business english 2e by mary chapter 04

Use subjective, objective, and possessive pronouns correctly.. Subjective CaseI you he she it we  Pronouns fall into three cases: Objective Case me you him her it us Possessive Case

MARY ELLEN GUFFEY AND CAROLYN M SEEFER

BUSINESS

4

Pronouns

L E A R N I N G O U T C O M E S Level 1

▶ Use subjective, objective, and possessive

pronouns correctly.

▶ Choose the correct pronoun in compound

constructions, comparatives, appositives, reflexives, and following linking verbs.

Subjective Case

I you he she it we

 Pronouns fall into three cases:

Objective Case

me you him her it us

Possessive Case

my, mine your, yours his hers its our, ours

Guidelines for Using Personal Pronouns

 Subjective-case pronouns are used as subjects of verbs.

He was hired for the position last month

We asked about the new policy

They submitted the report on time

Basic Use of the Subjective Case

 Objective-case pronouns are used as objects of verbs and

prepositions

The manager called us

We told them our plans

That delivery is for her.

Object

of verb

Object of preposition

Basic Use of the Objective Case

 When the words between, but, like, and except are

used as prepositions, be sure to use an objective-case pronoun for the object of the preposition

No one but (I or me?) has the combination.

Workers like Brad and (she or her?) are excellent.

Let’s keep this between you and (I or me?).

Basic Use of the Objective Case

 Possessive pronouns show ownership or special relationship

They require NO apostrophes: hers, yours, ours, theirs, its

Hers is the shiny red Jeep

Our report is here; where is yours?

Its hood makes the machine less noisy

Basic Use of the Possessive Case

 Don’t confuse contractions with possessive pronouns

Basic Use of the Possessive Case

There’s a reason for this (There’s = There is) Although it’s late, we must finish (it’s = it is) You’re sure to get the job (You’re = You are)

HINT: Possessive pronouns never

have apostrophes

 Compound Subjects and Objects

 When pronouns appear as compound subjects or objects, ignore

the extra noun or pronoun and related words

Only the manager and I (not me) will

 In statements of comparison, finish the implied comparison in

order to determine pronoun case

No one works harder than she (not her).

(No one works harder than she works.)

Smoking annoys me as much as him.

(Smoking annoys me as much as it annoys

 Comparatives

My husband loves money as much as I.

OR

My husband loves money as much as me.

See the difference?

 Comparatives—Which is Correct?

 Appositives rename or explain

previously mentioned nouns or pronouns.

 When pronouns are used in apposition,

temporarily ignore the appositive

We (not Us) machinists have our

own union.

The lockers are for us (not we) members.

 Appositives

 Reflexive Pronouns end in self or

selves Do not use a reflexive pronoun

unless it refers to a previously stated noun or pronoun in the same sentence

I myself placed the order.

My friend and I (not myself) will apply

The mail is for Lisa and him (not himself)

 Reflexive Pronouns

 When a pronoun follows a linking verb and renames its

antecedent, that pronoun will be in the subjective case

It was he who volunteered.

The caller might have been she

 Subject Complements

TRY YOUR SKILL

Select the correct

pronoun to complete

these sentences.

myself)

applied for the job.

seminar except Sue and (she, her)

TRY YOUR SKILL

Select the correct

Summary of Personal Pronoun Cases

Infinitive to be with subject

L E A R N I N G O U T C O M E S Level 2

▶ Make pronoun references clear, and ensure that

personal pronouns agree with their antecedents in number and gender.

▶ Make personal pronouns agree with subjects joined by

or or nor, indefinite pronouns, collective nouns,

company and organization names, and the adjectives

each and every.

Don told Andrew that he was eligible (To whom does he

refer?)

In some restaurants they require coats and ties (Instead of the

vague pronoun they, use a noun such as the owners or

management.)

 Clear Reference

 Do not use pronouns unless the person or thing referred to,

the antecedent, is clear

One member of the girls’ volleyball team forgot her tennis

shoes (The singular pronoun her refers to the singular antecedent member.)

Several candidates were given their tests at once.

 Number Agreement

 Pronouns must agree in number with the nouns they

represent

The manager and the supervisor discussed their plans for

improving work flow.

 Plural Pronouns

 If a pronoun refers to two nouns joined by and, the pronoun

must be plural

Judy Foster, along with several staff members, took her

vacation in August

One of the male employees had his merit review.

 Antecedent Location

 Disregard phrases that come between a pronoun and the

word to which it refers

Ms Cortez gave her approval (Feminine gender)

Josh parked his truck.

 Gender-Biased Pronouns

 When the gender of the

antecedent is unknown, the use

of common-gender, or masculine pronouns, was accepted in the past

 Sensitive writers today should

avoid common-gender pronouns, which can sound sexist

Common Gender

Every worker is trained for his job

Alternatives

All workers are trained for their jobs.

Every worker is trained for a job.

Every worker is trained for his or her job.

 Gender-Biased Pronouns

Every worker is trained for their job

Why is this unacceptable?

Every worker is trained for their job.

Singular Plural

Number Agreement

 Gender-Biased Pronouns

TRY YOUR SKILL

Select the correct

 Or-nor

 Indefinite pronouns

 Collective nouns

 Company and organization names

 The adjectives each and every

Special Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement Challenges

It was either Matt or Ken who offered his seat.

Neither the supervisor nor the workers expected to see their

salaries increased.

Neither the workers nor the supervisor expected to see his (or her)

 Or-Nor

 When antecedents are joined by or or nor, the pronoun should

agree with the antecedent closest to it

 Indefinite Pronouns

 When they function as antecedents, some indefinite pronouns

are always singular and others are always plural

Always Singular Always Plural

anybody neither both anyone nobody few anything no one many each nothing several either somebody

everybody someone

everyone something

everything

 Indefinite Pronouns Examples

Everyone in the men’s chorus wore his robe.

Somebody left his or her car lights on.

A few of the employees in our company have their own

private parking spaces.

 Collective Nouns

 Words such as jury, faculty, committee, staf, union,

team, flock, and group are considered singular when

they function as a unit.

 Collective nouns can also be plural when the elements

operate separately

The jury rendered its (not their) verdict.

The jury entered the courtroom individually and took their

seats

 Company and Organization Names

 The names of companies and organizations are generally

considered to be singular.

Southwest Airlines is expanding its (not their) routes

Milberg & Weiss changed its (not their) name.

 When each or every precedes a compound subject joined by

and, the subject is considered singular.

 Each and Every

Each player and coach on the men’s team is expected to bring his (not their) own play book [Think: Each single player and each single coach is

expected to bring his own play book.]

When starting a new job, every intern and new employee values his or her (not their) training [Think: Every single intern and every single new

employee values his or her training.]

TRY YOUR SKILL

Select the correct

pronoun(s) to complete

these sentences.

Either Max or his employees will have (his, his

or her, their) requests approved.

Either his employees or Max will have (his, his

or her, their) request approved.

Someone stills need to cast (his, his or her, their) vote

Target plans to lower (its, their) prices

TRY YOUR SKILL

Select the correct

pronoun(s) to complete

these sentences.

(his, his or her, their) own company car.

THINK: Every single manager and

every single sales rep is provided his or her own company car.

L E A R N I N G O U T C O M E S Level 3

▶ Understand the functions of who, whom,

whoever, and whomever, and follow a five-step

procedure in using these words correctly.

▶ Use the possessive pronoun whose and the

contraction who’s correctly.

Who/Whom and Whoever/Whomever

Pronoun Case Uses

Who Whoever

Subjective Subjects and subject

complements

Whom Whomever

Objective Objects of verbs and

prepositions

Five Steps for Choosing Between Who and Whom

normal subject-verb-object order.

and the objective pronoun him with whom

replace he with who to complete sentence.

If the sentence sounds correct with him, replace him with whom to complete

Choosing Between Who and Whom

Alex is the student (who/whom) won the competition

Choosing Between Who and Whom

Sam is the one (who/whom) we want

TRY YOUR SKILL

Select the correct

Choosing Between Who and Whom With Intervening Phrases

When choosing between who and whom, mentally ignore parenthetical

phrases such as

I hope, we think, I believe, they said, and you know.

Hire the intern who you think is best.

Intervening Phrases Example

Hire the intern (who/whom) you think is best

Choosing Between Whoever and Whomever

 Use the five-step method to choose between whoever and

whomever.

 Clauses containing whoever/ whomever often function as

subjects or objects in sentences

 When the entire clause acts as a subject or object, determine

how whoever/ whomever functions within that clause

Those supplies are for whoever

ordered them

Choosing Between Whoever and Whomever

Those supplies are for (whoever/whomever) ordered them

Not needed

(whoever/whomever) you want

you want him you want whomever Please interview whomever you want

Choosing Between Whoever and Whomever

Please interview (whoever/whomever) you want

you want (whoever/whomever)

Pronoun Function Apostrophe

Whose Possessive pronoun No (neither do other

possessive pronouns)

Who’s Contraction meaning who is

or who has

Yes

Whose/Who’s Examples

She said she knows whose car that is.

Whose book is this?

Who’s going to be the first volunteer?

Guess who’s coming to dinner.

TRY YOUR SKILL

Select the correct

TRY YOUR SKILL

Select the correct

pronoun to complete

these sentences.

(whose, who’s) at risk for diabetes.

“What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure.”

– Samuel Johnson, English writer/critic/editor (1709-1784)