Chapter 18: Pronoun Case

1. Chapter 18: Pronoun Case Pronouns are words that substitute for nouns or pronouns. • Personal Pronouns • Personal pronouns refer to specific people or things. • These pronouns can take different cases (or forms), as they perform different jobs in a sentence. • They can be subjective, objective, or possessive.

2. Chapter 17: Pronoun Case • Subject Pronouns: I, we, you, he, she, it, they, who • Subject pronouns (the subjunctive case) are used as subjects or subject compliments. • Object Pronouns: me, you, him, her, it, them, whom • Object pronouns (the objective case) are used as objects of verbs or prepositions. • Possessive Pronouns: my, mine, your, yours, its, our, ours, his, hers, your, yours, their, theirs • Possessive pronouns (the possessive case) are used to show ownership.

3. Chapter 17: Pronoun Case • Subject Pronouns: I, we, you, he, she, it, they, who • Example: I saw you yesterday, but you didn’t see me. • Example: Jean was informed that Cindy and she had won. • Object Pronouns: me, you, him, her, it, them, whom • Example: I saw you yesterday, but you didn’t see me. • Example: Jean and Cindy celebrated with Blake and me. • Possessive Pronouns: my, mine, your, yours, its, our, ours, his, hers, your, yours, their, theirs • Example: My dog and your dog like to play in the lake behind our homes.

4. Chapter 17: Pronoun Case • Subject Pronouns with Linking Verbs • When a pronoun renames a subject (subject complement) and follows the verb to be or any linking verb, that pronoun takes the subject form. • Example: A woman on the phone answered: “Are you looking for Maggie? Well, this is she.”

5. Chapter 17: Pronoun Case • Object Pronouns • In a compound construction, remove the other noun and leave the pronoun to see if the sentence makes sense. • Example: The manager told Cliff and I to work on the weekend. • Remove the noun Cliff. • The manager told I to work on the weekend. (Wrong) • The pronoun should be objective; it should be me. • Example Corrected: The manager told Cliff and me to work on the weekend.

6. Chapter 17: Pronoun Case • Object Pronouns with the word between • Object pronouns always follow the preposition between. • Examples: between you and me, between us and them, between him and her, between Betsy and her • Example: Between you and me, I think our neighbor has a new job. • Example: The disagreement was between Josh and her.

7. Chapter 17: Pronoun Case • Using Who and Whom • Who (or whoever) is a subject pronoun; it can replace he or she. • Whom (or whomever) is an object pronoun; it can replace him or her. • Example: Does anyone know whom left this camera on my doorstep? • Step 1: Ignore the words before who or whom. • Step 2: For who substitute he or she, and for whom substitute him or her. Decide which one makes sense. • Example: Him (or her) left this camera on my doorstep? (Wrong) • Example: He (or she) left this camera on my doorstep? (Correct) • Example Corrected: Does anyone know who left this camera on my doorstep?

8. Chapter 17: Pronoun Case • Using Who and Whom • Another way to decide if who or whom should be used is to ask and answer a question about the sentence. • Example: Bill became a biologist whom everyone enjoyed. • Question: Whom did everyone enjoy? • Answer: Everyone enjoyed him. The answer is objective, so whom is correct. • Example: Who will answer my call? • Question: Who will answer it? • Answer: He will. The answer is subjective, so who is correct.

9. Chapter 17: Pronoun Case Intensive and Reflexive Pronouns • Personal pronouns take on forms known as intensive and reflexive. They are the –self pronouns: myself, ourselves, yourself, himself, herself, itself, and themselves. • Intensive pronouns are used for emphasis. They let the reader know that an action was performed by or directed toward only the person or thing that the pronoun references. • Example: The teacher herself baked cookies for the class. • Reflexive pronouns show that an action was performed by someone on himself or herself, or by itself. • Example: Bobbi accidentally cut herself when she was cooking. • Example: I wish the bathroom would clean itself.

10. Chapter 17: Pronoun CaseExercises • Identify the correct pronoun. Q. In the store window, Lisa saw a reflection of (her, herself). A. In the store window, Lisa saw a reflection of (her, herself). Q. The company president (him, himself) wrote the thank you note. A. The company president (him, himself) wrote the thank you note. Q. The pie was given to Alex and (she, her, herself). A. The pie was given to Alex and (she, her, herself).

11. Chapter 17: Pronoun CaseExercises • Identify the correct pronoun. Q. In the middle of the night, he heard a knock at his door, but he didn’t know (who, whom) it was. A. In the middle of the night, he heard a knock at his door, but he didn’t know (who, whom) it was. Q. If you need a helicopter ride, Jim or (I, me) can take you. A. If you need a helicopter ride, Jim or (I, me) can take you. Q. If you need help with your homework, you can call Tashonda or (I, me). A. If you need help with your homework, you can call Tashonda or (I, me).

12. Chapter 17: Pronoun CaseExercises • Identify the correct pronoun. Q. Amy and (I, me) used to watch soap operas in (my, mine) living room after school. A. Amy and (I, me) used to watch soap operas in (my, mine) living room after school. Q. I know it was Bobby (who, whom) gathered these flowers. A. I know it was Bobby (who, whom) gathered these flowers. Q. The woman complained that her co-workers wouldn’t let (she, her) take a break on time. A. The woman complained that her co-workers wouldn’t let (she, her) take a break on time.