GLOW: Grammar Lessons On the Web
For the exclusive use of employees of the U.S. Department of State--by Tillyer Associates

Glow Answers

Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706 in Boston Massachusetts. Franklin was one of the founding fathers of the United States of America. (1. He, Him) __He___ signed the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States, and served as the new nation's ablest diplomat.

Franklin's formal schooling ended early but (2. him, his) _his___ education never did. (3. He, Him) __He___ believed that "the doors to wisdom are never shut," and read every book (4. he, his) ___he__ could get (5. he, his) ___his_ hands on. Franklin taught himself simple algebra and geometry, navigation, logic, history, science, English grammar and five other languages.

Franklin thought successful people were different from other people. (6.His, He) ___He__ believed that (7. they, them) __they___ worked just a little harder than the rest of (8. we, us) __us___. Benjamin Franklin certainly did. (9. Him, He) ___He__ built a successful printing and publishing business in Philadelphia; and (10. him, his) __his__ scientific studies of electricity are very famous. (11. They, Them) __They__ were also dangerous. Benjamin Franklin was an accomplished diplomat and statesman and (12. him, he) __he___ helped establish Pennsylvania's first university. (13. It, Its) __It___ is now called the University of Pennsylvania.

Franklin was America's first important inventor. (14. It, He) __He___ invented the Franklin stove, bifocal eyeglasses and the lightning rod. (15. He, Him) __He___ refused to profit from (16. his, him) ___his___ inventions, preferring to have (17. them, they) __them__ used freely for the comfort and convenience of everyone. (18. He, Him) __He___ thought (19. them, they) __they__ were too important to make money from (20. them, they) __them_.

Famous Franklin sayings:

Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
God helps those who help themselves.
Little strokes fell great oaks.

Practice #1 Practice #2 List of Lessons