Personal pronouns as subject
Singular
Plural
I gave Dad We gave Dad
You gave Dad You gave Dad
He/she/it gave Dad They gave Dad
The earlier versions of second person still found in old bibles,
early
poetry and Shakespeare’s plays were thou (singular) and ye
(plural).
Personal pronouns as direct and indirect objects
Singular
Plural
Dad gave me Dad gave us
Dad gave you Dad gave you
Dad gave him/her/it Dad gave them
Note: The pronoun stays the same when two people are mentioned.
The trick is to think how it would be said before you add in the
other person.
For example:
Subject: [He and] I want to buy the DVD.
Object: Dad gave [him and] us our pocket money.
Mum lost [her and] me in the shopping centre.
It is always polite to mention the other person first!
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15.3 Activities: pronouns and objects
1. Students write their own sentences, or jointly compose them on the
board, with various pronouns used as subjects or objects.

It would be clear, now, that teaching grammar is much easier with
a structured program. After our recent study of subject and object,
the term ‘complement’ will be easy to understand. Quickly check
that all students can distinguish between the subject and the object.
Recognise the complement
The complement completes the sense of a sentence in which the
verb is any form of the verb ‘to be’ or any other verb with a parallel
meaning, such as ‘become’, ‘grow into’, etc.
The easiest way to recognise a complement is to ask yourself
whether the word following (or governed by) the verb is the very
same person or thing as the subject of that verb. The object cannot
be the same person or thing as the subject.
For example:
My sister is a ballet dancer.
subject verb ‘to be’ complement
‘My sister’ and ‘ballet dancer’ are the same person!
This plant should grow into a fine tree.
subject form of verb ‘to be’ complement
‘The plant’ and ‘fine tree’ refer to the same thing.
A rule of thumb, recited by school children through genera-
tions, can still serve as a reminder: The verb ‘to be’ never takes an
object.
A good tip for teachers
Just about every rule has an exception and experience has shown
that if you know an exception and it concerns a common feature,
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it is a good idea to teach the exception at the same time as teaching
the rule. In this way, students are prepared. If they come across it

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3. Students make two columns in their books and head them Object and
Complement. Dictate sentences, each containing either an object
or complement. The students then write the object or complement
only, in the appropriate column, for example:
Object Complement
an amazing performance
Note: The complement can be an adjective.
a. The belly dancer gave
an amazing performance.
b. Dad is
a first class mechanic.
c. I could never be
a surgeon.
d. You have lost
the plot.
e. This is
my first attempt.
f. That street sign is
bent.
g. I should like
a hamburger.
h. Hamburgers are
my favourite.
i. That is
my lunchbox.
j. You have taken
the wrong one.
4. Students name two parts of speech that complements can be. [noun/
adjective]