Pronoun Case

Back in the early middle ages, English had many case forms. However, modern English retains only three: nominative, objective, and possessive. Even the few that remain give some people fits.

I. Is that Pronoun Nominative or Objective?

Many of us wonder what case is appropriate for a pronoun (i.e. Is it who or whom?)

A. One of the common situations that raises this question is our composing relative clauses:

You are the candidate (who, whom) I think is most likely to win.

The rule is that the pronoun should take the case appropriate to its job within the relative clause. That is, if it's the subject of the clause, it should be who. If it's the direct object of the relative clause's verb, it should be whom. If you have trouble deciding, try following these steps:

Extract the relative clause from the sentence: (who, whom) I think is most likely to win.
Change the clause to its regular order: I think (who, whom) is most likely to win.
Substitute he or she for who and him or her for whom: I think he is more likely to win. -- and -- I think him is more likely to win.

The pronoun's correct case - who (nominative) - should be obvious by step three. Chances are, however, that the answer will become clear after steps one or two.

B. Another troublesome situation is pronouns in than or as clauses. Because such clauses often leave unwritten parts of the clauses, it is easy to be confused about the job the pronoun is doing:

"Bill is taller than I" is really "Bill is taller than I am."

In some situations the case of the pronoun is determined by the meaning the writer wishes to convey:

"Fred likes Ethel more than (I, me)" could mean either "Fred likes Ethel more than I do" or "Fred likes Ethel more than Ethel likes me."

As the above illustrates, completing the construction determines whish pronoun is appropriate.

C. "Knock, knock."
"Who's there?"
"It's me."
"No, it's not."
"Whadya mean it's not me?"
"It's I because forms of to be take predicate nominatives."
"You don't say?"
"I do say."
Well, then -- It's I."
"Me'll let you in."

II. Pronouns with Verbals

Verbals are verbs that we change into other parts of speech. Two common verbals are infinitives and gerunds. Both these verbals can have subjects:

George wanted him to be his best man.
[him is the subject of the infinitive to be.]

Mel's lounging around the office lost him his job.
[Mel's is the subject of the gerund lounging.]

Infinitives' subjects take the objective case; gerunds'subject take the possessive.

Quiz

1. In a clause beginning with than or as, determine the case by -
A. determining is the clauses's verb is a gerund.
B.completing the construction.
C. substituting he or him.

2. How does one determine the case of a pronoun in a relative clause.
A. Recast the clause as a question.
B. substitute he or him for who or whom.

3.Which pronoun is correct: "You are the person to (who, whom) we gave the letter."
A. who
B. whom

4. Which pronoun is correct: "Francine objected to (us, our) buying a new car."
A. us
B. our

5. Which pronoun is correct: "Fred can jump as far as (he, him)."
A. he
B. him

6. Find the error:After the nominations were closed, Mel^a was gratified that it was him^b who^c had the foresight to offer him^d the post of secretary. No Error^e
A. B. C. D. E.

7. Find the error:The sale attracted many but she^a more than any others^b since this was her^c last chance to buy herd mother's birthday gift. No Error^e
A. B. C. D. E.

8. How could one correct: "Whether he is aware of it or not, today is the anniversary of us quitting our former jobs and heading off on our own. "
A. today is the anniversary of us quitting our former jobs and heading off on our own
B. today is the anniversary of our quitting our former jobs and to head off on our own
C. today is the anniversary of us quitting our former jobs heading off on our own
D. today is the anniversary of our quitting our former jobs to head off on our own
E. it's the anniversary of us quitting our former jobs to head off on our own

9. How could one correct: "Who Sherry had a rendezvous with remained a secret for decades," said Mary."
A. Who Sherry had a rendezvous with remained a secret for decades," said Mary.
B. Who Sherry had a rendezvous with remained a secret for decades" said Mary.
C. With whom Sherry had a rendezvous remained a secret for decades," said Mary.
D. With who Sherry had a rendezvous with remained a secret for decades," said Mary.
E. Who Sherry had a rendezvous with remained a secret for decades." said Mary.

10. "He didn't think he could find better assistants than Jill and I."
A. This sentence is correct.
B. This is a pronoun case error.

of ten right