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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 ✔