Distinguish Subject And Object Pronouns

Skill

Distinguish Subject And Object Pronouns

No description

Subject and object pronouns can be confused on the TOEFL test, so you should be able to recognize these two types of pronouns:

SUBJECT OBJECT
I me
you you
he him
she her
it it
we us
they them

A subject pronoun is used as the subject of a verb. An object pronoun can be used as the object of a verb or the object of a preposition. Compare the following two sentences.

Sally gave the book to John.
She gave it to him.

In the second sentence the subject pronoun she is replacing the noun Sally. The object of the verb it is replacing the noun book, and the object of the preposition him is replacing the noun John.

The following are examples of the types of subject or object pronoun errors that you might see on the TOEFL test.

Him* and the girl are going shopping.
The gift was intended for you and I*.

In the first example, the object pronoun him is incorrect because this pronoun serves as the subject of the sentence. The object pronoun him should be changed to the subject pronoun he. It can be difficult to recognize that him is the subject because the verb are has a double subject, him and girl. In the second example, the subject pronoun I is incorrect because this pronoun serves as the object of the preposition for. The subject pronoun I should be changed to the object pronoun me. It can be difficult to recognize that I is the object of the preposition for because the preposition for has two objects: the correct object you and the incorrect object I.

Exercise

Complete the following exercises to reinforce what you’ve learned:

Each of the following sentences contains at least one subject or object pronoun. Circle the pronouns. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).

  1. ___ The worst problem with it is that he cannot afford it.
  2. ___ They saw Steve and I at the movies last night after class.
  3. ___ Perhaps you would like to go to the seminar with they and their friends.
  4. ___ The mother took her son to the doctor's office because he was feeling sick.
  5. ___ I did not know that you and her were working together on the project.
  6. ___ She did not buy the sweater because it had a small hole in it.
  7. ___ The man leading the seminar gave me all the information I needed to make a decision.
  8. ___ The cords connecting the computer to its printer need to be replaced before them wear down.
  9. ___ He is going to the party with you and me if you do not mind.
  10. ___ You and her ought to return the books to the library because they are already overdue.

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