A pronoun should agree in number with the noun or pronoun to which it refers. A few special cases need explanation.

1. A pronoun referring to a collective noun should be singular if the group named by the noun is thought of as a whole. It should be plural if the individuals in the group are thought of separately.

Examples: The flock has lost its leader. One by one the flock followed their leader over the precipice.

2. Each, every, either, and neither used as pronouns are singular. Used as adjectives they show that the noun or pronoun to which they are joined is singular.

Examples: Each took his hat. Each boy took his hat. Every man did his duty. Each desk had its assortment of books. Neither of the girls hurt herself seriously. Every child had its own work.

Exercise 205. Composition

Fill the blanks in the following sentences with correct pronoun forms. What must you decide before you can tell what form to use ?

1. The jury gave ----- decision last night.

2. The jury went to ----- homes last night.

3. The class soon forgot ----- disagreement.

4. The class has chosen ----- colors.

5. Each girl was in ----- place.

6. Let all find ----- rulers.

7. Let every boy take out ----- ruler.

8. The crowd ran here and there and made ----- anger known.

9. The army was so near that we could see ----- campfire.

10. Each of the soldiers had ----- rations.

11. Neither of the boys found ----- mittens.

12. The swarm had left ----- hive.

13. The swarm had settled on my head and I could feel ----wings whirring.

14. Had either prisoner made ----- escape?

15. England expects every man to do ----- duty.

16. Mary and Alice brought ----- kodaks.

17. Mary or Alice (only one of them) will bring ----- kodak.

18. The committee finished ----- work early.

19. Each girl did ----- best.

20. All the girls did -- best.

21. Let all the girls take cards from ----- desks.

22. Neither of the girls will help ----- mother.

Exercise 206. Development

lion, cock, boy, baron, clerk, lad, czar, teacher, prince, gander, ram, host, sultan, child, son, master, writer.

Each of these nouns may name a male. What names are used to represent corresponding females? In which cases do you think different forms of the same word are used to denote male and female? In which cases is the same form used? In which cases are entirely different words used?