Pronoun Basics
Case ( Bedford 24)
Case is the term used to describe the form of the pronoun based upon the pronoun's function in a sentence. In English the three cases are subjective, objective and possessive. Other languages, particularly German, have additional cases. Examples of pronouns in each case are shown in italics:
Subjective case: We spoke to Jill.
Objective case: Jill spoke to us.
Possessive case: Our friend Jill is overseas.
PERSONAL PRONOUNS
| Singular | Plural | |
| Subjective |
I you he, she, it |
we you they |
| Objective |
me you him, her, it |
us you them |
| Possessive |
my, mine your, yours his, her, it |
our, ours your, yours their, theirs |
Subjective case
Use subjective case pronouns for the subject(s) or the subject complement of a sentence. A subject complement is a noun or pronoun that follows a linking verb and renames the subject.
Subject: She designed the invitations.
Subject complement: The strongest swimmer was he.
"He" is the subject complement of swimmer.
On the telephone when someone asks, "May I speak with Sara?" Sara's correct response would be "This is she," in the subjective case, rather than "This is her," which is incorrect. "This" is the subject of the sentence, and "she" is the subject complement.
Objective Case
An objective case pronoun is used as the object of sentence:
Singular: Kori invited her.
Plural: Kori invited Beth and her.
The above sentences illustrate direct objects. Indirect objects also appear in the objective case:
Singular: The dealer sold me a used car.
Plural: The dealer sold my husband and me a used car.
The indirect object names the person to whom or for whom the action is done.
An objective pronoun is also used as the object of a preposition:
The responsibility lay heavy upon him.
We generally know the correct usage by ear, but a number of situations still cause
confusion.
Compound objects, for instance, can be difficult:
Give the book to Cara and me.
The responsibilities lay heavy upon Mary and him.
We hope to see Cecilia and her at the wedding.
Since childhood parents and teachers have corrected the colloquial (and incorrect) construction, "Her and me went to the zoo" to "She and I went to the zoo." It is possible that we make errors with the objective case because we tend to overcorrect, to think that "her and me" would be wrong in any situation. When a compound construction seems confusing, cover up the other noun. For instance, "Me went to the zoo" is incorrect. However, keep in mind that it is correct to use the objective pronouns "her and me" as a compound object:
The bride gave her and me diamond earrings.
Possessive case
Use the possessive case to signal possession. Do not use an apostrophe with those forms
ending in s.
One unususal construction in English is the use of the possessive form before a gerund. In English a verb can become a noun with the addition of an "ing." A pronoun used to describe a gerund must take the possessive form:
We were sad at his leaving early.
The "his" helps us to understand the leaving. It would be misleading to write or say "We were sad at him leaving" because we are not sad at him; we are sad at the leaving.
Who and Whom: Choosing the correct case
Choosing the correct form of the relative pronouns "who" and "whom"
causes a good bit of confusion for some writers. These pronouns may appear in the
subjective case (who) or the objective case (whom). The key to determining the
proper case is to pinpoint the precise word group in which they function in the sentence.
In general relative pronouns will be subjects or objects of a clause (the main
clause or any other clause in the sentence), or they will be objects of a preposition.
Relative pronouns as subject/objects of clauses:
When the relative pronoun functions as a subject or object of a clause, the secret
is to find the verb most closely associated with that relative pronoun. The verb must be
in the same clause as the pronoun. After you have located that verb, you must decide if
the pronoun is the subject (who) of the verb, or if it is the object (whom).
Find the verb of the who/whom clause. In a simple sentence the verb will be apparent:
Example 1: Who is the band's lead guitarist?
There is only one verb in the sentence: "is." Consider this example, which includes two verbs:
Example 2: Does anyone know the drummer who toured with the Crash Test Dummies?
The main verb of the sentence is "know." The clause beginning with "who" has its own verb: toured. That is the verb most closely associated with the relative pronoun "who."
Example 3: Robert knows whom we selected to accompany the chorus.
The relative pronoun in this sentence is most closely associated with the verb "selected."
Once you have determined the verb most closely associated with
the "who" or "whom" in the clause, determine the relationship of the
pronoun to that verb. That relationship (subject or object) will indicate the case of the
relative pronoun:
Example 1: Who is the band's lead guitarist?
"Who" serves as the subject of the verb "is." Because there is only one verb, there is little chance for confusion.
Example 2: Does anyone know the drummer who toured with the Crash Test Dummies?
In this sentence, "who" serves as the subject of the verb "toured." This example may be more confusing because it might seem that the relative pronoun should be the object of the verb "know." In the same way that we might write, "Does anyone know him (the objective case of the pronoun "he")?", one might be tempted to write "whom toured with the Crash Test Dummies." However, in this sentence, the "who" is the subject of a clause that serves as the object of the verb "know." The pronoun by itself does not serve this function.
Example 3: Robert thinks he knows whom we selected to accompany the chorus.
"Whom" is the object of the verb "selected." "We" is the subject of "selected" and of the clause "whom we selected to accompany the chorus." The entire clause is the object of the verb "knows."
Relative pronouns as objects of a preposition
Just as the verbs in a sentence can help you determine the function on of a relative pronoun in a sentence, prepositions can signal the correct case. Here are two examples which show the relative pronoun "whom" as the object of a preposition:
To whom will you write your letter of application?
With whom will you share that chocolate cake?
In these examples, the "whom" form of the relative pronoun serves as the object of a preposition ("To" and "with," respectively). The prepositional phrases serve as objects of the main verbs, "write" and "share," respectively. When the relative pronoun serves as the object of the preposition, it is always in the objective case (whom).
Two additional constructions
Consider this example, which includes three verbs:
Franny is the painter who we believe won the competition.
The addition of the clause "we believe" can add some confusion. However, the same rules apply to this sentence. The relative pronoun "who" is the subject of the verb "won." It is not the subject or object of the verb "believe." The sentence is not about believing Franny, but about who won the competition.
Now here is a sentence that mixes a phrase and a clause:
I will ride with whoever/whomever agrees to stop for pizza along the way.
This sentence includes the prepositional phrase "with whoever/whomever agrees to stop for pizza along the way." So it MAY seem that the pronoun should appear in the objective case, "whomever." However, that prepositional phrase also includes a clause, the subject of which is "whoever." "Whoever" is the subject of the verb "agrees." When determining the role of the relative pronoun in a sentence, remember to look deeply into the embedded elements for the construction most closely associated with the "who" or "whom."
Pronoun Tutorial
Roll over HINT for help. Roll over a pronoun at the right for the correct answer.
