USING PRONOUNS CORRECTLYChapter 6

Overview

Case Nominative Objective Possessive

Special problems Appositives Elliptical constructions Reflexive and Intensive Who and whom

Diagnostic PreviewPage 122 Number your paper 1 – 10 and

complete Diagnostic Preview – A. Proofreading Sentences for Correct Pronoun Forms.

Answers

1. She should be Her2. Correct3. Him should be He4. Her should be She5. Us should be We6. Who should be Whom7. Myslef should be I8. Correct9. You should be Your10.Whom should be who

Case

Case is the form of a noun or pronoun that shows how it is used in a sentence. The grammatical role a noun or

pronoun plays in a sentence Nominative (subjective)

Case Personal pronouns used as

subjects and as predicate nominatives (pg 125)

Objective Case Personal pronouns used as

direct objects, indirect objects, and objects of prepositions (pg 128)

Possessive Case Personal pronouns used to

show ownership or possession (pg 131)

Nom nom nominative case.

Nominative (Pronoun as Subject)

Objective (Pronoun as Object)

Possessive (Pronoun Showing Ownership

I Me My, mine

You You Your, yours

He Him His

She Her Her, hers

It It Its

We Us Our, ours

They Them Their, theirs

Who Whom Whose

Whoever Whomever whoever

The Rules

1. Use the nominative case to show the subject of a verb

(She, Her) explained the strategy

She is the subject of the verb explained

I know of no other person in the company who is as smarmy as (he, him)

He is the subject of the understood verb is

Exception Rule 1

A pronoun used as the subject of an infinitive is in the objective case: Billy Bob expects

Frankie Bob and (I, me) to make squirrel stew. Me, since it is the

subject of the infinitive to make Squirrel!

HINT

Mentally supply the missing verb. Herbert knows the material better than

(he/him) Supplying the missing verb does tells you

the correct pronoun is he.

Rules

2. A pronoun used as a predicate nominative is in the nominative case A predicate nominative is a noun or pronoun after some

form of to be (is, was, might have been, and so on).

The verb to be – in all its forms, is the same as an equal sign

It was (they, them) who first suggested getting the 90 pound puppy It was they who first suggested getting the 90 pound

puppy

It Was We

Nominative = Nominative

Let’s practice

Complete Exercise 1: Using Pronouns in the Nominative Case

Answers

1. They – P.N.2. They – subject3. They – subject4. They – subject5. He – subject6. He – predicate nominative7. They – P.N.8. She – subject / they – subject9. They – subject10.She – subject / he - subject

Rules

3. Use the objective case to show that the noun or pronoun receives the action (Who, Whom) can you send

to help us? Whom is the direct object of

the verb can send. The taxidermist promised

to notify Herman and (I, me) of this plans for the moose. Me (together with Herman) is

the object of the infinitive to notify

Um, please just send the guy on the left.

Rules

4. A pronoun used in an appositive with a noun is in the same case as the noun. Appositive is a noun or pronoun placed after

another noun or pronoun to identify, explain, or rename

The bond traders, Alice and (she, her) were given bonuses large enough to buy their own banana republic The pronoun must be in the nominative case

(she) because it is in apposition with the noun bond traders.

Rules

5. Use the possessive case to show ownership The manager refused to acknowledge that the memo was

(her’s / hers) Hers is the correct spelling of the possive case, which is needed

to express ownership The boss disapproves of (me, my) leaving the office early

The meaning of the sentence requires the possessive case: my. Be careful not to confuse possessive pronouns and

contractions.

Possesive pronouns Contractions

Its (belonging to it) It’s (it is)

Your (belonging to you) You’re (you are)

Their (belonging to them)

They’re (they are)

Whose (belonging to whom)

Who’s (who is)

Rules

6. Use the subjective case after linking verbsThink about it: because a pronoun coming after a linking verb renames the subject, the pronoun must be in the subjective (nominative) case

The flasher of the month was (I, me) Use I since the pronoun

renames the subject, flasher of the month.

Rules

7. Use –self forms correctly with reflexive or intensive situationReflexive pronouns reflect back to the subject or object The superhero embarrassed himself Unfortunately, he had to rely on himself to save the day.

Don’t use reflexive pronouns in place of subjects and objects The diner and (myself, I) had a chat.

The diner and I had a chat

Intensive pronouns provide emphasis The superhero felt that his reputation itself was at

stake.

Special Problems

Appositives (non-essential information – pg 132) A pronoun used as an appositive is in

the same case as the word which it refers

A pronoun following than or as in an elliptical construction is in the same case as it would be if the construction were completed (pg 134)

Reflexive and Intensive pronoun (pg 135)

Let’s practice

Complete Exercise 2: Using Pronouns in the Objective Case on page 129

Answers

1. Them – indirect object2. Her – i.o.3. Him – i.o.4. Me – direct object5. Him – d.o. / me – d.o.6. Him – i.o.7. Him – i.o.8. Her – i.o.9. Him – d.o.10.Them – d.o.

Special problems

Who and Whom (pg 137) 3 rules

1. Use who or whoever when the pronoun is the subject of a verb1. Who said, “Mr. Kelly is like Banquo”

2. Use who or whoever when the pronoun is the predicate nominative1. The winner was who?

3. Use whom or whomever when the pronoun is the direct object of a verb or the object of a preposition1. Whom did he marry this time2. With whom were you dancing at his wedding?

The least you need to know Case is the form of a noun or

pronoun that shows how it is used in a sentence

English has three cases: nominative, objective, and possessive

Use the nominative case to show the subject of a verb; use the objective case to show the object of a verb; us the possessive case to show ownership.

To study

Look at the Chapter reviews on page 143 - 145