Pronoun Case
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Case is the form of a noun or a pronoun that delivers important information. Case tells the reader how the pronoun or noun functions in the sentence.

Cases change according to person (first, second, and third) and according to number (singular and plural):

The subjective case indicates that the pronoun is a subject:  

We do not like chocolate covered pretzels.
("We" is the subject of the sentence and is thus in the subjective case.)

The objective case indicates that the pronoun is an object of a verb or preposition:

We threw him in the pool.
("Him" is the object of the verb and is thus in the objective case.)

The possessive case indicates that the pronoun possesses or is the source of a noun in the sentence:

Zora played her trombone and I played mine.
("Her" and "mine" are pronouns in the possessive and indicate ownership.)

Constructions Prone to Faulty Pronoun Case

• Compound Constructions
• Appositives
• Linking Verbs
• Elliptical Constructions
• Who, Whoever, Whom, and Whomever

Compound Constructions

A compound construction contains more than one subject or object; for example, the sentence "John and Rick ate all the pizza" has a compound subject "John and Rick." The sentence "The magic show amazed John and Rick" has a compound object "John and Rick." However, writers may make the mistake of mixing up cases for compounds. Note that pronouns in a prepositional phrase take the objective case; for example, in the sentence "A fight broke out between Norma and him" "him" is along with "Norma" the object of the preposition "between" and must be in the objective case.

• Compound Subjects
• Compound Objects of Verbs
• Compound Objects of Prepositions

Compound Subjects

Wrong: John and me won first prize in the potato sack competition.
(The pronoun after noun must be in the subjective case, because along with "John" it is the subject of the sentence.)
Corrected: John and I won first prize in the potato sack competition.

Compound Objects of Verbs

Wrong: The piano rolled over Gilbert and I.
(The pronoun must be in the objective case, because along with "Gilbert" it is the object of the verb.)
Corrected: The piano rolled over Gilbert and me.

Compound Objects of Prepositions

Wrong: The police officer spoke with Jake and I.
(The pronoun must be in the objective case, because along with "Jake" it is the object of the preposition.)
Corrected: The police officer spoke with Jake and me.

Appositives

An appositive is a noun or noun equivalent that directly follows or precedes another noun or noun equivalent. The appositive’s function is to amplify the noun’s meaning. Because an appositive has the same grammatical function as the noun or pronoun it explains and qualifies, the appositive must have the same case.

Wrong: The two losers, him and Sam, were distraught beyond belief.
Corrected: The two losers, he and Sam, were distraught beyond belief.

Wrong: At the drama society meeting, two actors, Richard and me, were selected to compete in next year’s drama festival.
Corrected: At the drama society meeting, two actors, Richard and I, were selected to compete in next year’s drama festival.

Linking Verbs

A linking verb joins a subject to a word that renames it. Linking verbs indicate a state of being (am, is are, was, were), relate to senses (look, smell, taste, sound, feel), or suggest a condition (appear, seem, grow, turn, remain, prove). A pronoun coming after a linking verb renames the subject and thus the pronoun must be in the subjective case.

Wrong: It was them who spilt the milk.
Corrected: It was they who spilt the milk.

Wrong: The ones who were elected to the student counsel are her and Morris.
Corrected: The ones who were elected to the student counsel are she and Morris.

Elliptical Constructions

An elliptical construction has words that are omitted yet implied. When an elliptical construction follows a comparison beginning with "than" or "as," choose your pronoun carefully. The case of the pronoun will create different meanings.

Irma loves the gerbil more than me.
(In this sentence, Irma loves the gerbil more than she loves me.)

Irma loves the gerbil more than I.
(In this sentence, Irma loves the gerbil more than I love the gerbil.)

Wrong: She has lost more marbles than me.
Corrected: She has lost more marbles than I.

Who, Whoever, Whom, and Whomever

The choice between "who" and "whom" (as well as between "whoever" and" whomever") is determined by a consideration of case. Use "who" and "whoever" for subjects and subject complements. These two pronouns are in the subjective case. In contrast, use "whom" and "whomever" for objects. These two pronouns are in the objective case.

Subjective: Who wrote the novel?
Subjective: Whoever wrote the novel must come to the front of the class.

Objective: The voters supported the candidate whom the party nominated.
Objective: Some voters will support whomever their party nominates.

Wrong: The prize goes to the painter whom has the best sense of design and composition.
(subjective case)
Corrected: The prize goes to the painter who has the best sense of design and composition.

Wrong: He tells that same tale to whomever will listen.
(subjective case)
Corrected: He tells that same tale to whoever will listen.

Wrong: John will play on the team with the Brazilians, who you will meet in the morning.
(objective case)
Corrected: John will play on the team with the Brazilians, whom you will meet in the morning.