The personal pronouns in the following chart change what is known as case form according to their grammatical function in a sentence. Pronouns functioning as subjects or subject complements appear in the subjective case; those functioning as objects appear in the objective case; and those showing ownership appear in the possessive case.

Pronouns in the subjective and objective cases are frequently confused. Most of the rules in this section specify when to use one or the other of these cases (I or me, he or him, and so on). See below for a special use of pronouns and nouns in the possessive case.

Subjective case (I, you, he, she, it, we, they)

When a pronoun is used as a subject complement (a word following a linking verb), your ear may mislead you, since the incorrect form is frequently heard in casual speech.

If kidnapper was he seems too stilted, rewrite the sentence: During the Lindbergh trial, Bruno Hauptmann repeatedly denied that he was the kidnapper.

Objective case (me, you, him, her, it, us, them)

When a personal pronoun is used as a direct object, an indirect object, or the object of a preposition, it must be in the objective case.

Compound word groups

When a subject or an object appears as part of a compound structure, you may occasionally become confused. To test for the correct pronoun, mentally strip away all of the compound word group except the pronoun in question.

Her mother and her is the direct object of the verb was insulting. Strip away the words her mother and to hear the correct pronoun: was insulting her (not was insulting she).

When a pronoun functions as a subject or a subject complement, it must be in the subjective case.

Her father and me is the object of the preposition for. Strip away the words her father and to test for the correct pronoun: for me (not for I).

When in doubt about the correct pronoun, some writers try to avoid making the choice by using a reflexive pronoun such as myself. Using a reflexive pronoun in such situations is nonstandard.

My cousin and me is the indirect object of the verb gave.

Appositives

Appositives are noun phrases that rename nouns or pronouns. A pronoun used as an appositive has the same function (usually subject or object) as the word(s) it renames.

The appositive Dr. Bell and I renames the subject, managers. Test: I could not agree (not me could not agree).

The appositive the bicyclist and me renames the direct object, witnesses. Test: found me (not found I).

Comparisons with than or as

When a comparison begins with than or as, your choice of a pronoun will depend on your intended meaning. To test for the correct pronoun, mentally complete the sentence: My roommate likes football more than I [do].

We is the subject of the verb are, which is understood: Canadians are better off than we [are]. If the correct English seems too formal, you can always add the verb.

This sentence means that we respected no other candidate as much as we respected her. Her is the direct object of the understood verb respected.

We or us before a noun

When deciding whether we or us should precede a noun, choose the pronoun that would be appropriate if the noun were omitted.

No one would say Us would rather fight than move or Management is shortchanging we.

Subjects and objects of infinitives

An infinitive is the word to followed by the base form of a verb. Subjects of infinitives are an exception to the rule that subjects must be in the subjective case. Whenever an infinitive has a subject, it must be in the objective case. Objects of infinitives also are in the objective case.

John and me is the subject of the infinitive to drive; mayor and her is the direct object of the infinitive.

Possessive case to modify a gerund

A pronoun that modifies a gerund or a gerund phrase should be in the possessive case (my, our, your, his, her, its, their). A gerund is a verb form ending in -ing that functions as a noun. Gerunds frequently appear in phrases; when they do, the whole gerund phrase functions as a noun.

Your modifies the gerund phrase being hit by lightning.

Nouns as well as pronouns may modify gerunds. To form the possessive case of a noun, use an apostrophe and an -s (victim’s) or just an apostrophe (victims’).

The possessive noun aristocracy’s modifies the gerund phrase exploiting the lower classes.