Object Pronouns Lesson: Definition, Identification & Examples

Lesson Overview

• What Are Object Pronouns?
• How to Identify Object Pronouns in a Sentence
• Types of Object Pronouns
• Difference Between Object and Subject Pronouns
• Examples of Object Pronouns

Object pronouns are important because they make sentences easier to understand and less repetitive. By using them, we can keep our communication smooth and concise. They play a key role in making our writing more fluid and efficient, helping us focus on the message we want to convey.

What Are Object Pronouns?

Object pronouns are words that replace nouns receiving the action of a verb in a sentence. They function as the object of the verb, indicating who or what is being acted upon. Common object pronouns include: me, you, him, her, it, us, them. 

Example:

• "The dog chased the ball, and then it fetched the ball."

In this sentence, "chased" and "fetched" are the verbs. "The ball" is receiving the actions of being chased and fetched. To avoid repetition, we use the object pronoun "it" in the second part of the sentence.

Take This Quiz :

Object Pronouns Quiz: Trivia Test!

How to Identify Object Pronouns in a Sentence

Identifying object pronouns requires analyzing the sentence structure. Object pronouns always function as the object of a verb or preposition.

Follow These Steps:

1. Identify the verb: Locate the action in the sentence.
2. Find the object: Ask "who?" or "what?" is receiving the action of the verb. The answer is your object.
3. Determine if the object is a pronoun: If the object is a word like me, you, him, her, it, us, them, then it's an object pronoun.

Example:

• "My friend called me after school."

1. Verb: "called"
2. Object: My friend called whom? "Me."
3. Object Pronoun: "Me" is a pronoun.
   
   

Types of Object Pronouns

Object pronouns in English grammar can be categorized into a few key types:

1. Personal Object Pronouns

These are the most common type and refer to specific people or things. They change their form depending on the grammatical person (first, second, or third) and number (singular or plural).

• First Person:
  • Singular: me (e.g., "Give the book to me.")
  • Plural: us (e.g., "The teacher praised us.")
    
• Second Person:
  • Singular and Plural: you (e.g., "I will call you later.")
    
• Third Person:
  • Singular: him, her, it (e.g., "Tell him the truth.", "Give her the flowers.", "I love it.")
  • Plural: them (e.g., "We saw them at the movies.")

2. Reflexive Pronouns

These pronouns refer back to the subject of the sentence, indicating that the action of the verb is performed on the subject itself. They are formed by adding "-self" (singular) or "-selves" (plural) to personal pronouns.

• Examples: myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves.
• Usage: "She hurt herself while playing.", "They convinced themselves to go."

3. Intensive Pronouns

These pronouns have the same form as reflexive pronouns but serve a different purpose. They emphasize the noun or pronoun they refer to, adding intensity or emphasis to the statement.

• Examples: (same as reflexive pronouns)
• Usage: "I myself baked the cake.", "They themselves completed the project."

4. Indefinite Pronouns

 These pronouns refer to non-specific persons or things. Some indefinite pronouns can function as objects in a sentence.

Examples: all, any, anybody, anyone, anything, both, each, either, everybody, everyone, everything, few, many, neither, nobody, none, no one, nothing, one, somebody, someone, something.

Difference Between Object and Subject Pronouns

Subject pronouns and object pronouns are both types of personal pronouns, but they play distinct roles within a sentence. Understanding their differences is crucial for constructing grammatically correct sentences.

Take This Quiz :

Subject and Object Pronouns

Examples of Object Pronouns

Object pronouns are versatile words that take the place of nouns receiving an action or following a preposition. Let's explore their usage with diverse examples:

1. Direct Objects:

• "The coach encouraged them." ("Them" receives the action of "encouraged.")
• "I saw her at the library." ("Her" receives the action of "saw.")
• "He loves it!" ("It" receives the action of "loves.")

2. Indirect Objects:

• "She gave him a present." ("Him" indirectly receives the "present" that is given.)
• "The teacher assigned us a project." ("Us" indirectly receives the "project" that is assigned.)
• "Please send me the email." ("Me" indirectly receives the "email" that is sent.)

3. Objects of Prepositions:

• "The secret is between you and me." ("Me" is the object of the preposition "between.")
• "The ball rolled towards them." ("Them" is the object of the preposition "towards.")
• "She sat beside him." ("Him" is the object of the preposition "beside.")

4. In Compound Objects:

• "The music inspired her and me." ("Her and me" together receive the action of "inspired.")
• "He invited them and us to the party." ("Them and us" together receive the action of "invited.")
• "The dog followed John and her." ("John and her" together receive the action of "followed.")