In this Grade 6 grammar lesson from Elements of Language, 3rd Course, students learn how to identify and use the three cases of pronouns — nominative, objective, and possessive — with a focus on applying nominative case pronouns correctly as subjects and predicate nominatives. The lesson covers specific pronouns such as I, he, she, we, and they, and guides students through choosing the right pronoun form in compound subjects and after linking verbs. Practice exercises reinforce when to use nominative versus objective case in a variety of sentence structures.
Section 1
Nominative Case for Subjects
The subject of a verb should be in the nominative case.
The subject performs the verb's action. The nominative pronouns—I, you, he, she, it, we, and they—are always used as subjects.
Section 2
Nominative Case for Predicate Nominatives
A predicate nominative should also be in the nominative case.
A predicate nominative renames the subject and follows a linking verb (is, are, were). Unsure which pronoun to use as a predicate nominative? Try this: Swap the subject and the predicate nominative. Ask, “Which pronoun sounds right in the subject slot?” Then use that nominative-case pronoun back in the predicate nominative position and rewrite the sentence.
as the predicate nominative.]
Section 3
Objective Case for Direct Objects
A direct object should be in the objective case.
Objective case pronouns—me, you, him, her, it, us, and them—are used as direct objects, indirect objects, and objects of prepositions.
A direct object is a noun or pronoun that receives the action of a verb. If a verb has multiple direct objects, all must be objective.
Section 4
Objective Case for Indirect Objects
An indirect object should also be in the objective case.
An indirect object tells to whom/what or for whom/what an action was done. Sentences with indirect objects also have a direct object.
Remember: an indirect object explains to or for whom (or what) the verb’s action occurs—and whenever an indirect object appears, a direct object will be present too.
Section 5
Objective Case for Objects of Prepositions
An object of a preposition should be in the objective case.
Whenever a noun or pronoun follows a preposition—such as to, for, with, between, beside, around, after, or inside—that word must appear in the objective case.
Objective-case pronouns: me, you, him, her, it, us, them, whom.
Why it matters: Using the wrong case (“between he and I”) distracts readers and can sound uneducated or overly formal.
When two or more pronouns follow a preposition, each pronoun must be in the objective case. For example, a secret “just between them and me.”
Section 6
Using Who and Whom
The use of who or whom in a subordinate clause depends on how the pronoun functions in the clause.
Use the nominative who/whoever for subjects. Use the objective whom/whomever for direct objects, indirect objects, and objects of prepositions.
Section 7
Appositives
A pronoun used as an appositive is in the same case as the word to which it refers.
An appositive is a noun or pronoun placed right next to another noun or pronoun to identify or describe it.
Noun appositive: Maya’s sister Dena takes violin lessons.
Pronoun appositive: The speakers, he and they, kept the audience entertained.
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Section 1
Nominative Case for Subjects
The subject of a verb should be in the nominative case.
The subject performs the verb's action. The nominative pronouns—I, you, he, she, it, we, and they—are always used as subjects.
Section 2
Nominative Case for Predicate Nominatives
A predicate nominative should also be in the nominative case.
A predicate nominative renames the subject and follows a linking verb (is, are, were). Unsure which pronoun to use as a predicate nominative? Try this: Swap the subject and the predicate nominative. Ask, “Which pronoun sounds right in the subject slot?” Then use that nominative-case pronoun back in the predicate nominative position and rewrite the sentence.
as the predicate nominative.]
Section 3
Objective Case for Direct Objects
A direct object should be in the objective case.
Objective case pronouns—me, you, him, her, it, us, and them—are used as direct objects, indirect objects, and objects of prepositions.
A direct object is a noun or pronoun that receives the action of a verb. If a verb has multiple direct objects, all must be objective.
Section 4
Objective Case for Indirect Objects
An indirect object should also be in the objective case.
An indirect object tells to whom/what or for whom/what an action was done. Sentences with indirect objects also have a direct object.
Remember: an indirect object explains to or for whom (or what) the verb’s action occurs—and whenever an indirect object appears, a direct object will be present too.
Section 5
Objective Case for Objects of Prepositions
An object of a preposition should be in the objective case.
Whenever a noun or pronoun follows a preposition—such as to, for, with, between, beside, around, after, or inside—that word must appear in the objective case.
Objective-case pronouns: me, you, him, her, it, us, them, whom.
Why it matters: Using the wrong case (“between he and I”) distracts readers and can sound uneducated or overly formal.
When two or more pronouns follow a preposition, each pronoun must be in the objective case. For example, a secret “just between them and me.”
Section 6
Using Who and Whom
The use of who or whom in a subordinate clause depends on how the pronoun functions in the clause.
Use the nominative who/whoever for subjects. Use the objective whom/whomever for direct objects, indirect objects, and objects of prepositions.
Section 7
Appositives
A pronoun used as an appositive is in the same case as the word to which it refers.
An appositive is a noun or pronoun placed right next to another noun or pronoun to identify or describe it.
Noun appositive: Maya’s sister Dena takes violin lessons.
Pronoun appositive: The speakers, he and they, kept the audience entertained.
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