Pronouns as Subjects and Objects

In a sentence, the subject completes the action whereas the object is the recipient of that action. Pronouns can act as both subjects and objects. 

• Example: Janice has a yellow car. She drives it every day. 
• Explanation: "She" is the subject pronoun referring to Janice and "it" is the object pronoun referring to the car.  

As long as their antecedents are clear, using pronouns as subjects and objects in your academic writing greatly simplifies your wording and communicates your ideas much more powerfully.

Personal Pronouns

Personal Subject Pronouns

Personal subject pronouns refer to the one or ones completing an action. Personal subject pronouns are I, he, she, it, we, you, they. For example:

• I am going to the mall. 
• You can go to the game. 

Both "I" and "you" are pronouns. In these examples they are subject pronouns because they are completing an action. 

Personal Object Pronouns

Personal object pronouns refer to one or ones who receive the action. Personal object pronouns are me, you, him, her, it, us, them. For example:

• Jane is coming with me.
• I'm giving him the car tonight. 

In these examples, "me" and "him" are receiving the action of the verb. Therefore, they are object pronouns. 

Possessives

Possessive Pronouns

Possessive pronouns show ownership in relation to the pronoun. Possessive pronouns are mine, yours, his, hers, it, ours, yours, and theirs. For example:

• The house on the corner is his. 

Possessive Adjectives

Possessive adjectives show ownership. Possessive adjectives are my, your, his, her, its, our, and their. For example, when paired with the noun school in a sentence, his becomes a possessive adjective.

• His school is a few miles away. 

Intensive/Reflexive

Reflexive pronouns refer back to, or "reflect" (hence the name), the subject. Intensive pronouns emphasize the noun. Intensive and reflexive pronouns are myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, and themselves. 

• Intensive example: I did it myself. 

"Myself" emphasizes "I" and is therefore an intensive pronoun. Also, if "myself" were removed, the meaning of the sentence would not change. 

• Jane bought herself a car. 

"Herself" is the reflexive pronoun because it "reflects" back to the subject: Jane.

Other categories of pronouns do not have forms for every single category on the lists above. Their forms are determined primarily by their grammatical function or antecedent rather than by person. Some do have forms that depend on number.