1. Tell how each plural form below is made from the singular :·

Some compound nouns form the plural like single words, others make the principal_word plural, and a few change both words; as, cupjul, cupfuls; mother-in-law, mothers-in-law; woman-servant, women-servants.

EXERCISE I.

Write the singulars of the following nouns, and tell how the plurals are formed:

2. When a title is prefixed to a proper name, the compound may be made plural by changing either the title or the name; as, the Misses Brown or the Miss Browns.

The title is made plural when it is used with two or more names; as, Messrs. Stone and Wood.

Letters, figures, and signs add the apostrophe (') and s, to form the plural; as, Dot the i's; Cancel the 5's; Write the +'s on a straight line.

Many nouns taken from foreign languages retain their original plurals. The following are a few of the most common :

Some foreign words which are in common use form the plural in the usual way, often with a difference of meaning; as, formulas, indexes, geniuses.

EXERCISE II.

Make a list of the foregoing singular nouns from foreign languages, and opposite each write from memory its plural.

Which words in the following list denote males? Which denote

A noun that denotes a male is said to be of the masculine

gender; as, man, heir.

A noun that denotes a female is said to be of the feminine gender; as, woman, heiress.

A noun that may denote either a male or a female is said to be of the common gender; as, parent, friend, robin.

A noun that denotes a thing neither male nor female is said to be of the neuter gender; as, book, sky, joy.

The gender of nouns is distinguished in three ways:

Prefixing words. Different words. Differen

1. By different words; as,

MASCULINE. FEMININE.

2. By different endings. The chief feminine ending is ess, but other endings appear in some words; as,

3. By prefixing words indicating the sex; as,—

Make a list of all the masculine nouns mentioned in this lesson, and opposite each write from memory the corresponding feminine noun.

EXERCISE II.

Point out the masculine, the feminine, and the neuter nouns in the following sentences, and tell which nouns may denote either males or females:·

1. We learned the ways of the fish, the birds, the bees, the winds, the clouds, the flowers.

2. Night closed in, but still no guest arrived.

3. Leaving the boatmen at the camp, I spent the greater part of the night in the very heart of a jungle.

man.

4. Temperance and labor are the two best physicians of

5. Though Grandfather was old and gray-haired, yet his heart leaped with joy whenever little Alice came fluttering, like a butterfly, into the room. - HAWTHORNE.

6. I have had playmates, I have had companions.

CHARLES LAMB.

7. Brethren, the sower's task is done. - BRYANT.

8. I rise, my Lords, to declare my sentiments on this most solemn and serious subject. — BURKE.

9. Little Effie. shall go with me to-morrow to the green, And you'll be there, too, mother, to see me made the

IO.

Queen. - TENNYSON.

Brothers, sisters, husbands, wives,

Followed the Piper for their lives.

- ROBERT BROWNING.

II. The lamps shone o'er fair women and brave men.

- BYRON.

12.

What would we give to our beloved?
The hero's heart, to be unmoved,

The poet's star-tuned harp, to sweep,
The patriot's voice, to teach and rouse,
The monarch's crown, to light the brows? -

He giveth His beloved sleep.-E. B. BROWNING.