Pronoun Case and Usage Notes and Exercises With Answers
Pronoun Case and Usage Notes and Exercises With Answers
Nominative Objective
Case Case
Pronouns Pronouns
I Me
You You
Use when the pronoun in
questions functions as a UseHe Himin
when the pronoun
SUBJECT or questions functions as an
She Her
PREDICATE OBJECT of
NOMINATIVE PREPOSITION
It It
DIRECT OBJECT or
We
INDIRECT OBJECT Us
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
He is the winner (of the game).
S AV
We finished early.
S LV PN
The winner of the game is who?
S 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 word’s function is in the sentence.
S S AV
She and Marcus watched the movie.
S S 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
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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 S AV IO DO
I wrote them (on Monday). The salesman sold him an encyclopedia.
P OP HV S AV S AV Infinitive object of infinitive
(To whom) are you speaking? I like to read them.
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 word’s 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.
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Adjective Phrases and Clauses – A Quick Review
An adjective phrase is any phrase which modifies a noun or pronoun. Adjective phrases
are constructed using participles or prepositions together with their objects:
In this sentence, the prepositional phrase "of my neighbor's radio" acts as an adjective
modifying the noun "volume.” It answers the question “Which volume?”
Notice in this sentence the prepositional phrase “in our neighborhood” modifies the word
“people,” the object of the preposition in the previous phrase. It answers the question
“Which people?”
Similarly, the participle phrase “pattering on the roof” modifies the noun “rain.” It
answers the question “Which rain?”
In the following sentences, identify the prepositional phrases used as adjectives and the
words that they modify.
4. Pluto, on the outside of our solar system, has an unbelievably long year.
Adjective Clauses
Relative Pronouns
Example #1: The player who has the most points wins the Hart Trophy.
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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.
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.
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4. The dark hall was intimidating.
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Noun Clauses
A noun clause contains its own subject and verb and functions the same way a single-word
noun does.
who what
whoever what-ever
whom where
whomever how
whose when
which if
whichever whether
that 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.
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.
3. Our guide explained that langoustines look like miniature lobsters but are more
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4. I was excited by what we saw next.
6. Whoever can keep his composure with one of those things in his face is a brave
man!
7. I learned that the giant squid is rarely spotted in such shallow water.
9. She enjoys whatever expedition she is on at the moment, even if it freaks her out.
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USING PRONOUNS CORRECTLY
5. The painting I liked was done by her father and (she, her).
8. I will tell you if you promise to keep it between you and (I, me).
9. Throughout history there have been people (who, whom) live to see their dreams come
true.
12. The students who had not finished were Paul, Mary and (I, me).
13. Linda gave her first flying lesson to Sam and (I, me).
14. Mr. O’Sullivan and (they, them) wrote poetry for the paper.
17. The only ones in the gym were Dave and (I, me).
18. Roxanne and (we, us) tore the prom decorations down.
20. Helen told me that the only man (who, whom) she would marry in Germany.
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USING PRONOUNS - Exercise #2
A. Using Who, Whom, and Whose - On the blank line, write who, whom, or whose to
correctly complete each sentence.
2. The British, from _____ Sierra Leone won its independence in 1961, 2.
once had many colonies.
7. These are the people ____ national colors are blue and white. 7.
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 don’t agree, write NA.
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 5.
preserved here.
7. The workers at the tar pits thought the bones were a nuisance 7.
because they got in the way.
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 10.
caught in the tar when they were young.
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USING PRONOUNS - Exercise #3
A. Using Pronouns Correctly - On the blank line, write the correct form of the
pronouns in parentheses.
1. Winslow and (him, he) scraped the old paint off the boat. 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 wouldn’t 3.
leave till full tide.”
5. The cast members who didn’t know their lines were Lyn and him. 5.
8. If you want people to buy your books, pay attention to what us readers 8.
said about your last novel.
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USING PRONOUNS - Exercise #4
A. Using Who and Its Related Pronouns -Complete each well-known saying by writing a form
of who on the blank line.
3. All the houses and stores had their front doors standing open. 3.
6. Sheila introduced the student who was nominated for the Latin Prize. 6.
10. Both Dwight and Caleb write his own music. 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. We’re going to Alaska next summer, and I’m 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.
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CORRECT PRONOUN USAGE - Exercise #5
Directions: Put the letter of the correct pronoun in the space provided.
_____ 1. Just between you and (a) I (b) me, was that a fair question?
_____ 2. That was probably (a) we (b) us whom you heard in the hall.
_____3. The author of the story never tells us whether it was (a) she (b) her or the tiger behind
the door.
_____4. The speakers at the pregame rally will be you and (a) he (b) him.
_____5. 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 girl’s 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 (a) I (b) me.
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Correct Pronoun Usage - Exercise #6
After each number, write the correct one of the two pronouns in the parentheses in the
corresponding sentence.
2. I have always thought that Beth and (he, him) had a lot in common.
3. Among those who had never been absent from school were Bobby
and (I, me). _____________
5. There is little doubt about (who, whom) the most popular girl in the
class is.
6. Will you help the others and (me, myself) with the assignment.
8. Was it (she, her) (whom, who) the principal called to the office.
9. It usually is Jose and (she, her) (who, whom) everyone wants to hear.
10. They have many more possessions than (we, us) but we have
more fun than (they, them).
11. May (we, us) boys go to the library to work on our history assignment.
13. As soon as you know (who, whom) it was that wrote Lord of the Flies,
raise your hand.
14. Besides Karen and (I, me) there are no other candidates for the office.
15. (Him, His) winning the medal was a surprise to all of us.
16. Our teacher, thought that Sue and (I, me) were not paying attention.
17. The title of valedictorian goes to (whoever, whomever) has the highest
average for the four years.
18. You and (I, me) are now eligible for a National Merit Scholarship.
19. The gift that the class sent to (she, her) and her husband was a digital
clock-radio.
20. Do you think Lynn and (she, her) would make good exchange students?
21. Since I haven’t finished the book, please don’t tell me (who, whom)
the murderer is.
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22. Jim Hightower was the one (who, whom) I thought was most likely to
succeed at a large university.
23. The Chamber of Commerce presented Mia and (he, him) with awards
for the best term papers.
25. Our new neighbors are just as cooperative as (they, them). _____________
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