Micro-listening
He and I at the Cooking Class
When should I use he and I or him and me?
Use 'he and I' when the pair is the subject, and 'him and me' when the pair is an object or follows a preposition. For example, 'He and I practise together, but the tutor helps him and me.' Test the pair with 'we' or 'us'; politeness does not make 'I' correct everywhere.
Key points
- Use 'he and I' for the subject of a sentence.
- Use 'him and me' as objects or after prepositions.
- Replace the whole pair with 'we' or 'us'.
- Putting the other person first does not decide the form.
This lesson has 5 stages. You can stop at any time and continue later.
At a glance
| Form | Use it for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| he and I | The pair is the sentence subject. | He and I practise together. |
| him and me | The pair is an object. | The tutor helps him and me. |
| him and me after a preposition | The pair follows 'for', 'with', or 'to'. | Save two seats for him and me. |
Stage 1 of 5
Understand
What it means, when to use it, and mistakes to avoid.
The full explanation
He and I names the pair as the subject: the people the sentence says do, need, or are something. Him and me names the pair as an object, as in someone helping the pair. Test the whole pair with we or us.
He and I need more flour.
Why it works: We need more flour works, so use subject forms.
2 more examples
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The teacher gave him and me a larger tray.
The pair receives the tray; gave us is the quick check.
-
There is enough room beside the oven for him and me.
After for, both pronouns take object forms.
Read the full guide
Choose the pair by its job
Start with the sentence, not the people. Your brother stays the same person whether he carries a tray or someone helps him. The pronoun changes because his job in the sentence changes. Use he and I when the pair is the subject. Use him and me when another person helps, invites, or teaches the pair. Being ready also takes a subject, even though it is not an action.
-
He and I are nervous, so the teacher helps him and me first.
Why it works: The first pair is described; the second pair receives help.
Your turn
Which pair completes the sentence: “___ need a clean table”?
Answer: He and I
Show the answer
Answer: He and I
The pair is the subject of need. A subject can express a need as well as an action.
Try we or us before choosing
Replace the whole pair with one short word. If we fits, choose he and I. If us fits, choose him and me. This works even when several words come before the pair. Do not choose only by where the pair appears on the page. In a question such as “Can he and I start?”, the pair is still the subject, although can comes first.
-
Could you teach him and me that method?
Why it works: Could you teach us works; could you teach we does not.
You can practise this again in He and I, Him and Me: Planning a Community Lunch and He and I are or am: Choosing the Right Verb.
Your turn
Which replacement checks “Can he and I use this oven?”?
Answer: Can we use this oven?
Show the answer
Answer: Can we use this oven?
We replaces the subject pair. Turning a statement into a question does not require object forms.
Use object forms after for, with, and to
Small words can give you a clear clue. For, with, and to connect people to the rest of a sentence. These words are called prepositions. When the pair comes directly after one of them, use him and me. The pair might receive something, work beside someone, or join an activity. You do not need to decide whether the people are physically active; the preposition determines the form.
-
Another student is sharing a table with him and me.
Why it works: Both pronouns follow with, so both need object forms.
Your turn
Complete the request: “Please leave some flour for ___.”
Answer: him and me
Show the answer
Answer: him and me
For introduces the pair, so use him and me even if the pair will later do the baking.
Check both people separately
A common mistake is choosing him and I because I seems more polite than me. Politeness does not decide the form. Check each person separately: “The teacher thanked him” and “The teacher thanked me” both work. Together, they become him and me. A name keeps its form, but the pronoun still changes. When checking a subject separately, you may also need to change are to is or am.
-
My brother and I arrived early, and the teacher welcomed my brother and me.
Why it works: I arrived and welcomed me explain the different choices.
Your turn
Which sentence uses both pronouns correctly?
Answer: The teacher invited him and me.
Show the answer
Answer: The teacher invited him and me.
Invited him and invited me both work. Adding and does not change either object form.
Choose a verb for two people
He and I refers to two people, so use are rather than is or am. The same pattern gives you were and have, as in “He and I have enough time.” With ordinary present verbs, use need or want rather than needs or wants. Can stays the same with one person or two. Choose the pronouns first, then check that the verb fits the whole pair.
-
He and I have two bowls, but we need another spoon.
Why it works: Have and need fit a subject that includes two people.
Your turn
Which verb completes “He and I ___ waiting for the bread”?
Answer: are
Show the answer
Answer: are
The subject includes two people. Match are to the whole pair, not am to the nearest word, I.
Listen for the words around and
In everyday speech, and often sounds short and quiet. Listen for the pronoun before it and the pronoun after it. The final m in him can help you distinguish him from he, while I and me have different vowel sounds. Use the sentence meaning to predict a possible pair, then listen again to confirm it. For recall practice, repeat the phrase before typing the complete message.
-
Could you move that tray closer to him and me?
Why it works: To suggests object forms; listen again for him, and, and me.
Your turn
You cannot clearly hear the joining word. What should you do?
Answer: Replay the phrase and listen between the pronouns.
Show the answer
Answer: Replay the phrase and listen between the pronouns.
Dictation asks for the actual words. A quiet and still belongs in the written sentence.
Introduce the person before using he or him
A correct pronoun can still confuse a reader who does not know the person. In a message, introduce your brother, friend, or classmate before using he or him. Then choose the pair according to its sentence job. You can use we and us later to avoid repeating the same pair. Free writing allows that choice; dictation requires the words spoken. Check both the grammar and who each pronoun means.
-
My brother is attending on Saturday. He and I would like a place near the front.
Why it works: The first sentence tells the reader who he refers to.
Your turn
Your teacher does not know your partner. What should your message do first?
Answer: Introduce the person before using he.
Show the answer
Answer: Introduce the person before using he.
An introduction gives he a clear meaning. After that, choose subject or object forms for each sentence.
Common mistakes
What learners often say, what to say instead, and why.
-
Not this:
The coach invited him and I.Say: The coach invited him and me.
The pair is an object; 'invited him' and 'invited me' are both correct.
-
Not this:
Him and me need a larger bowl.Say: He and I need a larger bowl.
The pair is the subject, so replace it with 'we', not 'us'.
-
Not this:
Can us use the mixer?Say: Can we use the mixer?
The pair is the subject of the question, despite the question word order.
Use it naturally
How people really use “He and I”
Neutral Fine almost anywhere, at work or with friends.
Words it often goes with
- He and I needHe and I need new bike helmets.
- He and I areHe and I are ready for the trip.
- for him and meMy aunt brought lunch for him and me.
- with him and meYou can ride with him and me.
Questions about "He and I at the Cooking Class"
Should I always use I when I mention another person first?
No. Putting the other person first is a common polite choice, but it does not determine the pronoun. Use I in a subject pair and me in an object pair. Try removing the other person: helped me works, while helped I does not.
He and I brought the ingredients.
The assistant helped him and me carry the bags.
Does he and I change to him and me in a question?
No. A question can still have he and I as its subject. Ask whether we or us would fit. Can we leave supports Can he and I leave. Can you help us supports Can you help him and me.
Can he and I take the last two seats?
Can you show him and me the storage cupboard?
Why do I sometimes hear me used where this lesson teaches I?
Informal speech varies, and you may hear subject pairs with me. For careful standard English in your own writing, use he and I as a subject. In dictation, write what the speaker actually says; do not silently change the recording to match a grammar rule.
He and I usually cook on Fridays.
My brother and I have finished cleaning.
When can I use we and us instead of the longer pairs?
Use we and us when the listener or reader already knows which people you mean. They often make a longer message sound more natural. The longer pairs can help identify the people, but you do not need to repeat them in every sentence.
My brother and I made the rolls, and we brought some home.
The teacher checked our bread and gave us some advice.
Before you go
Remember this
Use he and I for a subject and him and me for an object or after a preposition. In your own messages, introduce the other person clearly. In dictation, recover the actual wording rather than replacing a pair with we or us.
Stage 2 of 5
Listen
Hear it in real sentences, from short to long, and write what you hear.
0 of 4 done
Listening 1 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
Read the transcript
He and I are learning to make bread.
He and I is the subject of are learning. The pair describes two people, so are fits.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- In 'and I', listen for 'an-dI': the final d joins directly to I.
- In 'He and I', listen for 'n': and can be very short, with little vowel sound.
- A small word like this is said quickly and softly, not as written.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- In 'and I', listen for 'an-dI': the final d joins directly to I.
- In 'He and I', listen for 'n': and can be very short, with little vowel sound.
- A small word like this is said quickly and softly, not as written.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- In 'and I', listen for 'an-dI': the final d joins directly to I.
- A small word like this is said quickly and softly, not as written.
- A small word like this is said quickly and softly, not as written.
Listening 2 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
Read the transcript
Please put a clean spoon beside him and me.
Beside is a preposition, so the pair takes the object forms him and me.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The final t or d is barely said before the next consonant.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The final t or d is barely said before the next consonant.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The final t or d is barely said before the next consonant.
Try a longer clip. Listen once, then replay the part you missed.
Listening 3 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
Read the transcript
My brother has flour on his hands. He and I need to wash before we touch the cupboard. Could you open it for him and me?
The brother is introduced before he. He and I is the subject of need; him and me follows for.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
This clip is longer. Follow the instruction above the answer field.
Listening 4 of 4
Listen, then type the missing words. The rest of the text is already there.
0:00
Read the transcript
My brother is taking the evening class with me. He and I have finished shaping our rolls, but the small oven is broken. The teacher has found space for him and me in the large oven. We need to wait until the other group's bread is ready, so we will start cleaning our table now.
He and I is the subject of have finished. Him and me follows for. We then keeps the reference clear without repeating the pair.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
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Save my progressStage 3 of 5
Speak
Say it with the speaker, then use it in your own answer.
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Say it along with the speaker
He and I are learning to make bread.
Play the line slowly, then speak at the same time as the speaker. Copy the rhythm, not just the words.
Your turn
Say it your way
Speak for 30 to 60 seconds from memory about a bike ride with your cousin. Introduce him, explain where you both plan to go, and describe what your aunt has packed for both of you.
Use: He and I him and me
Think for ten seconds, then answer out loud for as long as the task above asks, without looking at the lesson. Nothing is sent unless you ask for feedback.
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Hear how someone else might say it
My cousin Ben is visiting this weekend. He and I plan to ride our bikes to the lake on Saturday morning. We want to leave early because the roads are quiet then. My aunt has packed sandwiches and apples for him and me. We will stop near the water to eat lunch and take some photos. Ben knows a short route through the park, so he will lead the way. I will bring a map in case we get lost. We both enjoy being outside.
Try once more and answer this: Why did you choose that route?
Stage 4 of 5
Write
Write about your own day or week using it, then write a message.
Write
Put it in your own words
- I used “He and I”.
- It is about my life, not the lesson’s example.
- I read it once aloud to check it sounds right.
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