Common Errors: PRONOUNS SINGLE-LEFT-CLICK to advance through this PowerPoint. Common Errors: PRONOUNS SUBJECTIVE & OBJECTIVE Vs. POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS WHICH ONE DO I USE WHEN?

Pronoun Case There are three cases: 1. Subjective case: pronouns used as subject. 2. Objective case: pronouns used as objects of verbs or prepositions. 3. Possessive case: pronouns which express ownership.

SUBJECTS, OBJECTS, POSSESSIVE Pronouns as SUBJECTS I, you, she, he, it, we you, they, who Pronouns as OBJECTS Me, you, him, her. it, us, you, them, whom Pronouns that show POSSESSION My, mine, your, yours, his, her, hers, it, its, our, ours, their, theirs, whose

RULE: Correct pronoun case requires different forms of personal pronouns for different jobs in sentences.

Some problems of case: 1. In compound structures, where there are two pronouns or a noun and a pronoun, drop the other noun for a moment. Then you can see which case you want. INCORRECT: Bob and me travel a good deal. (Would you say, "me travel"?) CORRECT: Bob and I travel a good deal. (Also, note the use third person plural pronoun and verb (travel): In other words: They travel a good deal.

He is taller than I (not me) (He is taller than I am tall). Comparisons Comparisons usually follow than or as: He is taller than I (not me) (He is taller than I am tall). This helps you as much as me. (This helps you as much as it helps me.) She is as noisy as I (She is as noisy as I am). Comparisons are really “shorthand:” they omit implied words, usually verbs.

In formal and semiformal writing: Use the subjective form after a form of the verb to be. FORMAL: It is I. INFORMAL: It is me. Use whom in the objective case. FORMAL: To whom am I talking? INFORMAL: Who am I talking to? Use FORMAL language in ACADEMIC writing!

Faulty Pronoun Reference Do not fall into the trap of using objective case pronouns when subject pronouns are needed. Examples:        

PERSONAL PRONOUNS WITH NOUN SUBJECTS You must also remember to use subjective case pronouns when a pronoun is used along with a noun subject. Example (CORRECT):

Personal Pronouns as Subjective Complements Finally, you must use a subjective case pronoun when the pronoun functions as a subjective complement. What is a subjective complement? A subjective complement answers the question who or what after a form of the verb to be.  A subjective complement completes the subject. Or, in other words, a subjective complement means the same as the subject but follows the verb. Example:

In a subject (noun) complement Use a subjective case pronoun. EXAMPLE:                                 (CORRECT) Do NOT say:

Pronouns with verbals A verbal is a verb form doing the job of a noun or adjective. Two kinds of verbals used with pronouns: gerunds and participles. #1 GERUND – Gerunds end in –ing and act like nouns. NOTE: OBJECTS are nouns or subjective case pronouns.

Gerunds and POSSESSIVE CASE PRONOUNS When nouns or pronouns precede gerunds in sentences, USE THE POSSESSIVE CASE!

Sometimes Sentences can be more complicated:

For more study with self-check exercises http://www.towson.edu/ows/ModuleCASE.htm

TWENTY MOST COMMON WRITING ERRORS At the link below, you'll see a list. To the left of each item is a number. Click on the number to see explanations. http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/nsmhandbook/errors.html

DEADLY SINS IN WRITING PowerPoints & Self-check exercises: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/GRAMMAR/sins.htm

REMINDER Document all studies in your STUDY JOURNAL!

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