What is him? Pronunciation and usage in English

him means . Learn how to pronounce and use him through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of him

himpronoun

/hɪm/
Definition & pronunciation of him

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "him" in English. There are a couple of slightly different ways it can be pronounced, depending on regional accents, but here's the most common and generally accepted way:

The Standard Pronunciation (Most Common - General American):

  • Sounds like: /hɪm/ (as in "him" in "He saw him.")
  • Breakdown:
    • h – as in "hat" – a quick, almost silent "h" sound. It's often barely noticeable.
    • i – as in "bit" – a short, quick "i" sound.
    • m – as in "man" – a clear, distinct "m" sound.

Tips for Pronunciation:

  • The 'h' is often silent: This is the most important thing! Don't pronounce the 'h'.
  • Slightly connected vowels: The 'i' and 'm' sounds blend together a little bit, rather than being completely separate. It’s a quick, smooth transition.
  • Short and sharp: The overall sound is short and clipped.

Regional Variations:

  • British English: In British English, it's often pronounced /hɪm/ as well, but can sometimes sound slightly closer to /hʌm/. The 'u' sound in "hum" is more prominent.

  • Some American accents: In some regional American accents (particularly in the South), you might hear a pronunciation closer to /h'im/ where the 'h' is slightly more pronounced, and there's a slight pause between the 'i' and the 'm'.

Resources to Listen:

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • What is your native language? (This helps me consider potential sound substitutions.)
  • What kind of English accent are you trying to emulate (e.g., General American, British, Australian, etc.)?

Usage and examples with the word him in English

Let's break down how to use the pronoun "him" correctly in English. It's a tricky one for some learners! Here's a comprehensive guide:

1. Basic Role: Object Pronoun (Receiving Action)

  • Core Function: "Him" is an object pronoun. This means it replaces a noun (usually a man's name) that receives an action in a sentence. Think of it as "him" is getting something done to him or being acted upon.

  • Example:

    • "I gave the book to him." (The book is going to him. He is the recipient of the action.)
    • "She told him a secret." (The secret is being told to him.)
    • "He helped him with the problem." (He assisted him.)

2. Following Verbs – The Most Common Usage

"Him" is most frequently used after verbs that describe actions done to someone. Here are some of the common ones:

  • Give: I gave the gift to him.
  • Tell: She told him about her trip.
  • Help: He helped him fix the car.
  • See: I saw him at the store.
  • Talk to: He talked to him about the assignment.
  • Meet: I met him last week.
  • Teach: She taught him how to ride a bike.
  • Call: He called him to ask for help.

3. Following Prepositions

"Him" is also used after prepositions that indicate direction or movement towards someone.

  • To: I gave it to him.
  • With: He worked with him on the project.
  • For: I bought a gift for him.
  • From: He spoke to him from the podium.
  • About: She talked about him to her friends.

4. "Him" vs. "Her” – Gender Agreement

This is crucial. "Him" is used for male people. Use "her" for female people.

  • Correct: "I saw him playing basketball."
  • Incorrect: "I saw her playing basketball." (Unless you are referring to a female player)

5. Possessive Form (Less Common)

"His" is the possessive form of "he" (meaning belonging to him). It’s used to show ownership.

  • Correct: “This is his car.” (The car belongs to him.)

6. Confusing with "Himself"

  • "Him" is an object pronoun (receives the action).

  • "Himself" is a reflexive pronoun (the action is done to him by him). It's used when the subject and object are the same person.

    • Correct: "He hurt himself." (He caused the injury to himself).
    • Incorrect: "He hurt him himself." (This is redundant and grammatically incorrect).

7. Other Considerations

  • Pronoun Reference: Make sure it's absolutely clear which male person "him" is referring to in the sentence. Avoid ambiguity.

  • Formal vs. Informal: "Him" is perfectly acceptable in most situations. However, some people find it less common in very casual speech, and might prefer "he” in those cases. It's more common in formal writing.

Let's Practice!

Fill in the blanks with "him" or “her” (depending on the gender of the person):

  1. I offered my seat to ____.
  2. She complimented ____ on his haircut.
  3. He sent a letter to ____.
  4. They discussed the problem with ____.

Answers:

  1. him
  2. him
  3. him
  4. him

Resources for More Learning:

Do you want me to:

  • Give you more examples?
  • Create a practice exercise with different sentence structures?
  • Explain a specific situation where "him" is used (e.g., in a passive voice sentence)?

Synonyms for the word him

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