Are you confused about the difference between she/her and he/him? Here’s a quick lesson:
She and he are subject pronouns. That means they are the subjects of a sentence, i.e., they represent a person doing something. For example:
Her and him are object pronouns. That means they are the objects of a sentence, i.e., something is being done to them, for them, with them, etc. For example:
The above examples are pretty straightforward. Where I’ve noticed that many people get tripped up is when there is more than one subject in a sentence. For example:
If, after those examples, you’re still confused, try rearranging the subjects:
If you’re still furrowing your brow about whether to use him/her or he/she when you have two subjects, try dropping one of the subjects:
I hope the above examples help. We all know the basics, so when you’re confused, bring it back to that. Your ear should guide you.
-Maria
Maria Murnane is the best-selling author of the Waverly Bryson series, Cassidy Lane, Katwalk, and Wait for the Rain. She also provides consulting services to aspiring and published authors. Have questions? You can find her at www.mariamurnane.com.
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