Questions tagged [grammatical-case]
The distinction between subject and object forms of pronouns. For questions about upper- and lowercase, use the tag "capitalization".
225 questions
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Determining a subject or object: what is the subject or object in this sentence "Has the door been fixed yet?"
I am a native English speaker, and have not formally learnt or done deep analysis of English grammar rules. I am now learning German, and a resource I am using uses English sentences and the idea of &...
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0
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36
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"Who" is to "whose", like "which" is to …? [duplicate]
As far as I can tell, "whose" is a possessive form of "who".
Is there a similar possessive form for "which" or "what"? Sometimes my brain has reached for "...
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votes
2
answers
148
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Use of "us" as personal determinative
Consider this sentence:
There is lots of stuff in us shoppers' carts.
I know it is awkward but I am interested in whether it is grammatically correct. Should "us" be changed to "we&...
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3
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3
answers
533
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Is it correct to say your pronouns are "she/they" or should it be "she/them"?
My daughter just submitted a college app and said her pronouns were "she/they". I told her, in the nicest way that I didn't want to be demeaning, but your pronouns can't be "she/they&...
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0
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"Different than" followed by nominative case?
I'm going to try to explain my question as clearly as I can:
"Different" usually takes a preposition, either "from" (standard English regardless of region), "to" (British ...
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0
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71
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What pronoun should I use, "by we who" or "by us who"? [duplicate]
He will be yelled at by we who hate him.
He will be yelled at by us who hate him.
After by you use us, but in this case I'm confused. Which one of these sentences is correct?
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4
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1
answer
164
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dialect/idiolect quirk? "for whom" instead of "whose"
I'm a native (American English) speaker and I've noticed that this is a weird feature of my idiolect. Here is a direct quote:
To the person for whom I spilled apple cider, if you're watching this, I'...
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0
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41
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Does this sentence need "me" or "I"? [duplicate]
Here is the sentence. Which one is correct?
Dec. 21st from 9:30-10:30 can work for both I-SHEA and I.
Dec. 21st from 9:30-10:30 can work for both I-SHEA and me.
I think it should be I-SHEA and me ...
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0
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19
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Object / accusative personal pronouns replacing actor in certain clauses [duplicate]
I'm a native English speaker, and I noticed that I sometimes use accusative pronouns (him, her, me) to replace actors in certain clauses. I have a feeling this is prescriptively considered incorrect ...
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5
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1
answer
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Personal pronouns in 18th-century Cornish English
I think in the year 1700 there were still a few adults in Cornwall whose usual mode of communication among themselves was the rapidly dying Cornish language, but only a tiny number of children could ...
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Is "going on a technology retreat" ambiguous for you?
I've using "being on a technology retreat" to mean that I will shun technology.
But my friend U says that this expression cannot signify retreating from technology; instead, it means ...
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1
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240
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Any online tool that highlights what grammatical case each word in a sentence belongs to?
I'm absolutely confused when it comes to cases in English, and more so when I'm studying other languages (leisurely). I've tried to learn cases at least three times in my life and every time it just ...
4
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1
answer
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Are these uses of infinitive phrases syntactic modifiers or syntactic complements, and of what?
I have two questions about the grammatical roles of the infinitive phrases in these two sentences:
He is the person to contact if you will need any advice.
There is a person to connect A PC to B PC.
...
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4
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1
answer
451
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Possessives with gerunds
When a phrase, such as “doing something” is used used as a noun, I understand it becomes a gerund phrase. When it includes a pronoun subject, the phrase becomes a clause, in which the pronoun ...
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3
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Why does second person only have 'you' whereas first person has "I" and "me"?
I am learning another language and that made me think of English pronouns. In the first person there is both "I" and "me", so that I can say "I like snakes" and "...
user457746
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Should I use "who" or "whom" in "The main problem of Argentina comes from whom has taken office."? [duplicate]
Should I use who or whom in this sentence?
The main problem of Argentina comes from whom has taken office.
My logic
I know that whom is an object pronoun, that whom has taken the office is the ...
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0
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107
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's ending in English simple present tense [duplicate]
I was wondering whether someone would be able to explain the origin of the -s form as used to bind a predicate with a third person subject (he,she,it) to express a "simple " present ...
0
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1
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251
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"Give this work to whoever looks idle." or "Give this work to whomever looks idle." [duplicate]
I was under the impression that any object, compound or not, following a preposition such as "to" must take the objective case; therefore, "Give this work to whomever looks idle."
...
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1
answer
259
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When to use "whom" and "who" when the direct object is also doing an action
"I just saw that guy throw a ball."
"[T]hat guy," the direct object, is now doing the action of "throw[ing]." So, could one ask, "Whom did you see throw the ball?&...
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2
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What case of 'I' should be used in a Participle Clause? [duplicate]
Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?
I being not at home, my friend left a message.
Me being not at home, my friend left a message.
My being not at home, my friend left a ...
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0
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are there other phrases set up like "end up ____-ing (gerund)" if so, what are they called?
I'm watching a documentary and this was said:
"We believe they did intentional things that kept Gabriel in harm's way, and ultimately ended up in him dying"
The "him dying" part ...
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54
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possessive case with plural
How can I use the possessive case with many objects " s' "?
2Jane and 2Mary 2room;
it is right? :
girls’ books
Jane and Maries’ rooms
the children’s toys
the workmen’s tools
Peter and Helens’...
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524
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Can there be two cases of pronoun in a sentence?
"She is doing her best to do the job"
The pronoun "her" is confusing me, it could be either in objective case 'cause it acts as object complement or in possessive case 'cause it ...
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1
answer
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(negative to affirmative) "we could not but pocket the insult"
When we do negative to affirmative, we always use 'must' in the place of 'can not but'. I further know that we cannot use 'must' in the place of 'could not but' because 'could not but' is a past form. ...
1
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0
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276
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"Are you she?"... is it proper English? [duplicate]
While receiving a phone call, the man on the other end of the call was looking for another woman. When finished asking for her, he said: "Are you she?" I've always heard "Are you her" and this was a ...
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0
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Question regarding grammar
I read this sentence in an article -
" black people have claim upon everything as whites " .
Is this sentence grammatically correct and what does it imply
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2
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there is a single person whose/whom/who being a person contains the events of his career
'And': Conjunction Reduction Redux By Barry Schein (linguist) has this passage:
How natural does whose sound?
Can you use who or whom instead?
If this were a personal pronoun, the nominative wouldn'...
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1
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When do we use Verb ING at the beginning of sentences?
Could someone please explain the grammar structure of the lyrics below?
Sitting here wide awake
Thinking about when I last saw you
Since the beginning of these lyrics starts with an "ING" ...
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3
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Can he be an object pronoun?
I understand that a sentence can have more than one subject, but I don't understand the grammatical role of he in the question below and which verb he is performing if he is also a subject.
Who is ...
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The plurality of “a few”
I know for a fact that "few" represents plurality. I also know "a" before a word represents singularity.
But then why is "a few" always considered as plural? Is there any exception to this or just ...
0
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1
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Is the sentence grammatically correct and is "get" or "have" correct?
I have completed the DP training program and I will be able to submit my documents for verification to Nautical Institute in UK for issuing the Unlimited DP License once I get the original letter.
Is ...
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1
answer
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"whom...must...": is this real sentence grammatical?
I encountered this curious sentence on page 234 of the 1859
novel Natalie; or, A Gem Among the Sea-Weeds, by Emma V. Hallet
writing under the pseudonym “Ferna Vale”, marked here in bold:
In a few ...
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2
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How to use upper case for plural and commonly used abbreviations in thesis title? [closed]
Suppose my PhD dissertation title is "small RNAs and gene silencing with RNAi". The university manual says I have to have uppercase title in my dissertation which then becomes "SMALL RNAS AND GENE ...
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0
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Whoever vs. whomever where the phrase seems to serve as both indirect object of main clause and subject of subordinate clause [duplicate]
"Would you give my extra points to whoever needs them the most?" Should whoever be whomever? My "opponent" in this discussion is using grammatical terms that I find unique.
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1
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"I'm not as good as him." versus "I'm not as good as he is." [duplicate]
Which of these sentences is more grammatical?
"I'm not as good as him."
"I'm not as good as he is."
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4
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What case is B in 'Use A as a B'?
For example, what case would 'sword' be in the following sentence:
He used the broom as a sword
Is it simply accusative/dative? I don't think this is just synonymous to 'general' in 'He acted like ...
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2
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Is it correct to say: I will see you at the Christmas dinner or I will see you at Christmas dinner
I am a native English speaker and was recently checking some work before it got sent out to our company. I am unsure as to whether it is grammatically correct to say:
"I will see you at the Christmas ...
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1
answer
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Can object pronouns and possessive pronouns be used side by side without a preposition? [duplicate]
In a previous post on this site, the question was asked, "Can we use two pronouns side by side?" However, the example given (and thus answers offered) didn't quite suit the particular question that I ...
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0
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41
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"Dave saying that really pissed me off" 2 subjects? [duplicate]
So I was teaching and came up with a sentence like this. I'm British and it seems like something I could imagine saying but the grammar seems weird and the students didn't like.
I'm NOT TALKING ...
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2
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Who vs. whom when the he/him test is unclear
I'm not sure whether the following sentence requires who/whom:
Does anyone know who/whom I can speak with about that?
If a similar sentence began with who/whom, it would be "whom." Whom can I speak ...
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personal pronouns in object position but subjective case [duplicate]
Why is this right?
Give the baton to he who is closest to you when you run by.
Does the case of the restrictive clause drive the case of the sentence object?
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0
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What's the proper grammar for "My and my roommate's home..."?
What's the proper grammar for "My and my roommate's home..."
The rule I learned is it should still be grammatically correct after removing the second part. E.g. after removing "and my roommate's", "...
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0
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Whether the word 'me'or 'myself' is correct?
Should I use me or myself in this:
Happy teachers day to all of us … and a special mention to those previously/ currently in the teaching profession….
Fattubhen, nishrin Bhen, ...
1
vote
2
answers
261
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'my picture' - ownership vs. depiction
Consider the sentences:
Take my picture [handing over a frame]
Take my picture [handing over a camera]
(Photo vs. picture being insignificant - a more contrived example could avoid it; as is the ...
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0
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35
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0
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1
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What's the difference between "the seat in front of you" and "the seat in front of yours"? [duplicate]
I came across an airline announcement and the following question arose. Which would you say it is THE correct sentence, and why?
For your comfort and safety, please stow the luggage labelled with the ...
0
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1
answer
513
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Usage of We and Us, which is correct in this context?
Which sentence is correct and why?
The good thing is us being together again in all situations.
The good thing is that we are together again in all situations.
Also, if #1 is the correct one, would ...
0
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1
answer
213
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Whom, who or that?
Which is the correct sentence?
Match me only with people I kissed or people that I am
following
or
Match me only with people I kissed or people who I am
following
or
Match me only with ...
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1
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We three or us three
Does the subject value in the following example need to be "us" or "we". Does it follow the same principle in pluralising the subject where removing one component isolates the correct noun?
Dad and ...
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"With my/their/our V-ing..." as supplement to main clause
Here are some news article examples containing 'with my/their etc. being...' as supplement to a main clause:
(1) Since the opposing counsel would be the U.S. Department of Justice, and with my being ...
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