Extract:
What word is best to substitute for the underlined words in the following sentence?
Francesca, Bill, and I enjoy using the hospital pool.
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A
They
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B
We
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C
Them
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D
Us
The word "We" best substitutes for "Francesca, Bill, and I" because the pronoun functions as the subject of the verb "enjoy."
A) They
"They" is third-person plural, incorrect person to replace first-person plural antecedent "Francesca, Bill, and I." Pronoun person must match antecedent person.
B) We
"We" is first-person plural subjective case pronoun correctly replacing the compound subject "Francesca, Bill, and I" before the verb "enjoy." Subject pronouns require subjective case matching antecedent person and number.
C) Them
"Them" is third-person plural objective case, incorrect person and case for subject position. "Them enjoy" creates double error: wrong person and wrong case.
D) Us
"Us" is first-person plural objective case, correct person but incorrect case for subject position. "Us enjoy" violates subject-case requirements despite matching person.
Conclusion
Subject pronouns require subjective case matching antecedent person and number. The compound subject "Francesca, Bill, and I" is first-person plural, requiring first-person plural subjective "we", not objective "us" or third-person alternatives.