NUEVA ECIJA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE

AND TECHNOLOGY
Pronouns are words which can
be used in the place of nouns.

They shorten the sentence

and make it more readable.
She will do the work herself.
They gave it to him.
We want to know who was
there.
In the given examples,
pronouns are used in
the place of nouns,
instead of repeating
the nouns.
These pronouns are said to be in
the subjective case, because they
can each be used as the subject of
a verb and complements of the
subject.
 Singular Plural

First
I we
Person
Second
you you
Person
Third
he, she, it they
Person
a. Subject of a verb

I am ready.
He is fortunate.
We are coming.
b. Complement of the subject

The teacher is he.

The winner was she.

• It should be noted that the verb to be does not take an
object. In formal, written English, when the verb to be is
immediately followed by a personal pronoun, the pronoun
must usually be in the subjective case.

e.g. It is I.
That was he.
This is she.
Those are they.
 However, in informal English, this rule is
usually ignored. In informal English, when a
pronoun immediately follows any verb, including
the verb to be, the objective form of the pronoun
is usually used. Thus, in informal English the
sentence It is I would usually be expressed It is
me, and the sentence That was he would usually
be expressed That was him.
When a personal pronoun is the
object of a verb, the pronoun
must be in the objective case.
 Subject of
Direct object
the infinitive

Indirect Object of
object the infinitive

Object of the Appositive

preposition of a noun
a. Direct object
e.g.
They need me.
John teach them.
b. Indirect object
e.g.
I wanted her to help them.
The host served the guest and
me a dinner.
c. Object of the preposition
E.g.
Please give the book to me.
We have heard a great deal
about you.
d. Subject of the infinitive
e.g.
I want you to dance.
Would you like them to perform
some native dances?
e. Object of the infinitive
e.g.
The old lady invited me to visit
her.
The electrician offered to help
them.
f. Appositive of a noun
e.g.
The two girls, Rita and she, dance
gracefully.
The couple, he and she, dances
with love.
Personal pronouns in the subjective and objective
cases

Subjective Case Objective Case

I me

you you

he him

she her

it it

we us

they them
 Comparison between Subjective and
Objective Cases
When a personal pronoun is the subject of a verb,
the subjective form of the pronoun must be used.
e.g. I understand what you mean.
He saw the comet.
In these sentences, the underlined pronouns are
the subjects of the verbs understand and saw;
therefore, the subjective forms I and he must be
used.
 Comparison between Subjective and
Objective Cases
When a personal pronoun is the object of a verb,
the objective form of the pronoun must be used.
e.g. My friends understand me.
We saw him last night.
In these sentences, the underlined pronouns are
the objects of the verbs understand and saw;
therefore, the objective forms me and him must
be used.
Each of the personal
pronouns has forms which
indicate possession.
 My
suitcase! Mine! a. Possessive Adjective

Mine! b. Possessive Pronoun

A. Possessive Adjectives
As shown in the preceding table, the
personal pronouns have two possessive forms.
One form shows possession by preceding a
noun. A personal pronoun in this form may be
referred to as a Possessive Adjective, since,
like an adjective, it describes the thing to
which the noun refers.
In the following examples, the gerunds are
underlined, and the possessive adjectives are printed
in bold type.
E.g. The boy said that his skating had improved.
The girl entertained the guests with her
singing.
We think our lobbying for new street lights will
be effective.
B. Possessive Pronouns
The possessive form of a personal pronoun
which can be used independently can be
referred to as a Possessive Pronoun, since it
can be used in the place of a noun.
 In the following sentences, the possessive pronouns are
underlined.
e.g.
• He did not bring his coat, but I brought mine.
• Our mail has been delivered, but theirs has
not.
In the above examples, mine stands for my coat, and theirs
stands for their mail.
The subjective, objective and possessive forms of the English
personal pronouns are shown in the following table.

Possessive Form Possessive Form

Subjective Case Objective Case
used before a Noun used Independently

I me my mine

you you your yours

he him his his

she her her hers

it it its [its]

we us our ours

they them their theirs

Simplicity is beauty…