II. On what linguistic phenomenon is the joke in the following extracts based? What causes the misunderstanding?
1. "Are your father and mother in?" asked the visitor of the small boy who opened the door.
"They was in," said the child, "but they is out."
"They was in. They is out. Where's your grammar?"
"She's gone upstairs," said the boy, "for a nap."
2. "Yes, Miss Janes, it's true my husband has left his job. He thought it was better for him to enlist rather than to be called up. Anyway, he has burned his bridges behind him."
"Oh, well, I shouldn't worry about that. They'll provide him with a uniform in the Army," commented the neighbour.
3. "I got sick last night eating eggs."
"Too bad."
"No, only one."
4. Husband and wife were enjoying a quiet evening by their fireside, he deep in a book and she in a cross word puzzle. Suddenly she questioned him:
"Darling, what is a female sheep?"
"Ewe [ju:]," he replied. His further explanation hardly soothed her.
5. "I spent last summer in a very pretty city in Switzerland."
"Berne?"
"No, I almost froze."
6. О f f i с er (to driver in parked car): Don't you see
that sign "Fine for parking"?
Driver: Yes, officer, I see and agree with it.
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