A1 pronoun Neutral #58 most common

him

/hɪm/

A personal pronoun used as the object of a verb or preposition to refer to a male person or animal previously mentioned. It is the form of 'he' used when the male is receiving an action rather than performing it.

Examples

3 of 5
1

I saw him at the supermarket yesterday buying apples.

I saw him at the supermarket yesterday buying apples.

2

The board of directors has invited him to present the annual report.

The board of directors has invited him to present the annual report.

3

Check out that guy over there; do you know him?

Check out that guy over there; do you know him?

Word Family

Adjective
his
Related
himself
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Memory Tip

Remember that both 'him' and 'them' end in the letter 'm' and both are object pronouns (receivers of an action).

Quick Quiz

John is my friend. I went to the cinema with ___.

Correct!

The correct answer is: him

Examples

1

I saw him at the supermarket yesterday buying apples.

everyday

I saw him at the supermarket yesterday buying apples.

2

The board of directors has invited him to present the annual report.

formal

The board of directors has invited him to present the annual report.

3

Check out that guy over there; do you know him?

informal

Check out that guy over there; do you know him?

4

The study required the participant to remain still while the observer monitored him.

academic

The study required the participant to remain still while the observer monitored him.

5

Mr. Smith is currently in a meeting, but I can leave a message for him.

business

Mr. Smith is currently in a meeting, but I can leave a message for him.

Word Family

Adjective
his
Related
himself

Common Collocations

tell him tell him
ask him ask him
with him with him
give him give him
for him for him

Common Phrases

let him be

leave him alone

it's him

identifying a male person

good for him

an expression of approval for his success

Often Confused With

him vs he

'He' is used as the subject (doing the action), while 'him' is used as the object (receiving the action).

him vs his

'His' shows possession, while 'him' is the object form of the pronoun.

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Usage Notes

Use 'him' whenever the male person is the object of a verb or follows a preposition like 'to', 'with', 'for', or 'at'. Never use 'him' as the subject of a sentence.

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Common Mistakes

Many learners say 'Give it to he' instead of the correct 'Give it to him'. Another common error is using 'him' instead of 'he' in compound subjects, such as saying 'Him and I went' instead of 'He and I went'.

💡

Memory Tip

Remember that both 'him' and 'them' end in the letter 'm' and both are object pronouns (receivers of an action).

📖

Word Origin

From Old English 'him', which was originally the dative singular form of 'he' and 'hit' (it).

Grammar Patterns

Used as a direct object (e.g., I like him) Used as an indirect object (e.g., I gave him the key) Used after a preposition (e.g., This is for him)

Quick Quiz

John is my friend. I went to the cinema with ___.

Correct!

The correct answer is: him

Related Words

to

A1

Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.

and

A1

A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.

a

A1

A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.

that

A1

This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.

I

A1

The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.

for

A1

Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.

not

A1

A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.

with

A1

A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.

he

A1

A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.

you

A1

Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.

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