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Object pronouns are a key part of English grammar, and they’re used all the time in everyday conversation. This page will guide you through how they work, with clear examples and tips to help you understand them easily. If you’re learning English as an ESL or EFL student, you’re in the right place.
What is an object pronoun?
An object pronoun is a word that replaces a noun and receives the action in a sentence. Instead of repeating the noun, we use an object pronoun to make the sentence smoother. An object pronoun shows who or what receives the action in a sentence. It can be a direct object or an indirect object. If you’re not sure what those are, here’s a quick explanation:
- A direct object tells us who or what receives the action of the verb.
- An indirect object is the person or thing that receives the direct object – in other words, to whom or for whom something is done.
Take a look at this sentence.
Throw Josh the ball.
- the ball = direct object (the ball receives the action)
- Josh = indirect object (Josh is the recipient of the direct object)
A basic sentence structure is: subject + verb + object.
- The subject is the person or thing that performs the action (the one doing the verb).
- The verb is the action being performed (the movement or doing word).
- The object is the person or thing that receives the action.
So, as you can probably guess… the object pronoun replaces the direct or indirect object in a sentence.
Let’s try replacing the direct and indirect objects with object pronouns.
Throw it to him.
- it = direct object (the ball receives the action)
- him = indirect object (Josh is the recipient of the direct object)
It sounds better and it’s easier to read, doesn’t it? Object pronouns are only used when we already know what the object is. You have to mention the object first, then you can continue using pronouns.
Look at the example below.
Can you teach my wife Julie to paint?
Yes, I can teach her.
list of object pronouns
Shall we take a look at all the object pronouns we use in English? Check out the video below for examples of object pronouns in use.
| Person & Number | Object Pronoun | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| 1st person singular | me | She called me. |
| 2nd person singular | you | I saw you earlier. |
| 3rd person singular | him / her / it | We invited him. |
| 1st person plural | us | They helped us move. |
| 2nd person plural | you | We’ll text you tomorrow. |
| 3rd person plural | them | I met them at the park. |
Note: In English, “you” is used for both singular and plural.
examples of object pronouns with pictures
Ready to see object pronouns in action? These picture examples will help you understand how to use them in real sentences. It’s a fun and easy way to remember who does what to whom!
They ignore me.
I love you.
You really like him.
I miss her already.
The machine didn’t beat me, I beat it.
Perhaps now he’ll listen to us.
I’ve bought you drinks.
I can’t tell you who did it, I’m scared of them.
object pronoun quiz
Show me what you’ve learnt with this little quiz.
