Pronoun problems

Last updated: 13 Oct 2008

Pronouns are the names we give things and people to avoid repeating the proper name incessantly.

• Subject Pronouns are active - the person or thing is doing the action.
• Object Pronouns are passive, and the person or thing is receiving the action or having it done to him or it.
• Possessive Adjectives, while not pronouns, are important to learn for the GMAT.

Subject pronouns	Object pronouns	Possessive adjectives
I you he she we they it	me you him her us them it	my your his her our their its (NOT it's)

Singular or plural?

The real problem, if you have not already guessed it, is the it/them problem.

For example, the word Congress: is it an it or a they? Usually Congress is considered an it, because it is one political organization, even though it has several hundred members.

Here are some lists of words to help you keep this idea straight:

Words That Always Take Singular Verbs And Pronouns (For example has, not have)
any + singular noun anybody anyone anything	no + singular noun nobody no one nothing	some + singular noun somebody someone something
every + singular noun everybody everyone everything	each + singular noun

For example

Everyone is here.

Each person knows the answer.

Rule

Pronouns should correspond correctly to the person or thing described either earlier or later in the sentence.

Hint

Anytime you see a pronoun, make sure it corresponds exactly!

Next page: Pronoun example