Objective
Case
Pronouns
Me
You
You
Himin
UseHe
when the pronoun
questions functions as an
She
Her
OBJECT of
PREPOSITION
It
It
DIRECT OBJECT or
We
Us
INDIRECT
OBJECT
You
You
They
Them
Who
Whom
Whoever
Whomever
Nominative Case Pronouns are used when the pronoun in question acts as either a subject
or predicate noun.
S LV
PN
AV
We finished early.
S
LV PN
LV PN
This is she.
Compound subjects and predicate nouns also use nominative case pronouns. Cover the
other part of the subject or predicate noun to see if the pronoun sounds correct, but the best
way to tell is by checking to see what the words function is in the sentence.
S
AV
AV
They and the rest of the group left when the show ended.
Exercise #1: Choose the correct pronoun from the parenthesis and label how it is used in
the sentence.
1. Judy and (I, me) enjoyed the movie. Subject
2. The people responsible for it all are the students and (I, me). Predicate Nominative
3. His sister and (he, him) are very close friends. Subject
4. Her father and (she, her) went to the father daughter dance. Subject
5. The president is (who, whom)? Predicate Nominative
1
Objective Case Pronouns are used when the pronoun in question is used as a direct
object, indirect object, object of a preposition or the object of a verb used as another
part of speech.
S
AV
DO
OP
HV
AV
IO
DO
AV
S AV Infinitive
object of infinitive
To decide whether the word who or whom is best, substitute the words (he, him) into
the sentence, but the best way to tell is by checking to see what the words function is
in the sentence. S AV infinitive
OP
She wanted to go to the movies with (who, whom)?
(he, him).
Exercise #2: Choose the correct pronoun from the parenthesis and label how it is used in
the sentence.
1. During my vacation, I bought presents for (they, them). Object of Prep
2. You went on a date with (who, whom)? Object of Prep
3. Her boyfriend gave (she, her) flowers for Valentines day. IO
4. They gave (we, us) students a refund for the trip. IO
5. We wanted to buy (they, them) a new car. IO
Exercise #3: Place all prepositional phrases in parenthesis, label all verbs as action or
linking; identify the subject, direct objects, indirect objects, predicate nouns and predicate
adjectives. Choose the correct pronoun from the parenthesis and label how it is used in the
sentence.
1. The employee told Mary and (she, her) his reason for quitting.
2. (He, him) and (she, her) make a great couple.
3. Send the letters to your brother and (I, me).
4. Why cant we reach Paul and (they, them)?
5. The best player on the court was (she, her).
6. Wait for (he, him) until (he, him) arrives.
7.
Adjective Clauses
An adjective clause is a dependent clause that modifies a noun or pronoun; it begins
with a relative pronoun as its subject or object and usually modifies the word directly in
front of it.
Relative Pronouns
who
whom
whomever
whose
that
which
Example #1: The player who has the most points wins the Hart Trophy.
In this sentence who has the most points acts as an adjective modifying the word
player. It answers the question Which player?
Example #2: Many people never read the books that they censor.
In this sentence that they censor acts as an adjective modifying the word books. It
answers the question Which books?
In the following sentences, identify each adjective clause and the word that it modifies.
1. The people who tape television commercials are called production workers.
2. The museum, which opened just five years ago, has become one of the most
popular destinations in the city.
3. John Keats, who was one of the most promising English poets, died in Rome.
4. The board will accept whoever is selected by the committee.
5. The theater where we saw the play is being renovated.
6. Is this the police officer whose quick thinking saved the day?
7. The reporter asked whoever would talk to her an insane number of questions.
8. The manager is responsible for the professionalism of the actors whom they
represent.
Using adjective phrases and clauses will help improve your writing style by providing
greater opportunity for sentence variety.
Rewrite each sentence using an adjective phrase.
1. The songs theme was clear.
______________________________________________________________
2. Our favorite restaurants menu has changed.
_________________________________________________________________
3. His basement furniture was ruined in the flood.
_________________________________________________________________
Noun Clauses
A noun clause contains its own subject and verb and functions the same way a single-word
noun does.
Relative Pronouns Used to Begin Noun Clauses
who
whoever
whom
whomever
whose
which
whichever
that
what
what-ever
where
how
when
if
whether
why
Direct Object: You should invite whomever you want to the party
Indirect Object: His quick wit gave whoever was listening a hardy laugh.
Object of a Preposition: Use the money for whatever purpose you choose.
Predicate Nominative:
Appositive: The administration rejected our request that they alter the schedule.
Identifying Noun Clauses Exercise #1: Identify the noun clause in each sentence, how it
functions and how its parts function. Not every sentence will contain a noun clause.
1. What I found most interesting was the size of the lobsters.
2. I had thought that lobsters were usually a pound or more.
3. Our guide explained that langoustines look like miniature lobsters but are more
closely related to the hermit crab.
10
11
12
13
1.
2. The British, from _____ Sierra Leone won its independence in 1961,
once had many colonies.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7. These are the people ____ national colors are blue and white.
7.
8.
9.
10.
B. Finding Pronouns and Their Antecedents - Underline the pronouns in each sentence once.
Underline its antecedent twice. If the pronoun and antecedent agree write A on the blank line;
if they dont agree, write NA.
1. Felicia told a story to her young sister.
1.
2.
3.
4. Which scientist made their first investigations at the La Brea Tar Pits.
4.
5. Either a modern animal or a prehistoric one might have left its bones
preserved here.
5.
6.
7. The workers at the tar pits thought the bones were a nuisance
because they got in the way.
7.
8.
9. One tooth stood out from the rest because their appearance was so different.
9.
10. Saber-toothed tigers and woolly mammoths were among the animals
caught in the tar when they were young.
10.
14
1.
2. Mr. Baker showed Tiffany and (we, us) how to seal the wood.
2.
3. If it was up to nature and (I, me), the old sailor said, you wouldnt
leave till full tide.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5. The cast members who didnt know their lines were Lyn and him.
5.
6.
7.
8. If you want people to buy your books, pay attention to what us readers
said about your last novel.
8.
9.
10.
15
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
1.
2.
3. All the houses and stores had their front doors standing open.
3.
4.
5.
6. Sheila introduced the student who was nominated for the Latin Prize.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
C. Editing for Pronoun Errors Revise each sentence below. Correct pronoun shifts and vague
or missing antecedents.
1. After you give the fish some food, put it back in the cupboard.
2. Were going to Alaska next summer, and Im sure it will be exciting.
3. I like this library because you can find a lot of books about astronomy here.
4. Frieda ate at a new restaurant last night, and they wore straw hats and red vest.
5. Brenda piles up the logs and I lit it.
16
Of all my friends, I find you and (a) she (b) her most congenial.
_____6. The man who sat beside Benedetto and (a) I (b) me was a celebrity.
_____7.
Do you think that it could have been (a) they (b) them who made the donations?
_____8. Pearl Buck is a novelist (a) who (b) whom most Americans are familiar with.
_____9. The Pulitzer Prize is awarded annually to (a) whoever (b) whomever is selected by the
panel of judges.
_____10. Gwendolyn Brooks, (a) who (b) whom you told me won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry, also
wrote a book called Maud Martha.
_____11. Many of the students were happy about (a) his (b) him being made principal.
_____12. The poem had a different meaning for each one of us, Mary, Dawn, and (a) I (b) me.
_____ 13. Listening to Ella Fitzgerald records keeps my friends and (a) I (b) me occupied for hours.
_____14. They have many more possessions than (a) we (b) us, but we have more fun than
_____15. (a) they (b) them.
_____16. The title of valedictorian goes to (a) whoever (b) whomever has the highest average for the
four years.
_____17. It usually is Jose and (a) she (b) her (a) who (b) whom everyone wants to hear.
_____18.
_____19. Added to the honor roll were two juniors, Frank and (a) she (b) her.
_____20. When I lose my temper, the person I hurt most is (a) me (b) myself.
_____21. If you want to sell more raffle tickets than Mark, you should call on more people than
(a) he (b) him.
_____22. Carson McCullers, (a) who (b) whom critics describe as a major American writer, wrote
a novel about a girls coming of age.
_____23. The guidance counselor told us that winning scholarships was the responsibility of
(a) we (b) us students.
_____24. She gave the outline for the chapters to Dave and
17
_____________
18
_____________
19
20