Using the nominative case indicates that the pronoun is acting as the subject of a given clause or as a predicate nominative following a linking verb. The subject pronouns are: I, you, he, she, they, we, who and it.

• Pronouns as the subject of a clause:
  

• He will never leave basketball completely.
  • HE is the subject of the sentence.
    

• While I was playing," he said, "I had another dream that had nothing to do with winning championships."
  
  • I is the subject of the first clause. HE is the subject of the second clause, and I is the subject of the third clause.
    

• She can recognize somebody who needs a boost—teammate or community.
  • SHE is the subject of the independent clause. WHO is the subject of the dependent clause. Remember: Relative pronouns are part of the dependent clause.
    
    
• Who is going to be available in two years or three years?
  • WHO is the subject of the sentence.

• Pronouns as the Predicate Nominative
  
  
  • We both recalled that it was she who offered the proposal.
    • WE is the subject of the independent clause. IT is the subject of the dependent clause. SHE is the predicate nominative to IT. WHO is the subject of the final dependent clause.
      
      
  • It is I who have allergies.
    
    • IT is the subject of the independent clause. I is the predicate nominative to IT. WHO is the subject of the final dependent clause.
      
      
  • If I were she, I would take the job.
    
    • I is the subject of the dependent clause. SHE is the predicate nominative to I. I is the subject of the independent clause.
      
  • Remember the paintings that I told you about? These are they.
    
    • I is the subject of the dependent clause. THEY is the predicate nominative to THESE.
      
      
• Pronouns in a comparison
  
  • Use the subjective case after "than" when the pronoun would use the same verb in an "implied clause of comparison" as the subject of the sentence,
    
    
    • My friend likes studying more than I.
      • This means that my friends like studying more than I do.
        
        
    • My friend likes studying more than me.
      
      • This means that my friends like studying more than they like me.
        
        
    • We drive faster than they. (drive)
      
      
  • Use the subjective case after "than" when the pronoun is being compared or contrasted to a quality only (e.g., adjective or adverb) of the subject.
    
    
    • She is taller than he. (is tall)
      
      • If the sentence included a noun with taller, the pronoun would be objective (There is no taller player than her).
                 
        
    • He is happier than she. (is happy)
      

To begin studying objective case, please go to the next page.