In what number is the verb in each of the sentences 4, 5, and 6? Do you see why these verbs should be in the plural number while those in the first three sentences are in the singular? Do the verbs express thought about the flock, army, and herd as wholes or units, or about the individual geese, soldiers, and cattle, composing them? Collective nouns take singular verbs when used of groups considered as units. They take plural verbs when the individuals composing the units are spoken of. Select the proper verb in each of the following sen There were twenty present. What part of speech is twenty? Does it modify any noun? Seek the good, the true, the beautiful. Name the adjectives in the above sentence. Do they modify nouns? Seek? What are the objects of Good, true, and beautiful, though adjectives, are here used alone as nouns. Adjectives are often used alone as nouns both as subjects and as objects. Point out the adjectives that are used as nouns in the following: All bare him witness and wondered at the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth. Let each esteem other better than himself. There be who many say, "Who will show us any good?” - THE BIBLE. "Then all cried as with one voice, 'Down with the traitor!"" Those who are strong should bear the infirmities of the weak. THE BIBLE. None but the brave deserve the fair. DRYDEN. Find or make five sentences using adjectives as nouns. LXXIX PRONOUNS (1) 66 Special Uses of “It” What kind of pronoun is it? It is sometimes used as an expletive, to introduce a sentence (see p. 173) as : — "It is a great pity that we are not taught in our early days how to see." While it is in form the subject of the sentence, the real subject is the clause, That we are not taught in our early days how to see. Find or make five sentences using it as an expletive. It is sometimes used without an antecedent as the impersonal subject of a verb, as, it rains, it is cold. Make five sentences using it impersonally as a subject. It is sometimes used as an object without personal meaning, as, “Come and trip it o'er the green." Give five sentences using it as an impersonal object. (2) Adjective Pronouns Certain words are sometimes adjectives and sometimes pronouns. Among such words are this, that, these, those, some, other, either, neither. They are adjectives when they limit nouns, and pronouns when used alone, to indicate persons or things without naming them. NOTE. Either and neither also are sometimes conjunctions. That mercy I to others show, that mercy show to me. Who is this, that rises like the issue of a King? - POPE. SHAKESPEARE. Those hues that mark the sun's decline, So grand, so beauteous, Lord, are thine. - MOORE. 'Tis true, this god did shake. SHAKESPEARE. Tell whether that in the first sentence, this in the second, those in the third, and this in the fourth are adjectives or pronouns. When used as pronouns they are called adjective pronouns and classified as demonstrative and indefinite. Demonstrative pronouns point out particular objects. This and that are demonstrative pronouns. Indefinite pronouns refer to objects indefinitely. Some, other, are indefinite pronouns. As to the use of certain indefinite pronouns, see pages 48, 49 and 75, Part One, Language. Read: LXXX INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS THE THIEF The judge looked at the two men before him. One was small, alert, and very wide-awake. The other was large, dull, and very drowsy. "Who are you?" said the judge, at length. "An officer with a prisoner, your honor," was the reply. "Which is the officer, and which the prisoner." "I am the officer," said the little man. "Who is your prisoner?" "I don't know his name, your honor." "In Slow Street." "What is your occupation?" "I'm a waiter, your honor." "Where do you wait?" "Wherever people are in a hurry." "Officer, what is the charge ?" "Stealing, your honor." "What is he charged with stealing?" "Time, your honor." "Did you catch him in the act?" "I did, your honor." "Where was he?" "In bed." "In whose bed?" "In his own." "From whom could he be stealing in his own bed?" "He was stealing an hour from a busy man with whom he had an appointment, and as that man had to keep a committee of ten waiting an hour while he was waiting for this man, he stole an hour apiece from them. So, your honor, I caught him stealing eleven hours." "Prisoner, this is a serious charge. Are you willing to restore the time to those from whom you stole it?" "I cannot, your honor. I lost it." "Officer, is this true?" "Yes, sir, it is gone and can never be recovered." "Prisoner, do you admit your guilt?" "I confess that I took the time and lost it, your honor, but I couldn't help it. I was just waiting to be sure that the man would be there." |