Him vs. He — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on September 21, 2023
"Him" and "he" are both pronouns that refer to a male subject, but they serve different grammatical roles. "He" is a subject pronoun used for the individual performing the action, while "him" is an object pronoun used to receive the action.
Difference Between Him and He
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"He" is a subject pronoun, which means it's used as the subject of a sentence to perform an action. For example, in the sentence "He is running," the word "he" is the subject that is doing the action of running. "Him," on the other hand, is an object pronoun that is used as the receiver of an action. In the sentence "She hugged him," the word "him" receives the action of the hug.
Both "he" and "him" can refer to the same individual but serve distinct grammatical purposes. "He" often precedes verbs, helping to describe what the subject is doing. "Him," however, is used after verbs or prepositions to indicate to whom the action is being done.
The misuse of "he" and "him" can lead to grammatical errors. Using "he" where "him" should be used, or vice versa, can change the meaning of a sentence or make it unclear. For instance, saying "The ball hit he" instead of "The ball hit him" would be incorrect.
"He" and "him" are both singular pronouns, referring to one male individual. They have plural forms as well: "they" can serve as the plural subject pronoun, and "them" as the plural object pronoun. It's crucial to distinguish between "he" and "him" to ensure proper sentence structure and clear communication.
Comparison Chart
Grammatical Role
Object pronoun
Subject pronoun
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Position in Sentence
After verbs or prepositions
Before verbs
Function
Receiver of action
Performer of action
Example Sentence
She hugged him.
He is running.
Plural Form
Them
They
Compare with Definitions
Him
Used to receive an action.
The ball hit him.
He
Used to perform an action.
He runs fast.
Him
Singular in form.
Is this seat taken by him?
He
Used to refer to a man, boy, or male animal previously mentioned or easily identified
Everyone liked my father—he was the perfect gentleman
Him
Object pronoun for males.
She gave him the book.
He
A male; a man
Is that a he or a she?
Him
Serves as indirect object.
I told him a story.
He
(in children's games) the player who has to catch the others; ‘it’.
Him
A male
The dog is a him.
He
A male person or animal. Sometimes used in combination
Is the cat a he? We saw a he-goat cross the road.
Him
A masculine pronoun; he as a grammatical object.
He
The fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet. See Table at alphabet.
Him
With dative effect or as an indirect object.
He
(personal) A male person or animal already known or implied.
Him
Following a preposition.
He
They; he or she a person whose gender is unknown or irrelevant.
The rulebook clearly states that "if any student is caught cheating, he will be expelled", and you were caught cheating, were you not, Anna?
Him
With accusative effect or as a direct object.
He
It; an animal whose gender is unknown.
Him
Used reflexively: (to) himself.
He
A genderless object regarded as masculine, such as certain stars or planets (e.g. Sun, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter) or certain ships.
Him
With nominative effect: he, especially as a predicate after be, or following a preposition.
He
(AAVE) his
Him
Alternative case form of Him
He
(uncountable) The game of tag, or it, in which the player attempting to catch the others is called "he".
Him
(informal) A male person or animal.
I think this bird is a him, but it may be a her.
He
The player who chases and attempts to catch the others in this game.
Him
Them. See Hem.
He
(informal) A male.
Is your cat a he or a she?
Him
The objective case of he. See He.
Him that is weak in the faith receive.
Friends who have given him the most sympathy.
I never saw but Humphrey, duke of Gloster,Did bear him like a noble gentleman.
He
The name of the fifth letter of many Semitic alphabets (Phoenician, Aramaic, Hebrew, Syriac, Arabic and others).
Him
Follows prepositions.
The gift is for him.
He
The name of the first letter of the Old South Arabian abjad.
He
The man or male being (or object personified to which the masculine gender is assigned), previously designated; a pronoun of the masculine gender, usually referring to a specified subject already indicated.
Thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God; him shalt thou serve.
He
Any one; the man or person; - used indefinitely, and usually followed by a relative pronoun.
He that walketh with wise men shall be wise.
He
Man; a male; any male person; - in this sense used substantively.
I stand to answer thee,Or any he, the proudest of thy sort.
He
The chemical symbol for helium.
He
A very light colorless element that is one of the six inert gasses; the most difficult gas to liquefy; occurs in economically extractable amounts in certain natural gases (as those found in Texas and Kansas)
He
The 5th letter of the Hebrew alphabet
He
Subject pronoun for males.
He plays soccer.
He
Precedes verbs.
He eats.
He
Serves as the subject.
He is an engineer.
He
Singular in form.
He is one of the students.
Common Curiosities
Where is "he" usually found in a sentence?
"He" typically precedes verbs.
What is "him" used for?
"Him" is used as an object pronoun to receive an action.
Where is "him" usually placed in a sentence?
"Him" often comes after verbs or prepositions.
Can "he" be an object pronoun?
No, "he" is strictly a subject pronoun.
When do I use "him" with prepositions?
When the male subject is the object of the preposition, as in "for him."
Can "he" and "him" be interchangeable?
No, they serve different grammatical functions.
What are the plural forms of "him" and "he"?
"Them" is the plural of "him," and "they" is the plural of "he."
Can "him" be a subject pronoun?
No, "him" is an object pronoun.
What role does "he" serve?
"He" serves as a subject pronoun to perform an action.
Is using "he" instead of "him" a common mistake?
Yes, it's a frequent grammatical error.
Can I use "him" and "he" for animals?
It's common to use them for pets when the gender is known.
Are "him" and "he" singular or plural?
Both are singular pronouns.
Are "him" and "he" gender-specific?
Yes, they specifically refer to male subjects.
When shouldn't I use "he"?
Don't use "he" when the male subject is receiving the action.
What is the role of "him" and "he" in passive voice?
In passive voice, "he" can serve as the object, and "him" can serve as the subject with a form of "be."
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
