alytical practical grammar - Toronto Public Library

158 ENGLISH GRAMMAR.
A PRONOUN AND ITS ANTECEDENT.
729. RULE IV.-Pronouns agree with the words for
which they stand, in gender, number, and person; as,
" All that a man hath will he give for his life "-" A tree
is known by its fruit."
SPECIAL RULES.
730. RULE l.-JVhrn a pronoun refers to two or more words taken
together, it becomes plural; and, if they are of different persons, prefers
the first person to the second, and the second to the third; as, "He and she
did their duty," "John and you and I will do our duty."
RULE 2.-mien a pronoun refers to two or more words in the singular
taken separately, or to one of them exclusively, it musl be singular; as,".A
clock or a watch moves merely as it is moved."
RULE 3.-But if either of the wOl'ds referred to is plural, the pronoun
must be plural also; as, "Neither he nor they trouble themselves." Dish'i·
butives are always of the third person singular (301).
731. Nouns are taken together when connected by and-8cparately
when connected by 01' or nor, as above; also after each, every, no, though
connected by and; as, "Each book and each paper is in its place."
732. When singular nouns of different genders are taken separately,
they can not be represented by a pronoun, for want of a singular pronoun,
common gender, except by a clnmsy repetition of pronouns of the corresponding
genders; thus, .. If any man or woman shall violate his or her
pledge, he or she shall pay a fine." The use of the plural pronoun in such
cases, though sometimes used, is improper; as, "If any man or woman
shall violate their pledge," &c.
733. Pronouns referring to singular nouns or other words, of the com·
mon gender (126), tnken in a general sense, are commonly masculine; as,
".A parent should love his child."-" Every person has his faults."-" No
one should commend ltimscU:" The want of a oingular personal prononn,
common gender, is felt also in tbis construction.
734, A pronoun referring to a collective noun in the singular, ex·
pressing many as one whole, should be in the neuter singular; but when
the noun expresses many as individuals, the prononn should be plural; as,
"The army proceeded on its mnrch."-" The court were divided in their
opinion."
735. A singular noun after the phrase, .. many a," may take a pronoun
in the plural, but never in the same clause; as-
H In Hawick twinkled many a light
Behind him soon they set in Dight."-W. Scott.