1. Grammar Unit II: Lesson 1.2
Using Subjective
Personal Pronouns
Correctly

2. Personal pronouns SUBJECT PRONOUNS I you she, he, it we they
First Person
Second Person
Third Person
Singular I
you
she, he, it
Plural we
they

3. 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.

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

5. John and I went to the store.
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

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

7. 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 I
If we compare this to math class:
2+2 = 4
Just 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 + 2

8. Subjective pronouns & Linking Verb
The best basketball players = she and I
Or we can reverse the sentence:
She and I = best basketball players
She and I are the best basketball players.

9. 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.

10. Read each sentence and make the correct pronoun choice.
Guided Practice
Read 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).