A case of case

Question

I'm learning to live with the muddling of cases:
Hi, it's me!
I don't care who you give it to!
They drove my wife and I to the doctor.

But I'm wondering how it effects demonstratives:

I can't tell which are my heart pills. (reply) These are they. OR These are them. ??

Thanks for your advice! - A.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

affects

These are them.

But avoid the whole issue: Here they are.

CJ

Everlastinghope · Answer

You have the explanation here: http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/thesearethem.html

Avangi · Answer

That's a cute one, Everlasting!

Thanks, Jim.

Everlastinghope · Answer

Have a look at this : http://www.wordpower.ws/grammar/gramch18.html (4. The objective case)

Here's what is stated :

"It should be noted that the verb to be does not take an object. In formal, written English, when the verb to be is immediately followed by a personal pronoun, the pronoun must usually be in the subjective case. In the following examples, the pronouns following the verb to be are in the subjective case.
e.g. It is I.
That was he.
This is she.
Those are they.

However, in informal English, this rule is usually ignored. In informal English, when a pronoun immediately follows any verb, including the verb to be, the objective form of the pronoun is usually used. Thus, in informal English the sentence It is I would usually be expressed It is me, and the sentence That was he would usually be expressed That was him."
Hope this might help you

Avangi · Answer

Thanks, ever.

I'm pretty well settled on the old traditional way in formal writing, and I recognize the "pronoun following a verb" rule in casual conversation.
Some of these things seem to be on a case-by-case basis. The demonstrative pronoun case I mentioned had not yet come to my attention. But it does seem bizarre.

A case of case

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions