Subject Pronouns (I, He) vs. Object Pronouns (Me, Him) – English Grammar Exercises for A1
Choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to complete each sentence.
You and your friends are packing for a weekend picnic. You are discussing which items to bring and which items to leave behind. Pay close attention to whether the item is a Subject (doing the action) or an Object (receiving the action, like being packed, carried, or left behind), and whether the item is singular or plural.
1 “This big umbrella is very heavy. Do we really need to bring ______?”
(A) them
(B) it
(C) he
(D) its
2 “I just made five chicken sandwiches. Let’s put ______ in the picnic basket.”
(A) they
(B) them
(C) it
(D) us
3 “The picnic blanket is dirty and wet. We should leave ______ at home.”
(A) him
(B) they
(C) it
(D) them
4 “We have a lot of sweet apples in the fridge. Don’t forget ______!”
(A) them
(B) they
(C) it
(D) their
5 “Where is the map of the national park? I can’t find ______ anywhere.”
(A) its
(B) them
(C) he
(D) it
6 “The drinks are very heavy. Who is going to carry ______ to the car?”
(A) they
(B) them
(C) it
(D) their
7 “We need some fresh water for the trip. Please buy ______ at the supermarket.”
(A) it
(B) them
(C) they
(D) its
8 “Look at the paper cups on the table. Please put ______ inside the plastic bag.”
(A) they
(B) it
(C) them
(D) us
9 “It might rain this afternoon. Pack the small tent and don’t forget ______.”
(A) them
(B) it
(C) its
(D) he
10 “The cookies look absolutely delicious. Mary baked ______ this morning.”
(A) they
(B) them
(C) it
(D) their
11 “The fruit salad is ready to go. I will put ______ in a round container.”
(A) them
(B) they
(C) it
(D) its
12 “We definitely need some knives and forks to eat the salad. Pack ______ carefully.”
(A) it
(B) they
(C) them
(D) us
13 “The picnic basket is completely full. We cannot put any more food in ______.”
(A) its
(B) it
(C) them
(D) they
14 “I bought a new camera to take photos. I want to test ______ at the park today.”
(A) he
(B) them
(C) it
(D) its
15 “The sun will be very bright today. Bring your sunglasses because you must wear ______.”
(A) it
(B) they
(C) them
(D) its
16 “This camping equipment is way too heavy for a short trip. We must leave ______ behind.”
(A) them
(B) they
(C) it
(D) us
17 “The folding chairs are in the garage. ______ are very dusty, so we should clean ______.”
(A) They / them
(B) Them / they
(C) It / it
(D) They / it
18 “We might need scissors to open the snack bags. Please bring ______ with you.”
(A) it
(B) its
(C) they
(D) them
19 “The big umbrella is huge! ______ takes up too much space in the trunk, so let’s leave ______.”
(A) It / it
(B) They / them
(C) It / them
(D) He / him
20 “Look at all these empty soda cans. We must collect ______ and recycle ______.”
(A) it / it
(B) they / them
(C) them / they
(D) them / them
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) it
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Umbrella” is a singular inanimate object. It receives the action “bring”. The object pronoun for a singular thing is “it”.
- Error Analysis: (A) “them” is a Structural Error (plural). (C) “he” is a Common Mistake (assigning human gender to an object). (D) “its” is a Structural Error (possessive).
2 (B) them
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Sandwiches” is plural. They receive the action “put”. The object pronoun for plural things is “them”.
- Error Analysis: (A) “they” is a Common Mistake (using a subject pronoun instead of an object pronoun). (C) “it” is a Structural Error (singular). (D) “us” is a Meaning Trap.
3 (C) it
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Blanket” is a singular object receiving the action “leave”.
- Error Analysis: (D) “them” is a Structural Error. (B) “they” is a Common Mistake. (A) “him” is a Meaning Trap (wrong gender/human).
4 (A) them
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Apples” is plural. You must not forget “them” (Object).
- Error Analysis: (B) “they” is a Common Mistake. (C) “it” is a Structural Error. (D) “their” is a Structural Error.
5 (D) it
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Map” is singular. It receives the action “find”.
- Error Analysis: (B) “them” is a Structural Error. (C) “he” is a Common Mistake. (A) “its” is a Structural Error.
6 (B) them
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Drinks” is plural. They receive the action “carry”.
- Error Analysis: (A) “they” is a Common Mistake (“carry they” is incorrect grammar). (C) “it” is a Structural Error. (D) “their” is a Structural Error.
7 (A) it
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Water” is an uncountable noun, which is always treated as singular. Therefore, the object pronoun is “it”.
- Error Analysis: (B) “them” is a Structural Error (learners often think “a lot of water” makes it plural, but it is uncountable). (C) “they” is a Common Mistake. (D) “its” is a Structural Error.
8 (C) them
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Cups” is plural. They receive the action “put”.
- Error Analysis: (A) “they” is a Common Mistake. (B) “it” is a Structural Error. (D) “us” is a Meaning Trap.
9 (B) it
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Tent” is a singular object receiving the action “forget”.
- Error Analysis: (A) “them” is a Structural Error. (D) “he” is a Meaning Trap. (C) “its” is a Structural Error.
10 (B) them
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Cookies” is plural. They received the action “baked”.
- Error Analysis: (A) “they” is a Common Mistake. (C) “it” is a Structural Error. (D) “their” is a Structural Error.
11 (C) it
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Fruit salad” is an uncountable/singular noun phrase.
- Error Analysis: (A) “them” is a Structural Error. (B) “they” is a Common Mistake. (D) “its” is a Structural Error.
12 (C) them
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Knives and forks” are plural objects receiving the action “pack”.
- Error Analysis: (B) “they” is a Common Mistake. (A) “it” is a Structural Error. (D) “us” is a Meaning Trap.
13 (B) it
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Picnic basket” is singular. After the preposition “in”, we use the object pronoun “it”.
- Error Analysis: (C) “them” is a Structural Error. (D) “they” is a Common Mistake. (A) “its” is a Structural Error.
14 (C) it
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Camera” is singular. It receives the action “test”.
- Error Analysis: (A) “he” is a Meaning Trap. (B) “them” is a Structural Error. (D) “its” is a Structural Error.
15 (C) them
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Sunglasses” is a plural-only noun in English because it has two lenses. You must use “them”.
- Error Analysis: (A) “it” is a Structural Error (a huge trap for learners who think one physical pair equals “it”). (B) “they” is a Common Mistake. (D) “its” is a Structural Error.
16 (C) it
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Equipment” is an uncountable noun. Even if it refers to many camping items, the grammar requires the singular object pronoun “it”.
- Error Analysis: (A) “them” is a Structural Error (learners assume a lot of gear is plural). (B) “they” is a Common Mistake. (D) “us” is a Meaning Trap.
17 (A) They / them
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Folding chairs” (plural). In the first blank, the chairs do the action (are dusty) -> Subject “They”. In the second blank, the chairs receive the action (clean) -> Object “them”.
- Error Analysis: (B) “Them / they” is a Common Mistake (reverses subject and object). (C) “It / it” is a Structural Error (chairs are plural). (D) “They / it” is a Structural Error.
18 (D) them
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Scissors” is a plural-only noun. It receives the action “bring”.
- Error Analysis: (A) “it” is a Structural Error. (C) “they” is a Common Mistake. (B) “its” is a Structural Error.
19 (A) It / it
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Umbrella” (singular). First blank is the Subject (“It takes up space”). Second blank is the Object receiving the action (“leave it”).
- Error Analysis: (B) “They / them” is a Structural Error. (C) “It / them” is a Structural Error. (D) “He / him” is a Meaning Trap (umbrellas are not humans).
20 (D) them / them
- Why it’s correct (The Key): “Soda cans” are plural. They receive both actions: “collect them” and “recycle them”.
- Error Analysis: (A) “it / it” is a Structural Error. (C) “them / they” is a Common Mistake (using a subject pronoun after a verb). (B) “they / them” is a Common Mistake.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- Pronouns for Objects (Things): We use It (singular) and Them (plural) to replace the names of inanimate objects and animals to avoid repeating the same words over and over.
- Example: “I have an apple. I will eat it.”
- Example: “I have three apples. I will eat them.”
- Subject vs. Object: * If the things are doing the action, use It or They (Subjects). -> “They are heavy.”
- If the things are receiving the action (like being packed, carried, or left behind), use It or Them (Objects). -> “Carry them to the car.” (Never say “Carry they”).
- Watch out for Plural-Only Nouns: Items with two parts (like sunglasses, glasses, scissors, jeans) are always plural. Even if you only have one physical pair of sunglasses, you must pack them, not pack it.
- Watch out for Uncountable Nouns: Words like water, food, luggage, and equipment are uncountable. They are always treated as singular. You must carry it, not carry them.