A1 pronoun Neutral 1 min read

him

/hɪm/

Use 'him' when a male is the receiver of an action, not the doer.

Word in 30 Seconds

  • Used as the object of a sentence.
  • Refers specifically to a male person or animal.
  • Follows verbs or prepositions in a sentence.

Overview

'Him' is the objective case of the third-person singular masculine pronoun 'he'. While 'he' is used as the subject of a sentence (the doer of the action), 'him' is used when the male is the receiver of the action or the object of a preposition. 2) Usage Patterns: In English, word order is critical. Because 'him' is an object pronoun, it typically follows the verb or the preposition. For example, in 'I saw him,' 'saw' is the verb and 'him' is the object being seen. In 'Give the book to him,' 'to' is the preposition, and 'him' is the target of the preposition. 3) Common Contexts: It is used extensively in daily conversation, storytelling, and professional communication whenever a male subject is the focus of an action. It is gender-specific, meaning it is used exclusively for males, distinguishing it from 'her' (female) and 'it' (inanimate objects or animals). 4) Similar Words Comparison: 'He' is the subject form (e.g., 'He likes coffee'), whereas 'him' is the object form (e.g., 'I like him'). 'His' is the possessive form, indicating ownership (e.g., 'That is his car'). Understanding the difference between these three forms is essential for grammatical accuracy in English.

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Usage Notes

The word 'him' is neutral in register, meaning it is used in both casual and formal settings. It is essential to ensure the antecedent (the person being referred to) is clear to the listener. Always ensure gender agreement when using this pronoun.

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Common Mistakes

A common mistake is using 'him' as the subject of a sentence, such as 'Him went home.' Another error is using 'he' when an object is required, such as 'I saw he.' Always verify if the pronoun is performing the action or receiving it.

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Memory Tip

Remember that 'He' starts the action, and 'hiM' ends the action, just like the 'm' at the end of 'hiM' stands for the 'Man' who is the object.

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Word Origin

The word 'him' originates from the Old English 'hine', which was the accusative case of 'he'. It has evolved over centuries to become the standard object pronoun for masculine singular nouns in English.

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Cultural Context

In modern English, the use of gendered pronouns like 'him' is increasingly discussed in the context of gender inclusivity. While 'him' remains the standard for males, some individuals may use different pronouns.

Examples

1

I saw him at the store yesterday.

everyday

I saw him at the store yesterday.

2

The director requested that we contact him immediately.

formal

The director requested that we contact him immediately.

3

Don't listen to him, he doesn't know anything.

informal

Don't listen to him, he doesn't know anything.

4

The author describes him as a complex character.

academic

The author describes him as a complex character.

Word Family

Noun
he
Verb
n/a
Adjective
his

Common Collocations

Tell him Speak to him
Call him Phone him
Help him Assist him

Common Phrases

Give him a hand

Help him

Leave him alone

Stop bothering him

Keep him posted

Keep him updated

Often Confused With

him vs He

'He' is a subject pronoun used for the person doing the action. 'Him' is an object pronoun used for the person receiving the action.

him vs His

'His' is a possessive adjective used to indicate that something belongs to a male. It is not an object pronoun.

Grammar Patterns

Verb + him (e.g., 'I love him') Preposition + him (e.g., 'With him') Indirect Object + Direct Object (e.g., 'Give him the pen')
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Think of the action receiver

If the male is receiving the action, use 'him'. If he is doing the action, use 'he'.

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Do not swap with subject pronouns

Avoid saying 'Him went to the store.' This is a common error; always use 'He' for the subject.

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Gendered pronouns in English

English distinguishes gender only in third-person singular pronouns. Be mindful of using the correct pronoun based on the individual's gender identity.

Test Yourself

fill blank

Choose the correct pronoun to complete the sentence.

I invited ___ to the party last night.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: him

Because the person is the object of the verb 'invited', we use the object pronoun 'him'.

multiple choice

Identify the correct sentence.

Which sentence is grammatically correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Please tell him the truth.

In this sentence, 'him' correctly follows the verb 'tell'.

sentence building

Reorder the words to form a correct sentence.

saw / at / I / the / him / park

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I saw him at the park

The subject 'I' comes first, followed by the verb 'saw' and the object 'him'.

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Frequently Asked Questions

4 questions

Generally, no. 'Him' is an object pronoun, so it should follow a verb or preposition, while 'He' (the subject pronoun) is used at the start of sentences.

Yes, it can be used for male animals if the speaker knows the gender of the animal. It is standard for referring to any male entity.

'Him' is an object pronoun representing the person himself. 'His' is a possessive adjective used to show ownership of an object.

No, 'him' is used in all registers of English. It is equally appropriate in casual conversation and formal written documents.

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