Should it be she and David or David and her?

Answer 1

She and David (subject) went to school. The teachers taught her and David, or David and her (object), to read.

A compound subject can never have "her" as the pronoun.

TIP: It's really much easier to use proper names when making a compound noun.

Example: Sally and David went shopping.

But, alas, there are times when we must use the pronoun.

For example, in a conversation, a Mom asks:

"Where is Sally?"

"She and David went shopping."

TIP: Anytime you are unsure of the pronoun to use in a compound noun, remember that the sentence must be readable with one and both.

As examples of splitting up the sentence to use this tip:

Wrong: Sally and her went shopping.

Right: Sally went shopping. (remove one in the compound noun)

Wrong: Her went shopping. (remove one in the compound noun)

So this tells you the right way would be: Sally and she went shopping.

(Remember, though, "she" must be defined in a previous sentence before using the pronoun.)

Wrong: Him and Sally went to the movies.

Right: Sally went to the movies.

Wrong: Him went to the movies.

Right: He went to the movies.

So this break-down tells you that "he" should be the pronoun in a compound noun.

Correct: He and Sally went to the movies.

Correct: Sally and he went to the movies.

Again, it may be far easier to define the pronoun and use the proper name.

Correct: Sally and George went to the movies (or George and Sally).

Wrong: Sally and them went out to eat.

Right: Sally went out to eat.

Wrong: Them went out to eat.

Correct: Sally and they went out to eat. (as long as you defined "they" before)

Here it may be easier to assign a noun to "they". For examples: Sally and her friends; The family and Sally; Sally and her friends; The students and Sally; Sally and the students; Sally and the other students...