CHALLENGING USE OF CASES OF PRONOUNS

CASE shows the relation of the noun or pronoun to the rest of the sentence

Pronouns in Compounds

In sentences that use two pronouns or a noun and a pronoun together, it's easy to become confused
about which pronoun to use. If you're not sure which one is correct, consider whether it's part of the
subject (doing the action) or part of the object (either receiving the action or after a preposition).
Sometimes a pronoun may sound right to you, but you can't always trust your ears. Be especially careful
with I and me, which are two of the most common offenders.

Common Error #1: Using Object Pronouns in Place of Subject Pronouns

Jesse and me went to school.

Him and me bought a new puppy last week.

Me and them took the bus.

Jesse and I went to school

He and I bought a new puppy last week

We took the bus

Notice how in the last example it would sound strange to say they and I, so the best solution is to
combine the two pronouns into the single pronoun we.

Common Error #2: Using Subject Pronouns in Place of Object Pronouns

INCORRECT CORRECT

He met Jeremy and I. He met Jeremy and me.

Nancy hit Will and I. Nancy hit Will and me.

Is that hot fudge sundae for Carlos and I? Is that hot fudge sundae for Carlos and me?

My brother sat right between you and I. My brother sat right between you and me.

The last two examples use object pronouns because they come after prepositions (for and between).
Pronouns Before Nouns

Sometimes for clarity or emphasis, writers use a pronoun and a noun together. People often use an
object pronoun when they mean to use a subject pronoun, and vice versa.

INCORRECT CORRECT

Us writers enjoy writing fiction. We writers enjoy writing fiction.

The teacher explained the lesson to we students. The teacher explained the lesson to us students.

Pronouns After Than or As

When sentences use than or as to compare, it can be difficult to choose the correct pronoun.

INCORRECT CORRECT

Diana is a better speller than me. Diana is a better speller than I.

He knows a lot more than her. He knows a lot more than she.

She plays basketball just as well as me. She plays basketball just as well as I.

We grew as much as them. We grew as much as they.

In sentences with than or as, different pronouns can create different meanings.

Imaginary monsters scare my little brothers more than (they scare) me.

(The monsters don't scare me as much as they scare my little brothers.)

Imaginary monsters scare my little brothers more than I (scare them).

(I don't scare my little brothers as much as the monsters do.)

She likes him as much as (she likes) me.

(She likes both him and me equally.)

She likes him as much as I (do).

(Both she and I like him the same amount.)