The Confused Cases


Pronouns in the subjective and objective cases are frequently confused. We will take a look at rules on when to use these two cases.

SINGULAR Personal Pronouns
Subjective Case Objective Case
1st person I me
2nd person you you
3rd person he him
she her
it it

PLURAL Personal Pronouns
Subjective Case Objective Case
1st person we us
2nd person you you
3rd person they them


  1. the subject of a verb (i.e., the person/thing doing the action of the verb)

    • Him He ran away from home.

    • Willy ran away from home because his father and him he had quarreled.

      Explanation: "His father and he" is the subject of the verb "had quarreled".


  2. placed after a linking verb which links the subject to that pronoun

    • Sandra confessed that the cook was her she.

      Explanation: The pronoun "she" functions as a subject complement.
      A subject complement follows a linking verb and completes the meaning of the subject.


  3. preceded by the words "than" or "as" and a verb after the pronoun is implied

    Pattern: "than" or "as" + pronoun + (implied verb)

    • Charles is older than me I (implied "am").

    • Jack is as rude as them they (implied "are").

  • Janet was angry with the salesman because he insulted her daughter and she her.

    Explanation: "Her daughter and her" is the direct object of the verb "insulted".
    (i.e., they are the ones receiving the action of the verb)

  • Peter gave she her a rose.

    Explanation: "Her" is the indirect object of the verb "gave".

  • I am writing a murder mystery about he him and I me.

    Explanation: "Him and me" is the object of the preposition "about".

Both sentences below are correct but they have different meanings.
  1. Jean likes you as much as I (implied "do").

    Meaning: Jean likes you as much as I like you.

  2. Jean likes you as much as me (no implied verb).

    Meaning: Jean likes you as much as she (Jean) likes me.


Pronouns Quiz 1