Personal Pronouns
Pronouns are grouped into three cases, depending on how they are used. Nominative case pronouns include I, you, he, she, it, we, and they.
EXAMPLES
- We are paddling the boat. [We is the subject of the verb are paddling.]
- She or I will wash the car. [She and I are the compound subject of the verb will wash.]
A predicate nominative should be in the nominative case.
A predicate nominative is a word or word group in the predicate that identifies or refers to the subject.
TIP
The predicate nominative identifies the subject by completing the meaning of a linking verb. Some common linking verbs are am, is, are, was, were, be, and been.
EXAMPLES
- The winner of the race is she. [The predicate nominative she identifies the subject winner and completes the meaning of the linking verb is.]
- My parents are she and he. [The compound predicate nominative she and he identifies the subject parents and completes the meaning of the linking verb are.]
The Possessive Case
Possessive pronouns show ownership. Some possessive pronouns, such as mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, and theirs, may be used as subjects, predicate nominatives, and objects.
SUBJECT
- Theirs is the poodle with pink toenails. [Theirs is the subject of the verb is.]
PREDICATE NOMINATIVE
- Was the tie-breaking touchdown his? [His completes the meaning of the linking verb Was and identifies the subject touchdown.]
OBJECT
- Recently, Tana gave hers to charity. [Hers is the direct object of the verb gave.]
EXAMPLES
- My car is in the garage. [My modifies car.]
- Cleaning the tables will be your job. [Your modifies job.]
EXAMPLES
- Your volunteering for the fair was a surprise. [The possessive pronoun your comes before the gerund volunteering. The gerund volunteering is the subject of the sentence.]
- Stella was fascinated by its ringing. [The possessive pronoun its comes before the gerund ringing. The gerund ringing is the object of the preposition by.]
REMINDER
VERB
- She is training for a marathon. [Training is part of the verb phrase is training.]
GERUND
- Her training is very time consuming. [The gerund training is the subject of the sentence.]
The Objective Case
Objective case pronouns are used as direct objects, indirect objects, and objects of prepositions. Objective case pronouns include me, us, you, him, her, it, and them.
A direct object should be in the objective case.
A direct object tells who or what receives the action of a transitive verb.
EXAMPLE
- Joel’s e-mails amuse her. [Amuse whom? Amuse her. Her receives the action of the verb amuse.]
An indirect object should be in the objective case.
You will often find an indirect object in a sentence with a direct object. An indirect object tells to whom, for whom, to what, or for what the action of a transitive verb is done.
EXAMPLE
- Will Joel send me (IO) an e-mail (DO)? [Will send an e-mail to whom? The indirect object me tells to whom Joel will send an e-mail. The direct object e-mail receives the action of Will send.]
An object of a preposition should be in the objective case.
An object of a preposition is the noun or pronoun that follows a preposition.
EXAMPLE
- Joel sent e-mails to us. [Us is the object of the preposition to.]
TIP
To choose the correct form of a pronoun in a sentence with a compound object, cross out any objects before the pronoun. Then, choose the pronoun that sounds correct.
EXAMPLE
- These flowers are from
Mom and(he, him). [Which sounds correct? These flowers are from he or These flowers are from him? The correct pronoun is him.]