Pronouns

Pronouns are words that stand in place of nouns to reduce redundancy. However, it is also important that the Pronoun Antecedent (the noun that the pronoun is referring to) is clear. Pronouns and their pronoun antecedent need to agree and match up in person, number and gender.

Example of unclear pronoun antecedent:

“When you see a dirt road on the left side of Winston Lane, follow it for two more miles.”

Which noun is “it” referring to? It could mean the dirt road or Winston Lane, so in this sentence, it needs to be replaced by the actual noun to avoid a vague pronoun antecedent.

Pronoun Case

1st Person 1st Person 2nd person 3rd Person 3rd Person Relative

Singular Plural Sing. & Plural Singular Plural Pronoun

Subjective/
Nominative / I (singular) / We / You / He/she/it / They / Who/whoever
Objective / Me / Us / You / Him/her/it / Them / Whom/whomever
Possessive / My/Mine / Our/ours / Your/yours / His/her/hers/its / Their/theirs / whose

WHO/WHOM

Here’s another way to look at who and whom. First, find the clause that contains who/whom. Look at how the pronoun is used.

When the pronoun is performing the action, the nominative form who must be used.

When the pronoun is receiving the action, the objective form whom must be used.

If it is used as the subject of the sentence, use WHO.

If it is used as the object of the verb, use WHOM.

Using the pronouns who and whom can be confusing. The following method is very helpful when you are trying to decide which word to use

Example: Sylvester, (who or whom?) is afraid of the dark, sleeps with a Donald Duck night-light on.

  • Look only at the pronoun in its clause. Ignore the rest of the sentence: (Who or whom?) is afraid of the dark.
  • Turn the clause into a question. Ask yourself:

Who or whom is afraid of the dark?

  • Answer the question with an ordinary personal pronoun. He is.
  • If you answered the question with a word like he, she, we, they, or it,USE WHO.
  • If you answered the question with a word like me, us, him, her, it, or them, USE WHOM.

Let’s try another example.

Example: The new student, (who, whom?) I met today, is from Germany.

  • Look at the pronoun in its clause. (Who, whom?) I met today.
  • Turn the clause into a question.(Who, Whom?) did you meet today?
  • Answer with a pronoun. I met HER.
  • Since you used HER, choose WHOM.

Now it’s your turn to try. Circle the correct word form.

1.I do not remember (who, whom) I lent my Star Wars movie to.

2.In Hamlet the two characters (who, whom) I remember best are Hamlet and Ophelia.

3.Any villager (who, whom) was suspected of a crime would be captured.

4.Next year’s President will be (whoever, whomever) the people elect this fall.

5.Many workers (who, whom) are on strike would prefer to be working.

6.She is one of the students (who, whom) I would recommend for Student of the Month.

7.Does anyone know (who, whom) the new teacher is?