Literature Class
Shakespearean Grammar
"You" or "Ye" would be used on formal occasions, or when one is addressing one of
higher social rank. Never call the Royals "Thee" or "thou".
1st person
2nd person
3rd person
Singular
I
you
she, he, it
Plural
we
ye
they
"Thee" or "thou" are informal forms of address and would be used when speaking to a
friend or one of equal or lower social standing.
1st person
2nd person
3rd person
Singular
I
thee, thou
he, she, it
Plural
we
ye
they
(Note: Don't switch from formal to informal, or vice versa, in the same conversation.)
Case:
"Thou" is nominative. (Used as the subject of the sentence and is usually the first noun in
the sentence.)
Examples:
Thou(subject) hast slain me(object).
Thou(subject) liest.
(Note that verbs following "thou" tend to end in "-st". We'll go into this in more depth
when we deal with verb endings.)
"Thee" is objective. (Used as the object in the sentence. The object is the word affected
by the verb.)
Examples:
I(subject) love thee(object)
We(subject) shall slay thee(object)
The possessive form of "thee/thou" is "thy" or "thine".
"Thy" preceeds words beginning with a consonant. Thy friend. Thy castle.
"Thine" preceeds words beginning with a vowel. Thine honor. Thine arse.
(Note: When "my" is followed by a word beginning with a vowel it becomes "mine".
Mine eyes. Mine Uncle.)
Literature Class
Shakespearean Grammar
Fill in the following blanks with thee/ thou/ thy/ thine Good Luck!
1. _______ hast done me wrong.
2. I have never lied to ________.
3. Why dost ________ not love me?
4. I have suffered agonies for _________.
5. Please take it, so it will always be ________.
6. Thou hast written this letter, for it is ________ hand.
7. I am returning this kerchief, for it is _________.
8. Wilt thou swear this is ________ horse?
9. Poor fool, I can only pity ________.
10. I give _________ this jewel, as a token.
11. _________ dost not know what I have suffered.
12. It is only __________ love that I desire.
13. I am making a drawing of _________.
14. Hast _________ ever felt these pangs of desire?
15. If these feelings were _________, what wouldst _______ do?
16. _____ knowst how well I esteem _________ wisdom.
17. This is _________ doing, that is why I love _________.
18. I defy ________, I shall capture ________ heart.
19. I give my heart to __________ if __________ desirest it.