Exercises.-I. Use the words she, her, instead of Laura to improve these sentences: Laura has cut Laura's finger. Laura says that the cut does not hurt Laura very much. What do you call words used instead of nouns? What pronouns have you used in this exercise? II. Use pronouns to fill the blanks. Instead of what noun is each pronoun used? III. Learn this list of pronouns : — 1. I, my, me; we, our, us; ours, mine. 2. You, your, yours. 3. He, his, him; they, their, them; theirs. 4. She, her, hers; it, its. 5. Who, what, which, that. IV. Write ten sentences, using some of the pronouns given above. Word Study Pronoun means instead of a noun or for a noun. Do not use an apostrophe in writing the words its, hers, theirs. 168 A QUOTATION WITHIN A QUOTATION Two men were journeying together, enjoying each other's company. One of them picked up a bright iron ax that lay in the road, saying to his companion, "I have found an ax.” "Nay, my friend," replied the other, "do not say I, but we have found an ax." Turning around, they saw the owner of the ax pursuing them. The finder of the ax cried: “O dear! we are caught." "Nay," replied his mate, "keep your first mode of speech, my friend. What you thought right then, think right now. Say, 'I am caught,' not 'We are caught.'" Upon which words does the point of the story depend? Select the pronouns. Tell what word each pronoun stands for. Observation. Study the last sentence in the story. It shows how one quotation may be included within another. In that case single marks (') inclose the second quotation. Find a quotation within a quotation in the story on page 64. 169 PERSONAL PRONOUNS Mr. Ludwig was interested in getting a position for a boy named Henry Kemp. Mr. Ludwig called up Mr. Forbes on the telephone and told him what he knew about Henry. This is what he said :— "Hello! hello! Is this Mr. Forbes? I hear that Henry Kemp has applied for a position in your store. Henry was HOW TO USE PERSONAL PRONOUNS 183 employed last summer to work around my house and garden, and his faithful service pleased me very much. I think he would please you. I hope you will give him a trial." In this talk over the telephone, who was the person speaking? Who was the person spoken to? Who was the person spoken of? What pronouns stand for the person speaking? for the person spoken to? for the person spoken of? A pronoun that shows by its form whether it stands for the person speaking, the person spoken to, or the person spoken of, is called a personal pronoun. Find all the personal pronouns in the telephone message. Pronouns that stand for the person speaking are called pronouns of the first person; as, I, my, me. Pronouns that stand for the person spoken to are called pronouns of the second person; as, you, your. Pronouns that stand for the person spoken of are called pronouns of the third person; as, he, his, him, she, her, it, they, them. the personal pronouns in the selecTell whether each Tell whether each pronoun is of Find Exercise. tion on page 182. the first, second, or third person. which each pronoun refers. Name the noun to 170. HOW TO USE PERSONAL PRONOUNS Many people make mistakes in using personal pronouns. Most mistakes of this kind arise from using subject forms as objects and object forms as subjects. This exercise will help you to overcome wrong habits in the use of pronouns. Remember that the pronouns I, we, he, she, and they, are properly used as subjects; also as complements after forms of the verb to be (page 142) or verb-phrases ending in be. The pronouns me, us, him, her, and them are properly used as objects. You and it may be used as subjects or objects. Remember that two words may be used together as the subject of a sentence; as, "Jason and I came late"; also that two words may be the object of one verb or of some other word; as, "Father praised him and me," "I sat between him and Tom." Use all the above pronouns in short oral sentences. Exercise. In the following exercise choose the proper word in each sentence: 1. He and (I, me) met at the gymnasium. 2. Her mother and (she, her) set out yesterday. 3. Did the teacher refer to you or (I, me)? 4. (We, us) boys are planning a sleigh ride. 5. (She, her) and Jane refused to go. 6. Luke was standing between John and (he, him). 7. (They, them) are the men we saw on the bridge. 8. (They, them) and (we, us) then hurried away. 9. (He, him) and (I, me) were feeding the squirrels. 10. Between you and (I, me) Dick is mistaken. 11. All except (she, her) refused to enter the room. 12. I am taller than (she, her). THE ORDER OF PRONOUNS 13. Did you refer to Sara or (I, me)? 14. They can do nothing without Kate and (we, us). 15. The teacher says you and (I, me) may use the piano. 16. Who wants an apple? Answer (I, me). 17. Is it (she, her)? No, it is (he, him). 18. Who told you it was (we, us)? 19. I think it must be (he, him). 20. People say it was (I, me). 171 THE ORDER OF PRONOUNS Copy this stanza from "A Boy's Song":— Where the gray trout lies asleep, Up the river, and o'er the lea, That's the way for Billy and me. 185 -JAMES HOGG. Would you not like to visit the pleasant spot described in the above lines? Notice the last line. The pronoun me, which stands for the speaker, follows the noun Billy. That is the proper way in English. Exercises. I. Fill the blanks with the pronoun me. Repeat the completed sentences aloud. 1. He gave it to Sophie and 2. Here is some candy for you and 3. The girls are talking about Vincent and 4. Did you call mother or ? Write five sentences like those given in this exercise. Read your sentences aloud. |