Learning English can seem tricky at first, especially when we come across grammatical terms we don’t use in our everyday life. One of the most common mistakes among students is confusing the subject pronouns with the object pronouns. Although they may look similar, they serve different functions within a sentence, and using them correctly will make a big difference in your fluency and accuracy when speaking or writing in English. Keep reading this article from FunTalk to learn how to tell these pronouns apart in English—and most importantly, how to put them into practice.
What are subject pronouns?
Subject pronouns are the ones that perform the action of the verb in the sentence. In other words, they are the grammatical subject, what in Spanish we call simply “the one who does something.” These pronouns replace the name of a person or thing to avoid repetition.
Subject pronouns:
- I
- You
- He
- She
- It (for things or animals)
- We
- You (plural)
- They
Examples:
- I like coffee.
- She works in a hospital.
- They are my friends.
As you can see, in each sentence the pronoun comes before the verb and is the one performing the action.
What are object pronouns?
Object pronouns, on the other hand, receive the action of the verb. That is, they are not the ones doing something, but the ones receiving the action. They are also used to avoid repeating names, but they are placed after the verb or after a preposition.
Object pronouns:
- Me
- You
- Him
- Her
- It
- Us
- You (plural)
- Them
Examples:
- John called me.
- I saw her at the supermarket.
- Can you help them?
Notice that in these examples, the pronouns come after the verb and are the ones receiving the action.
Direct comparison
To keep it simple, here’s an easy way to remember subject and object pronouns in English. Think of each pronoun in Spanish and how it changes depending on whether it is doing the action or receiving it:
- Yo in English is I when I’m doing something (subject), but it changes to me when I receive the action (object).
- Tú is special because in English it’s always you for both subject and object—no change here.
- Él is he when doing the action, but becomes him when receiving it.
- The same happens with ella: it’s she if acting and her if receiving the action.
- For things or animals, we use it in both subject and object positions—no change.
- Nosotros is we when doing something, and us when the action comes to us.
- For vosotros or ustedes, like “tú”, the pronoun is always you, regardless of position.
- Lastly, ellos is they when doing the action, and them when receiving it.
Although some pronouns don’t change, like you or it, the key is to look at their position in the sentence: if it’s before the verb, it’s a subject; if it’s after the verb or a preposition, it’s an object.
Tips to avoid confusion
- Think of “who does the action” and “who receives it.”
Example: “Ana hugged Laura” → Ana does the action (subject) and Laura receives it (object). - Turn sentences with names into sentences with pronouns.
Example:- Original: Peter loves Mary.
- With pronouns: He loves her.
- After prepositions, always use an object pronoun.
Example: This gift is for us. - Ask questions to find the right pronoun.
Who did the action? → use a subject pronoun.
Who received the action? → use an object pronoun.
Mastering the difference between subject and object pronouns will help you speak and write with greater clarity and correctness. Even though it may seem like a small detail at first, this kind of basic knowledge is essential to express yourself confidently in English.
Remember: subject pronouns perform the action, while object pronouns receive it. With a little practice, you’ll master it easily!