180. When we say, “This ring was my mother’s,” we use the word this as an adjective modifying the noun ring. When we say, “This was my mother’s ring,” we use the one word this in place of this ring as subject of the sentence, hence this is no longer an adjective, but has become a pronoun. Since its ordinary use is that of an adjective, we call it an adjective pronoun.

Many limiting adjectives may be used as pronouns. We often make such sentences as these:—

Few shall part where many meet.

If honor is lost, then all is lost.

When two or three are gathered together in Thy name, Thou wilt grant their requests.

181. The commonest adjective pronouns are all, any, each, either, few, first, former, last, little, many, more, most, much, neither, one, other, several, some, this, that, these, those.

Make sentences containing five of these adjective pronouns.

182. Two adjective pronouns, one and other, may be declined.

Sentences like these are common:—

One sometimes tires of one’s occupation.

Each envied the other’s good fortune.

The two adjective pronouns, one and other, may be modified by adjectives; as, “Many others came,” “The green ones are the prettiest.”

Each other and one another, though consisting of two words, may be considered as one adjective pronoun.

183. Some adjective pronouns may be modified by articles. We say, “The last is the best of all the game,” “I like gooseberries, so I picked a few.”

Summary.—An adjective pronoun is a limiting adjective used in place of a noun.

The adjective pronouns one and other may be declined.

Some adjective pronouns may be modified by adjectives.

Exercise.—Select the adjective pronouns in these sentences. Tell the use and case of each. Tell the noun that each pronoun stands for. Supply this noun where you can. What part of speech does the adjective pronoun become then?

1. This is the story of a bad boy.

2. Many of the protozoa are very beautiful. Some build shells for themselves of strange and curious shapes.

3. The ham turned out to be a very remarkable one.

4. There is a vast difference between the styles of 1860 and 1900. The former favored Paisley shawls and flounced skirts, the latter sanctioned the tailor-made suit and the shirt waist.

5. A little made us very happy once.

6. From time to time one or another of the leaping rabbits would take himself off through the fir trees, while others continued to arrive along the moonlight trails.

7. All is of God that is or is to be.

8. A bluejay and a red squirrel were loudly berating each other for stealing.

9. The convenience of resting one’s self in the open air is one of the comforts of Paris.

10. Each of these was a wolf of renown; most of them were above the ordinary size; one in particular, the second in command, was a veritable giant. Several of the band were especially noted. One of them was a beautiful white wolf, that the Mexicans called Blanca; this was supposed to be a female, possibly Lobo’s mate. Another was a yellow wolf of remarkable swiftness.

11. It is not easy to change one’s life all in a minute.

12. It is a blessed fact that one’s own home is the hub of the universe.

13. Every one said that I was a tomboy.

14. Some wore short doublets, others jerkins, with long knives in their belts, and most of them had enormous breeches of similar style with that of the guide’s.

15. The years hurry onward, treading in their haste on one another’s heels.

What noun is understood after guide’s in sentence 14?