diff --git a/doc/fixes36.3 b/doc/fixes36.3
index 247c5410a..fbac27988 100644
--- a/doc/fixes36.3
+++ b/doc/fixes36.3
@@ -154,6 +154,8 @@ wielded aklys that returned to hero when thrown while inside an engulfer left
 	panic if same weapon killed any engulfer via melee from inside
 uarmh null pointer dereference if a helm of opposite alignment came off due 
 	to being polymorphed
+verb tense was inappropriate in some messages when a mon/pet had a name 
+	ending in 's'
 
 
 Fixes to Post-3.6.2 Problems that Were Exposed Via git Repository
diff --git a/include/decl.h b/include/decl.h
index 05aa7f895..c9f769e86 100644
--- a/include/decl.h
+++ b/include/decl.h
@@ -316,7 +316,8 @@ struct c_common_strings {
     const char *const c_nothing_happens, *const c_thats_enough_tries,
         *const c_silly_thing_to, *const c_shudder_for_moment,
         *const c_something, *const c_Something, *const c_You_can_move_again,
-        *const c_Never_mind, *c_vision_clears, *const c_the_your[2];
+        *const c_Never_mind, *c_vision_clears, *const c_the_your[2],
+        *const c_fakename[2];
 };
 
 E const struct c_common_strings c_common_strings;
@@ -331,6 +332,9 @@ E const struct c_common_strings c_common_strings;
 #define Never_mind c_common_strings.c_Never_mind
 #define vision_clears c_common_strings.c_vision_clears
 #define the_your c_common_strings.c_the_your
+/* fakename[] used occasionally so vtense() won't be fooled by an assigned
+   name ending in 's' */
+#define fakename c_common_strings.c_fakename
 
 /* material strings */
 E const char *materialnm[];
diff --git a/src/artifact.c b/src/artifact.c
index 966ab70ca..f6ab3065f 100644
--- a/src/artifact.c
+++ b/src/artifact.c
@@ -983,10 +983,10 @@ boolean vis;               /* whether the action can be seen */
 char *hittee;              /* target's name: "you" or mon_nam(mdef) */
 {
     struct permonst *old_uasmon;
-    const char *verb, *fakename;
+    const char *verb;
     boolean youattack = (magr == &g.youmonst), youdefend = (mdef == &g.youmonst),
             resisted = FALSE, do_stun, do_confuse, result;
-    int attack_indx, scare_dieroll = MB_MAX_DIEROLL / 2;
+    int attack_indx, fakeidx, scare_dieroll = MB_MAX_DIEROLL / 2;
 
     result = FALSE; /* no message given yet */
     /* the most severe effects are less likely at higher enchantment */
@@ -1126,13 +1126,13 @@ char *hittee;              /* target's name: "you" or mon_nam(mdef) */
             mdef->mconf = 1;
     }
 
-    /* now give message(s) describing side-effects;
-       don't let vtense() be fooled by assigned name ending in 's' */
-    fakename = youdefend ? "you" : "mon";
+    /* now give message(s) describing side-effects; Use fakename
+       so vtense() won't be fooled by assigned name ending in 's' */
+    fakeidx = youdefend ? 1 : 0;
     if (youattack || youdefend || vis) {
         (void) upstart(hittee); /* capitalize */
         if (resisted) {
-            pline("%s %s!", hittee, vtense(fakename, "resist"));
+            pline("%s %s!", hittee, vtense(fakename[fakeidx], "resist"));
             shieldeff(youdefend ? u.ux : mdef->mx,
                       youdefend ? u.uy : mdef->my);
         }
@@ -1146,7 +1146,7 @@ char *hittee;              /* target's name: "you" or mon_nam(mdef) */
                 Strcat(buf, " and ");
             if (do_confuse)
                 Strcat(buf, "confused");
-            pline("%s %s %s%c", hittee, vtense(fakename, "are"), buf,
+            pline("%s %s %s%c", hittee, vtense(fakename[fakeidx], "are"), buf,
                   (do_stun && do_confuse) ? '!' : '.');
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/decl.c b/src/decl.c
index ed16900d4..e93aba9d8 100644
--- a/src/decl.c
+++ b/src/decl.c
@@ -93,7 +93,8 @@ const struct c_common_strings c_common_strings = { "Nothing happens.",
                                              "You can move again.",
                                              "Never mind.",
                                              "vision quickly clears.",
-                                             { "the", "your" } };
+                                             { "the", "your" },
+                                             { "mon", "you" } };
 
 /* NOTE: the order of these words exactly corresponds to the
    order of oc_material values #define'd in objclass.h. */
diff --git a/src/muse.c b/src/muse.c
index dfef522c9..5173952a3 100644
--- a/src/muse.c
+++ b/src/muse.c
@@ -827,7 +827,7 @@ struct monst *mtmp;
 
             Mnam = Monnam(mtmp);
             pline("%s %s into a %s!", Mnam,
-                  vtense(Mnam, locomotion(mtmp->data, "jump")),
+                  vtense(fakename[0], locomotion(mtmp->data, "jump")),
                   (t->ttyp == TRAPDOOR) ? "trap door" : "hole");
             if (levl[g.trapx][g.trapy].typ == SCORR) {
                 levl[g.trapx][g.trapy].typ = CORR;
@@ -924,7 +924,7 @@ struct monst *mtmp;
         if (vis) {
             Mnam = Monnam(mtmp);
             pline("%s %s onto a teleport trap!", Mnam,
-                  vtense(Mnam, locomotion(mtmp->data, "jump")));
+                  vtense(fakename[0], locomotion(mtmp->data, "jump")));
             seetrap(t_at(g.trapx, g.trapy));
         }
         /*  don't use rloc_to() because worm tails must "move" */
@@ -1873,7 +1873,7 @@ struct monst *mtmp;
             const char *Mnam = Monnam(mtmp);
 
             pline("%s deliberately %s onto a polymorph trap!", Mnam,
-                  vtense(Mnam, locomotion(mtmp->data, "jump")));
+                  vtense(fakename[0], locomotion(mtmp->data, "jump")));
         }
         if (vis)
             seetrap(t_at(g.trapx, g.trapy));
@@ -2451,7 +2451,7 @@ boolean by_you; /* true: if mon kills itself, hero gets credit/blame */
             newsym(mon->mx, mon->my);
             if (vis)
                 pline("%s %s %s %s fire trap!", Mnam,
-                      vtense(Mnam, locomotion(mon->data, "move")),
+                      vtense(fakename[0], locomotion(mon->data, "move")),
                       is_floater(mon->data) ? "over" : "onto",
                       trap->tseen ? "the" : "a");
         }