More about Nouns &
Pronouns
Nouns
and Pronouns have case, person, number, and gender:
- Number
is indicated by singular or plural: I (singular)
We (plural)
- Case
is the form that shows how the relationship of
that word to other words in the sentence.
- Gender
means that the word refers to something either male or female.
- Person
is indicated by the first, second, or third.
First
person is the person who's
speaking or doing the action.
Second person
is the person being spoken to (usually "you" in its many forms)
Third person
is the person or
thing being spoken about (he, she, it, John, the ball, etc...)
English has 3 cases: subjective,
objective and possessive. Nouns
or pronouns in the subjective case are often used as
the subject of the sentence or a clause: We
chose the paved road.
Nouns or pronouns in the objective
case are used as direct or indirect objects in the sentence.
Andrea told us a secret.
(In this sentence, the objective
case is being used as an indirect object)
Nouns or pronouns in the possessive
cases do no need the apostrophe s to show possession.
Have you seen my rollerblades?
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CASE OF PERSONAL PRONOUNS
|
Subjective |
Objective |
Possessive |
|
Singular/Plural |
Singular/Plural |
Singular/Plural |
First Person |
I
we |
me
us |
my/mine
our/ours |
Second Person |
you you |
you
you |
your/yours
your/yours |
Third Person |
he
she they
it |
him
her
them
it |
his
her/hers
their/theirs
its |
AGREEMENT IN CASE BETWEEN PRONOUNS
IN COMPOUND CONSTRUCTIONS
- A compound
is literally two things put together to make
one.
So a compound subject is
two subjects in one such as John and Millie. There
can also be compound objects as well.
Remember compound sentences?
A compound sentence was actually two sentences joined together
by a conjunction:
John told the story, and
everyone listened intently.
With
compound subjects and objects, the case for each noun or pronoun
must agree.
She
and I went to the mall.
Both she and I
are in the subjective case and are being used as the
subject of the sentence.
Sudah
and I sang
a song to the crowd. (subjective case)
The sight amazed him
and me. (objective case)
Sudah
is the person being talked about, therefore Sudah
is the third person.
Because the compound subject
is Sudah and I, the case for both
must be subjective.
You
can not say Sudah and me
because me is in the objective case.
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CASE WITHIN THE PREPOSITIONAL
PHRASE
The preposition is begin the prepositional
phrase.
...to the store The
noun following that phrase is said to the "object of the preposition",
and like all pronouns serving as objects, both direct and indirect,
the pronoun that follows would need to be in the objective case:
We went in after them.
Therefore, it follows that a compound
object in the prepositional phrase must be in the objective
case:
Yes: Between
you and me...
No:
Between you and I...
However, if the prepositional
phrase also serves as an introductory clause in the sentence,
the subjective case is used:
Yes: After you and
I spoke...
No: After you and
me spoke...
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CASE AFTER LINKING VERBS
Linking verbs connect subjects
with their complements. A complement is the word that replaces
the subject in the sentence.
Dorva is the winner of
the contest.
Is is the linking
verb of the sentence. Of the contest is the prepositional
phrase that can not contain the complement.
So, the subject must be Dorva
and the complement is winner. Winner
renames Dorva.
The subject and the complement
must be in the same case.
This is she.
This is the
subject, and the subjective case is used. Therefore,
she must also be in the subjective case.
It is I.
(The subjective case is required
for both pronouns since it is the subject.)
This is proper English for academic writing, however, in informal
speech and writing, we more often hear the incorrect form:
It is me.
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SELF PRONOUNS
A reflexive word reflects back
onto itself, like a reflection. Reflexive pronouns in are created
with the addition of -self (singular) -selves (plural) to the
word: herself, himself, (singular) themselves
(plural)
Tommy and Joey refinished the kitchen
furniture themselves.
Themselves reflects
back to the original subject Tommy and Joey.
-Self
pronouns should not be used in subject or object compounds:
No: The
inspector and myself went to look for the criminal.
Yes: The
inspector and I went to look for the criminal.
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