NAME
for CHAPTER 19: USING PRONOUNS CORRECTLY
CLASS
DATE
pages 521–22
Who and Whom
EXERCISE A Underline the correct pronoun in each of the following sentences.
Example 1. (Who, Whom) is calling?
1. (Who, Whom) did you beat in the first race?
2. To (who, whom) shall I send the application?
3. (Who, Whom) called so early this morning?
4. With (who, whom) did you go to the fiesta?
5. (Who, Whom) was the actor in the mask?
6. (Who, Whom) did Kathy describe the play to yesterday?
7. After dinner, (who, whom) will wash the dishes?
8. (Who, Whom) did Trevor imitate?
9. (Who, Whom) seemed to be the fastest runner?
10. For (who, whom) did you make that card?
EXERCISE B Decide whether the form of who or whom in each sentence is correct. If it is correct, write C
above it. If it is not correct, cross it out and write the correct form above it.
Whom
Example 1. Who are you talking about, Lynn?
11. Who knows what instrument Van Cliburn plays?
12. For who was this library named?
13. Now, whom recorded the song originally?
14. With whom will you sit at the game?
15. To who shall I address this letter?
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ELEMENTS OF LANGUAGE | First Course
Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.
USAGE
The pronoun who has different forms in the nominative and objective cases. Who is the
nominative form. Whom is the objective form. When you are choosing between who or whom
in a question, follow these steps: (1) Rephrase the question as a statement. (2) Decide how
the pronoun is being used. (3) Determine the case of the pronoun. (4) Select the correct
pronoun form.
EXAMPLE (Who,Whom) shall I invite?
Step 1 I shall invite (who, whom).
Step 2 The pronoun is the direct object of invite.
Step 3 A pronoun that is a direct object is in the objective case.
Answer Whom shall I invite?
NAME
for CHAPTER 19: USING PRONOUNS CORRECTLY
CLASS
DATE
pages 523–24
Appositives and Reflexive Pronouns
The reflexive pronouns himself and themselves can be used as objects. Do not use the nonstandard
forms hisself and theirselfs or theirselves in place of himself and themselves.
EXAMPLE Ron saw himself reflected in the huge window. [not hisself ]
EXERCISE A Underline the correct form of the pronoun in parentheses in each of the following
sentences.
Example 1. They couldn’t help (theirselfs, themselves).
1. (We, Us) athletes watch our diets.
2. Mr. Red Cloud told (we, us) Eagle Scouts how to use the Heimlich maneuver.
3. The owner always gives (we, us) clerks overtime pay on Saturdays.
4. The present treasurer took (hisself, himself) out of the election.
5. Before the next show, (we, us) stagehands should get better props.
Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.
6. (We, Us) skaters carried the flag.
7. Ian described (himself, hisself) as patient and dependable.
8. For the past three years, one of (us, we) Monteros has won first place in the county spelling bee.
9. The chaperones talked among (theirselves, themselves) most of the evening.
10. Maybe Kale will ask (we, us) photographers to judge the show.
EXERCISE B Each of the following sentences contains a pronoun error. Cross out each incorrect
pronoun, and write the correct form above it.
themselves
Example 1. The winners earned theirself a trophy.
11. The boys made dinner theirselves.
12. Us computer types enjoy this game.
13. Us seventh graders raised the most money.
14. Did you see Reed put hisself in front of the goal?
15. Danielle read the letter to we girls.
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USAGE
Sometimes a pronoun is followed directly by a noun that identifies the pronoun. Such a noun
is called an appositive. To choose which pronoun to use before an appositive, try each form of
the pronoun without the appositive.
EXAMPLE The crowd cheered (we, us) rodeo clowns.
(The crowd cheered we.)
(The crowd cheered us.)
CORRECT FORM The crowd cheered us rodeo clowns.
NAME
CLASS
for CHAPTER 19: USING PRONOUNS CORRECTLY
DATE
pages 521–24
Special Pronoun Problems
Sometimes a pronoun is followed by an appositive. To choose which pronoun to use before an
appositive, try each form of the pronoun without the appositive.
EXAMPLE We [not Us] seventh graders have the most school spirit.
The reflexive pronouns himself and themselves can be used as objects. Do not use the nonstandard
forms hisself and theirselfs or theirselves in place of himself and themselves.
EXAMPLE The swimmers could have hurt themselves [not theirselves] on those rocks.
EXERCISE A Underline the correct pronoun in parentheses in each of the following sentences.
Example 1. New uniforms will be given to (we, us) volleyball players.
1. Between games the volleyball players went to the sidelines and helped (themselves, theirselves)
to water.
2. (We, Us) soccer players have parents in the stands.
3. After the game, (who, whom) will take you home?
4. To (who, whom) should I serve the ball?
5. The photographer blamed (himself, hisself) for the poor quality of the team photos.
6. The Blue Bees congratulated (theirselfs, themselves) for winning the first game.
7. Despite our loss, (we, us) Fighting Falcons remained positive.
8. (Whom, Who) would be our best player in this game?
9. Lucy, a great spiker, led the rest of (we, us) players to a victory in the second game.
10. The Blue Bees guaranteed (themselves, theirselves) a loss when they got too confident.
EXERCISE B Each of the following sentences contains an error in the use of pronouns. Cross out each
incorrect pronoun, and write the correct form above it.
us
Example 1. She congratulated we students on a job well done.
11. I don’t know whom their coach is.
12. A coach should pride herself or hisself on the good spirit of the players.
13. During the tie-breaking game us setters worked extra hard.
14. In every play I asked myself, “Whom should spike the ball?”
15. Who were the players that set theirselves up for victory?
202
ELEMENTS OF LANGUAGE | First Course
Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.
USAGE
The pronoun who has different forms in the nominative and objective cases. Who is the
nominative form. Whom is the objective form.
EXAMPLE In the Study Buddy program, who will help whom with math?
NAME
for CHAPTER 19: USING PRONOUNS CORRECTLY
CLASS
DATE
pages 511–14
Review A: Nominative Case
EXERCISE A Identify the underlined pronoun in each of the following sentences by writing S for subject
USAGE
or PN for predicate nominative above the pronoun.
PN
Example 1. I was shocked to learn that my secret admirer is you.
1. Harry and I both liked the movie.
2. After lunch, perhaps Klaus and she will help us paint the kitchen.
3. The two finalists were Fatima and I.
4. The only people to speak were they.
5. Without warning, he jumped up and pointed to the witness.
6. Then she showed me how the computer worked.
7. The only judges were Mrs. Okana and he.
8. Susana and we may be late.
9. The two finalists could be Elmore and I.
10. At the curtain call, they took another bow.
EXERCISE B In each of the following sentences, underline the correct pronoun in parentheses.
Example 1. The person who helped me research is (her, she).
Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.
11. This month, my classmates and (I, me) are supposed to write reports about Massachusetts.
12. Yesterday (me, I) read about the Molasses Flood of 1919.
13. The man in the clown costume was (him, he).
14. Charles and (them, they) rented canoes.
15. (Them, They) are the tastiest treats I have ever eaten!
16. The person on the skateboard is (he, him).
17. Before long, Matt and (she, her) had found the lost mine.
18. After the bell had sounded, Julia and (us, we) went home.
19. The top students were Erica and (he, him).
20. I thought that (he, him) would like to borrow my bike.
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