Fixing Grammar Errors
Incorrect Pronoun Case
What’s the Problem?
Quick Fix
Always use the nominative case
after a linking verb.
A. A pronoun that follows a linking
verb is in the wrong case.
The funniest student in school is
him.
The funniest student in school is he.
OR
Reword the sentence.
He is the funniest student in school.
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B. A pronoun used as the object of a
preposition is not in the objective
case.
Geoff tries his jokes out on Marie
and I.
Always use the objective case when
a pronoun is the object of a
preposition.
C. The wrong case is used in a
comparison.
Not even Drew Carey is funnier
than him.
Complete the comparison and use
the appropriate case.
D. Who or whom is used incorrectly.
Use who if the pronoun is a subject,
whom if it is an object.
When we need a laugh, who do we
call? Geoff!
When we need a laugh, whom do we
call? Geoff!
E. A pronoun followed by an
appositive is in the wrong case.
Us students even laugh when
Geoff is being serious.
Mentally eliminate the appositive to
test for the correct case.
Geoff tries his jokes out on Marie
and me.
Not even Drew Carey is funnier than
he (is).
We students even laugh when Geoff
is being serious.
QUICK-FIX GRAMMAR AND STYLE CHARTS
QF6