Brushing Up on Pronoun Skills

Most students learned pronoun usage a long time ago and many may need a review. Here is a brief exercise to refresh hazy skills. English has three pronoun cases:

 

 

 

Subjective (Nominative) Case
I, we, he, she, it, they, you
Use these pronouns as subjects of verb or as subject complements.

Objective Case
me, us, him, her, it, them, you
Use these pronouns as objects of verb or objects of a preposition.

Possessive Case
my, mine, her, hers, his, it, its, their, theirs, your, yours
Use these pronouns to show possession. Note: No apostrophes!

Three Frequent Pronoun Problems

  1. Compound subjects:  My buddy and I [not me] went shopping. [Ignore “my buddy and”; focus on subject of verb.]
  1. Compound objects:  Send the note to him or me [not I]. [Ignore “him or”; focus on object of preposition.
  1. Confused possessive pronouns: (A)  The bill and its [not it’s] amendments are on file. [Don’t confuse the contraction it is with the possessive pronoun its.]  (B) Ours [not Our’s] is the only team making a presentation. [Possessive pronouns have no apostrophes.]

Underline any pronoun errors in the following sentences. Write a correct form above the error. If the sentence is correct, write C.

  1. Jake asked Erin and I for advice on applying for the internship.
  2. We wondered whether the manager and him would support the changes.
  3. Send all responses to Mark or me before September 1.
  4. The staff and I agreed to replace this computer and it’s peripherals as soon as possible.
  5. Several teams submitted reports on time, but their’s has not been received.
  6. Just between you and me, our company may be sold and relocated.
  7. It was me who placed the order for office supplies.
  8. A new profit-sharing plan was sent to the other employees and I early last year.
  9. Me and my friend are both interested in applying for the same job.
  10. When you finish the annual report, please send it to Franklin and I.
  11. Authorities worried that it’s roof might collapse under the weight of the snow.
  12. If only the president and him would make a decision, we could move forward.
  13. All spam messages coming to him and I are forwarded to appropriate authorities.
  14. Most other offices were repainted, but our’s seems to have been missed.
  15. Emily complained that text messages for her mother and she were garbled.

Pronoun Exercise

Pronoun Exercise Key

 

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