๐Ÿ‘ค

Object Pronouns

[A2] Object Pronouns in English explain how to use pronouns as the object of a verb or preposition. This module covers common forms (me, you, him, her, it, us, them) and how to choose the correct object pronoun in everyday sentences.

Object pronouns

Object pronouns replace a noun phrase that receives the action of a verb or appears after a preposition. They help you avoid repeating names and make sentences smoother. In English, object pronouns change form depending on whether they are the object. Use them as direct objects, indirect objects, and objects of prepositions.

Which sentence uses an object pronoun correctly as the verbโ€™s object?

Forms list

English object pronouns have specific forms that differ from subject pronouns. The full set is: me, you, him, her, it, us, them. These forms stay the same whether the object is direct, indirect, or after a preposition.

Word/Phrase
Definition
Example
๐Ÿ‘คme
๐Ÿ‘คobject form for I
๐Ÿ’ฌShe saw me.
๐Ÿ‘คyou
๐Ÿ‘คobject form for you
๐Ÿ’ฌI called you.
๐Ÿ‘คhim
๐Ÿ‘คobject form for he
๐Ÿ’ฌWe invited him.
๐Ÿ‘คher
๐Ÿ‘คobject form for she
๐Ÿ’ฌI helped her.
๐Ÿ‘คit
๐Ÿ‘คobject form for it
๐Ÿ’ฌPut it there.
๐Ÿ‘คus
๐Ÿ‘คobject form for we
๐Ÿ’ฌThey asked us.
๐Ÿ‘คthem
๐Ÿ‘คobject form for they
๐Ÿ’ฌI met them.

Which option shows the full set of English object pronouns?

Direct object

Use an object pronoun as the direct object when it receives the verbโ€™s action directly. It usually answers what or whom after the verb. The pronoun typically comes right after the main verb or after the verb and particle depending on the structure.

Which word in the sentence is the direct object? โ€œI invited her to the party.โ€

Indirect object

Use an object pronoun as the indirect object when it receives the direct object. It typically answers to whom or for whom. Indirect object pronouns often appear right after the verb and before the thing being given, told, sent, or shown.

Choose the natural sentence with an indirect object pronoun:

After prepositions

After a preposition, use an object pronoun, not a subject pronoun. This includes prepositions of place, time, and relationship such as to, for, with, at, about, from, and between. The object pronoun is the complement of the preposition.

Which completes the sentence correctly? โ€œThis gift is for ___.โ€

Word order

Object pronouns usually come after the verb in English. With two objects, the common patterns are verb + indirect object pronoun + direct object, or verb + direct object + to or for + object pronoun. Choose the pattern that sounds natural and keeps the meaning clear.

Rule
Example
๐Ÿ“ŒPut the object pronoun after the verb
๐Ÿ’ฌI saw him yesterday.
๐Ÿ“ŒWith two objects, place the indirect object pronoun before the direct object
๐Ÿ’ฌShe gave me the keys.
๐Ÿ“ŒOr use to or for before the object pronoun
๐Ÿ’ฌShe gave the keys to me.

Which sentence shows the common word order with an indirect then a direct object?

Verb particles

With phrasal verbs, object pronoun placement is more restricted than with full nouns. If the phrasal verb is separable, the object pronoun must go between the verb and the particle. If the phrasal verb is inseparable, the object pronoun comes after the whole verb phrase.

Rule
Example
๐Ÿ“ŒSeparable phrasal verb: pronoun goes between verb and particle
๐Ÿ’ฌTurn it off.
๐Ÿ“ŒInseparable phrasal verb: pronoun goes after the verb phrase
๐Ÿ’ฌLook after them.
Complete the separable phrasal verb: Turnoff. (to turn off, imperative, object pronoun)

Me or I

Choose me, him, her, us, and them when the pronoun is an object, even if it is part of a pair. In careful writing, object form is standard after verbs and prepositions. In very informal speech, some people use I in coordination, but it is not considered standard.

Rule
Example
๐Ÿ“ŒAfter a verb, use object form
๐Ÿ’ฌShe invited Alex and me.
๐Ÿ“ŒAfter a preposition, use object form
๐Ÿ’ฌThis is for you and him.

Which is correct in careful writing? โ€œShe invited Alex and ___.โ€

Who or whom

In formal English, whom is used as an object, and who is used as a subject. In everyday conversation, many speakers use who in most positions, but whom still appears after prepositions and in very formal writing. If the pronoun could be replaced by him or them, whom is the traditional choice.

Rule
Example
๐Ÿ“ŒUse whom as an object in formal style
๐Ÿ’ฌWhom did you see?
๐Ÿ“ŒAfter a preposition, whom is common in formal style
๐Ÿ’ฌTo whom should I speak?
๐Ÿ“ŒIn casual speech, who often replaces whom
๐Ÿ’ฌWho did you see?

Which sentence uses the formal object pronoun correctly?

Clarity and emphasis

Object pronouns can create ambiguity if it is unclear what the pronoun refers to. Make sure the pronoun has a clear, recent antecedent and matches it in meaning. For emphasis, English can stress the pronoun in speech or use a full noun instead of a pronoun when needed.

Which sentence is ambiguous about who 'him' refers to?

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