In the English language there are seven pairs of pronouns that are alike except that one should be used in nominative constructions and the other in objective. Seven pairs are not many; but we use most of these fourteen little words so often that there are many opportunities for error, and the misuse of them is one of the commonest mistakes of speech.

Learn these forms:

Exercise 209. Composition

Fill the blanks in these sentences, choosing between cor-responding nominative and objective forms. Give reason for each choice. Remember that you cannot tell by the sound. The only way to be sure you use the correct form is to analyze the sentence and decide upon the construction of the pronoun to be supplied.

1. Mary and - walked to town.

2. She said that she could not forget Mary and - .

8. She spoke to John and - .

4. Who spoke? - .1

5. She said that it was - .

6. - boys are going to the circus.

7. Father will take - boys.

8. He is a better reader than - .2

1 In all incomplete answers to questions, use the form that is required in a complete answer modeled on the form of the question; thus, Who spoke? I. (I spoke). Whom did you speak to? Her. (I spoke to her).

2 Complete the clause, - than I am a good reader.

9. We shall see who is the faster runner, yon or -----.

10. She told ------ a story.

11. You are as good a reader as ------.1

12. There is a misunderstanding between you and ------.

13. What were you and ------ doing ?

14. ------ do you think that it is?

15. ------ did you see while you were in town ?

16. ------ and her sister visited us.

17. All except ------ went.

18. All but 2 ---went.

19. If any one is mistaken, it is not ------.

20. Boys like ------ are not respected.

21. It may have been ------.

22. ------ did she say was the winner?

23. Who was there? Only ------.

24. Boys like ----- suceeed.

25. The president shook hands with all, ------ among the rest.

26. She is older than ------.

27. She spoke to all but ------ and ------.

26. She talks like ------.

29. She is as old as ------.

30. I know ------ it is.

31. She gave Mary and ------ some apples.

32. ------ did she invite ? ------ girls.

33. ------ are going? ------ girls.

34. ------ does she talk like ?

35. She said that you and ------ might go.

36. ------ did you see down town ?

37. I believe that it was ------.

38. She invited Mary and ------.

39. Sarah and ------ are going soon.

40. Give it to John and ------.

41. She gave apples to all but------.

42. ------ shall I give this to? Alice and ------.

43. I apeak of Washington, ------------ we all revere.

44. ------ did she say broke the dish ?

l Complete the clause.

2 But when used with the meaning of except is a preposition.

45. I do not know ----- vou mean.

46. O ------ to whom all creatures bow.

How mighty is thy name.

47. Carrie can throw farther than Ruth or ------.

48. I did not hear ------ you said was coming.

49. ------ is the girl ------ I met with you?

Exercise 210

Fill blanks in these passages with correct case forms of pronouns.

1. Tom says that he can play better than ------; but my brother can beat him at most points, and there is very little difference between my brother and ------. The boys from Pikesville ------ we played with yesterday couldn't even score against -----; but the Lundy team ------ play ------ next week are heavier than ------ and they expect that ------ will win. We shall make as good a fight as ------ anyway; and the fact that it was ----- who didn't play fair last year will add to our energy.

2. Rebecca is the best girl ------ I have ever known. Between you and ------ she is almost too good; she makes the rest of -----girls ashamed. It is ----- to ------ the little ones run if they are in trouble and she never loses patience with ------. ------ girls wanted her to go to town with ------ Saturday. I do not know ------ we should rather have than ------, for she is full of fun. I should have gone in a minute if I had been ------; but she said no one was at home but ------ and her mother; and she couldn't leave.