1.2 Pronoun Case and Agreement

Pronoun Case and Agreement

Pronouns are words that take the place of nouns. The noun that a pronoun replaces is called its antecedent. On the PERT Writing exam, you will frequently encounter questions testing two major aspects of pronouns: agreement (ensuring the pronoun matches its antecedent) and case (using the correct form of the pronoun based on its grammatical role in the sentence).

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

Just as a subject must agree with its verb, a pronoun must agree with its antecedent in both number (singular or plural) and gender (masculine, feminine, or neuter).

Agreement in Number

If the antecedent is singular, the pronoun must be singular. If the antecedent is plural, the pronoun must be plural.

• Correct: The dog wagged its tail. (Singular antecedent 'dog', singular pronoun 'its'.)
• Correct: The dogs wagged their tails. (Plural antecedent 'dogs', plural pronoun 'their'.)

A very common error occurs with singular indefinite pronouns (such as everyone, anyone, each, somebody). In casual speech, people often use the plural pronoun they or their to refer to these singular words to avoid specifying gender. However, on strict grammar tests like the PERT, singular indefinite pronouns require singular pronouns.

• Incorrect: Everyone should bring their book to class.
• Correct: Everyone should bring his or her book to class.

Collective nouns (like team, jury, committee) are also treated as singular in American English. Therefore, they take singular pronouns, typically it or its.

• Incorrect: The committee made their decision.
• Correct: The committee made its decision.

Pronoun Case

Case refers to the form a pronoun takes depending on its function in the sentence. There are three primary cases: subjective (nominative), objective, and possessive.

Subjective Case

Use the subjective case when the pronoun is the subject of a verb or when it follows a linking verb as a predicate nominative.

• Subject: She went to the store.
• Predicate Nominative: The winner of the contest is he. (Though it sounds formal, it is grammatically correct because 'is' is a linking verb.)

A common trap involves compound subjects. To figure out the correct pronoun, temporarily remove the other person from the sentence.

• Example: John and (I / me) went to the game.
• Test: (I / me) went to the game. (You would say "I went," so "John and I went" is correct.)

Objective Case

Use the objective case when the pronoun is a direct object, an indirect object, or the object of a preposition.

• Direct Object: The teacher praised her.
• Object of a Preposition: Between you and me, this test is difficult. (Never say "between you and I.")

Again, compound objects can be tricky. Use the same drop-test method.

• Example: The manager gave the project to Sarah and (he / him).
• Test: The manager gave the project to (he / him). (You would say "to him," so "to Sarah and him" is correct.)

Who vs. Whom

The difference between who and whom is a classic point of confusion.

• Who is a subjective pronoun (like he, she, they).
• Whom is an objective pronoun (like him, her, them).

The He/Him Trick: To determine whether to use who or whom, rephrase the clause and try substituting he or him.

• If he sounds correct, use who.
• If him sounds correct, use whom.

Example 1: (Who / Whom) wrote this letter? Test: Did he write this letter, or did him write this letter? He wrote it, so who is correct.

Example 2: To (who / whom) should I address the envelope? Test: Should I address the envelope to he, or to him? To him, so whom is correct.

Example 3: The woman (who / whom) we hired starts tomorrow. Test: Look at the clause: "we hired (who / whom)". We hired him, so whom is correct.

Pronoun Shifts

A pronoun shift is a grammatical error where a writer carelessly changes person (first, second, or third) within a sentence or paragraph. This creates confusion for the reader.

• First Person: I, we, me, us
• Second Person: you
• Third Person: he, she, it, they, one

The most common error is shifting from the third person (one or a general noun) to the second person (you).

• Incorrect Shift: If a student wants to succeed, you must study hard. (Shift from third-person 'student' to second-person 'you'.)
• Correct: If a student wants to succeed, he or she must study hard.
• Correct: If you want to succeed, you must study hard.

Consistency is key. When reading a sentence on the PERT, identify the perspective the sentence begins with, and ensure it remains consistent throughout.