Advanced English Grammar – PRONOUNS

Rule 1: When a Pronoun is used as the complement of the Verb ‘to be’, it should be in the nominative case.

Incorrect- If I were him, I would not do it.

Correct- If I were he, I would not do it.

Rule 2: When the Pronoun is used as the object of a Verb or of a Preposition, it should be in the objective case.

Incorrect- Let you and I do it. Correct- Let you and me do it.

Incorrect- These presents are for you and I.

Correct- These presents are for you and me.

Rule 3: Emphatic Pronouns cannot stand alone as Subjects

Incorrect- Himself did it. Correct- He himself did it.

Rule 4: The Indefinite Pronoun ‘one’ should be used throughout if used at all.

a) Incorrect- One must not boast of his own success.

b) Correct- One must not boast of one’s own success.

Rule 5: ‘Either’ or ‘neither’ is used only in speaking of two persons or things; ‘any’, ‘no one’ and ‘none’ is used in speaking of more than two.

Incorrect- Anyone of these two roads leads to the railway station.

Correct- Either of these two roads leads to the railway station.

Incorrect- Neither of these three boys did his homework.

Correct- No one of these three boys did his homework.

Rule 6: ‘Each other’ is used in speaking of two persons or things; ‘one another’ is used in speaking of more than two.

Incorrect- The two brothers loved one another.

Correct- The two brothers loved each other.

Rule 7: A Noun or Pronoun governing a Gerund should be put in the possessive case.

Incorrect- Please excuse me being late.

Correct- Please excuse my being late.

Rule 8: A Pronoun must agree with its antecedent in person, number and gender.

Incorrect- Each of these boys has done their homework.

Correct- Each of these boys has done his homework.

Rule 9: When two or more Singular Nouns are joined by ‘and’, the Pronoun used for them must be Plural.

Incorrect- Both Raju and Ravi have done his homework.

Correct- Both Raju and Ravi have done their homework.

Rule 10: When two or more Singular Nouns joined by ‘and’ refer to the same person or thing, a Pronoun used for them must be singular.

Incorrect- The collector and District Magistrate is not negligent in their duty.

Correct- The collector and District Magistrate is not negligent in his duty.

Rule 11: When two or more singular nouns joined by ‘or’ or ‘nor’, ‘either … or’, ‘neither .. nor’, the Pronoun used for them should be singular.

Incorrect- Neither Ravi nor Raju has done their homework.

Correct- Neither Ravi nor Raju has done his homework.

Rule 12: When two or more singular Pronouns of different persons come together, the Pronoun of second person singular (you) comes first, the pronoun of the first person singular (I) comes last and the pronoun of the third person singular (he) comes in between.

Incorrect- I, You and he must work together.

Correct- You, he and I must work together.

Rule 13: After let, if a Pronoun is used, that Pronoun must be in the Objective Case. For example,

Incorrect- Let he go there.

Correct- Let him go there.