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The Elements Of Style - ChokseKU: Home

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1 2 ] T H E E L E M E N T S O F S T Y L E<br />

A pronoun in a comparison is nominative if it is the sub<br />

ject of a stated or understood verb.<br />

Sandy writes better than I. (Than I write.)<br />

In general, avoid "understood" verbs by supplying them.<br />

I think Horace admires I think Horace admires<br />

Jessica more than I. Jessica more than I do.<br />

Polly loves cake more Polly loves cake more<br />

d i a n m e . t h a n s h e l o v e s m e .<br />

<strong>The</strong> objective case is correct in the following examples.<br />

<strong>The</strong> ranger offered Shirley and him some advice on<br />

campsites.<br />

<strong>The</strong>y came to meet the Baldwins and us.<br />

Let's talk it over between us, then, you and me.<br />

Whom should I ask?<br />

A group of us taxpayers protested.<br />

Us in the last example is in apposition to taxpayers, the object<br />

of the preposition of. <strong>The</strong> wording, although grammatically<br />

defensible, is rarely apt. "A group of us protested as tax<br />

payers" is better, if not exacdy equivalent.<br />

Use the simple personal pronoun as a subject.<br />

Blake and myself stayed Blake and I stayed<br />

h o m e . h o m e .<br />

Howard and yourself Howard and you<br />

brought the lunch, I brought the lunch, I<br />

t h o u g h t . t h o u g h t .<br />

<strong>The</strong> possessive case of pronouns is used to show owner<br />

ship. It has two forms: the adjectival modifier, your hat, and<br />

the noun form, a hat of yours.<br />

<strong>The</strong> dog has buried one of your gloves and one of mine<br />

in the flower bed.<br />

Gerunds usually require the possessive case.<br />

Mother objected to our driving on the icy roads.

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