He and His vs. Him and His

Attribute	He and His	Him and His
Subject pronoun	He	Him
Possessive pronoun	His	His
Usage as subject	He is going to the store.	I gave the book to him.
Usage as possessive	I like his new car.	I borrowed the book from him.

Introduction

When it comes to pronouns in the English language, there are often confusion and misuse of certain words. Two sets of pronouns that are commonly mixed up are "he" and "his" versus "him" and "his." While they may seem similar, there are distinct differences in their usage and meaning. In this article, we will explore the attributes of each set of pronouns and provide examples to clarify their proper usage.

He and His

The pronoun "he" is used as a subject pronoun to refer to a male person or animal. It is typically used at the beginning of a sentence or clause to indicate the person or animal performing the action. For example, "He is going to the store." On the other hand, the possessive pronoun "his" is used to show ownership or possession by the male person or animal. It is often followed by a noun to indicate what belongs to the male individual. For instance, "His car is parked outside."

When using "he" and "his" together in a sentence, it is important to ensure that they agree in gender and number. For example, "He lost his keys" is correct because both pronouns refer to the same male individual. Mixing up the pronouns can lead to confusion and grammatical errors in writing.

Him and His

In contrast, the pronoun "him" is used as an object pronoun to refer to a male person or animal that is the recipient of an action. It is often used after a verb or preposition in a sentence. For example, "I gave him the book." On the other hand, the possessive pronoun "his" is used to show ownership or possession by the male person or animal, similar to how it is used with "he." For instance, "I borrowed his pen."

Just like with "he" and "his," it is crucial to ensure that "him" and "his" agree in gender and number when used together in a sentence. For example, "I saw him with his dog" is correct because both pronouns refer to the same male individual. Using the wrong pronoun can alter the meaning of a sentence and make it grammatically incorrect.

Examples

Let's look at some examples to further illustrate the differences between "he" and "his" versus "him" and "his":

• "He is playing with his dog." (subject pronoun and possessive pronoun)
• "I saw him walking his dog." (object pronoun and possessive pronoun)
• "His car broke down, so he called for help." (possessive pronoun and subject pronoun)
• "I gave him his keys back." (object pronoun and possessive pronoun)

Conclusion

In conclusion, the proper use of pronouns such as "he" and "his" versus "him" and "his" is essential for clear and effective communication in writing. Understanding the differences in their usage can help avoid confusion and grammatical errors. By paying attention to the role each pronoun plays in a sentence and ensuring they agree in gender and number, writers can convey their intended meaning accurately. Practice using these pronouns correctly to improve your writing skills and enhance your language proficiency.