Using Subject and Object Pronouns

This instructional video demonstrates how to choose between subject and object pronouns and avoid errors. With instruction and examples from 300 Days of Better Writing, this will help you write, and speak, correctly.

See instructional video here.

This video expects you to understand the concepts of subjects and objects. Although most people are familiar with subjects of verbs, the term "object" may be less familiar. Here is the writing instruction from Day 53 in 300 Days of Better Writing to explain the idea of "objects."

Day 53: Find the Object of a Verb or Preposition.

The object in a sentence is the thing the action is done to or done for. An object may also be the thing to which a preposition refers.

Object of a verb:

Example 1: “Bob took his dog to the vet.” The action “took” is done to “dog,” so “dog” is the object.
Example 2: “Mary drove him to the house.” The object is “him.”

Example 3: “The vet gave the dog and me a treat.” This has three objects: “treat” (gave what?), “dog” (gave it to whom?) and “me” (gave it to whom?).

Object of a preposition:

Example 1: “Bob’s dog slept on the rug.” The preposition “on” refers to “rug,” so “rug” is the object of “on.”
Example 2: “The book is under me.” The preposition “under” refers to “me.” “Me” is the object of “under.”

Example 3: “I followed behind the dog and them.” This has two objects: “dog” and “them.”

Once you understand what an object is, your task is to choose the correct pronoun for the object.