which is correct?
My fifth-grade teacher was she.
My fifth grade teacher was her.
The winner of the contest was her.
The winner of the contest was she.
Thanks!
2006-10-17 15:26:22 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Homework Help
The grammatically correct answers, for your homework, are the sentences 'My fifth-grade teacher was she." and "The winner of the contest was she."
This is because English grammar requires the nominative form of the pronoun following the verb 'to be' : I, you, he, she, it, we, they.
'Was' is the past tense of the verb 'to be', so 'She' is the correct pronoun.
Nearly everyone finds this rule difficult to follow. Even if everyone could follow it, informally it sounds pedantic. Who would ever say "It is we?"
But although constructions like "It is me" are not acceptable in formal writing, they have been used for so long they are becoming part of the vernancular. And this is what is causing the confusion in the answers; people often use grammar differently than the formal rules would allow.
This is how language changes. But the changes are not enough, yet, to convince your teacher that "her" is right. So choose "she" when you hand in your homework.
2006-10-17 15:54:52 · answer #1 · answered by Longshiren 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She in both cases. Reverse the sentences. She was my fifth grade teacher. She was the winner of the contest.
2006-10-17 22:34:29 · answer #2 · answered by onanist13 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe "My fifth-grade teacher was she" and "the winner of the contest was she" are technically the correct versions...I know it comes out a little awkward but think of how it sounds when you move "she" and "was" to the beginning of the sentence.
It makes perfect sense then, doesn't it?
2006-10-17 22:31:05 · answer #3 · answered by scarletcub11 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
None of the above
She was my fifth-grade teacher.
She was the winner of the contest.
The winner of the contest was my fifth-grade taecher.
If you must choose from your options, go with she at the end...
2006-10-17 22:41:23 · answer #4 · answered by Dr. Gonzo 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The second ones are right because it has to work if you switch the order, and "her was my fifth grade teacher " is definitely wrong.
2006-10-17 22:30:20 · answer #5 · answered by hayharbr 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The winner of the contest was her.
My fifth grade teacher was her.
2006-10-17 22:33:15 · answer #6 · answered by Mel 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
my fifth grade teacher was her
the winner of the contest was her.
works if they are far away and you're pointing to them.
but use the other two if the subject is fairly nearby.
2006-10-17 22:32:33 · answer #7 · answered by shoogadigga 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Was she. If you change it around you wouldn't saym "Her was my fifth-grade teacher." You would say she.
2006-10-17 22:30:59 · answer #8 · answered by Kallie 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The 2nd & the 4th
2006-10-17 22:34:26 · answer #9 · answered by green_ballin_23 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
For the first set - the second
For the second set - the first
2006-10-17 22:35:50 · answer #10 · answered by kjbouche 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋