Pronoun case refers to the form a pronoun takes, depending on its function in a sentence. Pronouns can be subjective, objective, or possessive.
subject: the noun/pronoun performing the action in the sentence
Emily wore her red sweater yesterday.
object: the noun/pronoun receiving the action in a sentence
Emily wore her red sweater yesterday.
possessive: the noun/pronoun belonging to someone or something
Emily wore her red sweater yesterday.
Just like nouns, pronouns can be the subject or the object of a sentence. Subjects and objects have different pronouns, both singular and plural.
Common Subject/Object Pronouns
Singular Subject Pronouns
I, you, he/she, it, one, who, whoever
Plural Subject Pronouns
we, you, they, who, whoever
Singular Object Pronouns
Me, you, him/her, it, whom, whomever
Plural Object Pronouns
us, you, them, whom, whomever
The ACT will include questions that require you to determine the appropriate pronoun for a given sentence. For example, imagine the sentence below is on the exam and you’re asked which alternative best expresses the idea in the underlined portion and makes it appropriate for Standard Written English. Consider the following example question.
Example Question
Pablo told Sandy that her and Tom could share the pizza.
A. NO CHANGE B. they C. hers and Tom D. she and Tom
What would you choose? Let’s try each option out.
Example
Explanation
A. NO CHANGE
Pablo told Sandy that her and Tom could share the pizza
🚫 Incorrect
This is incorrect, since her is an object pronoun. Sandy is a subject in this sentence because she is doing something—sharing the pizza with Tom.
B. they
Pablo told Sandy that they could share the pizza.
🚫 Incorrect
It might look grammatically correct, but this one’s also a wrong answer. While they is a plural subject pronoun, it creates confusion—does it mean Sandy and Pablo? Pablo and Tom? All three? This does not best express the idea of the original sentence.
C. hers and Tom
Pablo told Sandy that hers and Tom could share the pizza
🚫 Incorrect
This one’s obviously incorrect because hers can only be used as a possessive pronoun which does not fit the sentence.
D. she and Tom
Pablo told Sandy that she and Tom could share the pizza
✅ Correct
This one’s a winner! The pronoun she is a singular subject pronoun and therefore, agrees with the antecedent subject Sandy.
How Will the Test Try to Trick You?
I vs. me
“I” is a subject pronoun; “I” performs an action
My dad and Iwent to the movies.
“me” is an object pronoun; “me” receives an action
When we got to the movies, the attendant gave my dad and me tickets.
we vs. us
“we” is a subject pronoun; “we” perform an action
Soon, wewere watching the previews.
“us” is an object pronoun; “us” receives an action
Before the movie began, the attendant gave the other moviegoers and us popcorn for free.
he/she vs. him/her
“he/she” are subject pronouns; “he/she” perform an action
Joshua and shemet at the library.
“him/her” are object pronouns; “him/her” receive an action
The musician gave a copy of his album to her and her friends.
they vs. them
“They” is a subject pronoun; “they” perform an action
When the students found out the game was canceled, they retreated to their dorms.
“them” are object pronouns; “them” receives an action
Soon, the students found out the refunds would be given to the season ticket holders and [to] them in a couple of days.
Weird example that proves the English language is crazy: IF the pronoun is BOTH the object of a preposition AND the subject of a verb—as in this case—the verb ALWAYS WINS.
Give the book to whoeverasks for it first.
He asks for the book. Therefore, whoever, a subject pronoun, is correct.
Tips and Strategies
Confused about which pronoun to use?
Try each pronoun individually by removing the other noun.
One will result in a grammatically correct sentence and the other will not.
My dad and I/me went to the movies.
🚫 Incorrect: Me went to the movies. ✅ Correct: I went to the movies.
When we got to the movies, the attendant gave my dad and I/me tickets.
🚫 Incorrect: When we got to the movies, the attendant gaveItickets.
✅ Correct: When we got to the movies, the attendant gave me tickets.
Joshua and she/her met at the library.
🚫 Incorrect: her met at the library.
✅ Correct: she met at the library.
The musician gave out a copy of his album to he/him and his friends.
🚫 Incorrect: The musician gave out a copy of his album to he.
✅ Correct: The musician gave out a copy of his album to him.
When to use an object pronoun?
When the sentence has a preposition…
UNLESS there is a verb competing for the pronoun.
Example 1 The prizes will be divided among whomever the principal chooses.
The pronoun is the object of the preposition among, so whomever is used.
Example 2 The prize will be awarded to whoever runs faster.
While the pronoun is the object of the preposition to it is also the subject of the verb runs: the subject wins and whoever is used.
Subject or object?
Find the verb
Determine whether the pronoun is doing (subject) or receiving (object) the action.
Example 1 After running the race, (he/him) made sure to drink a lot of fluids.
made sure to drink → Verb phrase
he/him → Subject, doing action
a lot of fluids → Object, receiving action
✅ After running the race, he made sure to drink a lot of fluids.
🚫 After running the race, him made sure to drink a lot of fluids.
Example 2 The celebrity took a selfie with(her/she) fans.
