Using Pronouns Correctly

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. The rider approaches slowly. He them The rider watches the longhorns closely. 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.

What are the cases of personal pronouns?The nominative case Pronouns in the nominative case are used as subjects and as predicate nominatives. Subject We compete in several sports. Predicate nominative The winner in the high hurdles was he.

? them ? him 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 ? Nominative case they Subject Then Rob played by himself for an hour. he Rob Nominative case ? he

? them ? her 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. Tom and Sara they ? they Nominative case Predicate nominative The more experienced caver is Sara. Sara she ? Nominative case 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 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?

? ? they we 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 ? us Objective case Direct object I saw Barbara and ______ on the Ferris wheel. them ? them Objective case

? ? she 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 ? Objective case them Indirect object He gave Teresa and _____ the tiny kittens. her ? Objective case her

? we ? I 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 us Object of preposition The package was addressed to you and _____. me ? 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. 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. Her sister and mine play soccer. Subject This tennis racquet is hers. Predicate nominative Have you finished yours yet? Direct object His father gave ours a tour. Indirect object Apart from his, no score was perfect. Object of preposition

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 problemsAppositives 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 problemsAppositives A pronoun used as an appositive should be in the same case as the word to which it refers. Direct object Appositive Joel and me The director chose us, Joel and ___, for major roles. The director chose us, Joel and ___, for major roles. 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 problemsElliptical 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. The tenor sang louder than hesang. Completed The tenor sang louder than he. Elliptical The accident hurt Tim as much as the accident hurther. Completed The accident hurt Tim as much as her. Elliptical

Solving special pronoun problemsReflexive and intensive pronouns Reflexive and intensive pronouns have the same forms. I think I will treat myself to a movie. Reflexive Evelyn herself raked all the leaves. Intensive

Solving special pronoun problemsReflexive and intensive pronouns Do not use a pronoun ending in –self or –selves instead of a personal pronoun. Nonstandard Standard I Mariah and myself went to the rodeo. Myself does not refer to or emphasize any other word. Can I depend on Jay and yourself? you Nonstandard 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 problemsWho and whom The use of who or whom in a subordinate clause depends on how the pronoun functions in the clause. Subject Is there someone here who can help me? who Object of a preposition Sharla, whom I practice with, is a good tutor. whom

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

Solving special pronoun problemsWho 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?

Subject Solving special pronoun problemsWho and whom STEP 3 Determine what case the pronoun should be in. (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 problemsWho and whom STEP 4 Select the correct form of the pronoun. (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 problemsWho 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 direct object—I want (who, whom) 2. Decide how the pronoun is used in the clause. 3. Determine what case the pronoun should be in. objective 4. Select the correct form of the pronoun. whom Those are the teachers whom I want. Answer

Solving special pronoun problemsWho 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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Using Pronouns Correctly