How many demonstrative pronouns are there really?

Are there only four demonstrative pronouns this, that, these, and those in English, or are there more like thik which is a variation of this and that? Answer “Hither, page, and stand by me         If thou know’st it, telling Yonder peasant, who is he?         Where and what his dwelling?” “Sire, he lives a good league … Read more

How likely is a native speaker to confuse HE and SHE?

As a non-native English speaker whose mother tongue has not distinct pronouns to address male/female third persons, it is trying to avoid confusing he/she in speaking. I wonder how would native speakers deal with this case? Is it also happenning in vernacular English? Isn’t it offensive (or pejorative) to use he for a female or … Read more

What’s the difference between a reflexive and intensive pronoun?

There are a few types of pronouns, among other there are reflexive and intensive pronouns. Every website I visit, they give me the same examples. E.g. Found on Grammar Monster: • Reflexive pronouns (e.g., itself, himself) • Intensive pronouns (e.g., itself, himself) What is the difference? Answer [1] Ed hurt himself. [2] Ed himself designed the house. Reflexive pronouns … Read more

‘Us students’ – Does this apposition need a comma?

Can a pronoun be used in apposition without comma? A few of us students have participated in the match. This sentence looks quite awkward at first glance. Is this sentence gramatically correct? I can’t find any forbidding rule regarding a relation between pronoun and comma in apposition. Answer This is not actually a case of … Read more

Do you use a subject pronoun or object pronoun before the ing-word in an absolute construction?

For example: The Pope became the anointed leader of kings and emperors, they becoming his subjects. -or- The Pope became the anointed leader of kings and emperors, them becoming his subjects. On one hand, I can see it being the subject pronoun “they” because it appears that “they” is the subject of a form of … Read more

Using “that” instead of “who”, as a relative pronoun?

When referring to a person, why would anyone use “that” instead of “who”? For example: “The musician that won the award is very creative.” instead of: “The musician who won the award is very creative.” To me, using “that” in this case sounds like saying: “It won the award”, which sounds somewhat disrespectful. What am … Read more

In 1395, why was “her” used instead of “their”?

Why was “her” used here? Wycliffe Bible Mk.1:20 In accordance with studylight.org: “…brother, in a boot makynge nettis. 20 And anoon he clepide hem; and thei leften Zebedee, her fadir, in the boot with hiryd seruauntis, and thei suweden hym. And thei entriden” I think, that “their” should be used instead. Answer In Middle English, … Read more

Can I use word “Thou”, “Thee”, “Thy” and “Thine” like following

Firstly I have researched about those words, This answer really help me understand their meanings. So I believe that those words are singular form of You, you, your and yours respectively. Furthermore, “Thou” is a subject form while “thee” is the object form. so could someone tell me if I can use them as following. … Read more

What is the possesive form of “ye”?

“Ye” is an archaic pronoun that is a plural form of “you”. The possessive form of “you” is “your”. The possessive form of “thou” is “thy” (or “thine” before an adjective). What is the possessive form of “ye”? Is it just “your”? Answer In Early Modern English, the nominative (subject) form of the second person … Read more