I. PRONOUN CASE (position/job):
A. SUBJECTIVE (before verb)
He and --- were early.
B. OBJECTIVE (after verb)
The man gave Bob and --- a pen.
C. POSSESSIVE (ownership)
That is --- pen.
That pen is ----
D. REFLEXIVE (reflects subject)
That woman hurt herself.
COMPLETE COMPARISON:
I am as tired as ---.
Bob is taller than ---.
II. POINT OF VIEW
A. FIRST PERSON (speaking)
SUBJECTIVE: I/we
OBJECTIVE: me/us
POSSESSIVE: my/mine, our/ours
REFLEXIVE: myself/ourselves
B. SECOND PERSON (spoken to)
SUBJECTIVE: you/you
OBJECTIVE: you/you
POSSESSIVE: your/yours
REFLEXIVE: yourself/yourselves
C. THIRD PERSON (spoken about)
SUBJECTIVE: he/she/they/it/who
OBJECTIVE: him/her/them/it/whom
POSSESSIVE: his/her/hers/
their/theirs/its/whose
REFLEXIVE: himself/herself/itself/themselves
III. PRONOUN AGREEMENT:
A. SINGULAR NOUNS NEED SINGULAR PRONOUNS
Bob left --- book.
Sally left --- book.
Someone left --- book.
B. PLURAL NOUNS NEED PLURAL PRONOUNS
The students left --- books.
C. AN ESSAY SHOULD BE ALL SINGULAR OR ALL
PLURAL
WRONG:
A student faces many difficulties.
They should work hard.
IV. PRONOUN REFERENCE:
A. USE A NOUN BEFORE A PRONOUN
Bob is my brother. He is tall.
When I lost my dog, they? helped me look for him,
They? say it will rain tomorrow.
B. AMBIGUOUS PRONOUN (two nouns and it’s
unclear which one the pronoun refers to)
Sally told Sue that she? was getting fat.
Sally told Sue that Sue was getting fat.
Or
Sally told Sue that Sally was getting fat.
Sally said, "Sue, you’re getting fat."
Or
Sally said, "Sue, I’m getting fat."