Pronouns Pronoun/Antecedents Who vs. Whom Pronouns as Compound Elements Shifts in Person

Pronoun/Antecedent Agreement The word that the pronoun refers to is called its antecedent. Pronouns MUST AGREE with their antecedents in NUMBER (singular or plural) NUMBER (singular or plural) GENDER (masculine or feminine) GENDER (masculine or feminine) PERSON (1 st, 2 nd or 3 rd person) PERSON (1 st, 2 nd or 3 rd person) Hint: Eliminate prepositional phrases first!

Example: Each of the candidates did a great job in presenting (his, their) view point. In this example we have to choose between the pronoun his and the pronoun their. First, find the antecedent, (each), and then check to be sure the pronoun agrees with its antecedent in number, in gender, and in person. Since each is singular, the pronoun must be singular. Thus the pronoun must be his, and not their, which is what we commonly hear

Ambiguous Reference to an Antecedent Sometimes the antecedent isn’t in the sentence, and sometimes the reference could be to two different antecedents Example: They say in that magazine that the issue of health insurance will soon be a thing of the past and that all people will be able to afford some form of insurance. What is the antecedent? Since the magazine isn’t a “they”, perhaps it’s the editors or the writers, but it is unclear. Example: Bob was distressed when Jonathan told him that he was in trouble with the law. In this sentence we don’t know which noun is the antecedent to the pronoun he. It could be Bob, or it could be Jonathan. Since the antecedent is not clear, the sentence is faulty. Errors of this kind are hard to correct. They usually require rewriting the entire sentence.

Practice Neither of the doctors knew how (he, they) might best treat the patient with the rare disease. Neither of the doctors knew how (he, they) might best treat the patient with the rare disease. If Henry gives the book to either of the girls, (she, they) can read it during the weekend. If Henry gives the book to either of the girls, (she, they) can read it during the weekend. Someone left (his, their) lunch tray on the table in the cafeteria. Someone left (his, their) lunch tray on the table in the cafeteria. The counselor knew that even though there were several problems with the student, (it, they) could be solved with time. The counselor knew that even though there were several problems with the student, (it, they) could be solved with time.

Who vs. Whom WHO is used as subjects and predicate nouns while WHOM is used as direct objects, indirect objects, and objects of prepositions. Step 1: Isolate the clause that uses who/whom and ignore everything else. Step 1: Isolate the clause that uses who/whom and ignore everything else. Step 2: Find the verb in the isolated clause. Step 2: Find the verb in the isolated clause. Step 3: Find the subject of the verb in the clause. Ask yourself who is doing the action. Step 3: Find the subject of the verb in the clause. Ask yourself who is doing the action. Step 4: If the pronoun choice (who/whom) is the subject of the verb or a predicate nominative, the answer is who. If the pronoun is not the subject, but is an object of the verb, the answer is whom. Step 4: If the pronoun choice (who/whom) is the subject of the verb or a predicate nominative, the answer is who. If the pronoun is not the subject, but is an object of the verb, the answer is whom.

Example: I can see the girl (who/whom) is wearing the red dress. Step 1: Isolate the clause that uses who/whom and ignore everything else. [(who/whom) is wearing the red dress] Step 2: Find the verb in the isolated clause. is wearing Step 3: Find the subject of the verb in the isolated clause. Ask yourself who is doing the action. (who/whom) is wearing the red dress. The pronoun who/whom, then, is the subject. Since the pronoun choice is used as the subject, you would choose who as the answer. Remember that who is used as subjects; whom is used as objects.

One more tip. When the sentence adds extra clauses like “I think,” and “ it seems to me,” you must ignore those clauses. They have their own subjects and verbs and are complete within themselves. Example: He is the man (who, whom) I think will succeed. Ignore I think. He is the man (who, whom) will succeed. Look first at the clause with the pronoun choice: (who, whom) will succeed. Next decide how the pronoun is used in the clause. Here, it is the subject. Use the Nominative form: who. Answer: He is the man who I think will succeed.

Practice Sally will not tell me (who, whom) she called. Sally will not tell me (who, whom) she called. Becky, (who, whom) has been the librarian for five years, is planning to retire soon. Becky, (who, whom) has been the librarian for five years, is planning to retire soon. She is the woman to (who, whom) this book belongs. She is the woman to (who, whom) this book belongs. (Who, whom) washed the dishes? (Who, whom) washed the dishes?

Pronouns as a Compound Element Don’t depend upon what sounds right because we use the pronoun incorrectly in our spoken language, and you are accustomed to hearing it wrong. Example: Martha gave the tickets to Jerry and (I, me). The pronoun functions as the object of the preposition. It is not the subject. Therefore, you must use me. Martha gave the tickets to me. Another way to solve the problem is to read the sentence twice and plug in one word at a time. Martha gave the tickets to Jerry. Martha gave the tickets to me. The process is the same if you have two pronouns. It is still a compound element and must be solved the same way. Example: Dad said that (him and me, he and I) could go to the movies. First decide how the pronoun choice is used in the sentence. In this case, the pronouns appear in a clause of their own. Within that clause, (him and me, he and I) could go to the movies, the pronouns function as a compound subject. That should give you the answer. Since they are the subject, you must use Nominative Case pronouns … he and I. The other way to solve the problem is by inserting the pronoun choices one at a time into the sentence. Dad said that he could go to the movies. Dad said that I could go to the movies.

Practice If you and (she, her) had waited, the theater would have opened. If you and (she, her) had waited, the theater would have opened. Come with Carl and (I, me) to the circus. Come with Carl and (I, me) to the circus. The man at the door surprised (me and him, he and I, him and I). The man at the door surprised (me and him, he and I, him and I). I saw all of the neighbors at the store except Bob and (they, them). I saw all of the neighbors at the store except Bob and (they, them). Dad showed Kathy and (I, me) how to do a swan dive. Dad showed Kathy and (I, me) how to do a swan dive. Ben and (I, me) went to the movies last night. Ben and (I, me) went to the movies last night.

Shift in Person We cannot have a shift in person in our sentences. We generally see this error occur when we begin in 3rd person and then suddenly shift to 2nd person. Example: A student needs to study hard if you expect to get good grades. A student is 3rd person. You is 2nd person. There is a shift from 3rd person to 2nd person. Corrected version: A student needs to study hard if he expects to get good grades. Many errors of this kind can be easily averted if you will identify the antecedent of each pronoun and be sure that the two agree.

Practice In order for a person to become a lawyer, you have to pass a law exam. In order for a person to become a lawyer, you have to pass a law exam. What’s the fix? A person has to really have endurance if he wants to be successful in running track. A person has to really have endurance if he wants to be successful in running track. What’s the fix? I think I can do well on the test, but you have to be prepared for the very worst. I think I can do well on the test, but you have to be prepared for the very worst. What’s the fix? He tried to answer the ladies’ questions, but you can only provide so much help. He tried to answer the ladies’ questions, but you can only provide so much help. What’s the fix?