Subject and object pronouns 1

1 Subject and object pronouns

A pronoun can have two forms: the subject and the object forms. We use the subject form when
the pronoun is the subject of the verb. We use the object form when it is the object of a verb.
• Pronouns for people

Subject form Object form Examples

I like Claire.
I me
Claire likes me.

We like Claire.
we us
Claire likes us.

O
You like Claire.
you you

T
Claire likes you.

S
He likes Claire.
he him

I
Claire likes him.

R
She likes Claire.
she her
Claire likes her.

A
They like Claire.
they them
Claire likes them.

Note
1 The pronoun you has the same subject and object form.
2 In conversation, we often use an object pronoun after the verb be (am, are, is, etc.).

Hello. Who Yes, I do. You‘re a liar!

is it? Don’t ever call again!

It’s me! Don’t you

remember me?

KTFHC`V2B/joee!!!2 70803128!!!27;33;6:
 • Pronouns for animals/things

Subject form Object form Examples

Mary has a cat. It is black.

Singular form it it
Mary got some letters. They are from her friends.

Mary has a cat. She loves it very much.

Plural form they them The letters came this morning. Mary opened and
read them immediately.

We also use it for:

• time

O
What time is it?
It’s a quarter
to six.

• day/date

I S T
R
What day is it today?
Let me see.
It’s Friday.

• distance
A
How far is it to
the MTR station? It’s about a ten-
minute walk.

• weather
It’s warm and
sunny today. Yes – perfect weather
for outings.

We also use the object form of a pronoun after a preposition (in, on, at, for, from, to, etc.).
My dog is missing. We are looking for it.
We talked to her but she didn’t listen to us.

KTFHC`V2B/joee!!!3 70803128!!!27;33;6:
 Subject and object pronouns 1

A Complete the sentences using the correct pronouns.

1 My grandpa lives far away but we visit him every week.

2 Maggie likes sweet treats. Let’s buy her some chocolate.

They
3 Karen grew up with her cousin. are very close.

4 Ken likes Jenny, but she doesn’t like him .

you them
5 ‘I can’t find my keys.’ ‘Where did last see ?’

O
6 I’m in a meeting at the moment. Can you call me back later?

T
7 We climbed Tai Mo Shan last week. It is the highest peak in Hong Kong.

S
8 John didn’t have Jenny’s number. He asked me for it .

R I
Complete these dialogues. Write a suitable pronoun in each blank.

A
1 A: I drew lots of pictures in the art class.
B: May I look at them ?

2 A: How should we decorate the Christmas tree?

B: We could put some tinsel on it .

3 A: We are going to Macau this Saturday. Do you want to come with us ?

B: Great, I’d love to.

4 A: Wow, all these dishes look delicious! Let me take a picture of them .
B: Quick, I’m hungry!

5 A: I need a cap to cover my head.

B: I have one. I can lend it to you .

you
6 A: Do you have time now? I want to discuss the project with .
B: I’m sorry I’m not free now. Can we talk about it tomorrow?
3

KTFHC`V2B/joee!!!4 70803128!!!27;33;6:
 7 A: Where will your dog stay when you’re away?
B: My mother will come over and take care of it .

8 A: Look! It ’s our Principal over there!

B: Well, he lives nearby. I run into him quite often.

C Complete the family tree using suitable pronouns.

(1) They are retired, and

(2) they spend their free time hiking.
I like to visit (3) them at weekends, Grandpa & Grandma

O
and (4) we go hiking together.

(5)

cook and
He

(6)
loves to
he Dad

I S Mum
T Aunt

R
prepares dinner for (7) us
(12) She runs a (17) She helps
– my mum and me, almost every day.

A
bookshop. (13) She my mum in the bookshop.
Everyone loves (8) him for
He enjoys her job, although The shop couldn’t survive
his dishes. (9) likes
(14) she often without (18) her .
gardening. (10) He even
has to work late. I often go (19) she helped
grows vegetables at home. Sometimes
him to (15) her when raise my mum, and
I garden with (11) .
(16) I need (20) they are
advice, whether on studies still very close.
I
(21)
study the or other things in my life.
violin. My music teacher gives
(22) me lessons. I also
I My dog is very cute. (26) It likes
like football. (23)
play in a team with my friends. to stay in my room with its polar bear soft toy. I
we have to feed (27) it every morning
Although (24) Me Dog
we and take (28) it outside to play
don’t often win, (25)
after school every day.
still have fun!
4

KTFHC`V2B/joee!!!5 70803128!!!27;34;11
 Subject and object pronouns 1

D Some of the underlined pronouns in this story are wrong. Write the correct pronouns in the spaces
provided. If the underlined pronoun is correct, put a tick () in the space. The first two have been done
for you as examples.


(1)
It was Chinese New Year. Daniel‛s parents (1)

decided to take (2) it to visit friends and (2) him

relatives.

him
Before leaving home, they taught (3) them (3)

They
to say ‘Kung Hei Fat Choy‛. (4) She also told (4)

O
it
Daniel that (5) he was a popular greeting (5)

T
during Chinese New Year.

I S
Every time they arrived at friends‛ or

R
relatives‛ homes he said ‘Kung Hei Fat Choy‛.

A
them
Each of (6)
they gave him red packets and (6)

their best wishes.

When Daniel got home, he found that he had

received more than 20 red packets and each

them
of (7) it contained a 20-dollar note. ‘That‛s a (7)

lot of money,‛ his father said. ‘What are you

it
going to do with (8) them?‛ (8)

Daniel thought for a moment. ‘I‛ll give

it
(9)
them to people in need.‛ ‘That‛s very (9)


generous of (10) you!‛ Daniel‛s father said. (10)

KTFHC`V2B/joee!!!6 70803128!!!27;34;11
 USING THE LANGUAGE
We often use the subject pronoun as the subject of a sentence, and the object pronoun as the
object. We can use them instead of nouns for people in, for example, writing a personal profile.
We can also use them in a blog post to replace nouns for people, things or animals to avoid
repetition. Look at the examples below. Note the uses of subject and object pronouns in bold.

Profile (excerpt)

My elder brother Alex likes to play basketball. He often watches basketball matches live.
Sometimes, he watches them on TV or online. At weekends, he plays basketball with his
friends. They like him very much because he always helps them when they have problems.

Blog post (excerpt)

T O
I S
Emma Watson does a lot of charity work for children. She raises funds to help them receive

R
food and education. I think she is a good role model for teenagers. She teaches us to help the
needy in society. I hope to meet her one day.

A
Your teacher wants you to complete the following blog post about your pet to practise using subject
and object pronouns. Fill in the blanks using suitable pronouns. Write the rest of the post in your own
words. Do not write more than 40 words.

I have cat called Muffin. My parents gave her to me as a birthday present a few

years ago. She is fat and fluffy and I like to cuddle her . She

seldom plays with us when we are around. She just likes to lie on the

sofa. She never catches mice because she is afraid of them . When

she is hungry, she comes to me and meows for food. She is lazy but we like her very much.

6 (accept all reasonable answers)

KTFHC`V2B/joee!!!7 70803128!!!27;34;11