PRONOUN CASE
A Noun acts as a Subject or an Object in a sentence. Similarly a pronoun that substitutes a Noun is also used as a Subject or an Object.
I
Personal Pronouns like I, you,he,she or they etc. in Subject case, when are joined by 'and' 'or' , these should be in the same case for example:
I and He, She and You, They and We etc.
(All in Subject case)
Me and Him, Us and them, Him and Her etc. (All in Object case)
Following sentences illustrate it further.
John and Mary will participate in the competition.
In this sentence Nouns John and Mary are used as Subject.
Similarly the pronouns used in place of nouns in this sentence too will be in subject case as
He and She will participate in the competition.
The Principal applauded John and Mary.
In this sentence John and Mary are in object case.
Similarly pronoun to be used in place of nouns John and Mary too will be in object case.
The Principal applauded him and her.
Here is a list of Pronouns in Subject and Object case.
I --Me, We --Us, You -- you, He -- Him, She -- Her, They -- Them, It-- It.
Just note the following sentences with regard to use of Subject or Object case of a Pronoun.
SUBJECT CASE
1. Can you achieve as success as she (not her)?
2. She and I (not me) are not on good terms these days.
3. My brother and I (not myself or me) attended the meeting.
4. You and I (not me) will accomplish this work.
5. My friend and I (not me or myself) were invited to dinner.
OBJECT CASE
1. These presents are for you and me (not I).
2. Good persons like you and him (not he) always succeed.
3. We scored as many goals as they (not them).
4. Has she invited you as well as him (not he) to the party?
5. He praised you more than her (not she).
II
The sentences having the word 'LET' take object case of a Pronoun as:
Let us do our work together.
Let him do his work.
The teacher did not let him go out.
They may not let you and him (not he) leave.
III
In a sentence after the words 'Like', 'Between', 'But' or a 'Preposition', object case of a pronoun is used as :
Between you and me, he is not a good person.
None but (except) him was present in the meeting.
Nobody will stand by you but (except) me (not I).
All but (except) him (not he) paid the amount.
Persons like him (not he) can never succeed.
Virtuous women like you and her (not she) are respected.
The children paid their respects to (preposition) her (not she).
They brought many gifts for (preposition) you and me (not I).
IV
After the introductory phrases 'It is' or 'It was', a Pronoun in Subject case is used as :
It was he (not him) who helped me to complete the project.
It is I (not me) who needs your help urgently.
V
After the word 'than' a pronoun can be used in Subjective as well as Objective case as :
Such sentences can be better understood by completing the latter part of the sentence as
I like him more than she (likes).
In this sentence I is compared with she.Both are in subject case.
Another case is-
I like him more than her.
In this sentence him is compared with her and both are in object case.
SYNCHRONISATION
of Pronoun with other parts of speech in the sentence.
All other parts of speech like verb, helping verb or possessive pronoun etc in the sentence must be in consonance with pronoun used in the sentence.
For example:
It is I who have accomplished this job.
Helping verb 'have' is applied here according to the subject 'I' and 'has' will be incorrect here.
It is you who are to be recommended for this task.
In this sentence 'are' is applied in accordance with subject 'you'.
Some Sentences for Practice.
ONE
Select and write the appropriate pronoun in the blank space.
1. It was.......(he/him) who rescued the child.
2. You or .....(I/myself) are said to be at fault.
3. They can solve this problem as well as .......(we/us).
4. She and .......(he/him) are not invited to tea.
5. All except .......(he/him) secured first division.
6. I performed much better than .......(he/him).
7. Nobody except............( I/me) approached him for help.
8. Let ........(he/him) or his brother pay the amount of the loan.
9. We saw ........(he/him) and his wife strolling in the garden.
10. All respect Intelligent students like you and .........(he/him).
Answers:
1. He. After an introductory phrase like 'It is' or 'It was', a Pronoun in Subject case is used.
2. I. This sentence is in passive form.Here a pronoun in Subject case is required.
3. We. Subject case is applicable here. They as well as we can...
4. He This sentence is in passive form. Here He is appropriate pronoun.
5. Him. After except object case is used.
6. He. Subject I is compared with He in subject form.
7.Me After 'except' object case is used.
8. Him. After 'let' object case is used.
9. Him. Here an object is reuired.
10. Him. After like object case is used.
TWO
Find the error if any in the following sentences.
1. This incident, in a way, helped a lot in removing so many misunderstandings between you and he.
2. The Manager is busy so he has instructed you and I to distribute his work between us and do it.
3. The boss instructed the peon to let his secretary and I go into his office.
4. Everybody present in the hall was scared as you along with he
entered.
5. The chairman congratulated the whole team of the project including I and my deputy manager.
6. His parents want he and his wife to live together with them in their ancestral house.
7. All suspect his brother to be culprit but I think it may have been he.
8. What would you do if you were he?
9. What is the name of she who stood first in the class?
10. Do you think her sister is more intelligent than she?
ANSWERS
1. ...between you and me. After between object case is required.
2.......he has instructed you and me. Object case is requiredd.
3. After let object case is used. ....secretary and me...
4. Him ...as you along with him entered.
5. Me ...including me and..
6. Him. Object case is required.his parents want him and .....
THREE
Find the error if any in the following sentences.
1. Whom do you (1) consider prettier whether (2) she or her sister? (3). No Error(4)
2. The relationship between Sam and (1) she was superficial and as such (2) it was not going to last longer.
(3). No Error(4)
3. The teacher, while teaching, (1) did not notice you and he (2) talking with each other in the class.(3) No Error(4)
4. His father wants him, (1) being the eldest son of the family, (2) should help him in his business.(3) No Error(4).
5. It is now incumbent on you and (1) he to describe your goals so that assessment about their (2) success in the time to come may be ascertained.(3) No Error(4).
ANSWERS
1. (3). This is an interrogative sentence starting with an interrogative pronoun 'whom' and ending with a question mark. The word 'whom'
is used in object case. The pronoun or noun replacing 'whom' in the answer too will be in object case. So 'she or her sister' too should be in object case. Whom do you consider..........her or or her sister?
2. (2) the noun or pronoun after 'between' is used in object case. ....between sam and her...'
3. (2) The teacher is subject, did not notice is a verb and after this object is required. '.....did not notice you and him'.
4. (1) His father is subject wants is verb and the remaining part, a whole clause, '....him........should help him......' acts as object. In this clause 'him' is subject, 'should help' is verb and 'him' is object. 'Him' is incorrect it should be, in subject case, 'he'.
5. (2) After a preposition object case is used. 'On' is a preposition and after this 'you and him' is correct.
FOUR
Mark the part of the sentence containing error, if any, otherwise mark No Error.
1. All the members of the team including captain and I stayed back to attend the meeting.
(a)All the members of the
(b)team including captain
(c)and I stayed back to attend the meeting.
(d) No Error.
2. The members of the society have decided to honour she and her husband in the upcoming function of the society during next month.
(a)The members of the society have decided to
(b) honour she and her husband in the upcoming
(c) function of the society during next month.
(d) No Error.
3. Success always honours women like you and she who put their heart and soul in their work and toil hard to achieve their goals.
(a)Success always honours women like you
(b) and she who put their heart and soul in their
(c) work and toil hard to achieve their goals.
(d) No Error.
4. Who, whether me or my secretary, will attend the meeting tomorrow has not been decided so far.
(a) Who, whether me or my secretary,
(b) will attend the meeting tomorrow
(c) has not been decided so far.
(d) No Error.
5. Your parents treat you and she equally and do not behave in a partisan manner with either of you.
(a) Your parents treat you and
(b) she equally and do not behave in a
(c) partisan manner with either of you.
(d) No Error.
ANSWERS
1. (c). After 'including', object case of noun or pronoun is used. 'including captain and me' is correct.
2. (b) 'The members of the society' is subject 'has decided to honour' is verb and 'she and her brother' is object. She in object case should be her. '.......her and her brother'.
3. (b) ...like you and her.'
4. (a) Such sentences generally start with introductory phrase 'it has been..' It has not been decided..... who whether I or my secretary will attend the meeting......'.
5. (b) Your parents is subject 'treat' is verb and 'you and she' is object. She in object case should be 'her'.
(CONTD.)
