TACHS: Pronoun case: subject or object
Choose between subject pronouns like he and object pronouns like him, especially when the pronoun is paired with another name.
How do I choose between I and me, or she and her, when another name is in the sentence?
Short answer
Decide the pronoun's job. If it does the action, use a subject pronoun. If it receives the action or follows a word like to, for, with or between, use an object pronoun. Cover the other name to hear it.
Know first: Subjects and objects of verbs, Prepositions such as *with, for* and *between*
Step 1 of 5
A pronoun's job decides its form
Pronouns change form depending on their job. Subject pronouns do the action. Object pronouns receive the action or follow a preposition such as to, for, with, by or between. Possessive pronouns show ownership, and reflexive pronouns point back to a subject already in the sentence.
The trap is almost always a pair, like Lena and ___. With another name in front, the wrong form can sound more polite.
| Job | Pronouns | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Subject | I, he, she, we, they | She and Omar built the set. |
| Object | me, him, her, us, them | The teacher thanked Omar and her. |
| Possessive | my, his, her, our, their, hers | Her script was marked up. |
| Reflexive | myself, himself, herself, ourselves | He reminded himself to bow. |
Step 2 of 5
Cover the name and listen
Worked example: A trophy handoff
Which completion follows standard English? Coach Rivera handed the trophy to Malik and ___.
- Ahe
- Bhim
- Chis
- Dhimself
- 1
Find the job
The pronoun follows to, a preposition. It receives the trophy along with Malik.
- 2
Cover the partner
Coach Rivera handed the trophy to ___. You would say to him.
- 3
Choose the form
Him is the object form, so B is correct.
- 4
See why the other choices are there
He is a subject form and sounds formal after and. His shows ownership, but the sentence needs a person. Himself needs he as the subject earlier in the sentence.
Answer
B. him
Wrong: Me and Tasha painted the backdrop.
Right: Tasha and I painted the backdrop.
The pair is doing the painting, so it needs the subject form. Cover Tasha and: you would say I painted, not me painted.
Step 3 of 5
Name the job, then the form
Check yourself · Question 1
Which completion follows standard English? Ms. Okafor asked the twins and ___ to carry the chairs.
Answer: B
Ms. Okafor does the asking, and the twins and the pronoun receive it. Cover the twins and: asked us.
Trap answer: we
The formal-sounding subject form
- Why it looks right
- After the twins and, we sounds more careful than us, the way many people say you and I everywhere.
- Why it's wrong
- The pronoun receives the asking. Covering the twins and leaves asked we, which no one would say.
- The right answer
- us, the object form.
Check yourself · Question 2
Which completion follows standard English? The two finalists, Priya and ___, waited backstage for the results.
Answer: B
Priya and ___ renames the two finalists, the subject of waited. So the pronoun takes the subject form: he waited.
Common mistake
Using myself in place of me, as in Call Ava or myself with questions.
- Why it's tempting
- Myself sounds polished and avoids choosing between I and me.
- Do this instead
- Use myself only when I is already the subject. Cover Ava or: Call me with questions.
Step 4 of 5
What to remember
Remember
- Subject pronouns do the action. Object pronouns receive it or follow a preposition.
- Cover the other name in a pair and read the pronoun alone.
- Use myself or himself only when the same person is already the subject.
Step 5 of 5
Practice on a real question
Use what you just learned on this question, then check the explanation.
Try another one
In your own words
In the practice question, what job did the blank do in its sentence, and what did the sentence sound like with the other name covered?