Most Common Errors Using Case Forms Of Personal Pronoun

 

The most common errors in using the case forms come from not distinguishing between the nominative and objective forms in two very common constructions:

1. Wrong use of the nominative form in predicate nouns: Who is there?

It is I (we, he, she, they)

[In conversation and informal writing, the objective forms, me, him, her, or them are permissible, but in formal writing the nominative forms must be used.]

2. Wrong use of the objective forms with prepositions: Few college students are so ignorant of English grammar that they would ever say (a) He hit I.

 (b) The Dean invited we.

 But too many make an equally bad blunder when they say: (a) Just between you and I, Fiaz is a complete bore. (between you and me)

 (b) He gave the picture to Maria and I. (Maria and me)