Pronoun Case Tricks Flashcards
Who and Whom in the interrogative form:
Who / Whom is you favorite athlete
Verb =
Subject of the verb =
Who/Whom =
Verb = is
Subject = who
Who is correct -
“subjective form not objective form whom”
Tricky!
Using the pronouns “who” and “whom”
“Who is used in the subjective case and must be used as the subject of a verb.”
“Whom is in the objective case and must be used as the direct object of a verb or as the object of a preposition.”
Tip!
Find the verb and ask yourself “who or what is the subject of the verb?”
Examples to follow
Who and Whom in the interrogative form:
Who/whom did you invite to the party?
Verb =
Subject of the verb =
Who/Whom =?
Verb = invite
Subject = you
Whom is correct
Since “you” is the object of the verb, who/whom is the object of the verb - thus “whom” the objective is correct
Who and Whom in the Relative form:
She is the one (who/whom) painted that picture.
Verb =
Object of the verb =
Who / whom ?
Verb = painted
Object = picture
Subject of the verb = Who is correct as its in the subjective case and not the objective.
Who is used as a relative pronoun and introduces the subordinate clause.
Who and Whom in the Relative form:
She is the one (who/whom) I love.
Verb =
Subject of the verb =
Who/whom introduces the subordinate clause - (?) I love
Verb = love
Subject = I
Whom is correct as it is objective - the object of the verb.
Review!
Look at the clause in which (who/whom) appears - then find the verb - then the subject of the verb
If the subject is who or whom use “who”
If the subject is NOT who or whom, use “whom”
Tricky!
Choosing the right pronoun in elliptical clauses beginning with “than” or “as”
Remember!
An elliptical clause is a clause from which a few words have been omitted since the clause is understandable without those words.
Tip!
When a pronoun has been used in this kind of clause, fill in the omitted words.
Tip! - elliptical clauses
If the pronoun is the subject of the omitted verb, use the subjective case.
If the pronoun is the object of the omitted verb, use the objective case
“Than” and “as” are the tell tail sign that some words have been omitted.
Choosing the right pronoun in the elliptical clauses:
John is a better dancer than (I, me)
What is the missing verb ?
What is the correct use of (I, me)
John is a better dancer than I “am”
So “I” is the subject of the verb “am”
So - “John is a better dancer than I” is correct
Choosing the right pronoun in the elliptical clauses:
My dog barks at my sister as much as (I, me)
My dog barks at my sister as much as “he barks at” (I, me)
Verb = barks
Object of the verb = me = objective form
My dog barks at my sister as much as me
Choosing the right pronoun in the elliptical clauses:
Donna danced with him more than (I, me)
Donna danced with him more than “she danced with” (I, me)
Verb = danced Subject = she Object = me = objective form
Donna danced with him more than me
Tricky!
When a pronoun is used in compound subject or compound object.
Remember!
Use the same case as if the subject or object were not compound.
Tip!
Break the sentence into two sentences and choose the pronoun that sounds correct.
Choosing the right pronoun with a compound subject / object:
(She, her) and Robert spent the winter holiday in Prague
Compound subject so use subjective case
She is the correct use
Choosing the right pronoun with a compound subject / object:
Johns father threw a party for Lana a (he, him)
Compound object so use the objective form
him is the correct use
Tricky case questions:
No one in my town knows as much about local history as (I, me)
Hint - Elliptical clause - it contains “as” at the end
Fill in missing verb
No one in my town knows as much about local history as I “do”
Subject = I = subjective form
No one in my town knows as much about local history as I
