How to use object pronouns in English

These simple rules will turn object pronouns into the object of your affection!

What are object pronouns in English?

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Object pronouns are personal pronouns that replace the object of the verb.

You might use object pronouns to avoid repeating the same noun or noun phrase over and over, like in the sentence I asked Lucy about cats, and she told me all about them. Here, the pronoun them stands in for the object cats.

In general, object pronouns receive the action of the verb. In the sentence They call their grandfather every week, and once a month, they visit him, their grandfather is the one who is receiving the action of being visited, so he’s the object of the sentence. That’s why you can swap out their grandfather for the object pronoun him. If it’s clear who you’re talking about, you could even say They call him every week, and once a month, they visit him.

What are the different object pronouns in English?

As is the case for subject pronouns, the correct form for English object pronouns depends on whether the noun they’re referring to is singular or plural, and whether it’s in the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd person:

While you is the most common object pronoun for the 2nd person plural, different English speakers in different regions sometimes use other options in informal language, including you all, y’all, yinz, and you guys.

You might also see them being used to refer to a single person in some situations, including when you don’t know the gender of the person you’re talking about or it’s not relevant to the conversation, like in Whose jacket is this? I’d like to give it back to them. Them is also the most common object pronoun to use when referring to a non-binary person!

When to use object pronouns in English

We use object pronouns in English if the pronoun comes after the verb or after a preposition.

1. The pronoun comes after the verb.

In English, objects always come after the verb, so if you’re putting a pronoun after the verb, you know it needs to be the object form! For example, in the sentence We gave them to the dog, the pronoun them comes after the past tense verb gave, so it has to be in the object form.

2. The pronoun comes after a preposition.

Sometimes a verb is followed by a preposition, and when it does, the object always comes after the preposition. For example, in the sentence This whole pizza is for us, there’s the preposition for, so the pronoun that follows it—us—is an object pronoun.

Subject pronouns vs. object pronouns

Choosing between subject and object pronouns can be confusing. The key difference between the two types of pronouns is their role in the sentence.

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Object pronouns replace the person or thing receiving the action of the sentence. Meanwhile, subject pronouns are used for the person or thing doing the action.

In the sentence Lily and Junior are eating the cookies, Lily and Junior are the subject because they’re doing the action of eating. This means that Lily and Junior can be replaced by a subject pronoun. The cookies are the object because they’re receiving the action of being eaten, so the cookies can be replaced by an object pronoun:

Most English pronouns have different forms for subjects and objects (like they vs. them), but a few forms don't change:

Tips for practicing English object pronouns

A good rule of thumb for remembering where the object pronoun goes is that you'll put it as close as possible to its verb or preposition. There are many ways you can learn and practice object pronouns. Here are some ideas:

• Memorize the object pronouns. Since there are only a few forms of English object pronouns, it may be helpful to memorize them. Make flashcards from the table of pronouns above!
• Include reading in your language practice. Reading books, articles, and even social media posts exposes you to lots of natural language—so you're sure to find object pronouns! For each object pronoun you read, decide what noun it's referring to. (Hint: You'll have to check the words and sentences that come before it!)
• Rewrite sentences to include object pronouns. Write down sentences from your Duolingo lessons, and replace the nouns with personal pronouns. For example, if your Duolingo sentence is The cow chases the children, rewrite it as It chases them. This is a great way to practice recognizing the different uses of subjects and objects, too!
• Write it out! Writing is a great way to practice object pronouns because it gives you time to think through the pronoun options and use them in sentences. Try writing short stories or dialogues, with people of different genders, to get the hang of the different object pronoun forms.
• Be patient and practice regularly. Learning any new grammatical concept takes time. Make a regular study schedule and be patient with your progress!

Make object pronouns the object of your study!

You will get a lot of practice with object pronouns because they are used in so many situations. And while they might at first feel a bit tricky, with a little bit of practice, we promise you’ll use them with confidence! Trust us! 😉

Examples of object pronouns in English

After a verb

• He told me a joke.
• I tell you jokes all the time.
• Don’t tell him any jokes.
• Tell her jokes instead.
• The squirrel?! No, don’t tell it any jokes, either.
• They finally told us their favorite joke.
• We told you all every joke we know.
• I tell them jokes when I am bored.

After a preposition

• My dog loves going to the park with me.
• I bought new treats for you!
• I accidentally threw the ball right past him.
• This park is perfect for her.
• Our puppy could do laps around it all day.
• The dogs followed closely behind us.
• Ready? He’s going to run to you all!
• Their dog always runs far ahead of them.