Use the Right Type of Pronoun

As you can see in “Pronouns,” there are several types of pronouns — subject pronouns, object pronouns, and possessive pronouns, each of which has a different function.

Subject Pronouns

Subject pronouns serve as the subject of a verb.

For more on subjects, see Chapter 15.

She took my parking space.

I honked my horn.

Object Pronouns

Object pronouns either receive the action of a verb (the object of the verb) or are part of a prepositional phrase (the object of the preposition).

OBJECT OF THE VERB Carolyn asked me to drive. Carolyn gave me the keys.
OBJECT OF THE PREPOSITION Carolyn gave the keys to me.

Possessive Pronouns

Possessive pronouns show ownership. Note that you never need an apostrophe with a possessive pronoun.

Giselle is my best friend.

That jacket is hers.

Certain kinds of sentences can make choosing the right type of pronoun a little more difficult — ones that have compound subjects or objects; ones that make a comparison; and ones where you have to choose between who or whom.

PRONOUNS USED WITH COMPOUND SUBJECTS AND OBJECTS

A compound subject has more than one subject joined by a conjunction such as and or or. A compound object has more than one object joined by a conjunction.

COMPOUND SUBJECT Tim and I work together.
COMPOUND OBJECT Kayla baked the cookies for Jim and me.

To decide what type of pronoun to use in a compound construction, try leaving out the other part of the compound and the conjunction. Then, say the sentence aloud to yourself.

image [Think: I like chili dogs.]

image [Think: The package was for her.]

When you are writing about yourself and others, always put the others first, choosing the correct type of pronoun.

INCORRECT Gene bought the tickets for me and my friends.
CORRECT Gene bought the tickets for my friends and me. [Sentence puts others first and uses the object pronoun, me]

If a pronoun is part of a compound object in a prepositional phrase, use an object pronoun.

Please keep that information just between you and me. [Between you and me is a prepositional phrase, so it uses the object pronoun, me.]

Many people make the mistake of writing between you and I. The correct pronoun is the object pronoun, me.

PRONOUNS USED IN COMPARISONS

Using the wrong type of pronoun in comparisons can give a sentence an unintended meaning. Editing sentences that contain comparisons can be tricky because comparisons often imply words that are not actually included in the sentence.

To find comparisons, look for the words than or as. To decide whether to use a subject or object pronoun in a comparison, try adding the implied words and saying the sentence aloud.

Bill likes Chinese food more than me. [This sentence means Bill likes Chinese food more than he likes me. The implied words after than are he likes.]

Bill likes Chinese food more than I. [This sentence means Bill likes Chinese food more than I like it. The implied word after I is do.]

image [Think: The professor knows more than we know.]

image [Think: Jen likes other professors more than she likes him.]

CHOOSING BETWEEN WHO AND WHOM

Who is always a subject; use it if the pronoun performs an action. Whom is always an object; use it if the pronoun does not perform any action.

WHO = SUBJECT Janis is the friend who introduced me to Billy.
WHOM = OBJECT Billy is the man whom I met last night.

In most cases, for sentences where the pronoun is followed by a verb, use who. When the pronoun is followed by a noun or pronoun, use whom.

image [The pronoun is followed by the verb spoke. Use who.]

image [The pronoun is followed by another pronoun: I. Use whom.]

Whoever is a subject pronoun; whomever is an object pronoun.