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Pronoun Agreement Pronouns
come in many forms, but the two most troublesome forms are the subject
form and the object form. It is easy to mix up the two.
Below are both groups and directions for when to use each. SUBJECT Pronouns OBJECT Pronouns I Me She Her He Him We Us They Them Who Whom Whoever Whomever Note: “It” and “You” belong to
both groups USE SUBJECT PRONOUNS in the following cases: · In compound subjects (Ted and I (rather
than me) are going to attend because
bothTed and I are
subjects of the sentence.) · Before and AFTER the forms of the verb TO
BE (am, is, are, was, were, has been, have been). These are called
linking verb sentences because the subject of the sentence is linked with a
second name for the subject. The “link” is the form of the verb TO BE. The
customer who ate the tomato is she is
correct because the customer and she are the same person.
The linking verb is the TO BE verb IS. The
man in the disguise was he is correct because the man and he are the same person. The linking verb is the TO BE
verb WAS. · After the words than and as These can be tricky because there
are understood verbs that control which pronoun to choose.
In the sentences below, I have placed the understood verbs in
parentheses. Note that each sentence reads correctly with or without the understood
verb, but even if the understood verb is not written, it
still decides which pronoun is correct. I
was a better swimmer than he (was). Bob
is taller than she (is). We
are just as qualified as they (are) You
know as well as I (do) that
Jim is very strange. Practice with the words than and as Ruth is taller than (I, me). No one can run as fast as (he,
him). Oh, yeah, well, at least I’m
smarter than (they, them)! You know better than (they, them)
who is responsible. Erin had a better score than (he,
him). You know as well as (I, me) that
Jim is very strange. USE OBJECT PRONOUNS in the following cases: · As objects of verbs John told Bob and her truth (her rather than she because Bob and her are
objects of the verb told). We gave Ralph and them the
package (them rather
than they because Ralph and them are
objects of the verb gave). · After prepositions (object of prepositions) I gave the book to
Ted and him (him rather
than he because Ted and him are objects of
the preposition to) This is between you
and me (me rather than I because between is
a preposition and you and me are
its objects) Commonly Used Prepositions A preposition is never alone in a
sentence; it is followed by its object(s). From the preposition to
the object is the prepositional phrase. Try it: to
the store (store is the object of the preposition to);
before my class (my class is the object of the
preposition before).
(I gave the book to Ted
and him (rather than he) This is between you
and me (me rather than I because between is
a preposition and you and me are its objects) It’s up to you
and me (not I) The
Secret that English teachers don’t want you to know! The Key to unlocking the “who/whom” and “whoever, whomever”
mystery. Steps: 1. Temporarily cross out all words
up to the choice:
2. Test with “he” or “him”:
3. Restore the words you crossed
out. I hope they hire
whoever is most qualified to do the job. --------------------------
I wonder whom they
will choose. Pronoun
Agreement Exercises SUBJECT Pronouns OBJECT Pronouns I Me She Her He Him We Us They Them Who Whom Whoever Whomever Note: “It” and “You”
belong to both groups Directions: Please
circle or underline the correct answer. Set #1 1. Alex and (he, him) are going to
the game. 2. The instructor expected (us,
we) students to study. 3. Bob came with Lynn and (he, him). 4. This is strictly between you
and (I, me). 5. We gave Clara and (he, him) a
big-screen TV for Christmas. 6. (He, Him) and (I, Me) are going
skiing this weekend. 7. My mom said goodbye to my
brother and (I, me). 8. (We, Us) students had seldom
thought of studying. 9. The host asked Randy and (she,
her) to dance. 10. Alex and (she, her) were the
winners. 11. She asked Beth and (I, me) to
pay five dollars. 12. The decision is between you
and (she, her). 13. The coach left it to Harry and
(I, me) to arrange the party. 14. The women expect (we, us) men
to do the cooking. 15. The noise was blamed on Dennis
and (I, me). 16. The bus pulled away, leaving
Dan and (they, them) standing on the corner. 17. I gave the tickets to (she,
her) and (they, them) yesterday. 18. The elephants trampled Ralph
and (they, them). 19. It was a good thing that (we,
us) students had studied. 20. This supper is for Sue, Pat,
and (they, them). Set #2 1. We gave Clara and (he, him)
several Christmas presents. 2. My mom waved good-bye to my
brother and (I, me). 3. This message is for Sue, Pat,
and (she, her). 4. The elephant stepped on Ralph
and (he, him). 5. I gave the tickets to (she,
her) yesterday. 6. The bus pulled off, leaving Dan
and (I, me) standing on the corner. 7. The priest prayed over (we, us)
convicts. 8. The women expected (we, us) to
do the cooking. 9. She asked Bob and (he, him) to
pay five dollars. 10. (We, Us) students told Jim to
quit with the jokes. 11. (He, Him) and (I, me) would
love to take this class again. 12. Between you and (I, me), I
think he is crazy. 13. The man with the mysterious
story was (he, him). 14. It was (he, him) who ate the
cereal. 15. Ralph is faster than (I, me)
___, but I am taller than (he, him)___. 16. Sell this car to (whoever,
whomever) has the most money. 17. Give this to the one (who,
whom) will do the best job. 18. To (who, whom) should I give
the tickets? 19. I want you to ask (whoever,
whomever) you want. 20. (Who, Whom) should I call? Set #3 Directions: Please circle or underline the
correct answer 1. Phil is smarter than (I, me), but I am stronger than
(he, him) is. 2. It was (she, her) who screamed. 3. The man in the mask was (he, him). 4. Between you and (I, me), I think this instructor is
strange. 5. (We, Us) are faster than (they, them), so (we, us)
should win the race. 6. I am just as deserving as (he, him). 7. Sue is the student (who, whom) passed the test twice. 8. I wonder (who, whom) will do the best job? 9. I don’t know (who, whom) will build the road. 10. I am not sure (who, whom) I should choose? 11. (Who, Whom) should I invite to the party? 12. Please select (whoever, whomever) will do the best
job. 13. Give the rest to (whoever, whomever) wants it. 14. You may give this award to (whoever,
whomever) you want. 15. (Whoever, Whomever) borrowed the book
should return it.
Pronoun Agreement—linking verbs,
understood verbs, who/whom/whoever/whomever 1. The man with the mysterious story was (he, him). 2. It was (he, him) who ate the cereal. 3. Ralph is faster than (I, me) ___, but I am taller
than (he, him)___. 4. Sell this car to (whoever, whomever) has the most money. 5. Give this to the one (who, whom) will do the best
job. 6. To (who, whom) should I give the tickets? 7. I want you to ask (whoever, whomever) you want. 8. (Who, Whom) should I call? 9. Phil is smarter than (I, me), but I am stronger than
(he, him) is. 10. It was (she, her) who screamed. 11. The man in the mask was (he, him). 12. (We, Us) are faster than (they, them), so (we, us)
should win the race. 13. I am just as deserving as (he, him). 14. Sue is the student (who, whom) passed the test
twice. 15. I wonder (who, whom) will do the best job? 16. I don’t know (who, whom) will build the road. 17. I am not sure (who, whom) I should choose? 18. (Who, Whom) should I invite to the party? 19. Please select (whoever, whomever) will do the best
job. 20. Give the rest to (whoever, whomever) wants it. 21. You may give this award to (whoever, whomever)
you want. 22. (Whoever, Whomever) borrowed the book should
return it. 23. Bob likes Sally better than me. 24. Bob likes Sally better than I. 25. Ruth is taller than (I, me). 26. No one can run as fast as (he, him). 27. Oh, yeah, well, at least I’m smarter than (they,
them)! 28. You know better than (they, them) who is responsible. 29. Erin had a better score than (he, him). 30. You know as well as (I, me) that Jim is very strange. |