1. 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

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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 ?

6. 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 ?

7. 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]

8. 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?

9. 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 ?

10. 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 ?

11. 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

12. 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 from (he, him) just arrived.
[End of Section]

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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?

16. 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]

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. 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]

23. 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

24. 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.

25. 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?

26. 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.

27. 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?

28. 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.

29. 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]

30. 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]

31. 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.

32. The End