o represent either a
singular or a plural noun. It ought to be recollected, however, that
when used as the representative of a singular noun, this word
retains its original _plural form_; and, therefore, the verb
connected with it, should always be plural. Inattention to this
peculiarity, has betrayed some writers into the erroneous
conclusion, that, because _you_ implies unity when it represents a
singular noun, it ought, when thus employed, to be followed by a
singular verb; as, "When _was you_ there?" "How far _was you_ from
the parties?" Such a construction, however, is not supported by
_good_ usage, nor by analogy. It is as manifest a solecism as to
say, We _am_, or we _is_. Were it, in any case, admissible to
connect a singular verb with _you_, the use of _was_ would still be
ungrammatical, for this form of the verb is confined to the first and
third persons, and _you_ is second person. _Wast_ being second
person, it would approximate nearer to correctness to say, you
_wast_. We never use the singular of the present tense with
you:--you _art_, you _is_; you _walkest_, you _walks_. Why, then,
should any attempt be made to force a usage so unnatural and
gratuitous as the connecting of the singular verb in the past tense
with this pronoun? In every point of view, the construction, "When
_were_ you there?" "How far _were_ you from the parties?" is
preferable to the other.

3. The words _my, thy, his, her, our, your, their_, are, by many,
denominated _possessive adjective pronouns_; but they always _stand
for_ nouns in the possessive case. They ought, therefore, to be
classed with the _personal_ pronouns. That principle of
classification which ranks them with the adjective pronouns, would
also throw all nouns in the possessive case among the adjectives.
Example: "The lady gave the gentleman _her_ watch for _his_ horse."
In this sentence _her_ personates, or stands for, the noun "lady,"
and _his_ represents "gentleman." This fact is clearly shown by
rendering the sentence thus, "The lady gave the gentleman the
_lady's_ watch for the _gentleman's_ horse." If _lady's_ and
_gentleman's_ are nouns, _her_ and _his_ must be personal pronouns.
The same remarks apply to _my, thy, our, your, their_ and _its_.
This view of these words may be objected to by those who speculate
and ref