Billie Call Christian Institute

1st Marking Period Lecture Notes

Grade 12 English Grammar
The Cases of Personal Pronouns.

A pronoun is a word, which stands in place of a noun. A pronoun, therefore, shares many grammatical
qualities with a noun. This means a pronoun can occur in the same parts of the sentence as a noun can.
Pronouns that refer to persons or things are called personal pronouns. Personal pronouns have three cases or
forms. The three cases are called nominative, objective, and possessive. The case of a personal pronoun
depends on the pronoun’s function in a sentence-that is whether it is a subject, a complement, an object of a
preposition, or a replacement for possessive nouns.

Below is the table classifying the different forms of personal pronouns.

Nominative Objective Possessive Reflexive
First-person singular I Me mine Myself
Second person singular you You yours Yourself
Third person singular He Him His Himself
She Her Hers Herself
It It its Itself
First-person plural we Us Our/ours Ourselves
Second person plural you You Your/yours Yourselves
Third person plural they Them Their/theirs Themselves

The Nominative Case

Pronouns in the nominative case function as the subject of the verb. Nominative case pronouns are also
referred to as subject pronouns.
Example:
I solved the problem. (I is the subject of the verb solved).
Princess and she cleaned the house. (Princess and she are the compound subjects of cleaned).
They are set for the interview.
When both parts of the compound sentence are pronouns, you may not be sure which form to use.
Example: (She, Her) and (I, Me) studied for the test.
To choose the correct form, try each pronoun separately from the verb.
Separately: She studied for the test. I studied for the test. [Her studied for the test and me studying for the
test is grammatically erroneous.]
Together: She and I studied for the test.
Using we and they as the parts of a compound subject sound awkward to you, even though doing so is
correct. If so you can revise the sentence to make sound good.
Original: We and they will go to the movie.
Revised: We will go to the movie with them.

Exercise 1: Using Personal Pronouns in the nominative case to complete sentences.

Direction: Supply a personal pronoun for each blank in the following sentences. Vary your pronouns. Do
not use it.
1. The judge and _____ studied the evidence.
2. Ted and _____ took the wrong train.
3. Linda and _____ are planning a party.
 4. Either Julius or ____ will give you a ride.
5. ___ and ___ have been rivals for years.
6. ____ Students are having a Science fair.
7. I am sure ___ knew about the meeting.
8. Soon, ____ and ____ will be graduating.
9. Did you know that ____ and ____ saw Melisa Dopoe at Farmington Hotel last Friday?
10. ___ and ___ love those little Chinese dumplings served at Dim Sun Restaurants.

Exercise 2: Writing sentences with personal pronouns in the nominative case.

Direction: Use the following subjects in sentences of your own.
1. We teenagers
2. The other shoppers and I
3. He and his friends
4. Liz, Michelle, and She
5. They and their classmates.

Pronouns in the nominative case also function as a predicate nominative. A predicate nominative is a noun
or pronoun that follows a linking verb and explains or renames the subject of the sentence. A pronoun used
as a predicate nominative always follows a form of the verb be or a verb phrase ending in be or be.
Common verbs of Be: Predicate nominative:
Am I
Is, are he
Was, were she
Maybe, can be, will be, etc we
Has been, have been, had been, may have been, etc you
Should be, could be, would be they

Example:
It was I who took the message.
The winner might be he.
Could the caller have been she?

Note:
In casual conversation, expressions such as it’s me and that’s her, are acceptable. Avoid them in more formal
speaking situations such as job interviews, and speech presentations. In your written work, don’t use them
unless you are creating casual conversation in dialogue.

Exercise 3: Using predicate nominatives in sentences.

Complete each of the following sentences by supplying the pronoun called for in parenthesis.
1. Do you think it was _____? ( third-person singular, masculine)
2. It must have been _____. (third-person singular, feminine)
3. Good friends are ______. (third-person plural)
4. The pranksters were _____. (first person plural)
5. It was ______ at the door. (third-person plural)
Exercise 4: Using pronouns in the nominative case correctly in a paragraph.
For each numbered blank in the following paragraph, supply an appropriate personal pronoun. Do not
use you or it.

[1]____ tenth-grade students are determined to win this year’s “Save the Earth” trophy at our school. The
two most enthusiastic people in our class are probably Pilar and [2] ___. I guess that’s why Mrs. Nakammura
asked if [3] ___ and [4] ___ would organize the paper drive by ourselves. Pilar explained to the class that if
[5] ____ Americans recycled only our Sunday newspapers, half a million trees would have been saved every
Sunday! To illustrate her point, she showed this photo. That’s [6] ____ standing next to 580 pounds of
paper_ the amount an average American uses in one year. [7] ___ have gathered some other facts to inspire
our classmates to recycle. Our friend Ben said that [8] ___ and his mother heard on the radio that the average
American uses 1,500 aluminum drink cans every year. [9] ___ were amazed to learn that the energy saved
from recycling just one aluminum can could keep a TV set running for three hours! No matter who wins the
trophy, it will definitely be [10] who share the prize of a cleaner, healthier planet.

The Objective Case

Pronouns in the objective case are used as direct objects, indirect objects, and objects of the prepositions.

Direct objects and indirect objects are in the objective case.

A direct object is a noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb or shows the result of the action.

Example:
Coach Johnson has been training us
The coach has turned them into the best team in the state.

An indirect object is a noun or pronoun that tells to whom or for whom the action of the verb is done.

Example:
Georgina paid him a compliment.
Carlos saved me a seat in the front row.
When the direct object or an indirect object is compound, try each pronoun separately with the verb. For the
sentence to be correct, all parts of the compound must be correct.

Example:
The news surprised them and we.
The news surprised them is correct.
The news that surprised we is incorrect.
Answer: The news surprised them and us.

Example:
Bao showed her and I pictures of Vietnam.
Bao showed her pictures of Vietnam is correct.
Bao showed I pictures of Vietnam is incorrect.
Answer: Bao showed her and me pictures of Vietnam.

Exercise 5: Using pronouns in the objective case to complete sentences.

Supply a personal pronoun for each blank in the following sentences. Use a variety of pronouns. Do not
use you or it.
1. The old sailor warned ____ about the danger.
2. The city awarded _____ its highest honor for their bravery in rescuing earthquake victims.
3. You could ask Deborah or _____.
4. The crowd cheered _____ heartily.
5. Make sure that you ask ____ what her Social Security number is.
6. The shark in the movie didn’t scare ____ at all.
7. How can I recognize ____?
8. We saw Norman and ____ in their horse costume at the party.
9. Did you give Paula and ____ their assignment?
10. I bought my father and ____ identical birthday presents this year.

The object of a preposition is in the objective case.

A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun called the object of the
preposition.
Example:
to them for her and us with him
When the object of a preposition is compound, try each pronoun separately in the prepositional phrase.
Nonstandard: Gwen wrote to her and I. [Gwen wrote to her is correct. Gwen wrote to I is incorrect.]
Standard: Gwen wrote to her and me.

Note:
Using incorrect pronoun forms after the prepositional between and for is a common error. The pronouns after
these prepositions should be in the objective case.
Incorrect: between you and I, for she and they
Correct: between you and me, for her and them.

Exercise 6: Identifying the correct pronoun forms for objects of the prepositions.
Identify the correct pronoun in the parenthesis in the following sentences.
1. The referee called fouls on (he, him) and (I, me)
2. Maggie is off fishing with Grandpa and (he, him)
3. We didn’t want to leave without you and ( she, her)
4. They assigned the same lab equipment to (they, them) and (we, us)
5. After Christina wrote the name of the students, she handed the list to Benedictta and ( I, me)
6. Everyone but Kelvin and (she, her) thinks Frank Lobo is the best sports commentator in Liberia.
7. The Duke directed a haughty sneer at the jester and (he, him)
8. The player tried to dodge between Sherrie and (I, me)
9. The wary skunk circled (she, her) and (I, me)
10. Uncle T will get the details from you and (she, her)

Possessive Cases of most personal pronouns have two forms:

Possessive Adjective and Possessive pronouns
Possessive adjectives are used to show possession/relation. My, our, your, yours, her, his, its, their, theirs.
they are possessive adjectives because they come with a noun and modify them.
This is my bike.
Those are your bikes
That is her bike.

Possessive pronouns- just like possessive adjectives, possessive pronouns also show possession.
E.g. mine, ours, yours, his, hers, theirs
The bag is mine.
Those balls are yours.
Possessive adjectives are always followed by a noun or noun equivalent. It’s never used without a noun. On
the other hand, a possessive pronoun can never qualify a noun (as a possessive pronoun is already used in
place of a noun).
1. Never spell possessive personal pronouns with apostrophes.
Example:
This wrist brace is hers.
The cooler is theirs.
That one is yours.

It’s a contraction for it is or it has. Don’t confuse it’s with the possessive pronouns its.
Example: It’s too late to play tens. Give me the racket and its case.

2. Use possessive pronouns before gerunds (-ing forms used as nouns).

Example:
I don’t like his calling the shots.
Our objecting would do no good.

Special problems in pronoun usage (using who and whom)

Nominative case --------------------------------- who, whoever
Objective case ----------------------------------- whom, whomever
In spoken English, the uses of whom is gradually wearing out. Nowadays, it’s acceptable to begin a question
with who regardless of whether the nominative or objective form is grammatically correct. In writing, it’s
still important to distinguish between who and whom.
The use of whom and who depends on in a subordinate clause depends on how the pronoun functions in the
clause.
Follow these steps to decide the use of who or whom in a subordinate clause.
Step 1: Find the subordinate clause
Step 2: determine how the pronoun is used in the clause_ as subject, predicate nominative, direct object,
indirect object, or object of the preposition.
Step 3: Determine the case of the pronoun according to the rules of Standard English accordingly.
Step 4: Select the correct form of the pronoun.

Example: Roscoe is the only student (who, whom) got a perfect score.
Step 1: The subordinate clause is (who, whom) got a perfect score.
Step 2: In this clause, the pronoun is the subject of the verb got.
Step 3: As a subject, the pronoun should be in the nominative case.
Step 4: The nominative form is who
Answer: Roscoe is the only student who got a perfect score.

Example: Do you know (who, whom) she is?

Step 1: The subordinate clause is (who, whom) she is.
Step 2: In this case, the pronoun (who, whom) is the predicate nominative: she is (who, whom).
Step 3: A pronoun used as a predicate nominative should be in the nominative case.
Step 4: The nominative form is who.
Answer: Do you know who she is?

Example: I saw Sarbina, (who, whom) I know from school.

Step 1: The subordinate clause (who, whom) I know from school.
Step 2: In this clause the pronoun is the direct object of the verb know: I know (who, whom)
Step 3: As a direct object, the pronoun should be in the objective case.
Step 4: The objective form is whom.
Answer: I saw Sarbina, whom I know from school.
Remember that no words outside the subordinate clause affect the case of the pronoun. In the second
example above, the whole clause who she is the direct object of the verb in the independent clause, do know.
In the subordinate clause, though, who is used as a predicate nominative, which takes the nominative case.

Appositives
Pronouns used as appositives should be in the same case as the world they refer to.
An appositive is a noun or pronoun given with another noun or pronoun to identify or explain it.

Example:
The late arrivals, she, he, and I missed the first act. (The pronouns are in the nominative case because they
are in apposition with the subject arrivals).
The co-captains should be the best bowlers, he and she. (The pronouns are in the nominative case because
they are in apposition with the predicate nominative, bowlers).
The article mentions the winners, her and me. (The pronouns are in the objective case because they
apposition to the direct object winners).
Miss. Lee gave the debaters, them and us, name tags. (The pronouns are in the objective case because they
are in apposition with the indirect object debaters).
The finalists were narrowed to two, him and her. (The pronouns are in the objective case because they are
in apposition with the object of the preposition two)

The pronouns we and us are sometimes used with noun appositives.

Example:
We sophomores raised the money for the charity. [The pronoun is in the nominative case because it is the
subject of the sentence.
The judges awarded us, members of the jazz band, a superior rating. [The pronoun is in the objective case it
is the indirect object of the verb awarded.]
To decide which form is correct for a pronoun used as an appositive or with an appositive, read the sentence
with only the pronoun.

Example:
Coach Karas congratulated the two starting forwards, Angela and (I, me)
(We, us) girls made the playoffs.

Exercise 7: Selecting Pronouns to complete sentences correctly.

Choose the correct pronoun in the parenthesis in each of the following sentences. Then, tell whether each
is used as a subject, a predicate nominative, a direct object, an indirect object, an object of a preposition,
or an appositive.
1. The two winners, Sean and (she, her) received huge green ribbons decorated with shamrocks.
2. Will Barbra and (she, her) run to the concession stand?
3. The coach asked you and (I, me) to help bring the equipment.
4. Becky and (she, her) rode their bikes to the meeting.
5. The Lightening crew for the play was Manuel and (I, me).
6. They treat (whoever, whomever) they hire very well.
7. I think it was Denzel Washington and (he, him) who starred in glory.
8. They met Jennie and (she, her) at the airport.
9. Ramsey Noah and Jim Iyke are famous Nollywood actors (who, whom) fans followed on the daily
basics.
10. I think the people who were costumed as pirates are (they, them).

Inexact Pronoun Reference

A pronoun should always refer clearly to its antecedent.
Avoid an ambiguous reference. In an ambiguous reference, the pronoun can refer either to two
antecedents.
AMBIGUOUS: Melisa called Patience while she was at the Library. (Who was at the Library, Melisa or
Patience?).
CLEAR: While Melisa was at the Library, she called Patience.
CLEAR: While Patience was at the Library, Melisa called her.
AMBIGUOUS: After viewing Roy’s paintings and Elton’s sculpture, the judges awarded Elton his work the
blue ribbon. (Whose work won the blue ribbon?).
CLEAR: The judges awarded Elton the blue ribbon after viewing his sculpture and Roy’s paintings.
CLEAR: The judges awarded Roy the blue ribbon after viewing his paintings and Elton’s sculpture.

Be sure that each pronoun you use has a specifically stated antecedent.
The pronouns it this, that, which, and such are often used to refer to a general idea rather than a specific one.
Using these pronouns in this way can lead to general reference errors.
GENERAL: Paul has a job interview after school today that explains why Paul is all dressed up. (No specific
antecedent for that).
CLEAR: Paul is all dressed up because he has a job interview after school today.
CLEAR: The reason that Paul is all dressed up is that he has a job interview after school today.

Tenses of verb
Tenses have often been mistaken to mean time. However, tense does not mean time; it is only the form verb
that shows the time of the action. There are twelve tenses of verbs that are placed in three categories: the
simple tenses, the perfect tenses, and the progressive tenses.
The simple present tense
It is used to express habitual actions, general truths, or statements.
Examples:
i. I go to school five times a week
ii. She comes to visit us every weekend.
iii. The pastor preaches the truth.
iv. Travel and Godoe do not accept responsibilities.
v. Snakes are reptiles.
vi. It is usually hot during dry seasons.
vii. The earth is spherical.
viii. The students are taught by qualified teachers.

Present continuous/Progressive tense

This indicates that an action is still going on at the time of speaking or writing. In other words, the speaker or
writer mentions the action while it is still ongoing. A primary auxiliary verb is used with the ing form of the
main verbs.
Examples:
i. The teacher is teaching now.
ii. The students are being moderate.(passive voice)

Present perfect tense

This shows that an action that started and was completed in the past still has a link with the present. In this
case, the modal auxiliary verbs- has and have are used with the past participle form of the main verb.
Examples:
i. The boys have passes the test.
ii. They have warned the teacher to mind his business.
Present perfect tense also indicates that an action that started in the past has not been concluded.
Example:
i. My husband has gone to church. (He left sometime in the past and has not returned at the time of
speaking).
ii. The plane has arrived (it is still at the airport).

Present perfect progressive/Continuous tense

This expresses an action that began in the past and is still continuing. This should not be confused with
present continuous tense which is on at the time of speaking. In the present perfect continuous tense, the
action may not be going on at the moment of writing or speaking or speaking, it only shows that an action
has not been concluded.
Examples:
i. I have been teaching for nine years. (I may not be in class teaching at the moment).
ii. He has been building his house since last year. (He may not be building the house at the moment).

Simple Past Tense

This shows that an action started and was completed in the past. It also indicates a past habit in which the
person being referred to is no more involved.
Examples:
i. Saywala passed the last stage of the examination last year.
ii. I was employed in 2008 (passive voice)
iii. He used to travel home and abroad when he was working. (he stopped traveling abroad).
iv. She always stole before she became a Christian (she is no more stealing). Past
continuous/progressive perfect tense

It is used to express the following:

1. An action that was going on in the past, at a particular time.
2. That is an action that was going on in the past and interrupted by another action.

Examples:
i. I was teaching the students when the principal sent for me.
ii. While the bus was moving, the woman jumped down.
iii. Allison and I were reading for our examination this time last week.

The Past Perfect Tense

It is used to indicate that two or more actions took place in the past but one happened or was completed
before the other(s). The action that happened first is expressed in the past perfect tense while the other action
is expressed in the simple past tense.

Examples:
i. The boy had died before help reached him.
ii. By the time I got to his office, Daddy had left for the meeting.

Past Perfect Continuous Tense

This is used to show that an action had been completed at a particular time in the past that is under discussion
or analysis now.
Examples:
i. We had been praying since 1993 before God intervene in 1998.
ii. The girl had been writing WASSCE for five years before she passed it last year.

Future Tense
The future tense is used to express an action or condition that will occur in the future. You form the future
tense of any verb by using the auxiliary verb shall or will with the base form. I shall study; you will go.
Note: In modern American English, shall is seldom used except for questions in which I or we is the subject.
Shall I call you? Shall you go now?
Example:
i. Daddy will order the supplies.
ii. I will pack the car in the morning.

There are three other ways to express future time besides tense. They are as follows:
1. Use going to with the present tense of be and the base form of the verb.
Example: Patience is going to order the supplies.
2. Used about to with the present tense of be and the base form of a verb.
Example: Patience is about to order the supplies.
3. Use the present tense with an adverb or an adverb phrase that shows a future time.
Examples:
Patience leaves tomorrow.
Patience arrives on tomorrow’s train.

Future Continuous Tense

The future continuous tense, sometimes also referred to as the future progressive tense, is a verb tense that
indicates an action will occur in the future and continue for an expected length of time. It is formed by using
the construction will+be+the present participle (the root verb+-ing).
Examples:
i. The family will be gathering tomorrow.
ii. She will be cooking the meal this evening.

Future perfect tense-

Use the future perfect tense to express one future action or condition that will begin and end before another
future event starts.
You form the future perfect tense by using will have or shall have with the past participle of a verb: will have
practiced, shall have flown.
Example:
i. By September I will have saved fifty dollars. [The money will be saved by the time another future
event, the arrival of September, occurs.]
ii. Before Vivian’s baby is born, I will have made a quilt for the child’s crib. [The quilt will be made
before another future event, the baby’s birth, occurs.]