thing spoken of, and may be of the masculine or feminine gender; as, he is good; she is young; or it may refer to a thing without life; as, it (the pitcher) is broken.

The pronoun of the third person plural is of the masculine or feminine gender; as, they (the boys) are playing; they (the girls) are sewing or it may refer to things without life; as, they (the tables) are mended..

When these pronouns are used as objects—that is, when they follow and depend on a preposition, a verb, or a participle — their forms are:

Copy out the subjoined sentences, underlining the personal pronouns used as subjects, and doubly underlining those used as objects; also, mark the number and person of each.

I wish to ask you whether you think he will come. Tell him to pay us a visit. 'Dost thou answer me with ifs?' We will come They are never at home. have they done to you? you. Have you seen her? I have lost the books. are playing at cricket.

and see you to-morrow. 'I see thee still.' What You will find it where I told

She was a very good girl. Have you found them? They I thought the news would have

killed him. They are staying with us. Your slate is missing; I did not see it in the school-room. Come to me. Your brother is tired; he is gone to bed. I cannot open my trunk; it is locked. My friends, I wish to address you on this interesting subject. 'Breathe soft, ye winds.'

POSSESSIVE (ADJECTIVE) PRONOUNS.

Each of the personal pronouns has its corresponding possessive. These possessive pronouns are used as adjectives, and are either conjunctive (joined to), or disjunctive (separated from), the nouns which they qualify.

Copy out the following sentences, underlining the conjunctive possessives, and doubly underlining the disjunctives. Mark the underlined pronouns 1, 2, 3, C or D,- singular or plural,-according to the above table.

Whose whip is this? Where is yours? My top is broken. He has lost his book. Is this pencil yours, or your brother's? Our dog has hurt his leg. Which your cousin's house? That house is theirs, and this is ours. Her slate is unfastened. Their holidays are

is

E

already begun. Where is Robert's hat? This is his hat; but I cannot find mine. The bird has injured its wing.

EXERCISE 2.

Explain the pronouns in the following sentences.

Will you lend me your pen, for I have lost mine? I cannot lend you mine, as I am using it. Do you know where my brother keeps his pens? I think he keeps them in his drawer. Have you torn your book? No; but it is covered with ink, and has lost several of its pages. My sister has promised to lend me her book, as mine is quite spoiled, and I cannot learn my lesson from it. Will you do me the favour to examine my exercise?

THE REFLECTIVE PRONOUN.

The reflective pronoun self (plur. selves), is frequently added to the possessives my, thy, our, your; and to the personals him, her, it, and them, to refer the reader to the subject of the

sentence.

EXERCISE.

Supply the reflective pronouns in the blank spaces.

Who did that? I did it

He kept the money for

The little girl has

'You

-. It is in

nicious. I- have been accustomed

practice. I am afraid you flatter

it

'Physician, heal.'

are old.'

very perto the same

They brought

I said to

the

to be better than

same thing. we really are. of the room.

We often imagine

I found her sitting by

in a corner

DISTRIBUTIVE PRONOUNS.

The words each, every, and either are called distributive pronouns, and refer to persons or things making up a number, but taken singly. They are, properly, adjective pronouns, being used as qualifying words. Each and either may be used apart from the nouns they qualify; every is never so used.

Each refers to two or more taken singly.

Every refers to several (more than two) taken singly.

Either refers to one or the other of two taken singly.

N.B. Either cannot be said of more than two persons or things. Neither not either.

All these pronouns are of the singular number; as, Each boy has his task;'Every day brings us good news;' Either of them knows how to manage this matter.'

6

EXERCISE.

Supply the proper distributive pronouns in the blank

spaces.

I gave a piece of bread to

of the boys. Which deserves the prize; John or Robert? It may I was thanked by

given to

be justly

man, as I

passed.

wrong.

was over,

man has naturally an idea of right and of them. When school

I have not seen

has a thorn.'

rose

boy put away his books.
of you, whichever chooses, may

write. This custom prevails in part of Europe. Which of us two shall go ?

sufferings.'

vated.

'To

his

part of the garden is well culti

one of these letters bears a regular date.

town and village was burnt;

was cut down. In proportion as

grove and tree

of the two

qualities, perspicuity and correctness, is wanting, the language is imperfect. We read some interesting work evening.

of these two houses will be

large enough for my purpose. information on this subject

We receive some new

day.

INDEFINITE PRONOUNS.

The words all, any, both, few, many, much, no, none, one, other, same, several, some, and such, are indefinite pronouns.

They are used as adjectives, and are called indefinite, because they do not define, or specify, an exact quantity or number of beings or things.