[46] “Foundations,” p. 60.

EXERCISE XXVI.

Write from dictation—­ 1.  John’s hat is old, yours is new. 2.  The bear was lying on its side, dead. 3.  The Browns’ house is larger than ours, but ours is more convenient than
   theirs.
4.  Yours very respectfully, John Smith. 5.  See the yacht! it’s coining into the harbor under full sail. 6.  Show Mary your doll; it should not grieve you that yours is not so
   pretty as hers.
7.  That fault was not yours. 8.  Helen’s eyes followed the direction of hers.

NOMINATIVE OR OBJECTIVE CASE.[47]—­There are only seven words in the English language that now have different forms for the nominative and objective cases; therefore it is only in the use of these words that we need to observe any rules about “nominative” or “objective.”  Since, however, these seven words are more frequently used than any other words, the possibilities of error in choosing between the nominative and the objective are many.  Mistakes of this kind are common, and produce a very unpleasant effect on cultivated people.  The seven words that have different forms for the nominative and objective cases are the following pronouns[48]:—­

Nominative.  Objective.
     I me
     we us
     thou thee
     he him
     she her
     they them
     who whom

It is taken for granted that the student has already learned the following principles of syntax:—­

1. Words used absolutely and the subjects of finite verbs should in
   English be put in the NOMINATIVE form.
2.  The subjects of infinitives and the objects of verbs and
   prepositions should be in the OBJECTIVE form.
3.  Words in apposition should be in the same case.
4.  The verb “to be," or any of its forms (am, is, are, were, etc.),
   does not take an object, but, being equivalent in meaning to the symbol
   “=,” takes the same case after it as before it:  the nominative,
   if the form is “finite”; the objective, if the form is “infinitive” and
   has a subject of its own.  “I know it is he,” “I know it to be him,"
   and “The stranger is thought to be he” are grammatically correct.

Sentences like “She invited Mrs. R. and I to go driving” are common, even among people generally well-informed.  Such mistakes will be avoided if the speaker stops to think what the form would be if the pronoun were not coupled with a noun.  No one would think of saying, “She invited I to go driving.”