Using the objective case indicates that the pronoun is acting as an object.

A pronoun as a direct object

My dog likes me.

DOG is the subject of the sentence. ME is the direct object of the verb LIKES.

If you don’t mind, Would you please take him to class.

YOU is the subject of the independent clause. HIM is the direct object of the verb WOULD TAKE.

The teachers sent her to the infirmary.

TEACHERS is the subject of the sentence. HER is the direct object of the verb SENT.

Whom does Alejandro wish to see?

ALEJANDRO is the subject of the sentence. WHOM is the object of the infinitive TO SEE.

Alex is the person whom she met at the opening.

SHE is the subject of the dependent clause. WHOM is the direct object of the verb MET.

A pronoun as an indirect object

Danny handed her the ball.

DANNY is the subject of the sentence. BALL is the direct object of the verb HANDED. HER is the indirect object.

When Eric returned from camp, his father gave him a hug.

FATHER is the subject of the independent clause. HUG is the direct object of the verb GAVE. HIM is the indirect object.

Tom offered Mark and me a ride home.

Tom is the subject of the sentence. RIDE is the direct object of the verb OFFERED. MARK and ME are the indirect objects.

Marvin wondered whom he should give the message.

HE is the subject of the dependent clause. MESSAGE is the direct object of the verb SHOULD GIVE. WHOM is the indirect object.

Did the group announce whom they had presented the bonus?

THEY is the subject of the dependent clause. BONUS is the direct object of the verb HAD PRESENTED. WHO is the indirect object.

A pronoun as an object of a preposition

For him, no other choice seems reasonable.

FOR is a preposition. HIM is the object of the preposition.

Between you and me, this is a tough test.

BETWEEN is a preposition. YOU and ME are an objects of the preposition.

Experts agree that there is a time bomb inside her just waiting to go off.

INSIDE is a preposition. HER is the object of the preposition.

To whom do you wish to speak?

TO is a preposition. WHOM is the object of the preposition.

Did Cody’s father tell him whom he wanted to save this letter for?

FOR is a preposition. WHOM is the object of the preposition.

A pronoun as an object of a verbal (Gerund, Participle, Infinitive)

Reprimanding Jerry and her does little good.

REPRIMANDING is a gerund. HER is an object of the gerund.

He wants to call her.

TO CALL is an infinitive. HER is the object of the infinitive.

Calling him from the shore, Tina tried to get Allan’s attention.

CALLING is a participle. HIM is the object of the participle.

Objective pronouns in a comparison

Use the objective case after “than” if the pronoun doesn’t compare or contrast with the subject, but is being compared or contrasted to an object or complement.

He likes us better than them. (objective case)

This means that he likes us better than he likes them.

He likes us better than they. (subjective case)

This means that he likes us better than they likes us.

Use the objective case after “than” if the comparison features a noun or pronoun with the adjective.

There is no faster runner than her.

If the sentence included only the adjective FASTER, the pronoun would be subjective (There is no faster than she).

You are a much better artist than him.

Using the nominative case indicates that the pronoun is acting as the subject of a given clause or as a predicate nominative following a linking verb.

Pronouns as the subject of a clause

He will never leave basketball completely.

HE is the subject of the sentence.

While I was playing,” he said, “I had another dream that had nothing to do with winning championships.”

I is the subject of the first clause. HE is the subject of the second clause, and I is the subject of the third clause.

She can recognize somebody who needs a boost—teammate or community.

SHE is the subject of the independent clause. WHO is the subject of the dependent clause.

Remember: Relative pronouns are part of the dependent clause.

Who is going to be available in two years or three years?

WHO is the subject of the sentence.

Pronouns as the Predicate Nominative

We both recalled that it was she who offered the proposal.

WE is the subject of the independent clause.
IT is the subject of the dependent clause.
SHE is the predicate nominative to IT.
WHO is the subject of the final dependent clause.

It is I who have allergies.

IT is the subject of the independent clause.
I is the predicate nominative to IT.
WHO is the subject of the final dependent clause.

If I were she, I would take the job.

I is the subject of the dependent clause.
SHE is the predicate nominative to I.
I is the subject of the independent clause.

Remember the paintings that I told you about? These are they.

I is the subject of the dependent clause. THEY is the predicate nominative to THESE.

Pronouns in a comparison

Use the subjective case after “than” when the pronoun would use the same verb in an “implied clause of comparison” as the subject of the sentence,

My friend likes studying more than I.

This means that my friends like studying more than I do.

My friend likes studying more than me.

This means that my friends like studying more than they like me.

We drive faster than they. (drive)

Use the subjective case after “than” when the pronoun is being compared or contrasted to a quality only (e.g., adjective or adverb) of the subject.

She is taller than he. (is tall)

If the sentence included a noun with taller, the pronoun would be objective (There is no taller player than her).

He is happier than she. (is happy)

The case of a pronoun indicates whether the pronoun initiates the action (e.g., subjective case), receives the action (e.g., objective case) or conveys ownership (e.g., possessive case).

There are three types of case:

• Subjective/Nominative case which indicates that the pronoun is acting as the subject of a given clause or as a predicate nominative following a linking verb.
  • The subject pronouns are: I, you, he, she, they, we, who and it.
• Objective Case, which indicates that the pronoun is acting as an object.
  • The object pronouns are: me, you, him, her, them, us, whom and it.
• Possessive case, which indicates that the pronoun is showing ownership.
  • The possessive pronouns are: my, mine, your, yours, his, her, hers, their, theirs, our, ours, whose and its.

We use the subjective case when a pronoun is:

• a subject of a verb
• a predicate nominative that follows a form of the linking verb to be.

We use the objective case when a pronoun is:

• a  direct object of a verb
• an indirect object
• an object of a preposition
• an object of any verbal

We use the possessive case when a pronoun:

• denotes ownership
• attributes a characteristic to someone or something

In sentences with a compound joined by AND, we use the same case—subjective or objective—as you would with no compound:

• Bill and I cracked the window. (Subjective)
  • Bill cracked the window.
  • I cracked the window.
  • You would not write: Me cracked the window.

• They threw snowballs at Delores and me. (Objective)
  • They threw snowballs at Delores.
  • They threw snowballs at me.
  • You would not write: They threw snowballs at I.

A pronoun with an appositive following it uses the same case as it would without the appositive:

• We students need more time. (Subjective)
  • STUDENTS is an appositive to WE.
  • Remove the appositive to determine the proper case: We need more time.

• Will they give us reporters access to the president? (Objective)
  • REPORTERS is an appositive to US.
  • Remove the appositive to determine the proper case: Will they give us access to the president.

The case of a relative pronoun (who, whom, which, that) is determined by how the relative pronoun is used in the dependent clause.

If the relative pronoun is the subject of a dependent clause, it must be in the nominative case

• The witness WHO was to appear today is ill.
  • WHO is the subject of the verb WAS in the dependent clause.

If the relative pronoun is the object of a dependent clause, it must be in the objective case

• The witness WHOM they have indicted is ill.
  • WHOM is the object of the verb HAVE INDICTED in the dependent clause.

TO DETERMINE CASE:

1. Identify subject, verb and object in the sentence
2. Identify independent and dependent clauses
3. Identify prepositions