Pronouns After Than and As

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

Let's define a few things first.

A pronoun (her, I, we, him...) is a word used instead of a noun. Because a noun is a person, place, or thing, a pronoun is as well.

Read the following example.

Arianna is an all-star athlete. Other athletes admire her.

In this example, the pronoun (her) is used in place of the proper noun (Arianna). The pronoun, in this case, is also the object. Otherwise, the sentence would read this way.

Arianna is an all-star athlete. Other athletes admire Arianna.

Repeating the name Arianna creates an unnecessary redundancy. Although it is not wrong, it is a little awkward.

Let's look at another example.

Listening to music is her favorite hobby. It is all she cares about.

In this example, the pronoun (it) refers back to the subject or noun (music). Otherwise, it would read this way.

Listening to music is her favorite hobby. Listening to music is all she cares about.

Occasionally, this sort of repetition is found in poetry or literature as a way of emphasizing a point or creating a particular mood; however, it is not found in formal or even casual conversation.

A misplaced or over-used pronoun can get very confusing.

Learning how and when to use the appropriate pronoun is important.

When the pronoun is referring to the subject, it is called a subject pronoun. A subject pronoun will tell who or what acts as a sentence.

• Who did it?

I did it.

• What did it?

It did it.

When the pronoun is referring to the object, it is an object pronoun. An object pronoun tells who or what receives the action.

• It happened to whom?

It happened to me.

• It happened to what?

It happened to it.

Our focus in this lesson is going to be on how to use pronouns after than and as. There are specific circumstances in which they are found and used.

First, look at these examples.

• Which version is correct?

Let's look at the last example.

Nobody is louder than he.

In this case, than is a subordinate conjunction bridging the two clauses (or sentences).

Here it connects the first sentence, Nobody is louder, to an implied second sentence, he [is loud] to form the entire thought Nobody is louder than he.

This version uses the subject pronoun he.

You mentally want to add the is at the end. That is how you know using he is correct.

If you added the is to the object pronoun, it would read this way.

Nobody is louder than him [is loud].

Clearly, using an object pronoun after than or as does not make sense.

Using a subject pronoun after than or after as indicates that the pronoun represents an elliptical sentence — one in which everything following the subject is omitted because it repeats what was stated previously.

Remember, a subject pronoun tells who or what acts.

A misplaced pronoun can get very confusing. Just look.

Joe and Tommy rode their bikes to school. They liked it.

• What does it mean?
• Do they like school?
• Or do they like riding their bikes?

Instead, try the following.

Joe and Tommy liked riding their bikes to school.

or

Joe and Tommy liked it when they rode their bikes to school.

In this last sentence, it is much clearer. We now know it is referring to Joe and Tommy riding their bikes.

Now you try!

Select the correct pronoun to complete each sentence.

Very good! You are ready for the Got It? section!