Lesson #1: Pronoun Case
A pronoun is a word used in place of a noun. The function of a pronoun in a sentence is shown by the case form of the pronoun. Different uses demand different forms. For instance, a pronoun which acts as a subject is in the nominative case; a pronoun which acts as an object is in the objective case; and a pronoun which possesses something is in the possessive case The personal pronouns are divided into these three cases. At present, we will concentrate only on the use of pronouns in the nominative and objective cases.
Listed below are the pronouns in the nominative and objective cases. It is necessary to MEMORIZE the pronouns belonging to each of these cases.
Nominative Objective
1st person singular I me
2nd person singular you you
3rd person singular he, she, it him, her, it
1st person plural we us
2nd person plural you you
3rd person plural they them
who whom
whoever whomever
Uses of the Nominative Case
1. Pronouns as Subjects
A pronoun subject is in the nominative case. When the subject of a sentence consists of a single pronoun, you are not likely to use the wrong form. When the subject consists of more than one pronoun or of a noun and a pronoun, however, errors in the pronoun form are more likely. To decide on the correct form of the pronoun to use in a compound subject, try each subject separately with the verb.
Examples: Quentin and (I, me) played in the backgammon tournament.
(Quentin played; I played, not me played.)
Inez and (she, her) run a plant-watering service.
(Inez runs; she runs, not her runs.)
2. Pronouns as Predicate Nominatives
A predicate (nominative) pronoun is in the nominative case. A predicate pronoun follows some form of the linking verb be and renames the person or thing that is in the Subject.
Examples: I slid think it was he.
It might have been they who were riding in the parade float.
Uses of Objective Case
1. Pronouns as Direct Objects and Indirect Objects
A pronoun used as a direct or an indirect object is in the objective case. When a verb has a compound object, it is sometimes difficult to choose the correct form of the pronoun. To decide which case of the pronoun to use, try each object with the verb separately.
Direct Object: The party invitation included Janet and (he, him).
(included Janet; included him. not included he)
Indirect Object: Our neighbor gave Helen and (I, me) instructions on how to care for his orchids, (gave Helen; gave me, not gave I)
2. Pronouns as Objects of the Preposition
A Pronoun used as the object of a preposition is in the objective case.
Examples: I went to the Italian festival with Joe and (he, him).
(with Joe; with him, not with he)
Note: In informal speech you may occasionally hear between you and I; such use is incorrect. Only objective-case pronouns should be used as objects of prepositions. Thus the correct form would be between you and me.
Use of Who, Whom, Whoever, and Whomever
Students quite often misuse these four pronouns. Simply remember that who and whoever are in the nominative case and can be used as subjects or predicate nominatives and that whom and whomever are in the objective case and can be used only as objects. Helpful hint: if he fits the sentence, use who: if him fits the sentence, use whom.
Examples: Who will go with me? (Who is the subject of the sentence.)
Whom do you trust? (Whom is the direct object.)
Use of Appositives
Often an appositive will follow a pronoun. The appositive should not affect your choice of pronoun case.
Examples: We girls thought he was a funny comedian, (girls is an appositive)
An appositive is in the same case as the word with which it is in apposition.
Examples: Two freshmen, Abe and he, made the best speeches. (Abe and he is an appositive to freshmen, the subject of the sentence. Since the subject of a verb is nominative, the appositive is also nominative, hence, he is correct.)
The truant officer was chasing two boys» Abe and him. (Abe and him are appositives to boys which is the direct object of was chasing, hence him (appositive to direct object) is correct.
PRONOUN EXERCISES
Directions: Circle the correct pronoun to use in each of the following sentences. In the blank before each sentence, indicate how the pronoun is used in the sentence by using the following abbreviations:
S= subject DO= direct object
PN = predicate nominative IO = indirect object
OP= object of preposition
______1. Steve and (she, her) are going steady.
______2. The Olsons invited Peter and (I, me) to supper.
______3. (He, Him) and (I, me) made the second team.
______4. Everyone but Liz and (I, me) got the joke.
______5. Between you and (I, me) I can't stand Benny.
______6. Why didn't Gordon and (she, her) give you and (I, me) their tickets?
______7. Neither (he, him) nor (she, her) likes flying.
______8. Harry and (I, me) started running toward the garage.
______9. Rob and (I, me) gave our copies to Larry and (she, her).
______10. For Ron and (I, me) she had brought two hand-woven ponchos.
______11. During the study period Bert and (I, me) had a chance to compare notes.
______12. They told both (he, him) and (I, me) the test results.
______13. Perhaps neither the Millers nor (they, them) will be living on this block next year.
______14. Didn't anyone but Ricky and (she, her) arrive on time?
______15. The sophomores refused to enter the hall after the seniors and (we, us) juniors.
______16. We shall have to do without Suzy and (he, him).
______17. If it wasn't (he/ him) who told on us, it must have been (she, her).
______18. The best chess players at our school now are Ross and (I, me).
______19. (Who, Whom) has taken Mr. Collin's position as principal?
______20. Both Fred and (I, me) winced when we saw the snake coming toward us.
______21. You go ahead, and (we, us) girls will follow later.
______22. (Who, Whom) did you ask to the Winter Ball?
______23. The teacher told (us, we) students about the new university requirements.
______24. (Who, Whom) did you see in the market?
______25. (Who, Whom) objected to the President's policy on aid to Nicaragua?
______26. After all, it was (we, us) girls who implemented the plans to raise money for the junior class.
______27. Most of (we, us) seniors ostracized sophomores and freshmen.
______28. Why must (we, us) always be accused of being maudlin?
______29. (We, Us) men need a respite from this time-consuming project.
______30. To Jack and (she, her) bills were mundane details of life.
Lesson #2: PRONOUN-ANTECEDENT AGREEMENT
An antecedent is the word that a pronoun refers to or replaces in a sentence. A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in number, gender, and person.
I. Agreement in Number
A. Rule: Use a singular pronoun to refer to a singular antecedent. Use a plural pronoun to refer to a plural antecedent.
SINGULAR PLURAL
I, me, my, mine we, us, our, ours
You, your, yours you. your. yours
he, him, his they, them. their, theirs
it, its
ANT. ______
SINGULAR EXAMPLE: After Jennifer got up, she fixed her breakfast.
PLURAL EXAMPLE: The boys set their book bags under a tree.
B. Rule: Use a plural pronoun to refer to two or more singular antecedents joined by and
EXAMPLE: Roger and Barbara are painting their house. They have almost finished.
C. Rule: Use a singular pronoun to refer to two or more singular antecedents joined by o r or nor
EXAMPLE: Neither Bob nor Matt finished ins composition on time.
INDEFINITE PRONOUNS AS ANTECEDENTS
· The following indefinite pronouns are usually singular in meaning. Use singular pronouns to refer to them when they are antecedents.
anybody each everyone neither nothing somebody
anyone either everything nobody one someone
anything everybody much no one other something
EXAMPLE: Neither of the girls had stopped to change her clothes.
EXAMPLE: If anyone objects, tell him to see Mrs. Foster.
NOTE: Occasionally their use in a sentence makes the singular indefinite pronouns everyone and everybody clearly plural in meaning. In such a special case, you should use a plural pronoun to refer to everyone or everybody as an antecedent, so that your sentence will be logical.
EXAMPLE: When everyone heard the score, they cheered.
· Some indefinite pronouns, such as several both few and many are plural in meaning. Use plural pronouns to refer to them when they are antecedents.
EXAMPLE: Nathan and Sandra have been working hard; both have met their deadlines.
· The following indefinite pronouns can be either singular or plural: some, all, any, none, most.
EXAMPLE: Some of the money is missing. All of the fruit looks ripe.
Some of the dimes are missing. All of the cherries look ripe.
Has any of the evidence been presented. None of the evidence points to his innocence
Have any of my friends called? None of our students were involved.
Most of the book was interesting. Most of the books were interesting.
II. Agreement in Gender
A. Rule: Use a pronoun that agrees in gender with its antecedent.
EXAMPLE: Mark drove his parents to the airport.
Mrs. Packard cried when she saw the broken antique vase.
The desk was interesting because of its secret drawers.
When the gender of an antecedent is unclear, the pronoun should show that it could be either masculine or feminine. You can often use his or her for that purpose.
EXAMPLE: Someone dropped his or her notebook.
It is sometimes awkward to use two pronouns to refer to the same antecedent. If possible, reword the sentence to make the antecedent and all words that refer to it plural.
AWKWARD: A teacher should maintain good rapport with his or her students. BETTER: Teachers should maintain good rapport with their students.
III. Agreement in Person
A. Rule: Use a pronoun that agrees in person with its antecedent. This means that the pronoun you (second person) should not be used to refer to an antecedent in the third person.
CORRECT If a student (third person) wants to drop a course, he (third person) has to get his counselor's permission.
INCORRECT: If a student (third person) wants to drop a course, you (second person) have to get his counselor's permission.
Note: When the indefinite pronoun one is an antecedent, use third person singular pronouns to refer to it.
EXAMPLE: When one accepts leadership, he or she must be prepared for criticism. (not they must be prepared or you must be prepared.)
One of the trolleys is off its track.
IV. Vague Pronoun Reference
Every pronoun should be clear in its meaning. When multiple antecedents are possible, or when no antecedent is found, a writing error called vague reference occurs.
EXAMPLE: Both Mary and Marge bought the record; she likes it very much.
(In this sentence, the pronoun she might refer to Mary or Marge, but the reader is unsure.)
Correction of vague reference requires the use of a noun, the restructuring of the sentence, or both.
CORRECTION 1: Both Mary and Marge bought the record; Mary liked ft very much.
CORRECTION 2: Although both Mary and Marge bought the record, only Marge enjoyed it once she got it home.
Vague reference can also be created when pronouns like that, this, those, these are used without a clear antecedent.
EXAMPLE: Jim was forever sitting indoors and reading science fiction stories; this greatly bothered his mother.
(Does the sitting indoors bother Jim's mother? Does the reading of science fiction bother Jim's mother? Or do both bother bar?)
CORRECTION: Jim's habit of sitting indoors and reading science fiction bothered his mother.
PRONOUN-ANTECEDENT AGREEMENT
Directions: For each of the following sentences do the following: (1) circle the correct pronoun; (2) draw an arrow from the circled pronoun to its antecedent.
1. Several always raise (his or her, their) hands.
2. If one decides to go on a trip, (they, you, he or she) should make plans well in advance.
3. Everyone should do (his or her, their) best to keep the campus clean.
4. The old car parked in front of the hotel had an unusual ornament on (his, her, its) hood.
5. Neither of the young women could recall (her, their) expenses.
6. Some of the cheerleaders practiced (her, their) cheerleading routines.
7. Each of them needs to start thinking about (his or her, their) career now.
8. Both of the magazines feature the new President on (its. their) covers.
9. Rick and Walter were sent to the dean to discuss (his, their) altercation.
10. Few passed (his or her, their) physical fitness tests.
11. Each diver should bring (his or her, their) aqualung.
12. Can either Jessica or Lori bring (her, their) tape recorder?
13. If any senior wants an extra copy, (he, they) can get one from Mr. Hill.
14. It is stupid and unfair to judge a person by (his or her, their) looks.
15. One of the bottles has a crack in (its, their) bottom.