When used as direct objects of verbs, indirect objects of verbs, or as objects of prepositions, pronouns are said to be in the objective case.

 

                        The correct forms to use in the objective case are:

 

                                    Singular                                              Plural

                                         me                                                      us

                                         you                                                     you

                                         him                                                     them

                                         her                                                     them

                                         it                                                        them

                                         whom                                                 whom

 

 

            The following sentences are examples showing the correct use of the pronouns in the objective case:

 

Object of a verb                                                    Indirect Object of a Verb                                                               

 

They invited you and me.                                                  My sister knitted me this sweater.

 

I met him yesterday.                                                          I sent him a basket of fruit.

 

Mother drove them to the terminal.                                    Ethel sent you a letter.

 

He put it on the table.                                                        I gave her the book to read.

 

Whom did you telephone?                                                 I read them a bedtime story.

 

 

 

Object of a Preposition

 

The keys of the car were sent to me.                             (object of the preposition “to”)

 

John climbed up to get the ball for him.                          (object of “for”)

 

After the accident I inquired about her.                          (object of “about”)

 

She told them what she knew about us.                          (object of “about”)

 

We shared the money they found among them.              (object of “among”)

 

For whom did you go?                                                  (object of “for”)

 

 

 

Nouns which indicate possession or ownership are in the possessive case. It is important to master the simple rules for forming the possessive case of nouns. example.

 

            Singular nouns form the possessive case by adding an apostrophe “s” (‘s).

 

            Plural nouns which do not end in “s” form the possessive case by adding and apostrophe “s” (‘s) to the plural.

 

            Plural nouns which end in “s” form the possessive case by adding just an apostrophe after the “s”.

                       

            Examples: a woman’s gloves                             women’s gloves

                                         

                              a baby’s toys                                  babies’ toys

 

      a horse’s tail                                   horses’ tails

 

                              a hero’s story                                 heroes’ stories

 

    One important fact to keep in mind is that the possessive case is formed by adding something to the complete word. It is never inserted within the word.

 

            Example:   Mr. Jones son would never be written – Mr. Jone’s son.

                             

                              The complete word is Jones, therefore the possessive is written:

 

                              Mr. Jones’ son (singular)

                              The Joneses’ sons (plural)

 

     If one wanted the sound of an additional “s” in some singular possessive nouns, it would be correct to say:

                     

                               This is Lois’s home.   but

                       

                               This is Lois’ home.  is the form more generally used.

 

        The same rule is true of nouns ending in x and z.

 

                Example:   My favorite is Heinz’s catsup.   But more generally used is:

                                  My favorite is Heinz’ catsup.