7. Copy the following nouns and opposite each write the plural form. If you are not sure of the correct form, look back at the rules given. In Section VII (p. 226), we learned that we can make our language better by using a variety of nouns instead of by repeating the same noun many times. There is another way in which we can avoid repeating a noun. Read the following sentence: As John was running to John's home, John met John's friend. Here the noun "John" is repeated four times. Now read the sentence: As John was running to his home, he met his friend. Does not this sentence sound better? This time, instead of using a variety of nouns in place of the noun “John," we have used another part of speech for the noun. A word used for a noun is called a pronoun. "Pro" means for: "pronoun" means for a noun. Pronouns Most Used In speaking of yourself, you may use, instead of your common name, "boy" or "girl," or your proper name, these pronouns: I, my or mine, and me. I lost the book. It is my book. The book is mine. Give the book to me. In speaking of yourself and others, you may use these pronouns: we, our or ours, and us. We went to the country. Our trunks were lost. The lost trunks were ours. Grandfather met us. In speaking to someone, you may use these pronouns you, and your or yours. Is this your book? Is it yours? You may have it. In speaking of others, you may use these pronouns: she, her, hers, he, his, him, they, their or theirs, and them. She has finished her work. He must finish his work. I gave the book to her and the pencil to him. MISTAKES IN THE USE OF PRONOUNS 233 They like their presents. She likes hers, he likes his, and they like theirs. In speaking of objects, you may use these pronouns it and its. It is John's book. I know it by its torn cover. X. MISTAKES IN THE USE OF PRONOUNS Some people make the mistake of writing "it's" for "its." "It's" is a contraction and stands for it is. The pronoun "its" needs no apostrophe. "Its feet are cold" is correct. Have you ever heard a baby say, "Me want to go"? You laugh at the baby for saying "me" for "I," but babies are not the only ones who use "me" for "I." The boy or girl who says, is using language just as incorrectly as the baby who says, "Me want to go." Repeat until memorized: After the words "am," "is, 99 66 'are," and "was,' use "I" (not me), "he" (not him), "she" (not her), "they" (not them). XI. PRACTICE IN THE USE OF PRONOUNS Copy the sentences below, supplying the right pronoun in each blank. If in doubt about the pronoun to use in any case, it will help you to think of the sentences in the last lesson that you were to "repeat until memorized." One day the Man in the Moon went to visit Mother Goose's children. He asked many questions. Which is Bo-Peep?" he asked. "Are you the children who fell down the hill?" "What is the matter with those kittens?" SINGULAR AND PLURAL PRONOUNS 235 "Do you know the Three Wise Men of Gotham?" Whether talking to one person or a hundred persons, say you. Rewrite the following sentences, changing all the singular pronouns to plural pronouns. If you are not sure of the plural form, look again at the list above. You will find that you may have to make some other change in the wording of your sentences, as: Singular: I am going to school with her. |