Using Pronouns Correctly

CASE Case is the form a noun or pronoun takes to show its relationship to other words in the sentence. 3 types of case: Nominative — SUBJECT Objective — OBJECT Possessive — OWNERSHIP

NOMINATIVE OBJECTIVE (Subject) (Object) I, we Me, us You, you [plural] You, you [plural] He, she, it, they Him, her, it, them

NOMINATIVE CASE The subject of a verb is in nominative case. He and I mowed lawns yesterday. You and she ought to go to the store. Will you or we be presenting this paper?

NOMINATIVE CASE A predicate nominative is a word in the predicate that identifies the subject. Predicate nominatives take the nominative case. The winners should have been he and she. [not him and her] The members of the team are they. [not them] It is I! [not me]

OBJECTIVE CASE If a pronoun is not the subject, it is the object. Direct and indirect objects (words that identify who/what the verb is done for or to) are in the objective case. Mom called me to the phone. [not I] Julia bought them to make the filling. [not they] The hostess handed her a nametag. [not she] Mom, can you take him and me to the mall? [not he and I]

OBJECTIVE CASE Pronouns that appear in prepositional phrases are called objects of a preposition, and they take the objective case. Before us lay rows of green cornstalks. [not we] The secret is between him and me. [not he and I] Please stand next to her. [not she] Give it to her and them, please. [not she and they]

WHO vs. WHOM When do I use who, and when do I use whom?? When it is nominative [subject], use who. When it is objective [object], use whom. Please ask who is calling. [who = subject] Who left this? [who = subject] To whom should I give the ticket? [whom = object of the preposition to] Whom are we inviting to the dance? [whom = direct object of the verb are inviting] If you’d use he, use who. If you’d use him, use whom.

PRONOUN/APPOSITIVE Sometimes a pronoun is directly followed by a noun that identifies it. This noun is called an appositive. Ex: Sometimes we teachers do actually leave our classrooms! To determine whether to use a nominative or objective pronoun before an appositive, remove the appositive, and try both pronouns.

PRONOUN/APPOSITIVE On Saturdays ( we / us ) cyclists ride to Mt. McCabe and back. On Saturdays, ( we ride / us ride ) On Saturdays, we cyclists ride… The speaker praised ( we / us ) volunteers for our hard work. The speaker ( praised we / praised us ) The speaker praised us volunteers…

CLEAR REFERENCE Be sure a pronoun clearly tells which antecedent it’s referring to. Jeremy promised to meet Joe at his house. at whose house? Jeremy promised to meet Joe at Joe’s house. Jeremy promised to meet Joe at Jeremy’s house. UNCLEAR! CLEAR! CLEAR!

CLEAR REFERENCE UNCLEAR! Mr. Cassner asked Todd to file the memo after he read it. after who read it? Mr. Cassner asked Todd to file the memo after Mr. Cassner read it. Mr. Cassner asked Todd to file the memo after Todd read it. CLEAR! CLEAR!

POSSESSIVE CASE The possessive case shows ownership/possession. That is my car. The house’s foundation appears to be solid. The students’ scores were high. Which apple is hers?

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