Question

For the pair of sentences below, choose the right option.
1. Those are them.
2. Those are they.

• A. The first sentence has an error.
• B. The second sentence is erroneous.
• C. Both sentences are incorrect.
• D. Both sentences are correct.

Hint:

After a linking verb like "are," the word that follows must match the subject's case, so use "they" and not "them."

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

This question checks whether you know which pronoun form follows a linking verb like "are." Think of a linking verb as an equals sign joining the subject to the word after it, so both sides need to match in case.

1. Those are them. "Them" is the objective form of "they," the form used for the object of a verb or preposition, as in "I saw them" or "call them." Because "are" is a linking verb and not an action performed on something, the word after it cannot be objective. This sentence breaks the rule, so it is wrong.
2. Those are they. "They" is the subjective form. Since "are" links "those" back to a word that renames it, that word needs the subjective case, which is exactly what "they" gives here. This sentence follows the rule correctly.

Since sentence 1 is wrong and sentence 2 is fine, the statement that the first sentence has an error matches the facts, and the claim that the second sentence is erroneous does not, since sentence 2 is grammatically correct.

Let's summarize:

• Words placed after linking verbs (is, are, was, were) take the subjective case: I, he, she, we, they.
• "Them" only works as an object, never as a complement after "are."

So only the first sentence, "Those are them," carries the error, which makes option A the correct choice. $\boxed{\text{Option A}}$