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Pronoun
Pronoun Case
Case

Do I need
the pronoun
they?

Or do I need
the pronoun
them
instead?

This presentation
covers when to use
subjective,
objective, and
possessive
pronoun forms.

A pronoun case item on an

objective test might look
like this . . .

Sample
Sample Item
Item
Stan and
Stan
and II offered
offered to
to help
help move
move the
the furniture,
furniture, but
but
A
the new residents rolled their
their eyes
eyes when
when they
they
B
saw that us
us two
we
two
twohad
had
hadskinny
skinny
skinnyarms.
arms.
arms.
C
Us
Us needs
needs to
to
Is
Stan
and
Ia,,
Is
Stan
and
become
we
,
become we, a
their
,, or
us
their
oroption
us aa
change
change
option
problem?
problem?
C
makes.
C
makes.

A.Me and Stan

B.theirs
C.we
D.No change is necessary.

Subjective
Subjective Pronouns
Pronouns
Forms include I, you, she, he, it, we, and
they.
A subject pronoun functions as the subject of a
verb.
Meredith
Me
and Meredith
and Ithrew
threwmashed
mashedpotatoes
potatoesatat
Henry.
Me threw
mashed potatoes?
I dont think so!

Objective
Objective Pronouns
Pronouns
Forms include me, you, her, him, it, us, and
them.
An objective pronoun functions as a direct
object, indirect object, or object of a
preposition.
Just between you and I,me
Stevie
, Stevie
shouldnt
shouldnt
try to
try
kiss
to
kiss
Grace
Grace
with
with
spinach
spinach
in his
in his
teeth!
teeth!
After a preposition like
between, always use
the objective
pronoun!

Direct
Direct vs.
vs. Indirect
Indirect Objects
Objects
To find a direct object, use this formula:
subject + verb + what? or who?
The indirect object is whoever or whatever
receives the direct object.
Crystal gave Stevie
him
itabefore
the kissing
began.
Stevie
atoothbrush
toothbrush
toothbrush
before
before
before
the
the
the
kissing
kissing
kissing
began.
Crystal
Always
Whogave
received
use what?
objective
theThe
pronouns
toothbrush?
toothbrush
likeStevie
him
= the
and
=
the
it to
direct
indirect
replace
object!
objects.
object!

Possessive
Possessive Pronouns
Pronouns
Forms include my, mine, your, yours, her,
hers, his, its, our, ours, their, and theirs.
Possessive pronouns do not require an
apostrophe; adjective forms do not agree
with the nouns that follow.
When Johnnie stepped to the plate and hit a home
run, we rubbed ours
our eyes in disbelief.

Your, her, our, and

their = adjectives.
Yours, hers, ours,
and theirs = nouns.

Quick
Quick Test
Test
Directions: In the items that follow, choose
the option that corrects an error in the
underlined portion(s). If no error exists, choose
No change is necessary.

Show me
what you
know.

Item
Item 1
1
Tiesha is good at math. See if she
she and
and Sam
Sam will
will
A
join our
our study
study group.
group. Clueless
Clueless students
students like
like we
we
us
B
C
can use all the help we can get!
A.her
B.ours
C.us
us
D.No change is necessary.

Item
Item 2
2
Marvin got an aisle seat. Cherise sat between
Byron and
Byron
andhe.
he.Together
him
Together
. Together
they
they
they
slurped
slurped
slurped
their
their
their
A
BB
CC
sodas as the guest lecturer droned on about the
Roman Empire.
A.
Byronand
andhim
him
A.Byron
B.them
C.theirs
D.No change is necessary.

Item
Item 3
3
Tonya
Me
andand
and
Tonya
Tonya
I prefer
prefer
prefer
morning
morning
morning
classes.
classes.
classes.
Our
Our
Our
A
BB
roommates like to stay up late playing loud video
games. We hope to kick them
them out
out of
of the
the
C
apartment next semester.
A.
Tonya and
andI I
A.Tonya
B.Ours
C.they two
D.No change is necessary.

Item
Item 4
4
Sheila has a golden retriever. Perhaps that hair in
your green
your
green beans
beans comes
comes from
from she
sheor
her
or
orthe
the
thedog.
dog.
dog.
A
B
Since the strand is dark in color, Ill bet its hers.
hers.
C
A.yours
B.her
her
C.hers
D.No change is necessary.

Item
Item 5
5
Abigail studied six hours for the chemistry exam.
When she
she and
and her
her lab
lab partner
partner saw
saw the
the test,
test, they
they
A
B
both knew their hard work would protect their
their
C
high averages.
A.her
B.them
C.theirs
D.No change
changeisisnecessary.
necessary.

Item
Item 6
6
Nicholas likes to gossip. Be careful what you say
around Julie
Julie and
andhim.
him.They
Theyboth
bothbelieve
believethat
thatyour
your
A
B
newswhether good or badis theirs
theirsto
theirs
tospread.
spread.
to
spread.
C
A.he and Julie
B.Them
C.theirs
theirs
D.No change is necessary.

Item
Item 7
7
Even though Grandma
Grandma and
andI Ibrought
broughtaacalculator
calculator
A
and coupons, we spent too much money grocery
shopping. The fault is mainly hers,
hers,,as
hers
asshe
she
B
insisted on ice cream that neither of us
us needed.
needed.
C
A.me and Grandma
B.hers
hers
C.we
D.No change is necessary.

Item
Item 8
8
Mom gave me
and Sheila
Sheilaaalecture
lectureabout
aboutgood
good
me and
A
manners. Mom had heard that me
Sheila
andand
Sheila
Sheila
I
me and
B
forgot to send Aunt Louise a thank-you card for our
our
C
Christmas presents.
A.Sheila and I
B.Sheila
Sheila and
andI I
C.ours
D.No change is necessary.

Item
Item 9
9
My friends
friendsand
andI Ispent
spentbiology
biologylab
labeating
eatingpopcorn
popcorn
A
and giggling. After lab, Mr. Rivera threatened we
us
we
B
three with withdrawal. He insisted that our
our
C
behavior and attitude must change.
A.Me and my friends
B.us
us
C.ours
D.No change is necessary.

Item
Item 10
10
We gave our calculus notes to Diego and she.
she..
her
A
They lent us theirs.
theirs.Before
Beforethe
thebig
bigexam,
exam,
B
we students
studentsneed
needtotomake
makesure
surethat
thatwe
wehave
have
C
every word Dr. Nguyen delivered in lecture.
A.
her
A.her
B.theirs
C.us students
D.No change is necessary.

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The End.