Diagramming Pronouns

Diagramming pronouns helps us with correct pronoun usage. We diagram pronouns in the same way that we diagram nouns.

  • The boy caught a fish.
  • He caught it.
  • The girl served the volleyball.
  • She served it.
  • Celebration hurdles fences.
  • He hurdles them.

Diagramming a sentence helps us determine which pronoun to use because the diagram clearly shows how the pronoun is used in the sentence. We diagram the sentence below to help us choose the correct pronoun:

Sam talks to my brother and (I, me).

We see from the diagram that the pronoun is an object of the preposition to, so we choose the objective case pronoun me.

Sam talks to my brother and me.

Note: For some reason, we are more likely to use the wrong pronoun when it is part of a compound subject or object, as in the sentence above. If we remove the other half of the subject or object, the correct pronoun becomes obvious:

Our ears tell us that "talks to me" is correct. "Talks to I" does not sound right; it is incorrect.

Examples 1

Diagram the following sentences to reveal the correct pronoun. Then rewrite the sentence correctly.

  1. Kevin and (he, him) might play soccer.
  2. Zane and (I, me) galloped our horses.

Solutions

We practice diagramming pronouns:

1.

We see from our diagram that the pronoun is part of the subject of the sentence, so we choose the nominative case pronoun he.

Kevin and he might play soccer.

2.

We see from our diagram that the pronoun is part of the subject of the sentence, so we choose the nominative case pronoun I.

Zane and I galloped our horses.

Examples 2

Either in your mind or on paper, practice diagramming pronouns in the sentences below to reveal correct pronoun usage. Then rewrite each sentence using the correct pronoun(s).

  1. Will you play soccer with Elle and (me, I)?
  2. (They, Them) and (we, us) will advance to the league finals.
  3. Tom and (she, her) have big decisions to make.
  4. Dad drove Lucy and (I, me) home from school.
  5. The flight attendant gave (he, him) and (I, me) a special job.
  6. Yes, the dogs were barking at bert and (I, me).
  7. Jenna and (they, them) left early.
  8. Carla left with Jenna and (they, them).
  9. Ask Jenna and (she, her) about the adventure.
  10. Nothing bad happened to (they, them) or (we, us).

Solutions

  1. Will you play soccer with Elle and me?
  2. They and we will advance to the league finals.
  3. Tom and she have big decisions to make.
  4. Dad drove Lucy and me home from school.
  5. The flight attendant gave him and me a special job.
  6. Yes, the dogs were barking at Bert and me.
  7. Jenna and they left early.
  8. Carla left with Jenna and them.
  9. Ask Jenna and her about the adventure.
  10. Nothing bad happened to them or us.