Pronouns - Shortcut Rules

In this post we shall discuss some important shortcut rules about Pronouns which comes in handy while solving Banking and other Competitive exam papers.

Shortcut Rule 1 :  We should use the personal pronouns in the order of 231 for good results ( I mean, Second Person, Third Person, First Person). Have a look at the following Examples.

• I, He and You are to finish it.
  ☓
• You, He and I are to finish it.
  ✔
• The order 123 (First Person, Second Person and Third Person) is also possible when we admit guilt. 
• I, You and He have committed the Sin.
  ✔

Shortcut Rule 2 : A Pronoun in the nominative form should be compared with the same form of the pronoun. 

• He is better than I (am)  (Two Nominatives are compared)
  ✔
• I respect you more than him (Two objectives are compared)
  ✔

Shortcut Rule 3 : A Pronoun in the objective case is used after "Let / Between / Any Preposition"

• Let you and me play (You and me are objects)
  ✔
• There is no dispute between you and me.
  ✔

Shortcut Rule 4 : When a pronoun stands for a collective noun, it should be used in the singular form.

• The army has left its Head Quarters (As a Whole)
  ✔
• The committee were divided in their opinion (Separate Individuals)
  ✔

Shortcut Rule 5 : When two singular nouns are joined by "and", refer to to the same person, the pronoun used in their place should be singular in form.

• The Collector and Magistrate has done his best.
  ✔
• But the collector and the Magistrate have done their best. 
  ✔

Shortcut Rule 6 : A singular pronoun should be used when two singular nouns are joined by either or / neither nor

• Either Ravi or Gopal should do his duty
  ✔

Shortcut Rule 7 : A pronoun in the plural form should be used when two nouns of different members are joined by "or" or "nor".

• Either the Principal or his teachers have attended their duty.
  ✔

Shortcut Rule 8 : The distributive pronouns "Either / Neither / None / Any / No one" are used with singular verbs.

• Either / Neigher ........................Used for two Person / Things
• None / No one / Any ................ Used for more than two person / things.
• Any ............................Used for more than two persons / things.   Have a look at some examples.
• Either of the two girls is diligent.
  ✔
• Neither of the brothers is quarrelsome.
  ✔
• None of the four sisters is intelligent.
  ✔
• Any of the four men can do it.
  ✔

Shortcut Rule 9 : The Reciprocal pronouns "Each other / One another"

• Each other - For two persons
• One another - For more than two persons.
• The two sister hate each other.
• The five brother love one another.

Shortcut Rule 10 : The indefinite pronoun "One" should be used as "One's" for  its possessive case.

• One should love one's country.
  ✔

Shortcut Rule 11 : The verbs such as "Hurt / Cheat / Prostrate / Introduce / Present / Absent / Satisfy / Prepare / Enjoy / Avail of" are followed by either "an" object or "a" reflexive pronoun. (Myself / Ourselves / Yourself / Yourselves) (Himself / Herself / Itself / Themselves)

• I introduced her to the Principal (Her.........object)
  ✔
• I introduced myself to the Principal (Myself.........Reflexive pronoun)
  ✔
• He enjoyed the party (Party............Object)
  ✔
• He enjoyed himself at the Party (Himself.................Reflexive Pronoun)
  ✔

Shortcut Rule 12 : The use of Relative Pronouns :

• Who................. for Persons
• This is the boy who is diligent.
• Which
  .................for Things.
• The book which is in the shelf is mine.
• That
  ................. is used both for persons and things.
• One boy who stole my purse was a student
  ✔
• The boy that stole my purse was a student.
  ✔

• As a relative pronoun "That" is used with superlative Adjective / Only / Any / Nothing / Some / All / None"
• All that glitters is not gold
• This is the best thing that I can do.

Shortcut Rule 13 : The word "Who" as a relative pronoun is used in the nominative case, takes a verb.

• The Principal who came here was Raju's Brother.

• The word "Whom"as a relative pronoun is used in the objective case (takes no verb)
• The doctor whom I met yesterday was Krishna's Father

Shortcut Rule 14 : Agreement of the verb with its antecedent in number and person

• I who is your brother must trust you
  ☓
• I who am your brother must trust you.
  ✔

• You who is my friend
  ☓
• You who are my friend
  ✔

Shortcut Rule 15 : If a pronoun is to be placed after "to be", the pronoun in the subjective case is used.

• It is Him
  ☓
• It is He
  ✔