Introduction
Pronouns replace nouns, and conjunctions join words, phrases and clauses. Case errors (I or me, who or whom), reflexive pronouns and paired conjunctions are favourite targets in NTRCA and BCS English papers.
Pronoun case
| Person | Subject | Object | Possessive adjective | Possessive pronoun | Reflexive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st singular | I | me | my | mine | myself |
| 1st plural | we | us | our | ours | ourselves |
| 2nd | you | you | your | yours | yourself / yourselves |
| 3rd masculine | he | him | his | his | himself |
| 3rd feminine | she | her | her | hers | herself |
| 3rd neuter | it | it | its | its | itself |
| 3rd plural | they | them | their | theirs | themselves |
Rules for pronouns
- After a preposition, use the object case: between you and me, for him and her, let him and me go.
- After than and as, ask what verb is understood: He is taller than I (am). She loves him more than me (than she loves me).
- Formal grammar prefers It is I to It is me, and This is he to This is him.
- Who is the subject and whom is the object: Who wrote this? Whom did you call? After a preposition: To whom did you speak?
- Reflexive pronouns are used when the subject and object are the same person (He hurt himself) or for emphasis (I did it myself). Do not use them as subjects: Myself and Rahim went is wrong.
- Each other is for two and one another is for more than two.
- One should be followed by one or one's, not his (in formal English): One should do one's duty.
- A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in number and person: Every student must bring his or her book.
Relative pronouns
| Pronoun | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| who / whom | persons | The man who called is my uncle. |
| which | things and animals | The book which I bought is good. |
| that | persons or things, after a superlative, all, only, same, any | This is the best film that I have seen. |
| whose | possession | The boy whose bag is lost is crying. |
| what | means the thing that, with no antecedent | I know what you mean. |
Conjunctions
| Pair or word | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| both ... and | plural meaning | Both Rahim and Karim are present. |
| either ... or | nearer subject decides the verb | Either he or I am wrong. |
| neither ... nor | nearer subject decides the verb; never use not with it | Neither he nor she was present. |
| not only ... but also | keep the parallel structure | He is not only clever but also honest. |
| no sooner ... than | used with had + V3 | No sooner had he come than it rained. |
| hardly / scarcely ... when / before | used with had + V3 | Hardly had he left when it rained. |
| though / although ... yet | never though ... but | Though he is poor, he is honest. |
| unless | means if not; do not add another negative | Unless you work hard, you will fail. |
| lest ... should | means so that not | Work hard lest you should fail. |
| so that | purpose | He works hard so that he may succeed. |
| as / like | as introduces a clause; like is a preposition | Do as I say. She looks like her mother. |
| because / for | because gives a direct reason; for is looser | He failed because he was lazy. |
| till / until | up to a point in time | Wait until I return. |
| so ... that / such ... that | result | He is so tired that he cannot walk. |
Common exam traps
- Me and my friend went out. Wrong. Use My friend and I went out.
- Between you and I. Wrong. Use between you and me.
- Though he is poor but he is honest. Wrong. Remove but.
- Unless you do not work hard... Wrong. Unless already carries the negative.
- Neither of them are... Wrong. Use is.
- He is the best boy who I have met. Wrong. After a superlative, use that.
Memory tips
- Prepositions want me, him, her, us, them.
- Add the missing verb after than. Than I (am).
- Though pairs with yet, never with but.
- Unless equals if not. Do not add not again.
Solved examples
Example 1. Everyone except ____ was present. Answer: me. Except is a preposition.
Example 2. He is as clever as ____. Options: she, her. Answer: she. The full sentence is as clever as she is.
Example 3. I do not know ____ he wants. Answer: what. There is no antecedent.
Example 4. Correct: Not only he but also his sons was arrested. Answer: Not only he but also his sons were arrested. The nearer subject is sons.
Practice problems
- Correct: Between you and I, he is wrong.
- Fill in: The students blamed ____ for the failure. (themselves / theirselves)
- Fill in: He is older than ____. (me / I)
- Correct: Though it rained, but we went out.
- Fill in: ____ book is this? (Who / Whose / Whom)
Answers: 1. Between you and me, he is wrong. 2. themselves. 3. I. 4. Though it rained, we went out. 5. Whose.
Practice MCQs with solutions
Note: these are practice questions written in the style of past NTRCA/BCS preliminary papers. Please cross-check with the official question bank.
Question 1. The book is meant for you and ____.
- (a) I
- (b) me
- (c) myself
- (d) mine
Correct answer: (b) me
Explanation: After a preposition, use the object case: for you and me.
Question 2. He is taller than ____.
- (a) me
- (b) I
- (c) myself
- (d) mine
Correct answer: (b) I
Explanation: Than I (am) is the correct form because the pronoun is the subject of an understood verb.
Question 3. ____ did you meet at the party?
- (a) Who
- (b) Whom
- (c) Whose
- (d) Which
Correct answer: (b) Whom
Explanation: Whom is the object of meet.
Question 4. He hurt ____ while cutting vegetables.
- (a) him
- (b) himself
- (c) his
- (d) he
Correct answer: (b) himself
Explanation: The subject and object are the same person, so use a reflexive pronoun.
Question 5. Though he is poor, ____ he is honest.
- (a) but
- (b) yet
- (c) so
- (d) and
Correct answer: (b) yet
Explanation: Though...yet is the correct pair. Never use though...but.
Question 6. Work hard ____ you should fail.
- (a) unless
- (b) lest
- (c) but
- (d) until
Correct answer: (b) lest
Explanation: Lest means so that not and is followed by should.
Question 7. ____ you work hard, you cannot succeed.
- (a) If
- (b) Unless
- (c) Lest
- (d) Although
Correct answer: (b) Unless
Explanation: Unless means if not.
Question 8. He is the best boy ____ I have ever met.
- (a) who
- (b) which
- (c) that
- (d) whom
Correct answer: (c) that
Explanation: After a superlative, the relative pronoun is that.
Question 9. She looks ____ her mother.
- (a) as
- (b) like
- (c) alike
- (d) likes
Correct answer: (b) like
Explanation: Like is a preposition here and is followed by a noun.
Key takeaways
- Use the object case after a preposition, and check the understood verb after than and as.
- Who is the subject and whom is the object.
- Learn the paired conjunctions and their partners.
- Never combine though with but, or unless with not.