Using Pronouns Correctly What are the cases of personal pronouns? The nominative case The objective case The possessive case Solving special pronoun problems Appositives Elliptical constructions Reflexive and intensive pronouns Who and whom Review A Review B

What are the cases of personal pronouns? A pronoun takes the place of a noun. He The rider approaches slowly. The rider watches the longhorns closely. them His The rider’s horse is well trained.

What are the cases of personal pronouns? Case is the form that a pronoun takes to show its relationship to other words in a sentence. Nominative Objective Possessive Singular First person I me my, mine Second person you your, yours Third person he, she, it him, her, it his, her, hers, its Plural we us our, ours they them their, theirs

What are the cases of personal pronouns? The nominative case Pronouns in the nominative case are used as subjects and as predicate nominatives. Nominative case pronouns First person I, we Second person you, you Third person he, she, it, they Subject We compete in several sports. Predicate nominative The winner in the high hurdles was he.

What are the cases of personal pronouns? The nominative case Make sure the subject of a verb is in the nominative case. Subject Rob and his friends shot some baskets. his friends they they ? Nominative case them ? Subject Then Rob played by himself for an hour. he Rob Nominative case him ? he ?

What are the cases of personal pronouns? The nominative case Make sure a predicate nominative is in the nominative case. Predicate nominative The team leaders were Tom and Sara. they Tom and Sara they ? Nominative case them ? Predicate nominative The more experienced caver is Sara. Sara she Nominative case her ? she ?

What are the cases of personal pronouns? On Your Own For each of the following sentences, choose the correct form of the pronoun in parentheses. 1. Cynthia and (me, I) took scuba-diving lessons. 2. Wyatt and (she, her) will pass out the sheet music. 3. How did you guess the winner would be (he, him)? You and (we, us) raised the most money for the dance. 5. The children on the parade float were (they, them). [End of Section]

What are the cases of personal pronouns? The objective case Pronouns in the objective case are used as direct objects, indirect objects, and objects of prepositions. Direct object Objective case pronouns First person me, us Second person you, you Third person him, her, it, them Carmen has invited me to her party. Indirect object My uncle gave it a tuneup. Object of preposition Don’t you sit in front of me in class?

What are the cases of personal pronouns? The objective case A direct object should be in the objective case. Direct object My uncle took ______ to the State Fair. us ? we ? Objective case us Direct object I saw Barbara and ______ on the Ferris wheel. them them ? Objective case they ?

What are the cases of personal pronouns? The objective case An indirect object should be in the objective case. Indirect object Tony found _____ a new home. them them ? Objective case they ? Indirect object He gave Teresa and _____ the tiny kittens. her Objective case she ? her ?

What are the cases of personal pronouns? The objective case An object of a preposition should be in the objective case. Object of preposition Aside from _____, who else will be coming? us Objective case we ? us ? Object of preposition The package was addressed to you and _____. me ? I ? me Objective case

What are the cases of personal pronouns? On Your Own For each of the following sentences, choose the correct form of the pronoun in parentheses. 1. The guests thanked Rita and (she, her) for the party. 2. The first guests to arrive were (they, them). 3. Are Gloria and (I, me) playing in the first match? 4. What were you telling Chuck and (we, us) earlier? 5. An e-mail from (he, him) just arrived. [End of Section]

What are the cases of personal pronouns? The possessive case Pronouns in the possessive case are used to show ownership or possession. Possessive case pronouns First person my, mine, our, ours Second person your, yours Third person his, her, hers, its, their, theirs My car won’t start. We’ll have to ride in hers.

What are the cases of personal pronouns? The possessive case The possessive pronouns mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, and theirs are used in the same ways pronouns in the nominative and objective cases are used. Subject Her sister and mine play soccer. Predicate nominative This tennis racquet is hers. Direct object Have you finished yours yet? Indirect object His father gave ours a tour. Object of preposition Apart from his, no score was perfect.

What are the cases of personal pronouns? The possessive case The possessive pronouns my, your, his, her, its, and their are used as adjectives before nouns. Does your brother play the guitar? Where does he buy his guitar strings?

What are the cases of personal pronouns? On Your Own For each of the following sentences, choose the correct form of the pronoun in parentheses. 1. Robert has trained (him, his) new puppy. 2. (They, Them) brought cheese and crackers to the party. 3. The college sent some information to (we, us). Make sure (your, yours) name is on every page. 5. Carla has completed her application, but I haven’t started (my, mine). [End of Section]

Solving special pronoun problems Appositives A pronoun used as an appositive should be in the same case as the word to which it refers. Appositive Subject Both teachers, Mr. Petrakis and ___, coach the team. Both teachers, Mr. Petrakis and ___, coach the team. Mr. Petrakis and he The appositive identifies the subject, teachers. Since a subject is in the nominative case, a pronoun in an appositive identifying a subject should also be in the nominative case.

Solving special pronoun problems Appositives A pronoun used as an appositive should be in the same case as the word to which it refers. Direct object Appositive The director chose us, Joel and ___, for major roles. The director chose us, Joel and ___, for major roles. Joel and me The appositive identifies the direct object, us. Since a direct object is in the objective case, a pronoun in an appositive identifying a direct object should also be in the objective case.

Solving special pronoun problems Elliptical constructions A pronoun following than or as in an elliptical construction should be in the same case as it would be if the construction were completed. Completed The tenor sang louder than he sang. Elliptical The tenor sang louder than he. The accident hurt Tim as much as the accident hurt her. Completed Elliptical The accident hurt Tim as much as her.

Solving special pronoun problems Reflexive and intensive pronouns Reflexive and intensive pronouns have the same forms. Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns First person myself, ourselves Second person yourself, yourselves Third person himself, herself, itself, themselves Reflexive I think I will treat myself to a movie. Intensive Evelyn herself raked all the leaves.

Solving special pronoun problems Reflexive and intensive pronouns Do not use a pronoun ending in –self or –selves instead of a personal pronoun. Nonstandard Standard Mariah and myself went to the rodeo. I Myself does not refer to or emphasize any other word. Nonstandard Can I depend on Jay and yourself? you Standard Yourself does not refer to or emphasize any other word.

Solving special pronoun problems On Your Own Choose the correct form of the pronoun in parentheses to correct each sentence below. 1. He remained true to (him, himself) and his own values. 2. Can she really be six months older than (I, me)? 3. Mr. Webster gave a prize to his best students, Tim and (we, us). 4. We promised that we would do all the carpentry work (ourself, ourselves). 5. The mural was painted by two seniors, Chad and (he, him). [End of Section]

Solving special pronoun problems Who and whom The use of who or whom in a subordinate clause depends on how the pronoun functions in the clause. Nominative case Objective case who whoever whom whomever Subject Is there someone here who can help me? who Object of a preposition Sharla, whom I practice with, is a good tutor. whom

Solving special pronoun problems Who and whom To choose between who and whom in a subordinate clause, follow these steps: STEP 1 Find the subordinate clause. Subordinate clause Do you know (who, whom) borrowed the ladder? The subordinate clause is (who, whom) borrowed the ladder.

Solving special pronoun problems Who and whom STEP 2 Decide how the pronoun is used in the clause. Subject? (who, whom) borrowed the ladder Predicate nominative? The pronoun is used as the subject of the verb borrowed. Direct object? Indirect object? Object of preposition?

Solving special pronoun problems Who and whom STEP 3 Determine what case the pronoun should be in. Subject (who, whom) borrowed the ladder Is a subject in the nominative or objective case? The subject should be in the nominative case.

Solving special pronoun problems Who and whom STEP 4 Select the correct form of the pronoun. Nominative case who Objective case whom (who, whom) borrowed the ladder (who, whom) borrowed the ladder The nominative form is who. Answer Do you know who borrowed the ladder?

Solving special pronoun problems Who and whom Apply the steps to the following sentence: Those are the teachers (who, whom) I want. 1. Find the subordinate clause. (who, whom) I want 2. Decide how the pronoun is used in the clause. direct object—I want (who, whom) 3. Determine what case the pronoun should be in. objective 4. Select the correct form of the pronoun. whom Answer Those are the teachers whom I want.

Solving special pronoun problems Who and whom On Your Own Choose the correct form, who or whom, to complete each sentence below. 1. The child _____ fell off the swing is not hurt. 2. There goes Fred, _____ I sit behind in chemistry class. 3. Are they the teammates with _____ you work out? 4. Everyone has guessed _____ the winner will be. 5. I can’t remember _____ I asked that question. [End of Section]

Review A For each of the following sentences, choose the correct form of the pronoun in parentheses. Greg and (myself, I) both got our driver’s licenses. When he called, I could hardly believe it was really (he, him). “Does anyone dance better than (her, she)?” I wondered. What the crowd appreciated most was (him, his) singing. 5. (Who, Whom) can name this geometric shape? [End of Section]

Review B If a sentence has an incorrect pronoun, supply the correct pronoun form. If a sentence is already correct, identify it with a “C.” _____ 1. I would like to know who you are voting for in the next election. _____ 2. They watched her and I playing a game of tennis. _____ 3. Sally and myself are planning to attend the lecture. _____ 4. Is it Mr. Ross whom teaches the class? _____ 5. No one has worked harder than she.

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