4.2 Pronoun Case, Agreement, Misplaced Modifiers & Ambiguity
Key Takeaways
- Use nominative case pronouns (I, he, she, we, they, who) for subjects and objective case pronouns (me, him, her, us, them, whom) for direct/indirect objects and objects of prepositions.
- The prepositional phrase 'between you and me' requires the objective pronoun 'me', making 'between you and I' grammatically incorrect.
- Pronouns must agree with their antecedents in number and gender; singular indefinite pronouns (each, everyone, nobody) take singular pronouns.
- Misplaced and dangling modifiers create logical ambiguity in reports and must be resolved by placing modifying clauses immediately adjacent to the noun they modify.
4.2 Pronoun Case, Agreement, Misplaced Modifiers & Ambiguity
Clear identification of individuals and actions is paramount in law enforcement writing. When an officer records a statement or drafts an incident report, imprecise pronoun usage or misplaced descriptive phrases can distort key facts. Ambiguous pronouns can confuse the identity of a suspect or victim, while misplaced modifiers can accidentally describe an officer performing an action meant for a suspect. Mastering pronoun case, pronoun-antecedent agreement, and modifier placement ensures that official records remain precise, objective, and legally sound.
Pronoun Cases: Nominative vs. Objective
Pronouns change forms (cases) depending on their grammatical function within a sentence. The two primary cases tested on the JCF entrance exam are the nominative (subjective) case and the objective case.
| Case | Pronouns | Primary Functions | Example in Law Enforcement Writing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | I, he, she, we, they, who | Subject of a verb; subject complement following linking verbs. | * He and she observed the suspect fleeing.* / It was they who alerted dispatch. |
| Objective | me, him, her, us, them, whom | Direct object, indirect object, object of a preposition. | The Inspector questioned him. / The contraband was handed to us. |
The 'Between You and Me' Rule
A frequent test item involves pronouns used as objects of prepositions. Prepositions such as between, with, for, against, to, and from must always be followed by objective case pronouns.
Incorrect: Between you and I, the witness statement seems incomplete. Correct: Between you and me, the witness statement seems incomplete.
Because between is a preposition, both pronouns following it must be in the objective case (you and me). Writing between you and I is a hypercorrection and is grammatically incorrect.
Determining 'Who' vs. 'Whom'
To determine whether to use who (nominative) or whom (objective):
- Isolate the pronoun's clause.
- Rephrase the clause substituting he/she/they (nominative) or him/her/them (objective).
- If he/she/they fits, use who. If him/her/them fits, use whom.
- Example 1: The Constable (who/whom) logged the exhibit was praised.
- Rephrase: He logged the exhibit. $\rightarrow$ Use who.
- Correct: The Constable who logged the exhibit was praised.
- Example 2: The suspect (who/whom) the Corporal questioned remained silent.
- Rephrase: The Corporal questioned him. $\rightarrow$ Use whom.
- Correct: The suspect whom the Corporal questioned remained silent.
Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
An antecedent is the noun or pronoun to which a subsequent pronoun refers. A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in both number (singular vs. plural) and gender.
Singular Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns such as each, every, everyone, everybody, someone, somebody, anyone, anybody, nobody, neither, and either are grammatically singular. They require singular pronouns.
- Incorrect: Each of the officers must submit their report before midnight.
- Correct (Traditional/Formal): Each of the officers must submit his or her report before midnight.
- Correct (Revised Plural): All officers must submit their reports before midnight.
In formal exam contexts, singular indefinite antecedents must be paired with singular possessive pronouns (his, her, or his/her).
Avoiding Ambiguous Pronoun References
Ambiguity occurs when a pronoun could logically refer to more than one antecedent in a sentence.
Ambiguous: Constable James told Suspect Miller that he was under arrest. (Who does 'he' refer to? Constable James or Suspect Miller?)
Clear: Constable James arrested Suspect Miller and informed him of his rights. Or: Addressing Suspect Miller, Constable James stated, "You are under arrest."
Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers
A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that describes or qualifies another word in a sentence. To maintain clarity, modifiers must be placed as close as possible to the words they modify.
Misplaced Modifiers
A misplaced modifier is positioned too far from the word it is intended to modify, creating an unintentional or absurd meaning.
- Misplaced: The officer arrested the suspect wearing a reflective vest.
- Problem: Is the suspect wearing the reflective vest, or is the officer?
- Corrected: Wearing a reflective vest, the officer arrested the suspect.
- Or: The officer arrested the suspect who was wearing a reflective vest.
Dangling Modifiers
A dangling modifier occurs when the introductory modifying phrase lacks a logical target noun in the main clause. The intended actor is completely omitted from the sentence structure.
- Dangling: Running down King Street, the stolen wallet was dropped.
- Problem: The introductory phrase Running down King Street modifies the subject of the main clause (the stolen wallet). Wallets cannot run.
- Corrected: Running down King Street, the fleeing suspect dropped the stolen wallet.
- Analysis: Now the modifier logically describes the fleeing suspect.
| Error Type | Incorrect Sentence | Corrected Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Misplaced Modifier | Constable Reid observed a suspect carrying a heavy sack through night-vision goggles. | * Through night-vision goggles, Constable Reid observed a suspect carrying a heavy sack.* |
| Dangling Modifier | Upon entering the abandoned house, several spent casings were seen. | Upon entering the abandoned house, officers observed several spent casings. |
| Misplaced Phrase | The vehicle was towed to the station which was involved in the accident. | The vehicle that was involved in the accident was towed to the station. |
Summary of Rules for Official Reports
- Check Case after Prepositions: Always use objective pronouns after prepositions (to him, with us, between you and me).
- Apply the Substitution Test: Use he/she $\rightarrow$ who; use him/her $\rightarrow$ whom.
- Match Indefinite Pronouns: Treat everyone, each, and neither as singular antecedents.
- Anchor Introductory Participles: Ensure the noun immediately following an introductory -ing phrase is the actual person performing the action.
In an official briefing between investigating officers, which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?
Identify the sentence that correctly uses 'whom' in an official report context:
Which of the following sentences successfully eliminates the dangling modifier?