime you’re unsure about compound subjects or objects.
Quick Quiz
Choose the correct pronoun(s):
- _______ went to the concert last night. (He / Him)
- The manager gave the report to _______ and _______. (she and I / her and me)
- _______ can’t remember who that was. (Me / I)
- Between you and _______, I think this project needs more time. (I / me)
- Both _______ and _______ submitted their essays on time. (him and her / he and she)
Answers: 1. He · 2. her and me · 3. I · 4. me · 5. he and she
Pronoun Reference Table
| Person | Subjective (Doer) | Objective (Receiver) | Example Subjective | Example Objective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st person singular | I | me | I am hungry. | Give it to me. |
| 2nd person (singular & plural) | you | you | You are kind. | I saw you. |
| 3rd person singular (male) | he | him | He is here. | I know him. |
| 3rd person singular (female) | she | her | She runs fast. | I like her. |
| 3rd person singular (thing/animal) | it | it | It is beautiful. | I found it. |
| 1st person plural | we | us | We are ready. | Help us. |
| 3rd person plural | they | them | They know me. | I love them. |
Related Articles
- ↑ Master Pillar: English Grammar
- Subject Pronouns: A Complete Guide — dive deeper into subjective case
- Object Pronouns in English — master the objective case
- Possessive Pronouns: Mine, Yours, His, Hers
- ↑ Back to pillar: English Pronouns (Pillar)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between subjective and objective pronouns?
Subjective pronouns (I, you, he, she, it, we, they) perform the action in a sentence, while objective pronouns (me, you, him, her, it, us, them) receive the action or follow prepositions. The simple test: ask “Who is doing it?” for subjective, or “To/for/with whom?” for objective.
Why do I use “me” instead of “I” after prepositions?
Prepositions (to, for, with, between, about) always take the objective case. “Between you and me” is correct because “me” is the object of the preposition “between.” The pronoun “I” should never follow a preposition.
Is “He and I” or “Him and me” correct?
“He and I” is correct when they are the subject (doer) of the sentence: “He and I went to the store.” Use “Him and me” only after a preposition or verb that takes an object: “Give the report to him and me.”
Can I use “you” for both subjective and objective?
Yes — “you” is the same in both the subjective and objective cases. You can say “You are my friend” (subjective) or “I like you” (objective) using the same word. This is why “you” is sometimes tricky for learners — it doesn’t change form.
What is a compound subject or object?
A compound subject has two or more people or things performing the action (connected by “and”): “Sarah and I went.” A compound object has two or more people or things receiving the action: “Give the book to Sarah and me.” Test each pronoun alone to pick the right case.
Quick Test: Check Your Understanding
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