Whether they or them, it’s all a matter of grammar

DOUG E. Diamond ( TB, Friday 17/ 4/ 2015) quotes the last line of The Ode, a poem by the English poet and writer Laurence Binyon. This verse, as most Australians know, is a traditional recitation on Anzac Day.

“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.”

In his letter Mr Diamond describes his “golden moment” in realising the difference between “THEY” and “THEM”. He says there is a great difference in their meanings.

The last word in the line is THEM which he describes as a word which generates thoughts of great noble ide- als, heroic deeds and courage.

THEY on the other hand, has, apparently the opposite effect. Given that he uses several phrases which are most derogatory and summarised as “... a faceless idiot without a soul...”, how then does he explain the usage of the first word of the same verse – THEY.

Please note that we are referring to the same people here, the very same soldiers are being described and honoured at the beginning of the poem and at the end. The two words are plural pronouns and refer to the same group of people. Grammar dictates when and where to use the correct word – one is the subject of a sentence, the other is the object of a sentence or preposition.

GLENYS LOWE,

Kirwan.