ACT English : Subjective and Objective Pronoun Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT English

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Example Questions

Example Question #516 : Word Usage Errors

Choose the answer that best corrects the underlined portion of the sentence. If the underlined portion is correct as written, choose "NO CHANGE."

People fondly remember him as the physics teacher from whom they learned not only about solving physics problems but also about thinking critically and creatively.

Possible Answers:

by who

from which

from who

by whom

NO CHANGE

Correct answer:

NO CHANGE

Explanation:

The personal pronoun takes the object form "whom." "Who" is the subjective form. In this sentence, the personal pronoun is functioning as the object of the preposition "from," so its objective form should be used. You would say "I learned from him," not "I learned from he," so use "whom" here.

Example Question #142 : Correcting Word Usage Errors

The newspaper was delivered every morning to him and I.

Possible Answers:

to me and him.

from him and I.

for him and I.

to he and I.

to he and me.

Correct answer:

to me and him.

Explanation:

The underlined portion of the sentence is the object, and both words need to be in the objective form. "Him" is objective, but "I" should only be used as a subject. The correct answer is "to me and him."

Example Question #142 : Correcting Pronoun Errors

Me and you have never seen eye to eye on any issue.

Possible Answers:

You and me

You and I

You, me

Me and you

I and You

Correct answer:

You and I

Explanation:

The problem with the sentence is in the two pronouns underlined. The correct usage of the first person pronoun as an object is "I," not "me." Additionally, "you" should come before "I." 

Example Question #151 : Correcting Usage Errors

In the sentence below, select the phrasing of the underlined portion that produces the best sentence.

I know that Trudy is generally a kind girl, but I and her have never enjoyed spending time together.

Possible Answers:

but she and me have never enjoyed spending time together.

but her and I have never enjoyed spending time together.

but her and me have never enjoyed spending time together.

but I and her have never enjoyed spending time together.

but she and I have never enjoyed spending time together.

Correct answer:

but she and I have never enjoyed spending time together.

Explanation:

The speaker and Trudy together form the subject of the underlined clause, and so both pronouns need to be subject pronouns. Of the options given here, "she and I" is the only one where this is the case ("we," of course, would also work).

Example Question #143 : Correcting Pronoun Errors

Us and them are going to join together for the greater good.

Possible Answers:

Us and them

Them and we

Us and they

Them and us

They and we

Correct answer:

They and we

Explanation:

The pronouns "us" and "them" are actually the object forms of their respective pronouns, but are used as the subjects of the sentence. Both words need to be changed into the subject forms. The correct answer choice is "They and we."

Example Question #1 : Correcting Pronoun Errors: Case

Me and you have to go to the store.

Possible Answers:

You and I has

Me and you has

You and I have

Me and you have

You and me have

Correct answer:

You and I have

Explanation:

"Me" is always appropriately used as the object of a sentence, while it is used in this sentence as the subject. The first person subjective pronoun "I" must be used instead. "You and I have" is the only answer choice that does this and uses the appropriate verb form "have."

Example Question #152 : Correcting Usage Errors

Him and I are going to make the case in the morning for tougher standards.

Possible Answers:

Him and I are gone

Him and I going

I and him are going

Him and I are going

He and I are going

Correct answer:

He and I are going

Explanation:

The use of the pronoun "him" in the subject of the sentence is incorrect, as "him" should only be used as the object of the sentence. The proper third person male pronoun for the subject of the sentence is "he," making "He and I are going" the correct answer choice.

Example Question #601 : Sentence Correction

She and him have been bitter enemies since they were children in Little League.

Possible Answers:

She and he having been

She and him having been

She and him have been

She and he have been

She and him has been

Correct answer:

She and he have been

Explanation:

The use of the pronoun "him" is incorrect in the sentence, as it used as the subject, but can only be used as the object of the sentence. The pronoun needs to be changed to "he," but otherwise the sentence is absolutely correct. Therefore, the correct answer choice is "She and he have been."

Example Question #32 : Pronoun Case Errors

Me and the boys are going to travel there once the weather is better.

Possible Answers:

The boys and me are going

Me and the boys go

The boys and I are going

The boys and I am going

Me and the boys are going

Correct answer:

The boys and I are going

Explanation:

The use of the pronoun "me" is incorrect, as it used as the subject of the sentence, but is only correctly used as an object. The form needs to be change to "I." The only choice which does this and is grammatically correct is "The boys and I are going."

Example Question #8 : Correcting Pronoun Errors: Case

Me and him have always had trouble getting along with each other.

Possible Answers:

He and I have always

Me and him have always

Him and me has always

Me and him has always

Him and me have always

Correct answer:

He and I have always

Explanation:

The use of the pronouns "me" and "him" are both objective pronouns, but are used here as the subject of the sentence. They both need to be changed to the appropriate subjective forms "He" and "I;" therefore, the correct answer choice is "He and I have always."

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