Grammar Unit II: Lesson 1.2

Using Subjective Personal Pronouns

Correctly

Personal pronouns

SUBJECT PRONOUNS

First PersonFirst Person Second Second PersonPerson

Third PersonThird Person

SingularSingular I you she, he, it

PluralPlural we you they

Using Subjective Pronouns

Subjective personal pronouns should always be used when they are the subject of the sentence or when they immediately follow a linking verb. This sounds easy, but things can get complicated.

Why?

Read this sentence. Then decide which pronoun is the correct choice.

John and (I, me) went to the store.

Many people will make the mistake of using me in the above sentence. However, cover up the words John and. Now, read the sentence using me. It sounds very incorrect. I becomes the obvious choice.

Compound subjects

A compound subject is made up of two or more subjects that are

connect by AND, BUT, or OR and share the same verb.

John and I went to the store.

John and I are the compound subject

John and I share the verb went

Compound SubjectsShe and Sally are good friends.She and Sally are good friends.

(read the sentence with only the pronoun.)(read the sentence with only the pronoun.)

She (is) a good friend. (not her)She (is) a good friend. (not her)

Sam and he go to school together.Sam and he go to school together.

My mom bought her and Mark ice cream.My mom bought her and Mark ice cream.

It gets harder!

Read this sentence. Then decide which pronoun is the correct choice.

The best basketball players are (her and me, she and I).

Many people will make the mistake of using her and me in the above sentence. However, the verb are is a linking verb; therefore, subjective pronouns needs to be used. She and I is the correct answer.

Why use subjective pronouns after linking verbs?

We use subjective pronouns after linking verbs because a linking verb shows that the subject is equal to what comes after the verb.

The best basketball players = she and IThe best basketball players = she and I If we compare this to math class:

2+2 = 42+2 = 4Just like in math, both sides of the sentence or

equation equal each other. Because they equal each other, we can reverse the equation (just like in math).

4 = 2 + 24 = 2 + 2

Subjective pronouns & Linking Verb

Or we can reverse the sentence:

She and I = best basketball playersShe and I = best basketball players

She and I are the best basketball players.

The best basketball players = she and IThe best basketball players = she and I

Subjective pronouns & Linking Verb

Because we can make the pronoun the subject, we need to always use subjective pronouns after linking

verbs.

My related arts teachers are she and he.

teachers = she and he

She and he = teachers

She and he are my related art teachers.

Guided PracticeRead each sentence and make the correct pronoun

choice.

1. Miles and (they, them) went to the basketball game. 2. (Casey and him, Casey and he) was injured.

3. The players that fouled them are (they, them).

4. (We, us) players were astonished.

5. The writer of this report is (him, he).

Personal pronouns

OBJECT PRONOUNS

First PersonFirst Person Second Second PersonPerson

Third PersonThird Person

SingularSingular me you her, him, it

PluralPlural us you them

Using objective Pronouns

Objective personal pronouns should always be used after 1. an ACTION verb

Tyler hit it out of the park.Tyler hit it out of the park. AV

2. a PREPOSITIONLarry gave the ball to him.Larry gave the ball to him.

preposition

Common prepositionsaboutafterbefore

behindbesidebetween

byforfrom

likenearof

towithwithout

Suzy gave the paper to her.

Linda sat between him and her.

The story was written by them.

Guided PracticeRead each sentence. Underline all verbs twice. Label them AV or LV. Place a box around prepositions. Circle the correct pronoun.

1. Between (you and me, you and I), this is easy stuff!

LV

2. After class, Gabby gave (she, her) a note.AV

3. The book delighted (us, we) readers. AV

4. The teacher assigned (they, them) homework for Thursday. AV

Subjective & Objective PracticeRead each sentence. Underline all verbs twice. Label them AV or LV. Place a box around prepositions. Circle the correct pronoun.

Label it Sub or Obj on the line.

___1. (He, him) and Dana wrote the report. AVSub

___2. Larry told John and (me, I) about the assignment. objAV

___3. The write of the report was (she, her). sub LV

___4. The report was challenging for (they, them).obj AV

I or meI is a subject pronoun and is used at the I is a subject pronoun and is used at the

beginning of a sentence.beginning of a sentence.Me is an object pronoun and comes after Me is an object pronoun and comes after

a verb.a verb.My friend and I like to watch movies.My friend and I like to watch movies.She drove Julie and me to the park.She drove Julie and me to the park.

Me or I

*Me and I always come second in a sentence.*Me and I always come second in a sentence.- My friend and IMy friend and I- Sarah and meSarah and me

Examples1.1. Dad and me are finished with the Dad and me are finished with the

project.project.2.2. She and him went to the movies.She and him went to the movies.3.3. Luis saw (she, her).Luis saw (she, her).4.4. The host greeted (we, us) at the door.The host greeted (we, us) at the door.5.5. After I mowed the lawn, Mr. Jones After I mowed the lawn, Mr. Jones

paid _____.paid _____.

Examples6.6. Did you see (he, him) at the movies?Did you see (he, him) at the movies?7.7. Please send (she, her) your new Please send (she, her) your new

address.address.8.8. My mother bought my sister and (I, My mother bought my sister and (I,

me) a new outfit.me) a new outfit.9.9. I hope the train doesn’t leave without I hope the train doesn’t leave without

(we,us).(we,us).

Examples10.10. Sara divided the work between Scott Sara divided the work between Scott

and I.and I.

11.11. Did she and me really come to class Did she and me really come to class late?late?

12.12. My dad gave John and I five dollars. My dad gave John and I five dollars.

13.13. Mary took Patrick and he to the mall.Mary took Patrick and he to the mall.