Welcome to this week's writing lesson from

 MyEnglishTeacher.net

I am I 

Lesson Topic: Linking Verbs and Correct Pronoun Usage

Let's say Kevin calls John on the phone.  He asks for John by name because he doesn't recognize John's voice.  The conversation begins like this:

John: Hello. Kevin: Hello, is John there?

What should John say?  He has two choices:

Before we tell you the correct answer, let's explain the grammar.

A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun.  For example

For this lesson, we will concentrate on pronouns that DO actions and pronouns that RECEIVE actions.

In English, the subject of a sentence is the person, place, or thing that performs.  Look at the following sentence:

Franklin is the subject because Franklin is performing an action; that action is kicking (kick).  What or who received that action?  Tommy.  Since Tommy received the action, we can use a pronoun from the list of object pronouns.  The pronoun for males that receives an action is him.  Therefore, we can correctly write

Now look at this sentence:

What or who is receiving the action?  Nothing.  Nothing is receiving  the action because Franklin is not doing anything. He is NOT really performing anything.  He is BEING something.  He is BEING a boy.  Since boy is NOT receiving any action, use a pronoun from the list of subject pronouns.  Therefore we can correctly write

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Some verbs do not show an action.  Some verbs just show the subject BEING something, for example, the verb to be (am, is, are, was, were, have been).  This type of verb is called a linking verb (also called a linking word).  The verb to be is not the only linking verb in English.  Here are some of the most common linking verbs:

Now, let's talk about the first mini-quiz we gave you at the beginning.  Should John say, "It's me" or "It's I"?

Look at the verb.  The verb is is which is a linking word.  Therefore, we can NOT use the pronouns that receive an action (object pronouns).  There was NO action to receive.  Therefore, use the subject pronouns.  The pronoun that we can use is I.  "It's I" is the answer.

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Quiz time

Directions: Read the sentences.  Underline the verbs.  Tell whether each verb is an action word or a linking word.  If there is a choice, circle the correct pronoun. 

1.  Yes, that is (he, him).

2.  George smells great because (he, him) has been smelling the flowers in the garden.

3.  Charles gave (she, her) a sandwich.  (She, her) loved it.

4.  Charles is (he, him).  (He, Him) is the chairman.

5.  Margie and (I, me) arrived at the party late.

6.  Mom took Margie and (I, me) shopping for new clothes.

7.  (Who, Whom) did you see?  I saw (they, them).

8.   My boss is (she, her).

9.  (Who, Whom) will help (I, me)?  The people who will help you find a job are (they, them).

10.  If there is a group of people who hates exercise, it is (we, us). 

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Some verbs are action words and some verbs are linking words.  When using pronouns with linking words, you are usually required to use subject pronouns.  Object pronouns RECEIVE actions.  If there is no action, there is nothing to receive.  Therefore use subject pronouns.

     Charles is he.

If a linking word connects the subject to another word that means the same thing as the subject, the sentence is reversible.

     Karen is the president

Karen is the subject; is is a linking word; the president means Karen.  Therefore, you can write

     The president is Karen.

This is a good way to determine which pronoun to use.  For example,

     Karen is (her, she).

Which pronoun should you use?  Reverse it and see which one is correct.

     INCORRECT: Her is Karen.

     CORRECT: She is Karen.

Look at this sentence:

     Karen is tall.

Is this sentence reversible?  No.  It is NOT reversible because tall does NOT mean Karen; tall describes Karen.      

Who and whom are not the same and they are not interchangeable.  Who is used when you want to know which person DID the action.  Whom is used when you want to know which person RECEIVED the action.

     Who pushed Jorge?  (We want to know which person DID the action.)

     Whom did Pedro push?  (We want to know which person RECEIVED the action.)