Brushing Up Pronoun Skills
"My buddy and me went . . . " grates on the ears because of the misused pronoun. Faulty pronoun usage, whether in speech or in written expression, reveals laziness or lack of awareness. Most of our students were taught correct pronoun usage a long time ago, but many need a brush up. Here is a brief exercise to refresh hazy skills. English has three pronoun cases
Subjective (Nominative) Case
I, we, he, she, it, they, you
Use these pronouns as subjects of verb or as subject complements.
Objective Case
me, us, him, her, it, them, you
Use these pronouns as objects of verb or objects of preposition.
Possessive Case
my, mine, her, hers, his, it, its, their, theirs, your, yours
Use these pronouns to show possession. Note: No apostrophes!
Three Frequent Pronoun Problems
1. Compound subjects
My buddy and I [not me] went shopping. [Ignore "my buddy and"; focus on subject of verb.]
2. Compound objects
Send the note to him or me [not I]. [Ignore "him or"; focus on object of preposition.
3. Confused possessive pronouns
The bill and its [not it's] amendments are on file. [Don't confuse the contraction it is with the possessive pronoun its.]
Ours [not Our's] is the only team making a presentation. [Possessive pronouns have no apostrophes.]
1. Jake asked Erin and I for advice on applying for the internship.
2. We wondered whether the manager and him would support the changes.
3. Send all responses to Mark or me before September 1.
4. The staff and I agreed to replace this computer and it's peripherals as soon as possible.
5. Several teams submitted reports on time, but their's has not been received.
6. Just between you and me, our company may be sold and relocated.
7. It was me who placed the order for office supplies.
8. A new profit-sharing plan was sent to the other employees and I early last year.
9. Me and my friend are both interested in applying for the same job.
10. When you finish the annual report, please send it to Franklin and I.
11. Authorities worried that it's roof might collapse under the weight of the snow.
12. If only the president and him would make a decision, we could move forward.
13. All spam messages coming to him and I are forwarded to appropriate authorities.
14. Most other offices were repainted, but our's seems to have been missed.
15. Emily complained that text messages for her mother and she were garbled.
SOLUTIONS
1. Change I to me. Object of verb. Ignore Erin and. (Jake asked me for advice.)
2. Change him to he. Subject of verb. Ignore the manager and. (We wondered whether he would support the changes.)
3. Change me to I. Object of preposition. Ignore Mark or. (Send all responses to me before September 1.)
4. Change it's to its. Possessive pronouns do not contain apostrophes.
5. Change their's to theirs. Possessive pronouns do not contain apostrophes.
6. Correct. The objective-case me is correct since it is the object of the preposition between.
7. Change me to I. The pronoun functions as a subject complement. (I was it; it was I.) If you find this usage awkward, recast the sentence: I placed the order.
8. Change I to me. Object of preposition. Ignore the other employees and. (A new profit-sharing plan was sent to me early last year.)
9. Change to My friend and I. Subject of verb. (My friend and I are both interested . . . .)
10. Change I to me. Object of preposition. Ignore Franklin and. (. . . please send it to me.)
11. Change it's to its. Possessive pronouns do not have apostrophes. Don't confuse the pronoun its with the contraction it is.
12. Change him to he. Subject of verb. Ignore the president and. (If only he would make a decision . . . .)
13. Change I to me. Object of preposition. Ignore him and. (All spam messages coming to me . . . .)
14. Change our's to ours. Possessive pronouns are not written with apostrophes.
15. Change she to her. Ignore her mother and. (Emily complained that text messages for her were garbled.)
© Mary Ellen Guffey
May be reproduced by instructors for educational purposes only.