Pronoun Case After a Preposition
Question
The director gave the script to my brother and I before the rehearsal began.
Answer choices
- NO CHANGE
- mine
- me
- myself
C Correct answer: C) me
Mentally remove "my brother and": you would never write "the director gave the script to I." That ear test confirms you need the object pronoun "me." The correct answer is "me."
The other options either introduce a grammatical error or change the intended meaning. The ACT consistently rewards the most concise, grammatically correct option.
Read the sentence with each option substituted in. The version that preserves meaning while obeying the underlying rule is the correct answer; on the ACT, that is almost always the shortest option that still works.
The underlying rule
After a preposition like "to," "for," or "with," English requires an object pronoun: me, you, him, her, us, them. The pronoun "I" is a subject pronoun and cannot be the object of a preposition.
Why each wrong answer is wrong
- A) NO CHANGE: This option uses the wrong pronoun case. After "to," only an object pronoun (me) is grammatically correct.
- B) mine: This option uses the wrong pronoun case. After "to," only an object pronoun (me) is grammatically correct.
- D) myself: This option uses the wrong pronoun case. After "to," only an object pronoun (me) is grammatically correct.
Study tip
Whenever a pronoun is paired with a noun ("my brother and ___"), drop the noun and read the sentence with just the pronoun. Your ear will catch the case error immediately.
More Hard Grammar & Usage
- Subject-Verb Agreement: Collective SubjectThe team of researchers are presenting their findings at the conference next week.
- Pronoun Case After a PrepositionThe director gave the script to my brother and I before the rehearsal began.
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- Pronoun Antecedent AgreementEach of the candidates submitted their application before the deadline last Friday.