This presentation is brought chomp! to you by Grammar Bytes!, chomp! 2012 by Robin L. Simmons.
Pronoun 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 Item Stan and I offered to help move the furniture, but Stan and I offered to help move the furniture, but A the new residents rolled their eyes when they B saw that us we two had skinny arms. C Us needs to A. Me and Stan Is Stan and I, A. Me and Stan become we, a B. theirs their, change or option us B. theirs problem? C. we C makes. C. we D. No change is necessary. D. No change is necessary.
Subjective Pronouns Forms include I, you, she, he, it, we, and they. A subject pronoun functions as the subject of a verb. Meredith and Meredith and I threw mashed potatoes at at Henry. Me threw mashed potatoes? I don t think so!
Objective 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 shouldn t try to try kiss to kiss Grace Grace with with spinach his in his teeth! teeth! After a preposition like between, always use the objective pronoun!
Direct vs. Indirect 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 it a before a toothbrush the kissing before began. the the the kissing began. Crystal Always Who gave received use what? objective the The pronouns toothbrush? like Stevie him = the and = the it to indirect replace object! objects. object!
Possessive 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 eyes in disbelief. Your, her, our, and their = adjectives. Yours, hers, ours, and theirs = nouns.
Quick 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 1 Tiesha Tiesha is is good good at at math. math. See See if if she she and and Sam Sam will will A join our study group. Clueless students like we us B C can can use use all all the the help help we we can can get! get! A. A. her her B. B. ours ours C. C. us us D. D. No No change change is is necessary. necessary.
Item 2 Marvin got an aisle seat. Cherise sat between Byron and he. he. him. Together they they slurped their their A B C sodas as the guest lecturer droned on about the Roman Empire. A. Byron and him B. them C. theirs D. No change is necessary.
Item 3 Me Me Tonya and and and Tonya Tonya I prefer prefer prefer morning morning classes. classes. Our Our Our A B B roommates like to stay up late playing loud video games. We hope to kick them out of the C apartment apartment next next semester. semester. A. A. Tonya Tonya and and II B. B. Ours Ours C. C. they they two two D. D. No No change change is is necessary. necessary.
Item 4 Sheila Sheila has has a golden golden retriever. retriever. Perhaps Perhaps that that hair hair in in your your green green beans beans comes comes from from she she her or or the the dog. dog. A B Since the strand is dark in color, I ll bet it s hers. C A. A. yours yours B. B. her her C. C. her s her s D. D. No No change change is is necessary. necessary.
Item 5 Abigail Abigail studied studied six six hours hours for for the the chemistry chemistry exam. exam. When 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 C high high averages. averages. A. A. her her B. B. them them C. C. theirs theirs D. D. No No change change is is necessary. necessary.
Item 6 Nicholas Nicholas likes likes to to gossip. gossip. Be Be careful careful what what you you say say around around Julie Julie and and him. him. They They both both believe believe that that your your A B news whether good or bad is their s theirs to spread. C A. A. he he and and Julie Julie B. B. Them Them C. C. theirs theirs D. D. No No change change is is necessary. necessary.
Item 7 Even though Grandma and I brought a calculator Even though Grandma and I brought a calculator A and coupons, we spent too much money grocery shopping. The fault is mainly her s, hers, as she B insisted on ice cream that neither of us needed. C A. me and Grandma A. me and Grandma B. hers B. hers C. we C. we D. No change is necessary. D. No change is necessary.
Item 8 Mom gave me and Sheila a lecture about good Mom gave me and Sheila a lecture about good A manners. Mom had heard that me Sheila and and Sheila I B forgot to send Aunt Louise a thank-you card for our C Christmas presents. Christmas presents. A. Sheila and A. Sheila and I B. Sheila and B. Sheila and II C. ours C. ours D. No change is necessary. D. No change is necessary.
Item 9 My friends and I spent biology lab eating popcorn My friends and I spent biology lab eating popcorn A and giggling. After lab, Mr. Rivera threatened we us B three with withdrawal. He insisted that our C behavior and attitude must change. behavior and attitude must change. A. Me and my friends A. Me and my friends B. us B. us C. ours C. ours D. No change is necessary. D. No change is necessary.
Item 10 We gave our calculus notes to Diego and she. her. We gave our calculus notes to Diego and she. A They lent us theirs. Before the big exam, B we students need to to make sure that that we we have C every word Dr. Nguyen delivered in lecture. every word Dr. Nguyen delivered in lecture. A. her A. her B. theirs B. theirs C. us students C. us students D. No change is necessary. D. No change is necessary.
Grammar chomp! Bytes! provides additional chomp! handouts and exercises on pronoun case. Go to chompchomp.com!
The End.