English grammar can be tricky, especially when it comes to pronouns like he, him, and his. These words may seem similar, but they serve very different functions in a sentence.
Understanding the difference between him, he, and his can improve your writing. He is a subject pronoun, him is an object pronoun, and his shows possession. Using these correctly ensures clear communication and avoids common grammar pitfalls in both formal and casual writing.
Confusing them is a common mistake that can easily be avoided with a little understanding of how each pronoun is used.
In this article, we’ll explore the differences between he, him, and his, provide clear explanations, and offer examples and scenarios to help you master their correct usage.
What Does “He” Mean?
He is a subject pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal. It is used when the male is the subject of the sentence, meaning he is the one performing the action.
Key Points About “He”:
- Function: Used as the subject of the sentence.
- Pronoun Type: Subject pronoun.
- Refers To: A male person or animal.
- Usage: When the male is doing the action in the sentence.
Examples of “He” in Sentences:
- “He is going to the store.”
- He is the subject of the sentence, meaning he is the one doing the action (going).
- “He plays soccer every Saturday.”
- He refers to the person who is doing the playing.
- “He always arrives on time.”
- The subject, he, is performing the action of arriving.
- “He enjoys reading books about history.”
- He is the subject who enjoys reading.
- “He can’t wait to see the new movie.”
- He is the person who can’t wait for something.
Scenario Example (He):
- Hannah: “Who won the race?”
- Mia: “He did! He crossed the finish line first.”
What Does “Him” Mean?
Him is an object pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal. It is used when the male is the object of the sentence, meaning he is receiving the action rather than doing it.
Key Points About “Him”:
- Function: Used as the object of the sentence.
- Pronoun Type: Object pronoun.
- Refers To: A male person or animal.
- Usage: When the male is receiving the action.
Examples of “Him” in Sentences:
- “I saw him at the park yesterday.”
- Him is the object because he is the one being seen.
- “She gave him a gift for his birthday.”
- Him is receiving the gift, making him the object.
- “Can you help him with his homework?”
- Him is the person receiving help.
- “The teacher asked him to answer the question.”
- Him is the one being asked.
- “We invited him to join us for dinner.”
- Him is the person being invited.
Scenario Example (Him):
- Mia: “Did you see him at the concert last night?”
- Hannah: “Yes! I waved at him, but he didn’t see me.”
What Does “His” Mean?
His is a possessive pronoun used to indicate that something belongs to a male person or animal. It shows ownership or association with the male.
Key Points About “His”:
- Function: Shows possession or ownership.
- Pronoun Type: Possessive pronoun.
- Refers To: A male person or animal.
- Usage: When something belongs to or is associated with the male.
Examples of “His” in Sentences:
- “This is his book.”
- His shows that the book belongs to him.
- “I saw him walking his dog.”
- His indicates that the dog belongs to him.
- “He forgot his keys at home.”
- His shows possession of the keys.
- “She admired his artwork at the gallery.”
- His indicates that the artwork belongs to him.
- “The teacher praised his efforts on the project.”
- His refers to the efforts made by him.
Scenario Example (His):
- Hannah: “Whose jacket is this?”
- Mia: “It’s his. He left it here earlier.”
How to Remember the Difference Between “He,” “Him,” and “His”
To avoid confusing he, him, and his, it helps to remember their specific roles in a sentence. Here’s a quick breakdown:
| Pronoun | Function | How to Remember | Example |
| He | Subject pronoun | He does the action (the subject of the sentence) | “He is playing football.” |
| Him | Object pronoun | Him receives the action (the object of the sentence) | “I gave the book to him.” |
| His | Possessive pronoun | His shows ownership (something belongs to him) | “This is his hat.” |
Examples of “He,” “Him,” and “His” in Everyday Conversations
Scenario 1 (At a Party):
- Mia: “Did you meet the new guy?”
- Hannah: “Yeah, he seems really nice.”
- Mia: “I talked to him for a while.”
- Hannah: “Is that his coat on the chair?”
Scenario 2 (In a Classroom):
- Teacher: “He needs to hand in his assignment.”
- Student: “I’ll give it to him after class.”
- Teacher: “Please remind him that it’s due today.”
Scenario 3 (At a Store):
- Hannah: “I think he left his wallet at the counter.”
- Mia: “We should return it to him.”
- Hannah: “Yes, I’ll go find him and give it back.”
Scenario 4 (Watching a Game):
- Mia: “Wow, he scored a goal!”
- Hannah: “Yeah, that was impressive! The coach gave him a lot of praise for his performance.”
Scenario 5 (Discussing Plans):
- Hannah: “He said he might join us for dinner.”
- Mia: “Great! I’ll save him a seat.”
- Hannah: “Let’s call him to confirm his plans.”
Conclusion
Mastering the difference between he, him, and his is essential for clear communication. He is used as the subject of the sentence, him is used as the object, and his is used to show possession. Understanding these distinctions will help you avoid confusion and write or speak with confidence.
Next time you’re referring to someone, just remember: He does the action, him receives the action, and his owns something!
