1.Ambiguous reference 2.Broad reference 3.Weak reference Complied by Ms. Terri Yueh

Case of Pronouns The Nominative case The Objective case The Possessive case

1.The Nominative case  Subject of verb, Subject complement Infinitive to be without a subject I will go. I thought he had left the office. No one can do as well as he (can). The persons mentioned were she and Rob. My friend and I went to town. He knows who sent the money. Who do you think called me last night? The best player was thought to be he. The man who James says will be our next governor in the room.

2. The objective case  Object of a verb They invited Mary and me to the party. The chairman appointed three of us girls — Mary, Sue, and me — to the party. Whom do you think we saw last night? He is the boy whom we meet in the party.  Object of a preposition Supplied were sent to them. Whom were you talking to? An excellent report was given by him. Just between you and me, Mary is going to be promoted.  Infinitive to be with subject We thought the guests to be them. She took him to be me.

3. The Possessive case  Possessive adjective My book is on the table. It ’ s time for your car to have its oil changed. Your presentation was great.  Possessive pronoun Theirs is the first car in line. The passport is mine.

Ambiguous reference Amy told her aunt that her money had been stolen. When tourists first arrived in this new resort, the locals thought they were lucky people.

Broad reference Not until the last moment will a man tell his wife about his extramarital affair, and it is a leading cause of divorce. Not until the last moment will a man tell his wife about his extramarital affair; such secrecy is a leading cause of divorce. Not until the last moment will a man tell his wife about his extramarital affair; such belated confessions are a leading cause of divorce. Not until the last moment will a man tell his wife about his extramarital affair; such affairs are a leading cause of divorce.

Weak reference * My father is a chemist. This is a profession I intend to follow. When she thrust a stick into the rat hole, it ran out and bit her. Although the new regulations allow them to do it, high school graduates seldom go abroad for higher education.  High school graduates seldom go abroad for higher education, although the new regulations allow them to do so. The students did not hand in his report on time and because of it was flunked by the teacher.  The students did not hand in his report on time and was therefore flunked by the teacher.

Consistency of Pronoun Reference