CASES OF PERSONAL PRONOUNS
II. The Possessive
[Sidenote: _Not a separate class._]
86. The forms _my_, _thy_, _his_, _her_, _its_, _our_, _your_,
_their_, are sometimes grouped separately as POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS, but
it is better to speak of them as the possessive case of personal
pronouns, just as we speak of the possessive case of nouns, and not
make more classes.
[Sidenote: Absolute _personal pronouns._]
The forms _mine_, _thine_, _yours_, _hers_, _theirs_, sometimes _his_
and _its_, have a peculiar use, standing apart from the words they
modify instead of immediately before them. From this use they are
called ABSOLUTE PERSONAL PRONOUNS, or, some say, ABSOLUTE
POSSESSIVES.
As instances of the use of absolute pronouns, note the following:--
'Twas _mine_, 'tis _his_, and has been slave to thousands.
--SHAKESPEARE.
And since thou own'st that praise, I spare thee _mine_.--COWPER.
My arm better than _theirs_ can ward it off.--LANDOR.
_Thine_ are the city and the people of Granada.--BULWER.
[Sidenote: _Old use of_ mine _and_ thine.]
Formerly _mine_ and _thine_ stood before their nouns, if the nouns
began with a vowel or _h_ silent; thus,--
Shall I not take _mine_ ease in _mine_ inn?--SHAKESPEARE.
Give every man _thine_ ear, but few thy voice.--_Id._
If _thine_ eye offend thee, pluck it out.--_Bible._
My greatest apprehension was for _mine_ eyes.--SWIFT.
This usage is still preserved in poetry.
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