We have seen that personal pronouns stand in the place of nouns, but there are others which do not exactly stand in the place of nouns, but point or relate to them. For personal pronouns stand instead of, and represent the actual noun, as an agent in the place of his principal; whereas, these merely relate to it as being of such and such a character. Hence they are called Relative Pronouns. They are in fact personal pronouns with a conjunction added to their sense.

The relative pronoun will be in whatever case the noun it refers to would be in if repeated.

The word to which they relate is called the Antecedent, or before-going word.

The Relative Pronouns are who, which, that, and what. 'What' has no formal cases; it is equivalent to 'that which.' 'Who,' 'which,' and 'that' are thus declined, or changed formally :—

Singular and Plural,

'Which' and 'that' can also be joined to nouns like adjectives.

EXAMPLES.

The winds, which brushed the flowers.

The clouds, that brought the showers.
The boys, who pass the hours.
Waters, which gladdened earth.
Bread, that prevented dearth.
Mowers, who cut sweet hay.
Lambs, that loved merry play.

Women, whose love cured ills.

Wheels, whose swift rush turned mills.

Thrushes, whom day bade sing.

Trout, which flies tempt to spring.
Reapers, whom harvests bring.

This, That, &c.

Moreover, there are Adjective Pronouns, which point out or demonstrate special things; hence called Demonstrative or pointing-out Pronouns. These are

this, demonstrating a near object;

that, demonstrating one farther off.

These two words show number by form, but have no change for case.

Thus

The words such and same may also be considered Demonstrative Pronouns in many instances.

'Such' is often used with other adjectives in a manner that might seem adverbial: but it is better to consider it adjectival; as, 'such heavy weights.'

Neither of these two words have any formal change.

E

The words ours, yours, mine, thine, &c., it is best to consider as possessive cases of the personal pronouns 'I,' 'thou,' &c., and not as adjectives. They are not, however, joined with the nouns taken with them in modern English, but stand separate from them; as, 'The coat is yours.' All the possessive cases of the personal pronouns are by some considered adjectives.

EXAMPLES.

This flower breathes sweetly, that is gay.
This cloud is bright, that dims the day.
These waters gladden, those drown earth.
This plant is poison, that stops dearth.
These men are ditchers, those cut hay.
These lambs are resting, those at play.
These women soften, those make ills.

This is a gig wheel, that turns mills.

These birds tear flesh, those sing with bills.
These sow the land, those reap the corn.

These eyes are blind, those see the morn.

Other pronouns are Interrogative, or question-askers. These

When the noun is expressed, 'what' is used for 'who;' as,

'What man?' equivalent to 'who?'

a selection, which' is to be used.

When the question requires

The sense alone will determine to what class of pronouns these forms belong, as the same form can often stand with different powers; as

'Who did it?' Interrogative Pronoun.

'He, who did it, is gone.' Relative Pronoun.

Whose is said by Johnson to be rather the poetical than the regular possessive case of 'which.' It is frequent in the Bible; as, 'The fruit-tree yielding fruit, whose seed is in itself;' 'The king made an image, whose height was threescore cubits.'

The pronoun whether, both relative and interrogative, is found only in old English. As relative it is equivalent to, 'that one of the two which;' as

Whether him liketh shall be given him.

As interrogative it is equivalent to 'which of the two?' asWhether of the two is the taller?

In modern English 'whether' is always an interrogative adverb. The relative pronouns 'which' and 'that' are generally omitted after 'all;' as—

I will do all I can.

In old English 'that' stands for 'that which;' as—

Take that is thine.

'As' is often a pronoun; e.g.—

Such persons as go.

That.

The word that is puzzling sometimes, as it does the work of three distinct words.

Ist. It is a Demonstrative Pronoun; as, 'This clerk said yea, that other nay.'

2nd. It is a Relative Pronoun; as, 'Why dost thou wrong her that did ne'er wrong thee?'

3rd. It is a Conjunction; as, 'I wonder much that you would put me to this shame and trouble.'

EXAMPLES.

What flower breathes sweetly, which is gay?
What cloud is bright, which dims the day?
Who passed such happy hours at play?
What waters gladdened the parched earth?
Which fruitful plant prevented dearth?
Whose sturdy strength cut down the hay?
Whose little lambs love merry play?

To which belong such tuneful bills?
What speckled fish breathes through red gills?
To whom belonged the golden corn?

On which stag was the branching horn?
In what eyes shone the sunny morn?

Rules.

Pronouns are words which stand instead of Nouns.
Pronouns are classed in the following divisions:
Personal Pronouns, I, thou, he, she, it.

Relative Pronouns, Who, which, that.
Demonstrative or Adjective Pronouns, This, that.

Interrogative Pronouns, Who, which, what.

Some Pronouns have formal cases.

'Hence' and 'whence' not unfrequently appear to be used instead of nouns; as, 'From hence arises the custom,' &c., equi

valent to, 'From this quarter.' that is, 'From what quarter?' an unnecessary preposition has crept in by usage, though the construction is perfectly allowable.

'From whence come wars?' &c.; But it is better to suppose that

NUMERALS.

Words of Number are essentially adjectives; as, 'one,' 'two,' 'each,' 'many,' that is, 'one man,' 'two men,' 'animals,' &c.: though not unfrequently they appear to be used as pronouns; as, ' Many did it,' 'Two were taken,' 'Each went his way.' However, in all these and similar instances the noun qualified is understood. Numerals therefore are adjectives qualifying a noun, sometimes expressed but often understood.

Numerals, or words of Number, are divided into two classes, called Cardinal and Ordinal.

Cardinal Numerals are those which name the quantity; as, one, two, three, &c.

Ordinal Numerals are those which name the place, or order of numbers, with reference to each other; as, first, second, third, &c.