MODIFICATIONS CASE

Notice carefully the statements which follow:

1. Mother sings.

2. Mother's voice is sweet.

4. She sings.

5. Her voice is sweet.

3. The children love mother. 6. The children love her.

The word mother is used in three different ways in sentences one, two, and three. It denotes the subject in sentence one, the possessor in sentence two, and the object in sentence three. The variation to show these three relations is called case.

What pronouns stand for the word mother in sentences four, five, and six? If the word father were used in the first three sentences, how many forms of the pronoun should be used in the last three? Write statements to illustrate your answer.

The English noun has only two forms to indicate its use in the sentence, the only variation from the simple form being to denote possession. Some pronouns, however, have three forms, one to correspond with each of the three case variations.

Study the following sentences:

The student's mind is on his work.

He will finish the task assigned him.

Julius and I shall cross the ocean this summer.

We invite you to join us on our trip.

Point out the relations which the nouns and pronouns in these sentences bear to other words. Notice the case forms of the pronoun of the first person in the last sentence.

The relation of a noun or a pronoun to some other word or words in the sentence is called case.

The three cases are called nominative, possessive, and objective.

A noun or pronoun is in the nominative case:

1. When it is the subject of a finite verb; as Tops spin. 2. When it is used as attribute complement; as, Swords are weapons.

3. When it refers to the same person or thing as the subject; as, Columbus, the discoverer of America, was born in Genoa.

4. When it is independent by address; as, Messenger, what news do you bring?

5. When it is independent by exclamation; as, The billows! how they roll!

6. When it is used absolutely with a participle; as, The mist having disappeared, we could see the distant mountain peaks.

The participial phrase in the last example may be regarded as adverbial, indicating the time of that which is asserted. To show this formation more clearly, the sentence may be expanded as follows:

When the mist had disappeared we could see the distant mountain peaks.

A noun or a pronoun is in the possessive case when it is used as a possessive modifier.

Ex. The governor's mansion is near the capitol.

The possessive singular is formed by adding an apostrophe and s to the simple form; as, A man's work should commend him.

When the plural ends in s, the possessive is formed by adding an apostrophe only; as, Ladies' veils are of different

colors. When the plural does not end in s, both the apostrophe and s are added; as, Men's hopes often vanish.

When a singular noun ends with s, or with a letter or letters of a similar sound, the apostrophe only is sometimes used to indicate possession; as, goodness' sake, Jesus' disciples, Achilles' sword.

When several nouns in the possessive case limit the same word, and joint ownership is intended, the sign of the possessive is annexed to the last and understood to the rest; as, Helen and Arthur's books are on the table. If separate ownership is intended, the sign of the possessive should be annexed to each name; as, Helen's and Arthur's books are on the table.

A noun or pronoun is in the objective case:

1. When it is used as object complement; as, She wears a crown. Seeing the danger, he stepped aside.

2. When it represents an indirect object; as, The judges awarded him the prize.

3. When it is used as objective complement; as, The people elected him senator.

4. When it is in apposition with a word in the objective case; as, We have invited Mr. Stewart, the banker.

5. When it is the object of a preposition; as, The asters rolled in billows of blossoms around them.

6. When it follows an infinitive, the subject of which refers to the same person or thing; as, They chose him to be their captain.

7. When it is an adverbial modifier; as, He has walked a mile. I bought that book Tuesday. It cost a dollar.

Nouns denoting distance, time, value, weight, or measure are used adverbially, without a preposition,

PERSONAL PRONOUNS

Examine the following sentences:

I can give you but a song.

He loved himself the singer's art.

You taught me language.

He wrapped her warm in his seaman's coat.

Name the pronouns in the foregoing sentences.

Which are in the first person? Are these pronouns always in the first person?

Which are in the second person? Are they always in the second person?

Which are in the third person? Are they always in the third person?

A personal pronoun is a pronoun that indicates person by its form.

Personal pronouns are of two kinds, simple and compound.

The simple personal pronouns and their modifications are the following:—

Thou, thy, thine, thee, and ye are forms not in common use. A personal pronoun is often used to represent a preceding noun called its antecedent.

Ex. The boy's fair face and courage free

Show he is come of high degree.