Were is always used when more than one is meant. Was is used when only one is meant, but it is never used with you. I The class may have a little talk in which the first child may ask a question using were you, and the next may answer the question correctly. Thus: First child: Were you early for school this morning, Frank? Second child: Yes, I was here early, Tom. Third child: Were all the boys and girls early, Mary? Fourth child: No, they were not all early, Clara. In this way each child may ask or answer a question, using correctly the word was or were. Remember always to use the name of the boy or girl to whom you speak. II Copy the following sentences, putting in the word was or were: 1. We 2. 3. I at the Zoo yesterday. you afraid of the animals? a little afraid of the lion. 4. We thought the elephant 5. wonderful. you interested in the monkeys? 6. Oh, yes. They very funny. 7. We are going again Saturday. 8. I wish you going with us. 48 CONTINUING A STORY Once upon a time, a little worm lived deep in the moist brown earth under a rock. "Don't go out of the house," said his mother to him one morning. "I heard Bobby Brown say that he was going to dig worms for fishing.” But his mother had no sooner turned her back than away wriggled the little worm as fast as his forty-seven pairs of legs could carry him. Up the long, cool hallway he went and popped his head out into the sunny world. Now, while he was disobeying his mother, two little sunfish in the brook near by were just as naughty as he was. "Don't leave the shadow of this nice cool rock,' their mother had said. "I heard Bobby Brown say that he was going fishing to-day." But when she turned to put out a saucer of milk for their pet catfish, away darted her naughty children down the clear stream as fast as their fins could carry them. Now just at the moment when the little worm and the two little fish were running away, Bobby Brown came down the path toward the brook. In his hands he held Finish the sentence. Now add sentences in turn around the class until the story is finished. 49 USING THE VOICE 1. Take the position for the breathing exercise. What must you remember about your shoulders? 2. Breathe in deeply. Breathe out on the sound of ō in ōh, gō, gōld, low, blow. 3. Repeat exercise 2 ten times. 4. Repeat exercise 2 eight times, singing the ō on a new note each time you breathe out. Breathe out very slowly; make each note clear and full. 50 LEARNING TO READ A POEM LEAVES AT PLAY Scamper, little leaves, about, In the autumn sun; I can hear the old Wind shout, And I haven't any doubt That he likes the fun. When you've run a month or so, But the same old Wind, I know, When he tucks you in your snow- So run on and have your play, Soon you'll hear the old Wind say -Frank Dempster Sherman. In this poem the poet is speaking to the autumn leaves as if they were little children at play. In the first two lines, what does he tell the leaves to do? Answer in the exact words of the poet. In the next four lines, what does he tell the leaves about the wind? Answer in the exact words of the poet. These six lines are called a stanza. Now read the first stanza as if you were speaking to the leaves at play. Answer the following questions, using the poet's exact words. In the first two lines of the second stanza, what does the poet tell the leaves? What is he sure the old Wind will be doing when he tucks them in? In what lines of the second stanza did you find your answer? Read the second stanza aloud, pretending that the other children are the leaves. In the first four lines of the third stanza, what does the poet tell the leaves to do? In the last two lines, what does he say to the leaves? Read the third stanza to the class, remembering that you are speaking to the leaves at play. Now read the whole poem. 51 MEMORIZING A POEM Read silently the poem Leaves at Play on page 49. Do you understand every sentence in the poem? If you do not, ask your teacher questions about the words or sentences that you do not understand. When you are quite sure that you understand it all, read the first stanza over until you can say it without the book, always remembering that the poet is speaking to the leaves. Close your books and, each in turn, say the stanza. Your teacher will write the stanza on the blackboard as some one says it aloud. Now open your books and correct any mistakes in the stanza on the blackboard. Study the stanza again, until you are sure of every word. Do the same with the second and third stanzas. Now say the whole poem to the other children. |