9. pronoun case Key Concepts Case is characteristic of only two parts of speech: nouns and pronouns. Case is the form of a noun or a pronoun that indicates its use in a sentence. Nominative: The library opens in one hour. (Library is the subject) Objective: There are many resources available in the library. (Library is the object of a preposition) Possessive: The library’s collection of periodicals is extensive. The three cases of personal pronouns are nominative, objective, and possessive. The pronoun forms are different in each case. Nominative Objective Possessive I we me us my, mine our, ours you you you you your, yours your, yours he, she, it they him, her, it them his, her, their, theirs hers, its 9a. Nominative and objective case… 1. Use the nominative case for the subject of a verb, for a predicate nominative, and for the pronoun in a nominative absolute. Subject: They are going to the library. Predicate Nominative: The only one left is he. Nominative Absolute: She having finished her lecture, the students left quietly. 2. Use objective case for the object of any verb, verbal, or preposition, as well as for the object or subject of an infinitive. Direct Object: The ending of the novel greatly surprised me. Indirect Object: Reading the tiny print gave her a headache. Object of Participle: The problems bothering him remained a secret. Object of Gerund: Solving them will not be easy. Object of Infinitive: Graham wanted to show us his new book club membership. Object of Preposition: The mail carrier said that the package was for her. Subject of Infinitive: Carol wants Harry and me to help organize the author’s study group. 3. who, whom Who is the nominative pronoun and should be used as the subject or predicate nominative. Whom is the objective pronoun and should be used as the direct object, indirect object, object of a gerund, participle, or preposition. Simple rule: Who is used in the same positions as he; whom is used in the same positions as him. Subject: Who borrowed my tennis racket without asking? He borrowed my tennis racket without asking. Direct Object: Whom are you taking to prom? You are taking him to prom. Indirect Object: To whom did the President reveal his secret? The President revealed his secret to him. 9b. Possessive case… 1. Use the possessive case before gerunds. His objecting to the research caused an uproar. I respect your maintaining an optimistic outlook. Tad resents my using his writing desk. 2. Avoid using an apostrophe with possessive pronouns, which already indicate ownership. Incorrect: our’s, their’s, your’s Correct: ours, theirs, yours 3. Do not confuse a possessive pronoun with a contraction. Possessive Pronoun: The vivid print had retained its clarity. Contraction: It’s wise to proofread your report. All material on this page borrowed for education use only from Writing and Grammar: Communication in Action: Ruby Level. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc, 2001.

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