Object Pronouns

The seven basic pronouns have one form when they are used as subjects and another form when they are used as objects.

Subjects are what the sentence is about.
Objects are what is affected by the action of the subject.

• I like whisky. (I is the subject).
• I read books. (Books is the object as it is receiving the action).

Object pronouns are used instead of nouns, usually because we already know what the object is. It makes the sentence easier to read and understand and avoids repetition. We normally use object pronouns after a verb or a preposition.

The Object Pronoun - it

Be careful when using 'it' as an object pronoun because it is only in the correct context that it has meaning. It needs to have already been mentioned or obvious to the listener what you are referring to. Compare;

• You are sitting on it! (The listener probably doesn't know what the speaker refers to).
• The letter is on the sofa. You are sitting on it! (It is obvious in the second sentence that the reference is to the letter)

To practice object pronouns, try this Game.

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Last Updated: 03 February 2009