CHOOSING THE CORRECT PRONOUN CASE
In this module, you will learn to place pronouns into their subjective cases when the pronoun· Serves as the subject of a verb
· Is used in a comparison
· Follows a verb to be.
Introduction
Some textbooks provide up to 20 rules governing the placement of pronouns into their correct case--subjective or objective. To achieve pronoun mastery, these textbooks require you to memorize all the rules. Our approach to pronouns will steer clear of the "rules." Instead, we will adopt a logical, pragmatic procedure. Our approach will involve very little memorization and much common sense.
Pronoun Lists
"Identifying Pronouns" states that
I, you, he, she, we, you, they, who, whoever; and me, him, her, us, them, whom, and whomever
are the personal pronouns to use when referring to persons.
These personal pronouns (except "you") inflect (change form) depending upon function. Impersonal pronouns do not inflect; neither do those pronouns that can double as personal and impersonal. So we needn't concern ourselves with impersonal pronouns.
A personal pronoun uses one form when it is the subject of a verb, when it is involved in a comparison, when it comes after a verb "to be," and another form for all other functions.
Let's construct two lists. One list we'll call the SUBJECT list (subjective case), and the other we'll call the NONSUBJECT list (objective case).
Subject
I, you, she, he, we, you, they, who, whoever.
Nonsubject
Me, you, him, her, us, you, them, whom, whomever.
We placed the two inflected forms of personal pronouns into these two particular lists. What is the function of each list?
Function
These lists will enable us to master pronoun inflection without having to memorize the rules that govern pronouns. To put it simply, we will use the pronouns in the SUBJECT list whenever the pronoun
is the subject of a verb,
is involved in a comparison after "than" or "as," or
comes after a verb "to be."
In all other cases, we will use the pronouns from the NONSUBJECT list.
It's that simple.
NOTE: We have a fourth case in which we should use the SUBJECT list, but that usage is obscure, so we won't discuss it.
Examples
In your writing, you will need to determine which of the two inflections is the correct one for your usage. Let's look at the three variations involving choices from within parentheses.
Sentence:
"(Who, whom) is going to help me decorate the gym"?
We recognize the interrogative sentence. We remove the "wh" words ("Finding Subjects in Various Sentence Structures") then retrieve them because one of them is the subject of the complete verb "is going." Since one of (Who, whom) is the subject, we select "who" from the SUBJECT list.
Sentence:
"This is the lady (who, whom) will co-ordinate the fundraising."
We recognize that "This" is the subject of the complete verb "is." We also recognize that one of (who, whom) is the subject of "will co-ordinate." So we choose "who" from the SUBJECT list.
Sentence:
"My older brother can run faster than (I, me)."
We recognize that the choices (I, me) come after "than" in a comparison. So we select "I" from the SUBJECT list.
Sentence:
"The villain is not (he, him) who appeared in the first act."
We recognize the verb to be "is." We also recognize that the pronouns (he, him) are the first pronouns following (to the right of) a verb "to be." So we select "he" from the subject list.
With these four examples of the three variations behind us, let's work out a procedure that will help us determine how and when to choose from the SUBJECT list.
Procedure
We know for sure that we choose pronouns from the SUBJECT list when the pronoun
is the subject of a verb,
is involved in a comparison after "than" or "as," or
comes after a verb "to be."
Our procedure, then, is very simple. We'll ask ourselves three questions:
Is the pronoun the subject of a verb?
Is the pronoun involved in a comparison after "than" or "as"?
Does the pronoun come after a verb "to be"?
As soon as we get one "YES" answer to any of the three questions, we'll select from the SUBJECT list.
If we get three "NO" answers, we'll select from the NONSUBJECT list. We won't worry ourselves about why the NONSUBJECT list pronouns are the ones to use; we'll simply use them because we got three "NO" answers. But remember
You must get three nos before you can select from the nonsubject list.
Another point to remember is that in arriving at an answer to the third question, the pronoun must be the first pronoun to the right of the verb "to be." Don't count adjectives. But if a noun intervenes between the verb "to be" and the pronoun, the pronoun is not the first pronoun to the right--following a verb to be. Look at the next two examples.
Example:
"The winner will be (he, him) who crosses the finish line first."
Above, (he, him) are the first pronouns to the right of the verb to be "will be."
Example:
"The winner will be the candidate (who, whom) we select."
In the above sentence, (who, whom) are not the first pronouns to the right of the verb to be "will be." The noun "candidate" intervenes. So the answer to "does the pronoun come after a verb 'to be'" is NO"
Conclusion
All you need to do now is memorize the subject and nonsubject lists. Then memorize the three questions. Remember:
Ask all three questions for every pronoun-case problem.
One YES directs you to the SUBJECT list.
Three NOs direct you to the NONSUBJECT list.
Now let's try a few sentences containing pronoun-case problems.
Practice
Select the correct pronoun from within the parentheses. If you choose the nonsubject pronoun, no reason need be given. If you select the subject pronoun, indicate which of the three questions applies.
Sentence:
"The scholarship recipient could have been (I, me)."
1. We ask:
Is the pronoun the subject of a verb?
We recognize could have been as the verb.
We recognize "recipient" as the subject.
We have no more verbs, so we have no more subjects.
The answer to Question Number 1 is NO; the pronoun is not the subject of a verb.
2. We ask:
Is the pronoun involved in a comparison after "than" or "as"?
We have no "than" or "as" in the sentence.
The answer to Question Number 2 is NO; the pronoun is not involved in a comparison.
3. We ask:
Does the pronoun come after a verb "to be"?
We recognize the verb phrase "could have been."
The last word in a verb phrase names the verb ("Identifying Action and Linking Verbs").
"Been" is the past participle of the verb "to be."
Yes, the pronoun comes after a verb "to be."
We have one YES answer, so we are directed to the subject list: "I."
Let's do another.
Sentence:
"You may give this money to (whoever, whomever) you wish."
1. We ask:
Is the pronoun the subject of a verb?
The answer to Question Number 1 is NO; the pronoun is not the subject of a verb.
2. We ask:
Is the pronoun involved in a comparison after "than" or "as"?
The answer to Question Number 2 is NO; the pronoun is not involved in a comparison.
3. We ask:
Does the pronoun come after a verb "to be"?
The answer to Question 3 is NO; the pronoun does not come after a verb "to be."
We have three NO answers. There is no need for the subjective case. So we are directed to the NONSUBJECT list: "whomever."
We select the NONSUBJECT pronoun "whomever" because we have got three NOs as answers to our three questions. We're not concerned about why the NONSUBJECT pronoun is correct. We have chosen the NONSUBJECT pronoun because we have no need for the subjective case.
Let's try a few quick ones.
Sentence:
"Joan and (I, me) are responsible for the guest list."
"I" because the pronoun is the subject of a verb.
Sentence:
"The teacher said it was (we, us) who won the award."
"We" because the pronoun comes after a verb to be.
Sentence:
"To (who, whom) did you give this information"?
"Whom" because we have three NOs for answers. There is no need for the subjective case.
Exercises
Which statement provides support for your choice of pronoun? The answers appear after the last question.
1. I don't know how (they, them) could do such a thing.
A. they: the subject of a verb
B. they: following a verb "to be"
C. they: involved in a comparison
D. them: no need for the subjective case
2. The Smiths enjoyed the concert as much as (we, us).
A. we: the subject of a verb
B. we: following a verb "to be"
C. we: involved in a comparison
D. us: no need for the subjective case
3. To help save the environment, the Green Group is more effective than (we, us).
A. we: the subject of a verb
B. we: following a verb "to be"
C. we: involved in a comparison
D. us: no need for the subjective case
4. Sahil is a good athlete, but not as good as (I, me).
A. I: the subject of a verb
B. I: following a verb "to be"
C. I: involved in a comparison
D. me: no need for the subjective case
5. The new coach was (he, him), sitting on the sidelines watching us.
A. he: the subject of a verb
B. he: following a verb "to be"
C. he: involved in a comparison
D. him: no need for the subjective case
6. Yes, it was (they, them) who suggested the revision to the report.
A. they: the subject of a verb
B. they: following a verb "to be"
C. they: involved in a comparison
D. them: no need for the subjective case
7. Sally was the person (who, whom) we selected as secretary.
A. who: the subject of a verb
B. who: following a verb "to be"
C. who: involved in a comparison
D. whom: no need for the subjective case
8. He finally received the calendar that was sent to (he, him).
A. he: the subject of a verb
B. he: following a verb "to be"
C. he: involved in a comparison
D. him: no need for the subjective case
9. Send an application to (whoever, whomever) you think is qualified.
A. whoever: the subject of a verb
B. whoever: following a verb "to be"
C. whoever: involved in a comparison
D. whomever: no need for the subjective case
10. Send an application to (whoever, whomever) you want.
A. whoever: the subject of a verb
B. whoever: following a verb "to be"
C. whoever: involved in a comparison
D. whomever: no need for the subjective case
11. The accident hurt Hellali more seriously than (she, her) thought it had.
A. she: the subject of a verb
B. she: following a verb "to be"
C. she: involved in a comparison
D. her: no need for the subjective case
12. Sara said that (we, us) could have the tickets at a reduced price.
A. we: the subject of a verb
B. we: following a verb "to be"
C. we: involved in a comparison
D. us: no need for the subjective case
Answers
1, A. 2, C. 3, C. 4, C. 5, B. 6, B. 7, D. 8, D. 9, A. 10, D. 11, A. 12, A.