Download The Nominative Case

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for CHAPTER 7: USING PRONOUNS CORRECTLY
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The Nominative Case
Case is the form that a noun or pronoun takes to show its relationship to other words in a
sentence. In English, there are three cases: nominative, objective, and possessive.
Subjects
7b. The subject of a verb should be in the nominative case.
The subject of a verb is the person, place, thing, or idea that performs the action of that verb.
The nominative pronouns—I, you, he, she, it, we, and they—are used as subjects.
EXAMPLES Martha says that they can go to the movies. [Martha is the subject of the
verb says, and they is the subject of the verb phrase can go.]
Should you and I go as well? [You and I are both subjects of the verb
phrase should go.]
EXERCISE A Read each sentence, and then underline the correct pronoun in parentheses. Each sentence
uses the pronoun as a subject, so the pronoun should be in the nominative case.
Example 1. Did (they, them) build that new fence? [The pronoun is the subject of the verb Did build.
The pronoun they is in the nominative case.]
1. Tomorrow (they, them) will sign up for guitar lessons. [Is the pronoun acting as a subject? Which
case form is required?]
2. Has (he, him) finished reading the novel yet?
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3. (Them, They) do all the annoying chores around here.
4. (We, Us) can’t wait for the harvest to begin!
5. Was (her, she) here first, or were you?
Predicate Nominatives
7c.
A predicate nominative should also be in the nominative case.
You may remember that a predicate nominative is a word or group of words that is in the
predicate and that renames the subject of the verb. A predicate nominative completes the
meaning of a linking verb. Common linking verbs are is, were, be, are, and seems.
S
LV
PN
EXAMPLES This mountain range is an ancient landform. [The subject is mountain
range, and the word landform renames mountain range. The word ancient
tells what kind of landform. The subject and the predicate nominative
are linked by the verb is.]
S
LV PN
PN
The most talented singers are he and you. [Singers is the sentence’s
subject, and the linking verb are links the subject to the predicate
nominative. He and you are in the nominative case.]
Developmental Language Skills
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for CHAPTER 7: USING PRONOUNS CORRECTLY
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pages 178=80
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continued
When you are not sure which pronoun to use for a predicate nominative, follow these
steps: Put the subject in the predicate nominative’s place and the predicate nominative in
the subject’s place. Ask yourself, “Which pronoun sounds better in the subject’s place?”
Rewrite the sentence, using the nominative pronoun form as the predicate nominative.
EXAMPLE The strongest man is (he, him). [Which sounds better—He is the strongest
man or Him is the strongest man? The pronoun He sounds better.]
FINAL SENTENCE The strongest man is he. [He is the nominative form and should be used
as the predicate nominative.]
EXERCISE B Underline the correct pronoun in each sentence. Each pronoun is in the predicate and
should be in the nominative case.
Example 1. The champions were (they, them). [The pronoun is a predicate nominative, so the
nominative case form they is needed.]
6. No, the driver was not (he, him). [Does the pronoun complete the linking verb was?]
7. Will the reader be (she, her)?
8. The gymnast was certainly not (me, I).
9. What marvelous friends are (them, they)!
TIP
To find out which pronoun to use in a compound subject or predicate nominative, try the
pronoun by itself with the verb.
S
S
V
EXAMPLE (Him, He) and Gloria attend college. [Which sounds better—Him attends
college or He attends college? The pronoun He sounds better with the verb
attends.]
S
S
V
FINAL SENTENCE He and Gloria attend college. [He is the nominative pronoun and should
be used in this compound subject.]
EXERCISE C Underline the correct pronoun in each sentence.
Example 1. Will Lee and (they, them) visit next week? [They will visit sounds better.]
11. Throughout the soccer game, the most dedicated players were Ted and (we, us). [Which sounds
better—We were the players or Us were the players?]
12. You and (I, me) need to talk.
13. The winners of the science fair were Dora and (him, he)!
14. Where did Max and (them, they) go after their exam was over?
15. Tim and (she, her) often help my parents in the garden.
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10. The one who is athletic is (he, him).