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PRONOUNS

17. Pronoun and Antecedent. A Pronoun is a word used instead of a noun. The noun in whose stead it stands is called its Antecedent. John took Mary's book and gave it to his friend. In this sentence book is the antecedent of the pronoun it, and John is the antecedent of his.

18. Pronouns should agree with their antecedents in person, gender, and number.

19. Personal Pronouns are those that by their form indicate the speaker, the person spoken to, or the person or thing spoken about.

Pronouns of the First Person indicate the speaker; they are: I, me, my, mine, we, us, our, ours.

Pronouns of the Second Person indicate the person or thing spoken to; they are: you, your, yours. There are also the grave or solemn forms in the second person, which are now little used; these are: thou, thee, thy, thine, and ye.

Pronouns of the Third Person indicate the person or thing spoken of; they are: he, his, him, she, her, hers, they, their, theirs, them, it, its.

Few errors are made in the use of the proper person of the pronoun.

20. Gender of Pronouns. The following pronouns indicate sex or gender; Masculine: he, his, him. Feminine: she, her, hers. Neuter: it, its.

In order to secure agreement in gender it is necessary to know the gender of the noun, expressed or understood, to which the pronoun refers. Gender of nouns is important only so far as it concerns the use of pronouns. Study carefully the following rules in regard to gender. These rules apply to the singular number only, since all plurals of whatever gender are referred to by they, their, theirs, etc.

The following rules govern the gender of pronouns:

Masculine; referred to by he, his, and him:

1. Nouns denoting males are always masculine.

2. Nouns denoting things remarkable for strength, power, sublimity, or size, when those things are regarded as if they were persons, are masculine; as, Winter, with his chilly army, destroyed them all.

3. Singular nouns denoting persons of both sexes are masculine; as, Every one brought his umbrella.

Feminine; referred to by she, her, or hers:

1. Nouns denoting females are always feminine.

2. Nouns denoting objects remarkable for beauty, gentleness, and peace, when spoken of as if they were persons, are feminine; as, Sleep healed him with her fostering care.

Neuter; referred to by it and its:

1. Nouns denoting objects without sex are neuter.

2. Nouns denoting objects whose sex is disregarded are neuter; as, It is a pretty child, The wolf is the most savage of its race.

3. Collective nouns referring to a group of individuals as a unit are neuter; as, The jury gives its verdict, The committee makes its report.

An animal named may be regarded as masculine; feminine, or neuter, according to the characteristics the writer fancies it to possess; as, The wolf seeks his prey, The mouse nibbled her way into the box, The bird seeks its nest.

Certain nouns may be applied to persons of either sex. They are then said to be of Common Gender. There are no pronouns of common gender; hence those nouns are referred to as follows:

1. By masculine pronouns when known to denote males; as, My class-mate (known to be Harry) is taking his examinations.

2. By feminine pronouns when known to denote females; as, Each of the pupils of the Girls High School brought her book.

3. By masculine pronouns when there is nothing in the connection of the thought to show the sex of the object; as, Let every person bring his book.

21. Number of Pronouns. A more common source of error than disagreement in gender is disagreement in number. They, their, theirs, and them are plural, but are often improperly used when only singular pronouns should be used. The cause of the error is failure to realize the true antecedent.

If anybody makes that statement, they are misinformed. This sentence is wrong. Anybody refers to only one person; both any and body, the parts of the word, denote the singular. The sentence should read, If anybody makes that statement, he is misinformed. Similarly, Let everybody keep their peace, should read, Let everybody keep his peace.

22. Compound Antecedents. Two or more antecedents connected by or or nor are frequently referred to by the plural when the singular should be used. Neither John nor James brought their books, should read, Neither John nor James brought his books. When a pronoun has two or more singular antecedents connected by or or nor, the pronoun must be in the singular number; but if one of the antecedents is plural, the pronoun must, also, be in the plural; as, Neither the Mormon nor his wives denied their religion.

When a pronoun has two or more antecedents connected by and, the pronoun must be in the plural number; as, John and James brought their books.

Further treatment of number will be given under verbs.

Exercise 8

Fill in the blanks in the following sentences with the proper pronouns. See that there is agreement in person, gender, and number:

1 Has everybody finished—— work.

2 If any one wishes a longer time, let—— hold up—— hand.

3 The panther sprang from—— lurking place.

4  Many a man has (have) lost—— money in speculation.

5 The cat came each day for—— bit of meat.

6 Everyone has to prove—— right to a seat.

7 Let every boy answer for—— self (selves).

8 The crowd was so great that we could hardly get through——.

9 Let any boy guess this riddle if—— can.

10 Company H was greatly reduced in—— numbers.

11 Every animal has some weapon with which—— can defend——self (selves).

12 Nowhere does each dare do as—— pleases (please).

13 The elephant placed—— great foot on the man's chest.

14 The child did not know—— mother.

15 Death gathers—— unfailing harvest.

16 Every kind of animal has—— natural enemies.

17 The committee instructed—— chairman to report the matter.

18 Two men were present, but neither would tell what—— saw.

19 Truth always triumphs over—— enemies.

20 Nobody did—— duty more readily than I.

21 The cat never fails to catch—— prey.

22 I have used both blue crayon and red crayon, but—— does (do) not write so clearly as white.

23 If John and Henry whisper (whispers)—— will be punished.

24 If John or Henry whisper (whispers)—— will be punished.

25 Both Columbus and Cabot failed to realize the importance of—— discoveries.

26 Neither the lawyer nor the sheriff liked—— task.

27 The canary longed to escape from—— cage.

28 The rat ran to—— hole.

29 The dog seemed to know—— master was dead.

30 Everyone should try to gather a host of friends about——.

31 If any one wishes to see me, send—— to the Pierce Building.

32 Probably everybody is discouraged at least once in—— life.

33 Nobody should deceive——selves (self).

34 Let each take—— own seat.

35 Let each girl in the class bring—— book.

36 Let each bring—— book.

37 Let each bring—— sewing.

38  The fox dropped—— meat in the pool.

39 The rock lay on—— side.

40 Let sleep enter with—— healing touch.

41 Each believed that—— had been elected a delegate to the Mother's Congress.

42 Consumption demands each year—— thousands of victims.

43 Summer arrays——self (selves) with flowers.

44 Despair seized him in—— powerful grasp.

45 If any boy or any girl finds the book, let—— bring it to me.

46 Let every man and every woman speak——mind.

47 Spring set forth—— beauties.

48 How does the mouse save—— self (selves) from being caught?

49 The hen cackled—— loudest.

50 Some man or boy lost—— hat.

51 John or James will favor us with—— company.

52 Neither the captain nor the soldiers showed——self (selves) during the fight.

53 If the boys or their father come we shall be glad to see——.

54 Every man and every boy received—— dinner.

55 Every man or boy gave—— offering.

Exercise 9

By what gender of the pronouns would you refer to the following nouns?

Snake, death, care, mercy, fox, bear, walrus, child, baby, friend (uncertain sex), friend (known to be Mary), everybody, someone, artist, flower, moon, sun, sorrow, fate, student, foreigner, Harvard University, earth, Germany?

23. Relative Pronouns. Relative Pronouns are pronouns used to introduce adjective or noun clauses that are not interrogative. In the sentence, The man that I mentioned has come, the relative clause, that I mentioned, is an adjective clause modifying man. In the sentence, Whom she means, I do not know, the relative clause is, whom she means, and is a noun clause forming the object of the verb know.

The relative pronouns are who (whose, whom), which, that and what. But and as are sometimes relative pronouns. There are, also, compound relative pronouns, which will be mentioned later.

24. Who (with its possessive and objective forms, whose and whom) should be used when the antecedent denotes persons. When the antecedent denotes things or animals, which should be used. That may be used with antecedents denoting persons, animals or things, and is the proper relative to use when the antecedent includes both persons and things. What, when used as a relative, seldom properly refers to persons. It always introduces a substantive clause, and is equivalent to that which; as, It is what (that which) he wants.

25. That is known as the Restrictive Relative, because it should be used whenever the relative clause limits the substantive, unless who or which is of more pleasing sound in the sentence. In the sentence, He is the man that did the act, the relative clause, that did the act, defines what is meant by man; without the relative clause the sentence clearly would be incomplete. Similarly, in the sentence, The book that I want is that red-backed history, the restrictive relative clause is, that I want, and limits the application of book.

26. Who and which are known as the Explanatory or Non-Restrictive Relatives, and should be used ordinarily only to introduce relative clauses which add some new thought to the author's principal thought. Spanish, which is the least complex language, is the easiest to learn. In this sentence the principal thought is, Spanish is the easiest language to learn. The relative clause, which is the least complex language, is a thought, which, though not fully so important as the principal thought, is more nearly coördinate than subordinate in its value. It adds an additional thought of the speaker explaining the character of the Spanish language. When who and which are thus used as explanatory relatives, we see that the relative clause may be omitted without making the sentence incomplete.

Compare the following sentences:

Explanatory relative clause: That book, which is about history, has a red cover.

Restrictive relative clause: The book that is about history has a red cover.

Explanatory relative clause: Lincoln, who was one of the world's greatest men, was killed by Booth.

Restrictive relative clause: The Lincoln that was killed by Booth was one of the world's greatest men.

Note.—See §111, for rule as to the punctuation of relative clauses.

27. Interrogative Pronouns. An Interrogative Pronoun is a pronoun used to ask a question. The interrogative pronouns are, who (whose, whom), which, and what. In respect to antecedents, who should be used only in reference to persons; which and what may be used with any antecedent, persons, animals, or things.

Exercise 10

Choose the proper relative or interrogative pronoun to be inserted in each of the following sentences. Insert commas where they are needed. (See §111):

1 The kindly physician—— was so greatly loved is dead.

2 This is the man—— all are praising.

3 John—— is my coachman is sick.

4 The intelligence—— he displayed was remarkable.

5 Intelligence—— he had hitherto not manifested now showed its presence.

6 He maintains that the book—— you used is now ruined. (Does which or that have the more pleasing sound here?)

7 The pleasure—— education gives the man—— has it is a sufficient reward for the trouble—— it has cost.

8 That man—— wears a cap is a foreigner.

9 The best hotel is the one—— is nearest the station.

10 Who is it—— is worthy of that honor?

11 The carriages and the drivers—— you ordered yesterday have arrived.

12 —— thing is it—— you want?

13 He purchased—— he wished.

14 There is no cloud—— has not its silver lining.

15 It is the same dog—— I bought.

16 The man and horse—— you see pass here every afternoon.

17 —— did they seek?

18 They inquired—— he was going to do.

19 Who was it—— lost the book?

20 The man—— was a Frenchman was very much excited.

21 It is neither the party nor its candidate—— gains support.

22 That is a characteristic—— makes him seem almost rude.

23 It is the same tool—— I used all day.

24 He is a man—— inspires little confidence.

25 —— does he expect of us?

26 It is just such a thing—— I need.

27 There are few—— will vote for him.

28 The wagon and children—— you just saw came from our town.

29 He—— writes out his lesson does all—— can be expected.

30 Was it you or the cat—— made that noise?

31 It is the same song—— he always sings.

32 Such—— I have is yours.

33 All the men and horses—— we had were lost.

34 That is—— pleased me most and—— everyone talked about.

35 The horse was one—— I had never ridden before.

36 That is—— everyone said.

28. Case Forms of Pronouns. Some personal, relative, and interrogative pronouns have distinctive forms for the different cases, and the failure to use the proper case forms in the sentence is one of the most frequent sources of error. The case to be used is to be determined by the use which the pronoun, not its antecedent, has in the sentence. In the sentence, I name him, note that him is the object of the verb name. In the sentence, Whom do you seek, although coming at the first of the sentence, whom is grammatically the object of the verb seek. In the use of pronouns comes the most important need for a knowledge of when to use the different cases.

Note the following different case forms of pronouns:

Nominative: I, we, you, thou, ye, he, she, they, it, who.

Objective: me, us, you, thee, ye, him, her, it, them, whom.

Possessive: my, mine, our, ours, thy, thine, your, yours, his, her, hers, its, their, theirs, whose.

It will be noted that, while some forms are the same in both the nominative and objective cases, I, we, he, she, they, thou, and who are only proper where the nominative case should be used. Me, us, him, them, thee, whom, and her, except when her is possessive, are only proper when the objective case is demanded. These forms must be remembered. It is only with these pronouns that mistakes are made in the use of the nominative and objective cases.

29. The following outline explains the use of the different case forms of the pronouns. The outline should be mastered.

The Nominative Case should be used:

1. When the noun or pronoun is the subject of a finite verb; that is, a verb other than an infinitive. See 3 under Objective Case.

2. When it is an attribute complement. An attribute complement, as explained in Chapter I, is a word used in the predicate explaining or stating something about the subject. Examples: It is I, The man was he, The people were they of whom we spoke.

3. When it is used without relation to any other part of speech, as in direct address or exclamation.

The Objective Case should be used:

1. When the noun or pronoun is the object of a verb; as, He named me, She deceived them, They watch us.

2. When it is the object of a preposition, expressed or understood: as, He spoke of me, For whom do you take me, He told (to) me a story.

3. When it is the subject of an infinitive; as, I told him to go, I desire her to hope. The infinitives are the parts of the verb preceded by to; as, to go, to see, to be, to have been seen, etc. The sign of the infinitive, to, is not always expressed. The objective case is, nevertheless, used; as, Let him (to) go, Have her (to be) told about it.

4. When it is an attribute complement of an expressed subject of the infinitive to be; as, They believed her to be me, He denied it to have been him. (See Note 2 below.)

The Possessive Case should be used:

When the word is used as a possessive modifier; as, They spoke of her being present, The book is his (book), It is their fault.

Note 1.—When a substantive is placed by the side of another substantive and is used to explain it, it is said to be in Apposition with that other substantive and takes the case of that word; as, It was given to John Smith, him whom you see there.

Note 2.—The attribute complement should always have the case of that subject of the verb which is expressed in the sentence. Thus, in the sentence, I could not wish John to be him, him is properly in the objective case, since there is an expressed subject of the infinitive, John, which is in the objective case. But in the sentence, I should hate to be he, he is properly in the nominative case, since the only subject that is expressed in the sentence is I, in the nominative case.

Note 3.—Where the relative pronoun who (whom) is the subject of a clause that itself is the object clause of a verb or a preposition, it is always in the nominative case. Thus the following sentences are both correct: I delivered it to who owned it, Bring home whoever will come with you.

Exercise 11

Write sentences illustrating the correct use of each of the following pronouns:

I, whom, who, we, me, us, they, whose, theirs, them, she, him, he, its, mine, our, thee, thou.

Exercise 12

In the following sentences choose the proper form from the words in italics:

1 My brother and I me drove to the east end of the town.

2 Between you and I me things are doubtful.

3 May James and I me go to the circus?

4 Will you permit James and I me to go to the play?

5 Who made that noise? Only I me.

6 He introduced us all, I me among the rest.

7 He promised to bring candy to Helen and I me.

8 Was it I me that you asked for?

9 Who spoke? I me.

10 I am taken to be he him.

11 No, it could not have been me I.

12 All have gone but you and I me.

13 You suffer more than me I.

14 Everyone has failed in the examination except you and I me.

15 He asked you and I me to come to his office.

16 See if there is any mail for Mary and me I.

17 Neither you nor I me can teach the class.

18 They think it to be I me.

19 This is the student whom who all are praising.

20 The one that is he him wears a brown hat.

21 He is a man who whom all admired.

22 He is one of those men who whom we call snobs.

23 I did not see that it was her she.

24 It is in fact he him.

25 He still believes it to be them they.

26 Between you and I me, it is my opinion that him he and John will disagree.

27 We saw John and she her; we know it was them they.

28 I did not speak of either you or she her.

29 Our cousins and we us are going to the Art Gallery.

30 Aunt Mary has asked our cousins and us we to take dinner at her house.

31 They are more eager than we us since they have not seen her for a long time.

32 It could not have been we us who whom you suspected.

33 We us boys are going to the ball game.

34 They sent letters to all who whom they thought would contribute.

35 This money was given by John who whom you know is very stingy.

36 The superintendent, who whom, I cannot doubt, is responsible

37 for this error, must be discharged.

38 The teacher told you and I me to stay.

39 The teacher told you and him he to stay.

40 The teacher told you and she her to stay.

41 There are many miles between England and we us.

42 They can't play the game better than we us.

43 It is unpleasant for such as they them to witness such things.

44 Between a teacher and he him who whom he teaches there is sometimes a strong fellowship.

45 You are nearly as strong as him he.

46 All were present but John and he him.

47 Father believed it was she her.

48 Mother knew it to be her she.

49 It was either he him or she her that called.

50 Because of his him being young, they tried to shield him.

51 It was he him who whom the manager said ought to be promoted.

52 The throne was held by a king who whom historians believe to have been insane.

53 Who whom did he say the man was?

54 Who whom did he say the judge suspected?

55 Who whom do you consider to be the brightest man?

56 Who whom do you think is the brightest man?

57 He cannot learn from such as thou thee.

58 If they only rob such as thou thee, they are honest.

59 What dost thou thee know?

60 They do tell thee thou the truth.

61 She told John and me I to study.

62 My father allowed my brother and her she to go.

63 My brother and she her were allowed to go by my father.

64 Turn not away from him he that is needy.

65 Neither Frances nor she her was at fault.

66 The property goes to they them.

67 He thought it was her she, but it was him he and William who did it.

68 It was through she her that word came to me I.

69 I thought it was her she.

70 I wish you were more like he him.

71 I thought it to be she her.

72 It seems to be he. I should hate to be he. I should like to be he or she. (All these sentences are in the correct form.)

73 He is a man in whom who I have little faith.

74 You are as skillful as she her.

75 We escorted her mother and her she to the station.

76 She her and I me are going on the boat.

77 If any are late it will not be us we.

78 Who whom are you going to collect it from?

79 Who whom do men say that he is?

80 Who whom do you think him he to be?

81 They them and their children have gone abroad.

82 It was not they them.

83 Who whom am I said to be?

84 I do not know to who whom to direct him.

85 How can one tell who whom is at home now?

86 Who whom is that for?

87 Choose who whom you please.

88 Do you think I me to be her she who whom you call Kate?

89 Some who whom their friends expected were kept away.

90 Give it to who whom seems to want it most.

91 Who whom do you think I saw there?

92 I hope it was she her who whom we saw.

93 It could not have been him he.

94 Who whom did you say did it?

95 Let them they come at once.

96 The man on who whom I relied was absent.

97 I know it was they them who whom did it.

98 Will he let us we go?

99 It came from they them who whom should not have sent it.

100 It was not us we from who whom it came.

101 Can it be she her?

102 Thou thee art mistaken.

103 Let me tell thee thou, thee thou wilt do wrong.

104 Send who whom wants the pass to me.

105 Tell who whom you choose to come.

106 Is he the man for who whom the city is named?

107 The book is for who whom needs it.

108 I do not know who whom the book is for.

30. The Compound Personal Pronouns are formed by adding self or selves to certain of the objective and possessive personal pronouns; as, herself, myself, itself, themselves, etc. They are used to add emphasis to an expression; as, I, myself, did it, He, himself, said so. They are also used reflexively after verbs and prepositions; as, He mentioned himself, He did it for himself.

The compound personal pronouns should generally be confined to their emphatic and reflexive use. Do not say, Myself and John will come, but, John and I will come. Do not say, They invited John and myself, but, They invited John and me.

The compound personal pronouns have no possessive forms; but for the sake of emphasis own with the ordinary possessive form is used; as, I have my own book, Bring your own work, He has a home of his own.

31. There are no such forms as hisself, your'n, his'n, her'n, theirself, theirselves, their'n. In place of these use simply his, her, their, or your.

Exercise 13

Write sentences illustrating the correct use of the following simple and compound personal pronouns:

Myself, me, I, them, themselves, him, himself, her, herself, itself, our, ourselves.

Exercise 14

Choose the correct form in the following sentences. Punctuate properly. (See §108):

1 Yourself you and John were mentioned

2 She told Mary and me myself to go with her herself.

3 The book is for you yourself and I me myself.

4 Henry and I me myself are in the same class.

5 He thinks you yourself and I me myself should bring the books.

6 Our friends and we us ourselves are going out to-night.

7 Herself she and her husband have been sick.

8 They themselves and their children have gone abroad.

9 You play the violin better than he himself.

10 The machine failed to work well, because it itself and the engine were not properly adjusted to each other.

11 Let them do it theirselves themselves.

12 He came by hisself himself.

13 The teacher hisself himself could not have done better.

14 I'll bring my gun, and you bring your'n yours your own.

15 That book is his'n his.