b. List the infinitive phrases (4). Tell whether the infinitive has an object or a predicate pronoun. c. List the participles (2); the gerunds (2). d. Diagram sentences 4-9.

e. Write the singular and plural possessive of baby, man, child, uncles, girl, and lady.

179. POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS

There are pronouns that show ownership just as there are nouns that show ownership. The following are possessive pronouns: mine, ours, yours, hers, his, theirs. Ordinarily, the possessive pronouns are not followed by nouns but are used in the place of nouns; as, This house is mine. Notice that no apostrophes are used in possessive pronouns.

a. From the possessive pronouns above make a list of those that are in the singular number (3); in the plural number (2); in either the singular or plural number (1).

b. Make a list of the possessive pronouns in the following sentences (4); the possessive adjectives (5). 1. Playing ball is her favorite exercise.

2. Give me your promise.

3. That large book on the table is mine.

4. The lost lamb bleated for its mother.

5. Alfred put his books away.

6. This horse is hers.

8. Having asked him to go, she called him back.

9. We will not play with their toys.

10. We shall tell you about theirs.

c. Tell whether the words in italics (16) are

subject, object, predicate, or possessive pronouns, or possessive adjectives. Tell how each is used.

180. A COMPOSITION1

My dearest Mother,

It is impossible to tell you how happy your last letter made us, for the news was so good we could n’t help laughing and crying over it. How very kind Mr. Brook is, and how fortunate that Mr. Laurence's business detains him near you so long, since he is so useful to you and father. The girls are all as good as gold. Jo helps me with the sewing, and insists on doing all sorts of hard jobs. I should be afraid she might overdo, if I did n't know that her moral fit would n't last long. Beth is as regular about her tasks as a clock, and never forgets what you told her. She grieves about father, and looks sober except when she is at her little piano. Amy minds me nicely, and I take good care of her. She does her own hair, and I am teaching her to make buttonholes and mend her stockings. She tries very hard, and I know you will be pleased with her improvement when you come. Mr. Laurence watches over us like a motherly old hen, as Jo says. Laurie is very kind and neighborly. He and Jo keep us merry, for we get pretty blue sometimes, and feel like orphans, with you so far away. Hannah is a perfect saint. She does not scold at all, and always calls me Miss Margaret, which is quite proper, you know, and treats me with respect. We are all well and busy, but we long, day and night, to have you back. Give my dearest love to father, and believe me, ever your own

Meg 1This letter is from Little Women. Copyrighted by Little, Brown & Company.

Meg was a little girl who lived during the Civil War. When her father was in the war, he was taken dangerously ill. Meg's mother went to him, leaving the little girl as head of the house. Hannah was the housekeeper.

Pretend that your mother is away from home. Write a letter telling what each one in the family is doing in her absence. Tell the things you think your mother would like to know if she were away.

Plan your letter first. Be careful about the heading, salutation, and closing. Remember the margins.

After you have finished, read your letter to see if your sentences are properly begun and finished. Be careful not to run two sentences into one, when there should really be two. Read your letter again. to see if you have made every verb agree with its subject.

Correct all errors in spelling and paragraphing. How many errors did you find?

181. A LANGUAGE LESSON

Fill the blanks in the following sentences with pronouns. Tell whether each pronoun to be supplied is a subject or object pronoun. Tell the number of each pronoun used.

Use as large a variety of pronouns as possible.

1. Who is knocking at the door? It is

2. Mary saw ―.

3. It must have been

4.

may come to-night to get the book.

5. The one punished should have been

6. Who will plant it? Not

7. I saw Mary and

Write a sentence using shall with the correct subject to show what is likely to happen. Write a sentence using will with the correct subject to show determination.

Fill the blanks in the sentences below with the correct forms of the following words: quick, firm, neat, old, rapid, violent, slow, ill.

1. Running down the street, I found her turning to come back.

2. His

actions were responsible for the accident. 3. Swimming just after a meal is harmful. 4. Standing for the right principle, he won the

respect of all.

182. THE ANTECEDENT

In some sentences there is a word or group of words to which a pronoun or a possessive adjective refers; as, Each should look after his own. "His" refers to the pronoun “each.” They told me their story. "Their" refers to the pronoun "they." This word or group of words for which the pronoun or the possessive adjective stands is called the antecedent. Often the antecedent is not expressed. In the following sentences find the antecedents, if any, of the words in italics.

1. Each man was given time to tell his story.

2. We gave you her book.

3. The workman, worn out with a year's toil, asked his employer for a holiday.

4. They have broken their toys.

5. I have lost my books.

6. She had given the dog a bone, hoping to keep him.
7. They should have seen us getting the berries.
8. Jumping rope caused her illness.

9. Every one came early to get his ticket.

a. Select the infinitives (3) in the sentences above, and tell how they are used; the participles (3). b. There is one gerund. Find it.

c. Make a list of the possessive adjectives (7).

183. COMPOUND PRONOUNS

Compound pronouns are made by adding self or selves to certain pronouns; as, I hurt myself. We will do it by ourselves.

It is important to know to which pronouns self