but when the noun expresses many as individuals, the pronoun should be plural; as, “The army proceeded on its march."—" The court were divided in their opinion."

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735. A singular noun after the phrase, many a," may take a pronoun in the plural, but never in the same clause; as— "In Hawick twinkled many a light,—

Behind him soon they set in night."-W. Scott.

736. The personal pronoun is sometimes used at the beginning of a sentence, instead of the word person or persons; as, He who "-" They who "-also, "Those who" for The persons who."

737. Pronouns representing nouns personified (129), take the gender of the noun as a person; as, " Night, sable goddess, from her ebon throne." But pronouns representing nouns taken metaphorically (1046, 3) agree with them in their literal sense; as, "Pitt was the pillar which in its strength upheld the state."

738. It is improper in the progress of a sentence to denote the same person by pronouns of different numbers; as, "I labored long to make thee happy, and now you reward me by ingratitude." It should be either "to make you happy," or thou rewardest" (245).

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739. In the use of pronouns, when it would be uncertain to which of two or more antecedent words (229) a pronoun refers, the ambiguity may be avoided by repeating the noun, instead of using the pronoun, or by changing the form of the sentence; thus, "When we see the beautiful variety of color in the rainbow, we are led to consider its cause"-better " the cause of that variety."

Position of Pronouns.

740. The first and second personal pronouns commonly stand instead of nouns implied, but not expressed. Possessive pronouns, and the pronouns of the third person, are commonly placed after their antecedents (229); but sometimes this order, especially in poetry, is reversed.

741. When words of different persons come together, the usual order of arrangement, in English, is to place the second person before the third, and the first person last; as, "You and he, and I are sent for."-"This matter concerns you, or him, or me."

In connection with these rules and observations, see also the observations on gender (128–134), on number (155–160), and on personal pronouns (240-252).

EXERCISES TO BE CORRECTED.

In each sentence state the antecedent words to which the pronouns refer; change the pronouns which are wrong, and give a reason for the change: :

(729) A person's success in life depends on their exertions; if they shall aim at nothing, they shall certainly achieve nothing.-Extremes are not in its nature favorable to happiness.-A man's recollections of the past regulate their anticipations of the future.-Let every boy answer for themselves.-Each of us had more than we wanted.— Every one of you should attend to your own business (301.)

(730, 1) Discontent and sorrow manifested itself in his countenance. -Both cold and heat have its extremes.-You and your friend should take care of themselves.-You and I must be diligent in your studies.

(730,2) John or James will favor us with their company.—One or other must relinquish their claim.-Neither wealth nor honor confers happiness on their votaries.—(731) Each day and each hour brings their changes.-No thought, no word, no action, however secret, can escape in the judgment, whether they be good or evil.

(732) Let every man and every woman strive to do their best.-If any boy or girl shall neglect her duty, they shall forfeit their place. (733) One should not think too highly of themselves.—A teacher should always consult the interest of her pupils.-A parent's care for her children is not always requited.

(734) The assembly held their meetings in the evening.-Thė court, in their wisdom, decided otherwise.-The regiment was greatly reduced in their number.-Society is not always answerable for the conduct of their members.-The committee were divided in its opinions. The public are informed that its interests are secured.

(737) The earth is my mother; I will recline on its bosom.-That Freedom, in its fearless flight may here announce its glorious reign. -Policy keeps coining truth in its mints,-such truth as it can tolerate, and every die, except its own, it breaks and casts away.

(738) Though you are great, yet consider thou art a man.-Care for thyself, if you would have others care for you.

(739) One man may do a kindness to another, though he is his enemy.-John gave his enemy a present which he highly valued.

(741) I and my father were invited.-An invitation was sent to me and George.-You and I and James were to be of the party; but neither I nor you nor he can go.

The Relative and its Antecedent.

72. RULE V.-The Relative agrees with its antecedent in gender, number, and person; as, "Thou who speakest."-" The book which was lost."

[See Etymology, 255, etc.]

743. The number of the relative can be determined only from the number of the antecedent.

744. Who is applied to persons, or things personified (129); as, "The man who."-" The fox who had never seen a lion."

745. Which is applied to things and inferior animals-sometimes to children-to collective nouns in the singular, implying unity -and also to persons, in asking questions.

746. In the translation of the Bible, which is applied to persons; as, "Our Father which art in heaven."

747. Which applies to a noun denoting a person, when the character, or the man merely as a word, is referred to; as, "He is a good writer, which is all he professes to be."-" That was the work of Herod, which is but another name for cruelty."

748. That, as a relative, is used instead of who or which—

1. After adjectives in the superlative degree-after the words very, same, and all-often after no, some, and any—and generally in restrictive clauses (268).

2. When the antecedent includes both persons and things; as, "The man and the horse that we saw."

3. After the interrogative who, and often after the personal pronouns; as, "Who that knew him could think so ?"-"I that speak in righteousness."

4. Generally when the propriety of who or which is doubtful; as, "The little child that was placed in the midst."

749. The relatives who or which and that should not be mixed in a series of relative clauses having the same antecedent. Thus, it is improper to say, "The man that met us and whom we saw.” It should be, "who met us," or "that we saw."

750. The relative refers sometimes to the idea expressed by an adjective, sometimes to the infinitive. But this construction is See examples (256).

rare.

751. The relative in the objective case is often omitted; as, "Here is the book I promised you." The relative in the nominative case is hardly ever omitted except in poetry; as

"In this, 'tis God-directs, in that, 'tis man."

752. The antecedent is omitted before what (266), and generally before the compound relatives (273). It is sometimes understood, especially in poetry; as—

"[He] who lives to nature, rarely can be poor."

753. What should not be used for the conjunction that. Thus, "I can not believe but what it is so," should be, "but that it is so." Also, the demonstrative that should not be used for the relative what; as, "We speak that we do know," better, "what we do know."

Position of the Relative.

754. The relative is generally placed after its antecedent. 755. To prevent ambiguity, the relative should be placed as near its antecedent as possible, and so that there can be no uncertainty as to the word to which it refers.

756. In most instances, the sense will be a sufficient guide in this matter; thus, "They removed their wives and children in wagons covered with the skins of animals, which formed their simple habitations." Here the sense only can determine to which of the three words, wagons, skins, or animals, the relative which refers. But

757. When the antecedent can not be determined by the sense, it should be determined by the position of the relative, which, as a general rule, should belong to the nearest antecedent. Thus— "We walked from the house to the barn "We walked to the barn from the house

which had been erected."

Here the relative which, as determined by its position, refers, in the first sentence, to barn, and in the second, to house.

758. So also, when the antecedents denote the same object, the one being in the subject and the other in the predicate, the relative takes the person of the one next it; as, "I am the man who commands you"-not "command you." If the relative refer to I, the words should be arranged, "I who command you am the man." Hence

759. A relative clause which modifies the subject should not be placed in the predicate; thus, "He should not keep a horse that

can not ride," should be, "He that can not ride should not keep a horse."

EXERCISES TO BE CORRECTED.

In the following sentences, which are the relatives? What is the antecedent to which each refers? Correct those which are wrong, and give the rule, or the reason for the change.

(744) Those which seek wisdom will certainly find her.-This is the friend which I love.-(745) That is the vice whom I hate.-The tiger is a beast of prey who destroys without pity.-The court who gives currency to such manners should be exemplary.-The nations who have the best rulers are happy.-Your friend is one of the committee who was appointed yesterday.-The family with whom I lived has left the city.-(747) His father set him up as a merchant, who was what he desired to be.

(748) It is the best situation which can be got.-That man was the first who entered.-This is the same horse which we saw yesterday.Solomon was the wisest king whom the world ever saw. The lady and the lapdog, which we saw at the window, have disappeared.

(749) O Thou who hast preserved us, and that wilt still preserve us!—The man whom we met to-day, and that was at our house yesterday, is the same.

(752) I have sent every thing what you ordered.-All whosoever came were made welcome.-He whoever steals my purse steals trash. -(753) I can not believe but what you have been sick.-It is not impossible but what you are mistaken.

(755) The king dismissed his minister without inquiry, who had never before committed so unjust an action.

(759) He needs no spectacles that can not see, nor boots that can not walk.—Those must not expect the sympathy of the diligent who spend their time in idleness.

The Subject Nominative.

760. RULE VI.—The subject of a finite verb is put in the nominative; as, “I am.”- "Thou art."—"He is." -"They are."-" Time flies."-"The letter is written."

761. A finite verb is a verb in the indicative, potential, subjunctive, or imperative mood. It is called finite, because in these