Personal pronouns have three cases: the nominative case, the objective case, and the possessive case.

The Nominative Case

1. A pronoun is in the nominative case when it acts as the SUBJECT OF THE VERB.
They nominated Vincent.
We finally granted their request.
She and her sister are planning a surprise party.

2. A pronoun is also in the nominative case when it is used as a PREDICATE NOMINATIVE (also known
as subject complement) after any form of the verb be (am, is, are, was, were, been) and other linking verbs.
The architect of that mansion is she.
The advocates of this program are they.
It was I. It wasn’t they.

3. A pronoun is in the nominative case when it is used as the APPOSITIVE of the subject of the verb or the
appositive of the predicate nominative (also known as subject complement).
Two students – he and I – will receive awards for good behavior.
We girls must have more drive in life.
The class valedictorians are two girls, Mary and I.

Exercise 1. Read the sentence carefully and identify how the underlined pronouns in the nominative case are used.

a. subject of the verb b. predicate nominative c. appositive

_____ 1. Susan and I astonished the teachers with our project.

_____ 2. Intrigued by the reports, she wanted to meet the star of the school.
_____ 3. The candidates for the student council, they who are on the stage, promise to donate playground equipment
this year.
_____ 4. The speaker is she in embroidered barong.
_____ 5. Our guides, Christopher and she, demanded obedience from us.
_____ 6. Simeon and I have been close friends since high school.
_____ 7. It has been they who supplied our needs.
_____ 8. The applicants, April and he, were readily accepted.
_____ 9. The interviewers were we during the first three sessions.
_____ 10. In front of the Hall of Justice, Josephine and I waited for the van to pick us up.

The Objective Case

1. The objective case is used as DIRECT OBJECT OF A VERB.
Mother summoned Marc and me.
Mrs. Palacios invited the boys and us.

2. The objective case is used as INDIRECT OBJECT OF A VERB.

The chef served Annie and me a sumptuous dinner.
A mailman handed Rachel and him a heavy package.

3. The objective case is used as OBJECT OF THE PREPOSITION.

 The teacher complains that his students have never reported to him.
Without them, this project would not have been completed.
The committee members discussed their plans with Mercy Ann and me.

4. The objective case is used as SUBJECT OF THE INFINITIVE.

Rex asked her to deliver the package.
Mercedes required her students and me to report to school on Saturday.
Would you like them to sing for you?

5. The objective case is used as OBJECT OF AN INFINITIVE.

We found the culprit to be him.
The carpenter offered to help us.

6. The objective case is used as an APPOSITIVE of a noun in the objective case.

The policeman helped old people, Mr. and Mrs. Santos and me, cross the street. (me is the
appositive of the direct object people)

We owe a debt of gratitude to just two women: Atty. Morales and her. (her is the appositive of the
object of the preposition women)

We handed the interns, Dr. Porras and him, the bill for occupying the apartment. (him is the
appositive of the indirect object interns)

Exercise 2. Read the sentence carefully and identify how the underlined pronouns in the objective case are used.

a. Direct object c. subject of the infinitive

b. Indirect object d. object of the infinitive
c. Object of the preposition e. appositive of the object

_____ 1. The interior decorator suggested us to the select the wallpaper.

_____ 2. We are generously offering this not only to our aunts and uncles but especially to them.
_____ 3. The waiter at Jollibee handed us the package left on the counter.
_____ 4. Accidentally, we saw the balikbayans, Rex and them, shopping at Robinson’s.
_____ 5. If the food came on time, the committee would have served them a hot meal.
_____ 6. Her parents gave her their full attention.
_____ 7. The dolls were a present from them.
_____ 8. The editor told me to write my views.
_____ 9. With gusto, we gobbled it.
_____ 10. The kidnappers called them on a payphone.
_____ 11. While their parents were gone, Mr. and Mrs. Teodosio took care of their grandchildren, Robert and me.
_____ 12. Edison coached him in English.
_____ 13. The committee decided to ostracize us from the club.
_____ 14. Near them was seated a strange fellow.
_____ 15. The court ordered me to pay for the victim’s hospitalization fees.

The Possessive Case

1. The possessive case is used to show possession or ownership. (Possessive pronouns followed by nouns are
also called possessive adjectives)
Their car is in the repair shop.
Of course, the enemy would not divulge his secret weapon.
This book is hers.