What are Subject and Object Personal Pronouns?
Personal pronouns play a key role in English grammar. They are used in place of nouns to make sentences clearer and less repetitive. Understanding personal pronouns is essential for school exams, improving writing and speaking skills, and communicating confidently every day.
| Person | Number | Subject Pronoun | Object Pronoun |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | Singular | I | me |
| First | Plural | we | us |
| Second | Singular/Plural | you | you |
| Third | Singular | he / she / it | him / her / it |
| Third | Plural | they | them |
What are Personal Pronouns?
Personal pronouns are words such as I, you, he, she, it, we, and they. These words replace names or things already mentioned in a sentence. Using personal pronouns makes writing and speech smooth and easy to follow.
Types of Personal Pronouns
- Subject Pronouns: Used as the subject of a sentence (e.g., I, he, they).
- Object Pronouns: Used as the object in a sentence (e.g., me, him, them).
- Gender-Neutral Pronouns: "They" is often used to refer to someone of unknown or non-binary gender.
- Singular and Plural: Pronouns also change depending on number, such as “he” (singular) and “they” (plural).
Examples of Personal Pronouns in Sentences
- I am reading a book. (“I” is the subject)
- She gave him a gift. (“She” is the subject; “him” is the object)
- You can join us at the party. (“You” as subject; “us” as object)
- They finished their homework. (“They” is the subject)
- The teacher asked me a question. (“me” is the object)
Rules for Using Personal Pronouns
- Use a subject pronoun before the verb (e.g., She is late.)
- Use an object pronoun after the verb or after a preposition (e.g., John called me. / Sit with them.)
- Pronouns must agree in number and gender with the nouns they replace.
- Use “they/them” for gender-neutral or unknown identities when needed.
- “You” works for one person or a group. Context shows which.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- Do not use “me” as the subject. Say, “Sara and I went” (not “Sara and me went”).
- “He” is always the subject. “Him” is the object. (“He runs fast.” “Give it to him.”)
- For plural, use “we/us” for groups including yourself, “they/them” for groups not including you.
Personal Pronouns in Daily Use
We use personal pronouns every day, both in school and in normal conversations. For example, instead of saying “Rahul went to Rahul’s house because Rahul was tired,” you say “He went to his house because he was tired.” This makes language clear and comfortable for everyone.
Practice with Personal Pronouns
- Replace the noun with the correct pronoun: “Sita and Ravi are clever. ___ are friends.” (They)
- Correct the sentence: “Me went to school.” (I went to school.)
- Choose the right pronoun: “___ gave the book to ___.” (She gave the book to him.)
Practice these types of exercises to gain confidence before exams and in real-life situations. For more practice, check out pronoun exercises on Vedantu.
Summary of Personal Pronouns
Personal pronouns replace nouns to make speech and writing less repetitive and clearer. There are subject and object forms, both singular and plural. Learning to use personal pronouns helps you communicate better in exams and daily life, and it builds strong grammar habits for the future.
FAQs on Personal Pronouns – Definition, Types, Uses & Examples
1. What are personal pronouns and give some examples?
Personal pronouns are words that replace nouns to avoid repetition. They represent people or things. Examples include: I, you, he, she, it, we, they (subject pronouns); me, you, him, her, it, us, them (object pronouns).
2. What is the difference between subject and object pronouns?
Subject pronouns perform the action (e.g., She sings). Object pronouns receive the action (e.g., He saw her).
3. Explain the difference between 'he' and 'him', and 'she' and 'her'.
He and she are subject pronouns; him and her are object pronouns. Use he/she before the verb; use him/her after the verb or preposition.
4. How are possessive pronouns used?
Possessive pronouns show ownership. Examples include: mine, yours, his, hers, ours, theirs. They stand alone and don't need a noun after them.
5. What are the rules for pronoun-verb agreement?
Pronouns must agree with their verbs in number (singular or plural). A singular pronoun takes a singular verb; a plural pronoun takes a plural verb. Example: He is tall; They are tall.
6. Can 'they' be used as a singular pronoun? When?
Yes, 'they' is increasingly used as a singular gender-neutral pronoun (e.g., 'Someone left their book'). It’s grammatically acceptable in many contexts.
7. What are reflexive pronouns and how are they used?
Reflexive pronouns refer back to the subject of the sentence. They end in -self or -selves (e.g., myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves). Example: He hurt himself.
8. What are some common mistakes with personal pronouns?
Common mistakes include incorrect pronoun case (e.g., using 'me' instead of 'I' as a subject), pronoun-antecedent agreement errors (pronoun doesn't match the noun it refers to), and ambiguous pronoun reference (it's unclear what a pronoun refers to).
9. How do I choose between 'I' and 'me' in a sentence?
Use 'I' as the subject of a verb (e.g., I went). Use 'me' as the object of a verb or preposition (e.g., Give it to me).
10. What are the personal pronouns in other languages (e.g., Spanish or French)?
Personal pronouns vary across languages. For example, in Spanish, 'yo' means 'I', 'tú' means 'you' (informal singular), and 'él' means 'he'. French uses 'je' for 'I', 'tu' for 'you' (informal singular), and 'il' for 'he'.
11. How do I avoid ambiguous pronoun references in my writing?
Make sure each pronoun clearly refers to one specific noun. If there's any doubt, rewrite the sentence to be more explicit. Avoid using pronouns where it might lead to confusion.
12. What are possessive adjectives, and how do they differ from possessive pronouns?
Possessive adjectives show possession but must be followed by a noun (e.g., my book, your car). Possessive pronouns stand alone and replace the noun phrase (e.g., The book is mine; The car is yours).
