Related entries
Object pronouns
Possessives
1. Personal object pronouns
Personal object pronouns are words used to replace a noun in order to avoid repetition. The main difference between personal pronouns and personal object pronouns is that while the first ones replace a subject, the second ones don't.
- Why are you buying these doughnuts?
- I'm buying them for the excursion.
2. How are personal object pronouns used?
One of the main characteristics of personal object pronouns is that they go after a verb or a preposition (at, for, with, etc.).
| Personal pronouns | Personal object pronouns | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| I |
Me
|
He is looking at me. |
| You |
You
|
I need to tell you something. |
| He |
Him
|
I call him when I need his help. |
| She |
Her
|
Music is energy for her. |
| It |
It
|
The dog is sleeping. Leave it alone. |
| We |
Us
|
This concert is very important for us. |
| You |
You
|
We need to work with you. |
| They |
Them
|
I know Sam and Rob. I study with them. |
Always keep in mind what or who we are referring to in order to use the correct object pronoun.
She is talking to him.
In this sentence we use the object pronoun him because we know we are referring to the boy sitting next to the girl.
The girl wants the toy and the boy wants it too.
In this sentence, we use the object pronoun it because we are referring to the toy. In this case we avoid repeating "the toy".
Remember!
Personal object pronouns replace nouns that have an object function, that is, the person, animal or thing that receives directly or indirectly the action expressed by the verb. They are always placed after a verb or a preposition.
