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Title: An English Grammar
Author: Baskervill, William Malone, 1850-1899, Sewell, James Witt
Language: English
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*** Start of this LibraryBlog Digital Book "An English Grammar" ***
AN ENGLISH GRAMMAR
FOR THE USE OF
HIGH SCHOOL, ACADEMY, AND COLLEGE CLASSES
BY
W.M. BASKERVILL
PROFESSOR OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE IN VANDERBILT
UNIVERSITY NASHVILLE, TENN.
AND
J.W. SEWELL
OF THE FOGG HIGH SCHOOL, NASHVILLE, TENN.
1895
PREFACE.
Of making many English grammars there is no end; nor should there be
till theoretical scholarship and actual practice are more happily
wedded. In this field much valuable work has already been
accomplished; but it has been done largely by workers accustomed to
take the scholar's point of view, and their writings are addressed
rather to trained minds than to immature learners. To find an advanced
grammar unencumbered with hard words, abstruse thoughts, and difficult
principles, is not altogether an easy matter. These things enhance the
difficulty which an ordinary youth experiences in grasping and
assimilating the facts of grammar, and create a distaste for the
study. It is therefore the leading object of this book to be both as
scholarly and as practical as possible. In it there is an attempt to
present grammatical facts as simply, and to lead the student to
assimilate them as thoroughly, as possible, and at the same time to do
away with confusing difficulties as far as may be.
To attain these ends it is necessary to keep ever in the foreground
the _real basis of grammar_; that is, good literature. Abundant
quotations from standard authors have been given to show the student
that he is dealing with the facts of the language, and not with the
theories of grammarians. It is also suggested that in preparing
written exercises the student use English classics instead of "making
up" sentences. But it is not intended that the use of literary
masterpieces for grammatical purposes should supplant or even
interfere with their proper use and real value as works of art. It
will, however, doubtless be found helpful to alternate the regular
reading and æsthetic study of literature with a grammatical study, so
that, while the mind is being enriched and the artistic sense
quickened, there may also be the useful acquisition of arousing a keen
observation of all grammatical forms and usages. Now and then it has
been deemed best to omit explanations, and to withhold personal
preferences, in order that the student may, by actual contact with the
sources of grammatical laws, discover for himself the better way in
regarding given data. It is not the grammarian's business to
"correct:" it is simply to record and to arrange the usages of
language, and to point the way to the arbiters of usage in all
disputed cases. Free expression within the lines of good usage should
have widest range.
It has been our aim to make a grammar of as wide a scope as is
consistent with the proper definition of the word. Therefore, in
addition to recording and classifying the facts of language, we have
endeavored to attain two other objects,--to cultivate mental skill and
power, and to induce the student to prosecute further studies in this
field. It is not supposable that in so delicate and difficult an
undertaking there should be an entire freedom from errors and
oversights. We shall gratefully accept any assistance in helping to
correct mistakes.
Though endeavoring to get our material as much as possible at first
hand, and to make an independent use of it, we desire to express our
obligation to the following books and articles:--
Meiklejohn's "English Language," Longmans' "School Grammar," West's
"English Grammar," Bain's "Higher English Grammar" and "Composition
Grammar," Sweet's "Primer of Spoken English" and "New English
Grammar," etc., Hodgson's "Errors in the Use of English," Morris's
"Elementary Lessons in Historical English Grammar," Lounsbury's
"English Language," Champney's "History of English," Emerson's
"History of the English Language," Kellner's "Historical Outlines of
English Syntax," Earle's "English Prose," and Matzner's "Englische
Grammatik." Allen's "Subjunctive Mood in English," Battler's articles
on "Prepositions" in the "Anglia," and many other valuable papers,
have also been helpful and suggestive.
We desire to express special thanks to Professor W.D. Mooney of Wall &
Mooney's Battle-Ground Academy, Franklin, Tenn., for a critical
examination of the first draft of the manuscript, and to Professor
Jno. M. Webb of Webb Bros. School, Bell Buckle, Tenn., and Professor
W.R. Garrett of the University of Nashville, for many valuable
suggestions and helpful criticism.
W.M. BASKERVILL.
J.W. SEWELL.
NASHVILLE, TENN., January, 1896.
CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTION
PART I.
_THE PARTS OF SPEECH_.
NOUNS
PRONOUNS
ADJECTIVES
ARTICLES
VERBS AND VERBALS
Verbs
Verbals
How to Parse Verbs and Verbals
ADVERBS
CONJUNCTIONS
PREPOSITIONS
WORDS THAT NEED WATCHING
INTERJECTIONS
PART II.
_ANALYSIS OF SENTENCES_.
CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO FORM
CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO NUMBER OF STATEMENTS
Simple Sentences
Contracted Sentences
Complex Sentences
Compound Sentences
PART III.
_SYNTAX_.
INTRODUCTORY
NOUNS
PRONOUNS
ADJECTIVES
ARTICLES
VERBS
INDIRECT DISCOURSE
VERBALS
ADVERBS
CONJUNCTIONS
PREPOSITIONS
INDEX
INTRODUCTION.
So many slighting remarks have been made of late on the use of
teaching grammar as compared with teaching science, that it is plain
the fact has been lost sight of that grammar is itself a science. The
object we have, or should have, in teaching science, is not to fill a
child's mind with a vast number of facts that may or may not prove
useful to him hereafter, but to draw out and exercise his powers of
observation, and to show him how to make use of what he observes....
And here the teacher of grammar has a great advantage over the teacher
of other sciences, in that the facts he has to call attention to lie
ready at hand for every pupil to observe without the use of apparatus
of any kind while the use of them also lies within the personal
experience of every one.--DR RICHARD MORRIS.
The proper study of a language is an intellectual discipline of the
highest order. If I except discussions on the comparative merits of
Popery and Protestantism, English grammar was the most important
discipline of my boyhood.--JOHN TYNDALL.
INTRODUCTION.
What various opinions writers on English grammar have given in answer
to the question, _What is grammar?_ may be shown by the following--
[Sidenote: _Definitions of grammar._]
English grammar is a description of the usages of the English
language by good speakers and writers of the present
day.--WHITNEY
A description of account of the nature, build, constitution, or
make of a language is called its grammar--MEIKLEJOHN
Grammar teaches the laws of language, and the right method of
using it in speaking and writing.--PATTERSON
Grammar is the science of _letter_; hence the science of using
words correctly.--ABBOTT
The English word _grammar_ relates only to the laws which govern
the significant forms of words, and the construction of the
sentence.--RICHARD GRANT WHITE
These are sufficient to suggest several distinct notions about English
grammar--
[Sidenote: _Synopsis of the above._]
(1) It makes rules to tell us how to use words.
(2) It is a record of usage which we ought to follow.
(3) It is concerned with the _forms_ of the language.
(4) English _has_ no grammar in the sense of forms, or inflections,
but takes account merely of the nature and the uses of words in
sentences.
[Sidenote: _The older idea and its origin._]
Fierce discussions have raged over these opinions, and numerous works
have been written to uphold the theories. The first of them remained
popular for a very long time. It originated from the etymology of the
word _grammar_ (Greek _gramma_, writing, a letter), and from an effort
to build up a treatise on English grammar by using classical grammar
as a model.
Perhaps a combination of (1) and (3) has been still more popular,
though there has been vastly more classification than there are forms.
[Sidenote: _The opposite view_.]
During recent years, (2) and (4) have been gaining ground, but they
have had hard work to displace the older and more popular theories. It
is insisted by many that the student's time should be used in studying
general literature, and thus learning the fluent and correct use of
his mother tongue. It is also insisted that the study and discussion
of forms and inflections is an inexcusable imitation of classical
treatises.
[Sidenote: _The difficulty_.]
Which view shall the student of English accept? Before this is
answered, we should decide whether some one of the above theories must
be taken as the right one, and the rest disregarded.
The real reason for the diversity of views is a confusion of two
distinct things,--what the _definition_ of grammar should be, and what
the _purpose_ of grammar should be.
[Sidenote: _The material of grammar_.]
The province of English grammar is, rightly considered, wider than is
indicated by any one of the above definitions; and the student ought
to have a clear idea of the ground to be covered.
[Sidenote: _Few inflections_.]
It must be admitted that the language has very few inflections at
present, as compared with Latin or Greek; so that a small grammar will
hold them all.
[Sidenote: _Making rules is risky_.]
It is also evident, to those who have studied the language
historically, that it is very hazardous to make rules in grammar: what
is at present regarded as correct may not be so twenty years from now,
even if our rules are founded on the keenest scrutiny of the
"standard" writers of our time. Usage is varied as our way of thinking
changes. In Chaucer's time two or three negatives were used to
strengthen a negation; as, "Ther _nas no_ man _nowher_ so vertuous"
(There never was no man nowhere so virtuous). And Shakespeare used
good English when he said _more elder_ ("Merchant of Venice") and
_most unkindest_ ("Julius Cæsar"); but this is bad English now.
If, however, we have tabulated the inflections of the language, and
stated what syntax is the most used in certain troublesome places,
there is still much for the grammarian to do.
[Sidenote: _A broader view_.]
Surely our noble language, with its enormous vocabulary, its peculiar
and abundant idioms, its numerous periphrastic forms to express every
possible shade of meaning, is worthy of serious study, apart from the
mere memorizing of inflections and formulation of rules.
[Sidenote: _Mental training. An æsthetic benefit._]
Grammar is eminently a means of mental training; and while it will
train the student in subtle and acute reasoning, it will at the same
time, if rightly presented, lay the foundation of a keen observation
and a correct literary taste. The continued contact with the highest
thoughts of the best minds will create a thirst for the "well of
English undefiled."
[Sidenote: _What grammar is_.]
Coming back, then, from the question, _What ground should grammar
cover?_ we come to answer the question, _What should grammar teach?_
and we give as an answer the definition,--
_English grammar is the science which treats of the nature of words,
their forms, and their uses and relations in the sentence_.
[Sidenote: _The work it will cover._]
This will take in the usual divisions, "The Parts of Speech" (with
their inflections), "Analysis," and "Syntax." It will also require a
discussion of any points that will clear up difficulties, assist the
classification of kindred expressions, or draw the attention of the
student to everyday idioms and phrases, and thus incite his
observation.
[Sidenote: _Authority as a basis_.]
A few words here as to the _authority_ upon which grammar rests.
[Sidenote: _Literary English_.]
The statements given will be substantiated by quotations from the
leading or "standard" literature of modern times; that is, from the
eighteenth century on. This _literary English_ is considered the
foundation on which grammar must rest.
[Sidenote: _Spoken English_.]
Here and there also will be quoted words and phrases from _spoken_ or
_colloquial English_, by which is meant the free, unstudied
expressions of ordinary conversation and communication among
intelligent people.
These quotations will often throw light on obscure constructions,
since they preserve turns of expressions that have long since perished
from the literary or standard English.
[Sidenote: _Vulgar English_.]
Occasionally, too, reference will be made to _vulgar English,_--the
speech of the uneducated and ignorant,--which will serve to illustrate
points of syntax once correct, or standard, but now undoubtedly bad
grammar.
The following pages will cover, then, three divisions:--
Part I. The Parts of Speech, and Inflections.
Part II. Analysis of Sentences.
Part III. The Uses of Words, or Syntax.
PART I.
_THE PARTS OF SPEECH_.
NOUNS.
1. In the more simple _state_ of the _Arabs_, the _nation_ is free,
because each of her _sons_ disdains a base _submission_ to the _will_
of a _master_.--GIBBON.
[Sidenote: _Name words_]
By examining this sentence we notice several words used as names. The
plainest name is _Arabs_, which belongs to a people; but, besides this
one, the words _sons_ and _master_ name objects, and may belong to any
of those objects. The words _state, submission,_ and _will_ are
evidently names of a different kind, as they stand for ideas, not
objects; and the word _nation_ stands for a whole group.
When the meaning of each of these words has once been understood, the
word naming it will always call up the thing or idea itself. Such
words are called nouns.
[Sidenote: _Definition_.]
2. A noun is a name word, representing directly to the mind an
object, substance, or idea.
[Sidenote: _Classes of nouns_.]
3. Nouns are classified as follows:--
(1) Proper.
(2) Common. (a) CLASS NAMES: i. Individual.
ii. Collective.
(b) MATERIAL.
(3) Abstract. (a) ATTRIBUTE.
(b) VERBAL
[Sidenote: _Names for special objects._]
4. A proper noun is a name applied to a particular object, whether
person, place, or thing.
It specializes or limits the thing to which it is applied, reducing it
to a narrow application. Thus, _city_ is a word applied to any one of
its kind; but _Chicago_ names one city, and fixes the attention upon
that particular city. _King_ may be applied to any ruler of a kingdom,
but _Alfred the Great_ is the name of one king only.
The word _proper_ is from a Latin word meaning _limited, belonging to
one_. This does not imply, however, that a proper name can be applied
to only one object, but that each time such a name is applied it is
fixed or proper to that object. Even if there are several Bostons or
Manchesters, the name of each is an individual or proper name.
[Sidenote: _Name for any individual of a class._]
5. A common noun is a name possessed by _any_ one of a class of
persons, animals, or things.
_Common_, as here used, is from a Latin word which means _general,
possessed by all_.
For instance, _road_ is a word that names _any_ highway outside of
cities; _wagon_ is a term that names _any_ vehicle of a certain kind
used for hauling: the words are of the widest application. We may say,
_the man here_, or _the man in front of you_, but the word _man_ is
here hedged in by other words or word groups: the name itself is of
general application.
[Sidenote: _Name for a group or collection of objects._]
Besides considering persons, animals, and things separately, we may
think of them in groups, and appropriate names to the groups.
Thus, men in groups may be called a _crowd_, or a _mob_, a
_committee_, or a _council_, or a _congress_, etc.
These are called COLLECTIVE NOUNS. They properly belong under common
nouns, because each group is considered as a unit, and the name
applied to it belongs to any group of its class.
[Sidenote: _Names for things thought of in mass._]
6. The definition given for common nouns applies more strictly to
class nouns. It may, however, be correctly used for another group of
nouns detailed below; for they are common nouns in the sense that the
names apply to _every particle of similar substance_, instead of to
each individual or separate object.
They are called MATERIAL NOUNS. Such are _glass_, _iron_, _clay_,
_frost_, _rain_, _snow_, _wheat_, _wine_, _tea_, _sugar_, etc.
They may be placed in groups as follows:--
(1) The metals: _iron_, _gold_, _platinum_, etc.
(2) Products spoken of in bulk: _tea_, _sugar_, _rice_, _wheat_, etc.
(3) Geological bodies: _mud_, _sand_, _granite_, _rock_, _stone_, etc.
(4) Natural phenomena: _rain_, _dew_, _cloud_, _frost_, _mist_, etc.
(5) Various manufactures: _cloth_ (and the different kinds of cloth),
_potash_, _soap_, _rubber_, _paint_, _celluloid_, etc.
7. NOTE.--There are some nouns, such as _sun_, _moon_, _earth_,
which seem to be the names of particular individual objects, but which
are not called proper names.
[Sidenote: _Words naturally of limited application not proper._]
The reason is, that in proper names the intention is _to exclude_ all
other individuals of the same class, and fasten a special name to the
object considered, as in calling a city _Cincinnati_; but in the words
_sun_, _earth_, etc., there is no such intention. If several bodies
like the center of our solar system are known, they also are called
_suns_ by a natural extension of the term: so with the words _earth_,
_world_, etc. They remain common class names.
[Sidenote: _Names of ideas, not things._]
8. Abstract nouns are names of qualities, conditions, or actions,
considered abstractly, or apart from their natural connection.
When we speak of a _wise man_, we recognize in him an attribute or
quality. If we wish to think simply of that quality without describing
the person, we speak of the _wisdom_ of the man. The quality is still
there as much as before, but it is taken merely as a name. So
_poverty_ would express the condition of a poor person; _proof_ means
the act of proving, or that which shows a thing has been proved; and
so on.
Again, we may say, "_Painting_ is a fine art," "_Learning_ is hard to
acquire," "a man of _understanding_."
9. There are two chief divisions of abstract nouns:--
(1) ATTRIBUTE NOUNS, expressing attributes or qualities.
(2) VERBAL NOUNS, expressing state, condition, or action.
[Sidenote: _Attribute abstract nouns._]
10. The ATTRIBUTE ABSTRACT NOUNS are derived from adjectives and
from common nouns. Thus, (1) _prudence_ from _prudent_, _height_ from
_high_, _redness_ from _red_, _stupidity_ from _stupid_, etc.; (2)
_peerage_ from _peer_, _childhood_ from _child_, _mastery_ from
_master_, _kingship_ from _king_, etc.
[Sidenote: _Verbal abstract nouns._]
II. The VERBAL ABSTRACT NOUNS Originate in verbs, as their name
implies. They may be--
(1) Of the same form as the simple verb. The verb, by altering its
function, is used as a noun; as in the expressions, "a long _run_" "a
bold _move_," "a brisk _walk_."
(2) Derived from verbs by changing the ending or adding a suffix:
_motion_ from _move_, _speech_ from _speak_, _theft_ from _thieve_,
_action_ from _act_, _service_ from _serve_.
[Sidenote: _Caution._]
(3) Derived from verbs by adding _-ing_ to the simple verb. It must be
remembered that these words are _free from any verbal function_. They
cannot govern a word, and they cannot _express_ action, but are merely
_names_ of actions. They are only the husks of verbs, and are to be
rigidly distinguished from _gerunds_ (Secs. 272, 273).
To avoid difficulty, study carefully these examples:
The best thoughts and _sayings_ of the Greeks; the moon caused fearful
_forebodings_; in the _beginning_ of his life; he spread his
_blessings_ over the land; the great Puritan _awakening_; our birth is
but a sleep and a _forgetting_; a _wedding_ or a festival; the rude
_drawings_ of the book; masterpieces of the Socratic _reasoning_; the
_teachings_ of the High Spirit; those opinions and _feelings_; there
is time for such _reasonings_; the _well-being_ of her subjects; her
_longing_ for their favor; _feelings_ which their original _meaning_
will by no means justify; the main _bearings_ of this matter.
[Sidenote: _Underived abstract nouns._]
12. Some abstract nouns were not derived from any other part of
speech, but were framed directly for the expression of certain ideas
or phenomena. Such are _beauty_, _joy_, _hope_, _ease_, _energy_;
_day_, _night_, _summer_, _winter_; _shadow_, _lightning_, _thunder_,
etc.
The adjectives or verbs corresponding to these are either themselves
derived from the nouns or are totally different words; as
_glad_--_joy_, _hopeful_--_hope_, etc.
Exercises.
1. From your reading bring up sentences containing ten common nouns,
five proper, five abstract.
--NOTE.--Remember that all sentences are to be _selected_ from
standard literature.
2. Under what class of nouns would you place (_a_) the names of
diseases, as _pneumonia_, _pleurisy_, _catarrh_, _typhus_,
_diphtheria_; (_b_) branches of knowledge, as _physics_, _algebra_,
_geology_, _mathematics_?
3. Mention collective nouns that will embrace groups of each of the
following individual nouns:--
man
horse
bird
fish
partridge
pupil
bee
soldier
book
sailor
child
sheep
ship
ruffian
4. Using a dictionary, tell from what word each of these abstract
nouns is derived:--
sight
speech
motion
pleasure
patience
friendship
deceit
bravery
height
width
wisdom
regularity
advice
seizure
nobility
relief
death
raid
honesty
judgment
belief
occupation
justice
service
trail
feeling
choice
simplicity
SPECIAL USES OF NOUNS.
[Sidenote: _Nouns change by use._]
13. By being used so as to vary their usual meaning, nouns of one
class may be made to approach another class, or to go over to it
entirely. Since words alter their meaning so rapidly by a widening or
narrowing of their application, we shall find numerous examples of
this shifting from class to class; but most of them are in the
following groups. For further discussion see the remarks on articles
(p. 119).
[Sidenote: _Proper names transferred to common use._]
14. Proper nouns are used as common in either of two ways:--
(1) _The origin of a thing is used for the thing itself_: that is, the
name of the inventor may be applied to the thing invented, as a
_davy_, meaning the miner's lamp invented by Sir Humphry Davy; the
_guillotine_, from the name of Dr. Guillotin, who was its inventor. Or
the name of the country or city from which an article is derived is
used for the article: as _china_, from China; _arras_, from a town in
France; _port_ (wine), from Oporto, in Portugal; _levant_ and
_morocco_ (leather).
Some of this class have become worn by use so that at present we can
scarcely discover the derivation from the form of the word; for
example, the word _port_, above. Others of similar character are
_calico_, from Calicut; _damask_, from Damascus; _currants_, from
Corinth; etc.
(2) _The name of a person or place noted for certain qualities is
transferred to any person or place possessing those qualities_;
thus,--
Hercules and Samson were noted for their strength, and we call a
very strong man _a Hercules_ or _a Samson_. Sodom was famous for
wickedness, and a similar place is called _a Sodom_ of sin.
_A Daniel_ come to judgment!--SHAKESPEARE.
If it prove a mind of uncommon activity and power, _a Locke_, _a
Lavoisier_, _a Hutton_, _a Bentham_, _a Fourier_, it imposes its
classification on other men, and lo! a new system.--EMERSON.
[Sidenote: _Names for things in bulk altered for separate portions._]
15. Material nouns may be used as class names. Instead of
considering the whole body of material of which certain uses are made,
one can speak of particular uses or phases of the substance; as--
(1) _Of individual objects_ made from metals or other substances
capable of being wrought into various shapes. We know a number of
objects made of iron. The material _iron_ embraces the metal contained
in them all; but we may say, "The cook made the _irons_ hot,"
referring to flat-irons; or, "The sailor was put in _irons_" meaning
chains of iron. So also we may speak of _a glass_ to drink from or to
look into; _a steel_ to whet a knife on; _a rubber_ for erasing marks;
and so on.
(2) _Of classes_ or _kinds_ of the same substance. These are the same
in material, but differ in strength, purity, etc. Hence it shortens
speech to make the nouns plural, and say _teas_, _tobaccos_, _paints_,
_oils_, _candies_, _clays_, _coals_.
(3) _By poetical use_, of certain words necessarily singular in idea,
which are made plural, or used as class nouns, as in the following:--
The lone and level _sands_ stretch far away.--SHELLEY.
From all around--
Earth and her _waters_, and the depths of air--
Comes a still voice.--BRYANT.
Their airy ears
_The winds_ have stationed on the mountain peaks.
--PERCIVAL.
(4) _Of detached portions_ of matter used as class names; as _stones_,
_slates_, _papers_, _tins_, _clouds_, _mists_, etc.
[Sidenote: _Personification of abstract ideas._]
16. Abstract nouns are frequently used as proper names by being
personified; that is, the ideas are spoken of as residing in living
beings. This is a poetic usage, though not confined to verse.
Next _Anger_ rushed; his eyes, on fire,
In lightnings owned his secret stings.--COLLINS.
_Freedom's_ fame finds wings on every wind.--BYRON.
_Death_, his mask melting like a nightmare dream, smiled.--HAYNE.
_Traffic_ has lain down to rest; and only _Vice_ and _Misery_, to
prowl or to moan like night birds, are abroad.--CARLYLE.
[Sidenote: _A halfway class of words. Class nouns in use, abstract in
meaning._]
17. Abstract nouns are made half abstract by being spoken of in
the plural.
They are not then pure abstract nouns, nor are they common class
nouns. For example, examine this:--
The _arts_ differ from the _sciences_ in this, that their power
is founded not merely on _facts_ which can be communicated, but
on _dispositions_ which require to be created.--RUSKIN.
When it is said that _art_ differs from _science_, that the power of
art is founded on _fact_, that _disposition_ is the thing to be
created, the words italicized are pure abstract nouns; but in case _an
art_ or _a science_, or _the arts_ and _sciences_, be spoken of, the
abstract idea is partly lost. The words preceded by the article _a_,
or made plural, are still names of abstract ideas, not material
things; but they widen the application to separate kinds of _art_ or
different branches of _science_. They are neither class nouns nor pure
abstract nouns: they are more properly called _half abstract_.
Test this in the following sentences:--
Let us, if we must have great _actions_, make our own
so.--EMERSON.
And still, as each repeated _pleasure_ tired, Succeeding _sports_
the mirthful band inspired.--GOLDSMITH.
But ah! those _pleasures_, _loves_, and _joys_
Which I too keenly taste,
The Solitary can despise.--BURNS.
All these, however, were mere _terrors_ of the night.--IRVING.
[Sidenote: _By ellipses, nouns used to modify._]
18. Nouns used as descriptive terms. Sometimes a noun is attached
to another noun to add to its meaning, or describe it; for example, "a
_family_ quarrel," "a _New York_ bank," "the _State Bank Tax_ bill,"
"a _morning_ walk."
It is evident that these approach very near to the function of
adjectives. But it is better to consider them as nouns, for these
reasons: they do not give up their identity as nouns; they do not
express quality; they cannot be compared, as descriptive adjectives
are.
They are more like the possessive noun, which belongs to another word,
but is still a noun. They may be regarded as elliptical expressions,
meaning a walk _in the morning_, a bank _in New York_, a bill _as to
tax on the banks_, etc.
NOTE.--If the descriptive word be a _material_ noun, it may be
regarded as changed to an adjective. The term "_gold_ pen" conveys the
same idea as "_golden_ pen," which contains a pure adjective.
WORDS AND WORD GROUPS USED AS NOUNS.
[Sidenote: _The noun may borrow from any part of speech, or from any
expression._]
19. Owing to the scarcity of distinctive forms, and to the
consequent flexibility of English speech, words which are usually
other parts of speech are often used as nouns; and various word groups
may take the place of nouns by being used as nouns.
[Sidenote: _Adjectives, Conjunctions, Adverbs._]
(1) _Other parts of speech_ used as nouns:--
_The great_, _the wealthy_, fear thy blow.--BURNS.
Every _why_ hath a _wherefore_.--SHAKESPEARE.
When I was young? Ah, woeful _When_!
Ah! for the change 'twixt _Now_ and _Then_!
--COLERIDGE.
(2) _Certain word groups_ used like single nouns:--
_Too swift_ arrives as tardy as _too slow_.--SHAKESPEARE.
Then comes the "_Why, sir_!" and the "_What then, sir_?" and the
"_No, sir_!" and the "_You don't see your way through the
question, sir_!"--MACAULAY
(3) Any part of speech may be considered merely as a word, without
reference to its function in the sentence; also titles of books are
treated as simple nouns.
The _it_, at the beginning, is ambiguous, whether it mean the sun
or the cold.--Dr BLAIR
In this definition, is the word "_just_," or "_legal_," finally
to stand?--RUSKIN.
There was also a book of Defoe's called an "_Essay on Projects_,"
and another of Dr. Mather's called "_Essays to do Good_."--B.
FRANKLIN.
[Sidenote: _Caution._]
20. It is to be remembered, however, that the above cases are
shiftings of the _use_, of words rather than of their _meaning_. We
seldom find instances of complete conversion of one part of speech
into another.
When, in a sentence above, the terms _the great_, _the wealthy_, are
used, they are not names only: we have in mind the idea of persons and
the quality of being _great_ or _wealthy_. The words are used in the
sentence where nouns are used, but have an adjectival meaning.
In the other sentences, _why_ and _wherefore_, _When_, _Now_, and
_Then_, are spoken of as if pure nouns; but still the reader considers
this not a natural application of them as name words, but as a figure
of speech.
NOTE.--These remarks do not apply, of course, to such words as become
pure nouns by use. There are many of these. The adjective _good_ has
no claim on the noun _goods_; so, too, in speaking of the _principal_
of a school, or a state _secret_, or a faithful _domestic_, or a
_criminal_, etc., the words are entirely independent of any adjective
force.
Exercise.
Pick out the nouns in the following sentences, and tell to which class
each belongs. Notice if any have shifted from one class to another.
1. Hope springs eternal in the human breast.
2. Heaven from all creatures hides the book of Fate.
3. Stone walls do not a prison make.
Nor iron bars a cage.
4. Truth-teller was our England's Alfred named.
5. A great deal of talent is lost to the world for want of a little
courage.
6. Power laid his rod aside,
And Ceremony doff'd her pride.
7. She sweeps it through the court with troops of ladies.
8. Learning, that cobweb of the brain.
9. A little weeping would ease my heart;
But in their briny bed
My tears must stop, for every drop
Hinders needle and thread.
10. A fool speaks all his mind, but a wise man reserves something for
hereafter.
11. Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much; Wisdom is humble
that he knows no more.
12. Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast.
13. And see, he cried, the welcome,
Fair guests, that waits you here.
14. The fleet, shattered and disabled, returned to Spain.
15. One To-day is worth two To-morrows.
16. Vessels carrying coal are constantly moving.
17. Some mute inglorious Milton here may rest,
Some Cromwell guiltless of his country's blood.
18. And oft we trod a waste of pearly sands.
19. A man he seems of cheerful yesterdays
And confident to-morrows.
20. The hours glide by; the silver moon is gone.
21. Her robes of silk and velvet came from over the sea.
22. My soldier cousin was once only a drummer boy.
23. But pleasures are like poppies spread,
You seize the flower, its bloom is shed.
24. All that thou canst call thine own Lies in thy To-day.
INFLECTIONS OF NOUNS.
GENDER.
[Sidenote: _What gender means in English. It is founded on sex._]
21. In Latin, Greek, German, and many other languages, some general
rules are given that names of male beings are usually masculine, and
names of females are usually feminine. There are exceptions even to
this general statement, but not so in English. Male beings are, in
English grammar, always masculine; female, always feminine.
When, however, _inanimate_ things are spoken of, these languages are
totally unlike our own in determining the gender of words. For
instance: in Latin, _hortus_ (garden) is masculine, _mensa_ (table) is
feminine, _corpus_ (body) is neuter; in German, _das Messer_ (knife)
is neuter, _der Tisch_ (table) is masculine, _die Gabel_ (fork) is
feminine.
The great difference is, that in English the gender follows the
_meaning_ of the word, in other languages gender follows the _form_;
that is, in English, gender depends on _sex_: if a thing spoken of is
of the male sex, the _name_ of it is masculine; if of the female sex,
the _name_ of it is feminine. Hence:
[Sidenote: _Definition._]
22. Gender is the mode of distinguishing sex by words, or
additions to words.
23. It is evident from this that English can have but two
genders,--masculine and feminine.
[Sidenote: _Gender nouns. Neuter nouns._]
All nouns, then, must be divided into two principal classes,--gender
nouns, those distinguishing the sex of the object; and neuter
nouns, those which do not distinguish sex, or names of things without
life, and consequently without sex.
Gender nouns include names of persons and some names of animals;
neuter nouns include some animals and all inanimate objects.
[Sidenote: _Some words either gender or neuter nouns, according to
use._]
24. Some words may be either gender nouns or neuter nouns, according
to their use. Thus, the word _child_ is neuter in the sentence, "A
little _child_ shall lead them," but is masculine in the sentence
from Wordsworth,--
I have seen
A curious _child_ ... applying to _his_ ear
The convolutions of a smooth-lipped shell.
Of animals, those with which man comes in contact often, or which
arouse his interest most, are named by gender nouns, as in these
sentences:--
Before the barn door strutted the gallant _cock_, that pattern of
a husband, ... clapping _his_ burnished wings.--IRVING.
_Gunpowder_ ... came to a stand just by the bridge, with a
suddenness that had nearly sent _his_ rider sprawling over _his_
head--_id._
Other animals are not distinguished as to sex, but are spoken of as
neuter, the sex being of no consequence.
Not a _turkey_ but he [Ichabod] beheld daintily trussed up, with
_its_ gizzard under _its_ wing.--IRVING.
He next stooped down to feel the _pig_, if there were any signs
of life in _it_.--LAMB.
[Sidenote: _No "common gender._"]
25. According to the definition, there can be no such thing as
"common gender:" words either distinguish sex (or the sex is
distinguished by the context) or else they do not distinguish sex.
If such words as _parent_, _servant_, _teacher_, _ruler_, _relative_,
_cousin_, _domestic_, etc., do not show the sex to which the persons
belong, they are neuter words.
26. Put in convenient form, the division of words according to sex,
or the lack of it, is,--
(MASCULINE: Male beings.
Gender nouns {
(FEMININE: Female beings.
Neuter nouns: Names of inanimate things, or of living beings whose
sex cannot be determined.
27. The inflections for gender belong, of course, only to masculine
and feminine nouns. _Forms_ would be a more accurate word than
_inflections_, since inflection applies only to the _case_ of nouns.
There are three ways to distinguish the genders:--
(1) By prefixing a gender word to another word.
(2) By adding a suffix, generally to a masculine word.
(3) By using a different word for each gender.
I. Gender shown by Prefixes.
[Sidenote: _Very few of class I._]
28. Usually the gender words _he_ and _she_ are prefixed to neuter
words; as _he-goat_--_she-goat_, _cock sparrow_--_hen sparrow_,
_he-bear_--_she-bear_.
One feminine, _woman_, puts a prefix before the masculine _man_.
_Woman_ is a short way of writing _wifeman_.
II. Gender shown by Suffixes.
29. By far the largest number of gender words are those marked by
suffixes. In this particular the native endings have been largely
supplanted by foreign suffixes.
[Sidenote: _Native suffixes._]
The native suffixes to indicate the feminine were _-en_ and _-ster_.
These remain in _vixen_ and _spinster_, though both words have lost
their original meanings.
The word _vixen_ was once used as the feminine of _fox_ by the
Southern-English. For _fox_ they said _vox_; for _from_ they said
_vram_; and for the older word _fat_ they said _vat_, as in _wine
vat_. Hence _vixen_ is for _fyxen_, from the masculine _fox_.
_Spinster_ is a relic of a large class of words that existed in Old
and Middle English,[1] but have now lost their original force as
feminines. The old masculine answering to _spinster_ was _spinner_;
but _spinster_ has now no connection with it.
The foreign suffixes are of two kinds:--
[Sidenote: _Foreign suffixes. Unaltered and little used._]
(1) Those belonging to borrowed words, as _czarina_, _señorita_,
_executrix_, _donna_. These are attached to foreign words, and are
never used for words recognized as English.
[Sidenote: _Slightly changed and widely used._]
(2) That regarded as the standard or regular termination of the
feminine, _-ess_ (French _esse_, Low Latin _issa_), the one most used.
The corresponding masculine may have the ending _-er_ (_-or_), but in
most cases it has not. Whenever we adopt a new masculine word, the
feminine is formed by adding this termination _-ess_.
Sometimes the _-ess_ has been added to a word already feminine by the
ending _-ster_; as _seam-str-ess_, _song-str-ess_. The ending _-ster_
had then lost its force as a feminine suffix; it has none now in the
words _huckster_, _gamester_, _trickster_, _punster_.
[Sidenote: _Ending of masculine not changed._]
30. The ending _-ess_ is added to many words without changing the
ending of the masculine; as,--
baron--baroness
count--countess
lion--lioness
Jew--Jewess
heir--heiress
host--hostess
priest--priestess
giant--giantess
[Sidenote: _Masculine ending dropped._]
The masculine ending may be dropped before the feminine _-ess_ is
added; as,--
abbot--abbess
negro--negress
murderer--murderess
sorcerer--sorceress
[Sidenote: _Vowel dropped before adding_ -ess.]
The feminine may discard a vowel which appears in the masculine; as
in--
actor--actress
master--mistress
benefactor--benefactress
emperor--empress
tiger--tigress
enchanter--enchantress
_Empress_ has been cut down from _emperice_ (twelfth century) and
_emperesse_ (thirteenth century), from Latin _imperatricem_.
_Master_ and _mistress_ were in Middle English
_maister_--_maistresse_, from the Old French _maistre_--_maistresse_.
31. When the older _-en_ and _-ster_ went out of use as the
distinctive mark of the feminine, the ending _-ess_, from the French
_-esse_, sprang into a popularity much greater than at present.
[Sidenote: _Ending_ -ess _less used now than formerly._]
Instead of saying _doctress_, _fosteress_, _wagoness_, as was said in
the sixteenth century, or _servauntesse_, _teacheresse_,
_neighboresse_, _frendesse_, as in the fourteenth century, we have
dispensed with the ending in many cases, and either use a prefix word
or leave the masculine to do work for the feminine also.
Thus, we say _doctor_ (masculine and feminine) or _woman doctor_,
_teacher_ or _lady teacher_, _neighbor_ (masculine and feminine), etc.
We frequently use such words as _author_, _editor_, _chairman_, to
represent persons of either sex.
NOTE.--There is perhaps this distinction observed: when we speak of a
female _as an active agent_ merely, we use the masculine termination,
as, "George Eliot is the _author_ of 'Adam Bede;'" but when we speak
purposely _to denote a distinction from a male_, we use the feminine,
as, "George Eliot is an eminent _authoress_."
III. Gender shown by Different Words.
32. In some of these pairs, the feminine and the masculine are
entirely different words; others have in their origin the same root.
Some of them have an interesting history, and will be noted below:--
bachelor--maid
boy--girl
brother--sister
drake--duck
earl--countess
father--mother
gander--goose
hart--roe
horse--mare
husband--wife
king--queen
lord--lady
wizard--witch
nephew--niece
ram--ewe
sir--madam
son--daughter
uncle--aunt
bull--cow
boar--sow
Girl originally meant a child of either sex, and was used for male
or female until about the fifteenth century.
Drake is peculiar in that it is formed from a corresponding feminine
which is no longer used. It is not connected historically with our
word _duck_, but is derived from _ened_ (duck) and an obsolete suffix
_rake_ (king). Three letters of _ened_ have fallen away, leaving our
word _drake_.
Gander and goose were originally from the same root word. _Goose_
has various cognate forms in the languages akin to English (German
_Gans_, Icelandic _gás_, Danish _gaas_, etc.). The masculine was
formed by adding _-a_, the old sign of the masculine. This _gansa_ was
modified into _gan-ra_, _gand-ra_, finally _gander_; the _d_ being
inserted to make pronunciation easy, as in many other words.
Mare, in Old English _mere_, had the masculine _mearh_ (horse), but
this has long been obsolete.
Husband and wife are not connected in origin. _Husband_ is a
Scandinavian word (Anglo-Saxon _hūsbonda_ from Icelandic _hús-bóndi_,
probably meaning house dweller); _wife_ was used in Old and Middle
English to mean woman in general.
King and queen are said by some (Skeat, among others) to be from
the same root word, but the German etymologist Kluge says they are
not.
Lord is said to be a worn-down form of the Old English _hlāf-weard_
(loaf keeper), written _loverd_, _lhauerd_, or _lauerd_ in Middle
English. Lady is from _hlœ̄̄fdige_ (_hlœ̄̄f_ meaning loaf, and
_dige_ being of uncertain origin and meaning).
Witch is the Old English _wicce_, but wizard is from the Old
French _guiscart_ (prudent), not immediately connected with _witch_,
though both are ultimately from the same root.
Sir is worn down from the Old French _sire_ (Latin _senior_).
Madam is the French _ma dame_, from Latin _mea domina_.
[Sidenote: _Two masculines from feminines._]
33. Besides _gander_ and _drake_, there are two other masculine
words that were formed from the feminine:--
Bridegroom, from Old English _brȳd-guma_ (bride's man). The _r_ in
_groom_ has crept in from confusion with the word _groom_.
Widower, from the weakening of the ending _-a_ in Old English to
_-e_ in Middle English. The older forms, _widuwa_--_widuwe_, became
identical, and a new masculine ending was therefore added to
distinguish the masculine from the feminine (compare Middle English
_widuer_--_widewe_).
Personification.
34. Just as abstract ideas are personified (Sec. 16), material
objects may be spoken of like gender nouns; for example,--
"Now, where the swift _Rhone_ cleaves _his_ way."--BYRON.
The _Sun_ now rose upon the right:
Out of the sea came _he_.
--COLERIDGE.
And haply the _Queen Moon_ is on _her_ throne,
Clustered around by all her starry Fays.
--KEATS,
_Britannia_ needs no bulwarks,
No towers along the steep;
_Her_ march is o'er the mountain waves,
_Her_ home is on the deep.
--CAMPBELL
This is not exclusively a poetic use. In ordinary speech
personification is very frequent: the pilot speaks of his boat as
feminine; the engineer speaks so of his engine; etc.
[Sidenote: _Effect of personification._]
In such cases the gender is marked by the pronoun, and not by the form
of the noun. But the fact that in English the distinction of gender is
confined to difference of sex makes these departures more effective.
NUMBER.
[Sidenote: _Definition._]
35. In nouns, number means the mode of indicating whether we are
speaking of one thing or of more than one.
36. Our language has two numbers,--_singular_ and _plural_. The
singular number denotes that one thing is spoken of; the plural, more
than one.
37. There are three ways of changing the singular form to the
plural:--
(1) By adding _-en_.
(2) By changing the root vowel.
(3) By adding _-s_ (or _-es_).
The first two methods prevailed, together with the third, in Old
English, but in modern English _-s_ or _-es_ has come to be the
"standard" ending; that is, whenever we adopt a new word, we make its
plural by adding _-s_ or _-es._
I. Plurals formed by the Suffix _-en_.
[Sidenote: _The_ -en _inflection._]
38. This inflection remains only in the word oxen, though it was
quite common in Old and Middle English; for instance, _eyen_ (eyes),
_treen_ (trees), _shoon_ (shoes), which last is still used in Lowland
Scotch. _Hosen_ is found in the King James version of the Bible, and
_housen_ is still common in the provincial speech in England.
39. But other words were inflected afterwards, in imitation of the
old words in _-en_ by making a double plural.
[Sidenote: -En _inflection imitated by other words._]
Brethren has passed through three stages. The old plural was
_brothru_, then _brothre_ or _brethre_, finally _brethren_. The
weakening of inflections led to this addition.
Children has passed through the same history, though the
intermediate form _childer_ lasted till the seventeenth century in
literary English, and is still found in dialects; as,--
"God bless me! so then, after all, you'll have a chance to see
your _childer_ get up like, and get settled."--QUOTED BY DE
QUINCEY.
Kine is another double plural, but has now no singular.
In spite of wandering _kine_ and other adverse
circumstance.--THOREAU.
II. Plurals formed by Vowel Change.
40. Examples of this inflection are,--
man--men
foot--feet
goose--geese
louse--lice
mouse--mice
tooth--teeth
Some other words--as _book_, _turf_, _wight_, _borough_--formerly had
the same inflection, but they now add the ending _-s_.
41. Akin to this class are some words, originally neuter, that have
the singular and plural alike; such as _deer_, _sheep_, _swine_, etc.
Other words following the same usage are, _pair_, _brace_, _dozen_,
after numerals (if not after numerals, or if preceded by the
prepositions _in_, _by_, etc, they add _-s_): also _trout_, _salmon_;
_head_, _sail_; _cannon_; _heathen_, _folk_, _people_.
The words _horse_ and _foot_, when they mean soldiery, retain the
same form for plural meaning; as,--
The _foot_ are fourscore thousand,
The _horse_ are thousands ten.
--MACAULAY.
Lee marched over the mountain wall,--
Over the mountains winding down,
_Horse_ and _foot_, into Frederick town.
--WHITTIER.
III. Plurals formed by Adding -s or -es.
42. Instead of _-s,_ the ending _-es_ is added--
(1) If a word ends in a letter which cannot add _-s_ and be
pronounced. Such are _box, cross, ditch, glass, lens, quartz_, etc.
[Sidenote: _-Es added in certain cases_.]
If the word ends in a _sound_ which cannot add _-s_, a new syllable is
made; as, _niche--niches, race--races, house--houses, prize--prizes,
chaise--chaises_, etc.
_-Es_ is also added to a few words ending in -o, though this sound
combines readily with _-s_, and does not make an extra syllable:
_cargo--cargoes, negro--negroes, hero--heroes, volcano--volcanoes_,
etc.
Usage differs somewhat in other words of this class, some adding _-s_,
and some _-es_.
(2) If a word ends in _-y_ preceded by a consonant (the _y_ being then
changed to _i_); e.g., _fancies, allies, daisies, fairies_.
[Sidenote: _Words in -ies._]
Formerly, however, these words ended in _-ie_, and the real ending is
therefore _-s_. Notice these from Chaucer (fourteenth century):--
[Sidenote: _Their old form._]
The _lilie_ on hir stalke grene.
Of _maladie_ the which he hadde endured.
And these from Spenser (sixteenth century):--
Be well aware, quoth then that _ladie_ milde.
At last fair Hesperus in highest _skie_
Had spent his lampe.
(3) In the case of some words ending in -_f_ or -_fe_, which have
the plural in _-ves_: _calf_--_calves_, _half_--_halves_,
_knife_--_knives_, _shelf_--_shelves_, etc.
Special Lists.
43. Material nouns and abstract nouns are always singular. When
such words take a plural ending, they lose their identity, and go over
to other classes (Secs. 15 and 17).
44. Proper nouns are regularly singular, but may be made plural
when we wish to speak of several persons or things bearing the same
name; e.g., _the Washingtons_, _the Americas_.
45. Some words are usually singular, though they are plural in
form. Examples of these are, _optics_, _economics_, _physics_,
_mathematics_, _politics_, and many branches of learning; also _news_,
_pains_ (care), _molasses_, _summons_, _means_: as,--
_Politics_, in its widest extent, is both the science and the art
of government.--_Century Dictionary_.
So live, that when thy _summons comes_, etc.--BRYANT.
It served simply as _a means_ of sight.--PROF. DANA.
[Sidenote: Means _plural_.]
Two words, means and politics, _may be plural_ in their
construction with verbs and adjectives:--
Words, by strongly conveying the passions, by _those means_ which
we have already mentioned, fully compensate for their weakness in
other respects.--BURKE.
With great dexterity _these means_ were now applied.--MOTLEY.
By _these means_, I say, riches will accumulate.--GOLDSMITH.
[Sidenote: Politics _plural_.]
Cultivating a feeling that _politics_ are tiresome.--G.W. CURTIS.
The _politics_ in which he took the keenest interest _were
politics_ scarcely deserving of the name.--MACAULAY.
Now I read all the _politics_ that _come_ out.--GOLDSMITH.
46. Some words have no corresponding singular.
aborigines
amends
annals
assets
antipodes
scissors
thanks
spectacles
vespers
victuals
matins
nuptials
oats
obsequies
premises
bellows
billiards
dregs
gallows
tongs
[Sidenote: _Occasionally singular words_.]
Sometimes, however, a few of these words have the construction of
singular nouns. Notice the following:--
They cannot get on without each other any more than one blade of
_a scissors_ can cut without the other.--J.L. LAUGHLIN.
A relic which, if I recollect right, he pronounced to have been
_a tongs_.--IRVING.
Besides this, it is furnished with _a forceps_.--GOLDSMITH.
The air,--was it subdued when...the wind was trained only to turn
a windmill, carry off chaff, or work in _a bellows_?--PROF. DANA.
In Early Modern English _thank_ is found.
What _thank_ have ye?--_Bible_
47. Three words were _originally singular_, the present ending _-s_
not being really a plural inflection, but they are regularly construed
as plural: _alms, eaves, riches_.
[Sidenote: _two plurals_.]
48. A few nouns have two plurals differing in meaning.
brother--brothers (by blood), brethren (of a society or church).
cloth--cloths (kinds of cloth), clothes (garments).
die--dies (stamps for coins, etc.), dice (for gaming).
fish--fish (collectively), fishes (individuals or kinds).
genius--geniuses (men of genius), genii (spirits).
index--indexes (to books), indices (signs in algebra).
pea--peas (separately), pease (collectively).
penny--pennies (separately), pence (collectively).
shot--shot (collective balls), shots (number of times fired).
In speaking of coins, _twopence_, _sixpence_, etc., may add _-s_,
making a double plural, as two _sixpences_.
[Sidenote: _One plural, two meanings._]
49. Other words have one plural form with two meanings,--one
corresponding to the singular, the other unlike it.
custom--customs: (1) habits, ways; (2) revenue duties.
letter--letters: (1) the alphabet, or epistles; (2) literature.
number--numbers: (1) figures; (2) poetry, as in the lines,--
I lisped in _numbers_, for the numbers came.--POPE.
Tell me not, in mournful _numbers_.--LONGFELLOW.
_Numbers_ also means issues, or copies, of a periodical.
pain--pains: (1) suffering; (2) care, trouble,
part--parts: (1) divisions; (2) abilities, faculties.
[Sidenote: _Two classes of compound words._]
50. Compound words may be divided into two classes:--
(1) _Those whose parts are so closely joined as to constitute one
word._ These make the last part plural.
courtyard
dormouse
Englishman
fellow-servant
fisherman
Frenchman
forget-me-not
goosequill
handful
mouthful
cupful
maidservant
pianoforte
stepson
spoonful
titmouse
(2) _Those groups in which the first part is the principal one,
followed by a word or phrase making a modifier._ The chief member adds
_-s_ in the plural.
aid-de-camp
attorney at law
billet-doux
commander in chief
court-martial
cousin-german
father-in-law
knight-errant
hanger-on
NOTE.--Some words ending in _-man_ are not compounds of the English
word _man_, but add _-s_; such as _talisman_, _firman_, _Brahman_,
_German_, _Norman_, _Mussulman_, _Ottoman_.
51. Some groups pluralize both parts of the group; as _man singer_,
_manservant_, _woman servant_, _woman singer_.
[Sidenote: _Two methods in use for names with titles._]
52. As to plurals of names with titles, there is some disagreement
among English writers. The title may be plural, as _the Messrs.
Allen_, _the Drs. Brown_, _the Misses Rich_; or the name may be
pluralized.
The former is perhaps more common in present-day use, though the
latter is often found; for example,--
Then came Mr. and Mrs. Briggs, and then _the three Miss
Spinneys_, then Silas Peckham.--DR. HOLMES.
Our immortal Fielding was of the younger branch of the _Earls of
Denbigh_, who drew their origin from the _Counts of
Hapsburgh_.--GIBBON.
The _Miss Flamboroughs_ were reckoned the best dancers in the
parish.--GOLDSMITH.
The _Misses Nettengall's_ young ladies come to the Cathedral
too.--DICKENS.
The _Messrs. Harper_ have done the more than generous thing by
Mr. Du Maurier.--_The Critic_.
53. A number of foreign words have been adopted into English
without change of form. These are said to be _domesticated_, and
retain their foreign plurals.
Others have been adopted, and by long use have altered their power so
as to conform to English words. They are then said to be
_naturalized_, or _Anglicized_, or _Englished_.
[Sidenote: _Domesticated words._]
The domesticated words may retain the original plural. Some of them
have a secondary English plural in _-s_ or _-es_.
Exercise.
Find in the dictionary the plurals of these words:--
I. FROM THE LATIN.
apparatus
appendix
axis
datum
erratum
focus
formula
genus
larva
medium
memorandum
nebula
radius
series
species
stratum
terminus
vertex
II. FROM THE GREEK.
analysis
antithesis
automaton
basis
crisis
ellipsis
hypothesis
parenthesis
phenomenon
thesis
[Sidenote: _Anglicized words._]
When the foreign words are fully naturalized, they form their plurals
in the regular way; as,--
bandits
cherubs
dogmas
encomiums
enigmas
focuses
formulas
geniuses
herbariums
indexes
seraphs
apexes
[Sidenote: _Usage varies in plurals of letters, figures, etc._]
54. Letters, figures, etc., form their plurals by adding _-s_ or
_'s_. Words quoted merely as words, without reference to their
meaning, also add _-s_ or _'s_; as, "His _9's_ (or _9s_) look like
_7's_ (or _7s_)," "Avoid using too many _and's_ (or _ands_)," "Change
the _+'s_ (or _+s_) to _-'s_ (or _-s_)."
CASE.
[Sidenote: _Definition._]
55. Case is an inflection or use of a noun (or pronoun) to show its
relation to other words in the sentence.
In the sentence, "He sleeps in a felon's cell," the word _felon's_
modifies _cell_, and expresses a relation akin to possession; _cell_
has another relation, helping to express the idea of place with the
word _in_.
56. In the general wearing-away of inflections, the number of case
forms has been greatly reduced.
[Sidenote: _Only two_ case forms.]
There are now only two case forms of English nouns,--one for the
_nominative_ and _objective_, one for the _possessive_: consequently
the matter of inflection is a very easy thing to handle in learning
about cases.
[Sidenote: _Reasons for speaking of_ three cases _of nouns_.]
But there are reasons why grammars treat of _three_ cases of nouns
when there are only two forms:--
(1) Because the relations of all words, whether inflected or not, must
be understood for purposes of analysis.
(2) Because pronouns still have three case forms as well as three case
relations.
57. Nouns, then, may be said to have three cases,--the
nominative, the objective, and the possessive.
I. Uses of the Nominative.
58. The nominative case is used as follows:--
(1) _As the subject of a verb_: "_Water_ seeks its level."
(2) _As a predicate noun_, completing a verb, and referring to or
explaining the subject: "A bent twig makes a crooked _tree_."
(3) _In apposition_ with some other nominative word, adding to the
meaning of that word: "The reaper _Death_ with his sickle keen."
(4) _In direct address_: "_Lord Angus_, thou hast lied!"
(5) _With a participle in an absolute or independent phrase_ (there is
some discussion whether this is a true nominative): "The _work_ done,
they returned to their homes."
(6) _With an infinitive in exclamations_: "_David_ to die!"
Exercise.
Pick out the nouns in the nominative case, and tell which use of the
nominative each one has.
1. Moderate lamentation is the right of the dead; excessive grief, the
enemy of the living.
2. Excuses are clothes which, when asked unawares,
Good Breeding to naked Necessity spares.
3. Human experience is the great test of truth.
4. Cheerfulness and content are great beautifiers.
5. Three properties belong to wisdom,--nature, learning, and
experience; three things characterize man,--person, fate, and merit.
6. But of all plagues, good Heaven, thy wrath can send,
Save, save, oh save me from the candid friend!
7. Conscience, her first law broken, wounded lies.
8. They charged, sword in hand and visor down.
9. O sleep! O gentle sleep!
Nature's soft nurse, how have I frighted thee?
II. Uses of the Objective.
59. The objective case is used as follows:--
(1) _As the direct object of a verb_, naming the person or thing
directly receiving the action of the verb: "Woodman, spare that
_tree_!"
(2) _As the indirect object of a verb_, naming the person or thing
indirectly affected by the action of the verb: "Give the _devil_ his
due."
(3) _Adverbially_, defining the action of a verb by denoting _time_,
_measure_, _distance_, etc. (in the older stages of the language, this
took the regular accusative inflection): "Full _fathom_ five thy
father lies;" "Cowards die many _times_ before their deaths."
(4) _As the second object_, completing the verb, and thus becoming
part of the predicate in acting upon an object: "Time makes the worst
enemies _friends_;" "Thou makest the storm a _calm_." In these
sentences the real predicates are _makes friends_, taking the object
_enemies_, and being equivalent to one verb, _reconciles_; and _makest
a calm_, taking the object _storm_, and meaning calmest. This is also
called the _predicate objective_ or the _factitive object_.
(5) _As the object of a preposition_, the word toward which the
preposition points, and which it joins to another word: "He must have
a long spoon that would eat with the _devil_."
The preposition sometimes takes the _possessive_ case of a noun, as
will be seen in Sec. 68.
(6) _In apposition with another objective_: "The opinions of this
junto were completely controlled by Nicholas Vedder, a _patriarch_ of
the village, and _landlord_ of the inn."
Exercise.
Point out the nouns in the objective case in these sentences, and tell
which use each has:--
1. Tender men sometimes have strong wills.
2. Necessity is the certain connection between cause and effect.
3. Set a high price on your leisure moments; they are sands of
precious gold.
4. But the flood came howling one day.
5. I found the urchin Cupid sleeping.
6. Five times every year he was to be exposed in the pillory.
7. The noblest mind the best contentment has.
8. Multitudes came every summer to visit that famous natural
curiosity, the Great Stone Face.
9. And whirling plate, and forfeits paid,
His winter task a pastime made.
10. He broke the ice on the streamlet's brink,
And gave the leper to eat and drink.
III. Uses of the Possessive.
60. The possessive case always modifies another word, expressed or
understood. There are three forms of possessive showing how a word is
related in sense to the modified word:--
(1) _Appositional possessive_, as in these expressions,--
The blind old man of _Scio's_ rocky isle.--BYRON.
Beside a pumice isle in _Baiæ's_ bay.--SHELLEY.
In these sentences the phrases are equivalent to _of the rocky isle
[of] Scio_, and _in the bay [of] Baiæ_, the possessive being really
equivalent here to an appositional objective. It is a poetic
expression, the equivalent phrase being used in prose.
(2) _Objective possessive_, as shown in the sentences,--
Ann Turner had taught her the secret before this last good lady
had been hanged for _Sir Thomas Overbury's_ murder.--HAWTHORNE.
He passes to-day in building an air castle for to-morrow, or in
writing _yesterday's_ elegy.--THACKERAY
In these the possessives are equivalent to an objective after a verbal
expression: as, _for murdering Sir Thomas Overbury_; _an elegy to
commemorate yesterday_. For this reason the use of the possessive here
is called objective.
(3) _Subjective possessive_, the most common of all; as,--
The unwearied sun, from day to day,
Does his Creator's power display.
--ADDISON.
If this were expanded into _the power which his Creator possesses_,
the word _Creator_ would be the subject of the verb: hence it is
called a subjective possessive.
61. This last-named possessive expresses a variety of relations.
_Possession_ in some sense is the most common. The kind of relation
may usually be found by expanding the possessive into an equivalent
phrase: for example, "_Winter's_ rude tempests are gathering now"
(i.e., tempests that winter is likely to have); "His beard was of
_several days'_ growth" (i.e., growth which several days had
developed); "The _forest's_ leaping panther shall yield his spotted
hide" (i.e., the panther which the forest hides); "Whoso sheddeth
_man's_ blood" (blood that man possesses).
[Sidenote: _How the possessive is formed._]
62. As said before (Sec. 56), there are only two case forms. One is
the simple form of a word, expressing the relations of nominative and
objective; the other is formed by adding _'s_ to the simple form,
making the possessive singular. To form the possessive plural, only
the apostrophe is added if the plural nominative ends in _-s_; the
_'s_ is added if the plural nominative does not end in _-s_.
Case Inflection.
[Sidenote: _Declension or inflection of nouns._]
63. The full declension of nouns is as follows:--
SINGULAR. PLURAL.
1. _Nom. and Obj._ lady ladies
_Poss._ lady's ladies'
2. _Nom. and Obj._ child children
_Poss._ child's children's
[Sidenote: _A suggestion._]
NOTE.--The difficulty that some students have in writing the
possessive plural would be lessened if they would remember there are
two steps to be taken:--
(1) Form the nominative plural according to Secs 39-53
(2) Follow the rule given in Sec. 62.
Special Remarks on the Possessive Case.
[Sidenote: _Origin of the possessive with its apostrophe._]
64. In Old English a large number of words had in the genitive case
singular the ending _-es_; in Middle English still more words took
this ending: for example, in Chaucer, "From every _schires_ ende,"
"Full worthi was he in his _lordes_ werre [war]," "at his _beddes_
syde," "_mannes_ herte [heart]," etc.
[Sidenote: _A false theory._]
By the end of the seventeenth century the present way of indicating
the possessive had become general. The use of the apostrophe, however,
was not then regarded as standing for the omitted vowel of the
genitive (as _lord's_ for _lordes_): by a false theory the ending was
thought to be a contraction of _his_, as schoolboys sometimes write,
"George Jones _his_ book."
[Sidenote: _Use of the apostrophe._]
Though this opinion was untrue, the apostrophe has proved a great
convenience, since otherwise words with a plural in _-s_ would have
three forms alike. To the eye all the forms are now distinct, but to
the ear all may be alike, and the connection must tell us what form is
intended.
The use of the apostrophe in the plural also began in the seventeenth
century, from thinking that _s_ was not a possessive sign, and from a
desire to have distinct forms.
[Sidenote: _Sometimes_ s _is left out in the possessive singular._]
65. Occasionally the _s_ is dropped in the possessive singular if
the word ends in a hissing sound and another hissing sound follows,
but the apostrophe remains to mark the possessive; as, _for goodness'
sake, Cervantes' satirical work_.
In other cases the _s_ is seldom omitted. Notice these three examples
from Thackeray's writings: "Harry ran upstairs to his _mistress's_
apartment;" "A postscript is added, as by the _countess's_ command;"
"I saw what the _governess's_ views were of the matter."
[Sidenote: _Possessive with compound expressions._]
66. In compound expressions, containing words in apposition, a word
with a phrase, etc., the possessive sign is usually last, though
instances are found with both appositional words marked.
Compare the following examples of literary usage:--
Do not the Miss Prys, my neighbors, know the amount of my income,
the items of my _son's_, _Captain Scrapegrace's_, tailor's
bill--THACKERAY.
The world's pomp and power sits there on this hand: on that,
stands up for God's truth one man, the _poor miner Hans Luther's_
son.--CARLYLE.
They invited me in the _emperor their master's_ name.--SWIFT.
I had naturally possessed myself of _Richardson the painter's_
thick octavo volumes of notes on the "Paradise Lost."--DE
QUINCEY.
They will go to Sunday schools to teach classes of little
children the age of Methuselah or the dimensions of _Og the king
of Bashan's_ bedstead.--HOLMES.
More common still is the practice of turning the possessive into an
equivalent phrase; as, _in the name of the emperor their master_,
instead of _the emperor their master's name_.
[Sidenote: _Possessive and no noun limited._]
67. The possessive is sometimes used without belonging to any noun
in the sentence; some such word as _house_, _store_, _church_,
_dwelling_, etc., being understood with it: for example,--
Here at the _fruiterer's_ the Madonna has a tabernacle of fresh
laurel leaves.--RUSKIN.
It is very common for people to say that they are disappointed in
the first sight of _St. Peter's_.--LOWELL.
I remember him in his cradle at _St. James's_.--THACKERAY.
Kate saw that; and she walked off from the _don's_.--DE QUINCEY.
[Sidenote: _The double possessive._]
68. A peculiar form, a double possessive, has grown up and become a
fixed idiom in modern English.
In most cases, a possessive relation was expressed in Old English by
the inflection _-es_, corresponding to _'s_. The same relation was
expressed in French by a phrase corresponding to _of_ and its object.
Both of these are now used side by side; sometimes they are used
together, as one modifier, making a double possessive. For this there
are several reasons:--
[Sidenote: _Its advantages: Euphony_.]
(1) When a word is modified by _a_, _the_, _this_, _that_, _every_,
_no_, _any_, _each_, etc., and at the same time by a possessive noun,
it is distasteful to place the possessive before the modified noun,
and it would also alter the meaning: we place it after the modified
noun with _of_.
[Sidenote: _Emphasis._]
(2) It is more emphatic than the simple possessive, especially when
used with _this_ or _that_, for it brings out the modified word in
strong relief.
[Sidenote: _Clearness._]
(3) It prevents ambiguity. For example, in such a sentence as, "This
introduction _of Atterbury's_ has all these advantages" (Dr. Blair),
the statement clearly means only one thing,--the introduction which
Atterbury made. If, however, we use the phrase _of Atterbury_, the
sentence _might_ be understood as just explained, or it might mean
this act of introducing Atterbury. (See also Sec. 87.)
The following are some instances of double possessives:--
This Hall _of Tinville's_ is dark, ill-lighted except where she
stands.--CARLYLE.
Those lectures _of Lowell's_ had a great influence with me, and
I used to like whatever they bade me like.--HOWELLS
Niebuhr remarks that no pointed sentences _of Cæsar's_ can have
come down to us.--FROUDE.
Besides these famous books _of Scott's and Johnson's_, there is a
copious "Life" by Thomas Sheridan.--THACKERAY
Always afterwards on occasions of ceremony, he wore that quaint
old French sword _of the Commodore's_.--E.E. HALE.
Exercises.
(_a_) Pick out the possessive nouns, and tell whether each is
appositional, objective, or subjective.
(_b_) Rewrite the sentence, turning the possessives into equivalent
phrases.
1. I don't choose a hornet's nest about my ears.
2. Shall Rome stand under one man's awe?
3. I must not see thee Osman's bride.
4. At lovers' perjuries,
They say, Jove laughs.
5. The world has all its eyes on Cato's son.
6. My quarrel and the English queen's are one.
7. Now the bright morning star, day's harbinger,
Comes dancing from the East.
8. A man's nature runs either to herbs or weeds; therefore, let him
seasonably water the one, and destroy the other.
9. 'Tis all men's office to speak patience
To those that wring under the load of sorrow.
10. A jest's prosperity lies in the ear
Of him that hears it, never in the tongue
Of him that makes it.
11. No more the juice of Egypt's grape shall moist his lip.
12. There Shakespeare's self, with every garland crowned,
Flew to those fairy climes his fancy sheen.
13. What supports me? dost thou ask?
The conscience, Friend, to have lost them [his eyes] overplied
In liberty's defence.
14. Or where Campania's plain forsaken lies,
A weary waste expanding to the skies.
15. Nature herself, it seemed, would raise
A minster to her Maker's praise!
HOW TO PARSE NOUNS.
69. Parsing a word is putting together all the facts about its
form and its relations to other words in the sentence.
In parsing, some idioms--the double possessive, for example--do not
come under regular grammatical rules, and are to be spoken of merely
as idioms.
70. Hence, in parsing a noun, we state,--
(1) The class to which it belongs,--common, proper, etc.
(2) Whether a neuter or a gender noun; if the latter, which gender.
(3) Whether singular or plural number.
(4) Its office in the sentence, determining its case.
[Sidenote: _The correct method._]
71. In parsing any word, the following method should always be
followed: tell the facts about what the word _does_, then make the
grammatical statements as to its class, inflections, and relations.
MODEL FOR PARSING.
"What is bolder than a miller's neckcloth, which takes a thief by the
throat every morning?"
_Miller's_ is a name applied to every individual of its class, hence
it is a common noun; it is the name of a male being, hence it is a
gender noun, masculine; it denotes only one person, therefore
singular number; it expresses possession or ownership, and limits
_neckcloth_, therefore possessive case.
_Neckcloth_, like _miller's_, is a common class noun; it has no sex,
therefore neuter; names one thing, therefore singular number; subject
of the verb _is_ understood, and therefore nominative case.
_Thief_ is a common class noun; the connection shows a male is meant,
therefore masculine gender; singular number; object of the verb
_takes_, hence objective case.
_Throat_ is neuter, of the same class and number as the word
_neckcloth_; it is the object of the preposition _by_, hence it is
objective case.
NOTE.--The preposition sometimes takes the possessive case (see Sec.
68).
_Morning_ is like _throat_ and _neckcloth_ as to class, gender, and
number; as to case, it expresses time, has no governing word, but is
the adverbial objective.
Exercise.
Follow the model above in parsing all the nouns in the following
sentences:--
1. To raise a monument to departed worth is to perpetuate virtue.
2. The greatest pleasure I know is to do a good action by stealth, and
to have it found out by accident.
3. An old cloak makes a new jerkin; a withered serving man, a fresh
tapster.
4. That in the captain's but a choleric word,
Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy.
5. Now, blessings light on him that first invented ... sleep!
6. Necker, financial minister to Louis XVI., and his daughter, Madame
de Staël, were natives of Geneva.
7. He giveth his beloved sleep.
8. Time makes the worst enemies friends.
9. A few miles from this point, where the Rhone enters the lake,
stands the famous Castle of Chillon, connected with the shore by a
drawbridge,--palace, castle, and prison, all in one.
10. Wretches! ye loved her for her wealth,
And hated her for her pride.
11. Mrs. Jarley's back being towards him, the military gentleman shook
his forefinger.
PRONOUNS.
[Sidenote: _The need of pronouns._]
72. When we wish to speak of a name several times in succession, it
is clumsy and tiresome to repeat the noun. For instance, instead of
saying, "_The pupil_ will succeed in _the pupil's_ efforts if _the
pupil_ is ambitious," we improve the sentence by shortening it thus,
"The pupil will succeed in _his_ efforts if _he_ is ambitious."
Again, if we wish to know about the ownership of a house, we evidently
cannot state the owner's name, but by a question we say, "_Whose_
house is that?" thus placing a word instead of the name till we learn
the name.
This is not to be understood as implying that pronouns were _invented_
because nouns were tiresome, since history shows that pronouns are as
old as nouns and verbs. The use of pronouns must have sprung up
naturally, from a necessity for short, definite, and representative
words.
[Sidenote: _Definition._]
A pronoun is a reference word, standing for a name, or for a person
or thing, or for a group of persons or things.
[Sidenote: _Classes of pronouns._]
73. Pronouns may be grouped in five classes:--
(1) Personal pronouns, which distinguish person by their form (Sec.
76).
(2) Interrogative pronouns, which are used to ask questions about
persons or things.
(3) Relative pronouns, which relate or refer to a noun, pronoun, or
other word or expression, and at the same time connect two statements
They are also called conjunctive.
(4) Adjective pronouns, words, primarily adjectives, which are
classed as adjectives when they modify nouns, but as pronouns when
they stand for nouns.
(5) Indefinite pronouns, which cannot be used as adjectives, but
stand for an indefinite number of persons or things.
Numerous examples of all these will be given under the separate
classes hereafter treated.
PERSONAL PRONOUNS.
[Sidenote: _Person in grammar._]
74. Since pronouns stand for persons as well as names, they must
represent the person talking, the person or thing spoken to, and the
person or thing talked about.
This gives rise to a new term, "the distinction of _person_."
[Sidenote: Person _of nouns_.]
75. This distinction was not needed in discussing nouns, as nouns
have the _same form_, whether representing persons and things spoken
to or spoken of. It is evident that a noun could not represent the
person speaking, even if it had a special form.
From analogy to pronouns, which have _forms_ for person, nouns are
sometimes spoken of as first or second person by their _use_; that is,
if they are in apposition with a pronoun of the first or second
person, they are said to have person by agreement.
But usually nouns represent something spoken of.
[Sidenote: _Three persons of pronouns._]
76. Pronouns naturally are of three persons:--
(1) First person, representing the person speaking.
(2) Second person, representing a person or thing spoken to.
(3) Third person, standing for a person or thing spoken of.
FORMS OF PERSONAL PRONOUNS.
77. Personal pronouns are inflected thus:--
FIRST PERSON.
_Singular._
_Nom._ I
_Poss._ mine, my
_Obj._ me
_Plural._
_Nom._ we
_Poss._ our, ours
_Obj._ us
SECOND PERSON.
_Singular._
_Old Form_ _Common Form._
_Nom._ thou you
_Poss._ thine, thy your, yours
_Obj._ thee you
_Plural._
_Nom._ ye you
_Poss._ your, yours your, yours
_Obj._ you you
THIRD PERSON.
_Singular._
_Masc._ _Fem._ _Neut._.
_Nom._ he she it
_Poss._ his her, hers its
_Obj._ him her it
_Plur. of all Three_.
_Nom._ they
_Poss._ their, theirs
_Obj._ them
Remarks on These Forms.
[Sidenote: _First and second persons without gender._]
78. It will be noticed that the pronouns of the first and second
persons have no forms to distinguish gender. The speaker may be either
male or female, or, by personification, neuter; so also with the
person or thing spoken to.
[Sidenote: _Third person_ singular _has gender_.]
But the third person has, in the singular, a separate form for each
gender, and also for the neuter.
[Sidenote: _Old forms_.]
In Old English these three were formed from the same root; namely,
masculine _hē_, feminine _hēo_, neuter _hit_.
The form _hit_ (for _it_) is still heard in vulgar English, and _hoo_
(for _hēo_) in some dialects of England.
The plurals were _hī_, _heora_, _heom_, in Old English; the forms
_they_, _their_, _them_, perhaps being from the English demonstrative,
though influenced by the cognate Norse forms.
[Sidenote: _Second person always plural in ordinary English._]
79. _Thou_, _thee_, etc., are old forms which are now out of use in
ordinary speech. The consequence is, that we have no singular pronoun
of the second person in ordinary speech or prose, but make the plural
_you_ do duty for the singular. We use it with a plural verb always,
even when referring to a single object.
[Sidenote: _Two uses of the old singulars._]
80. There are, however, two modern uses of _thou, thy_, etc.:--
(1) _In elevated style_, especially in poetry; as,--
With _thy_ clear keen joyance
Languor cannot be;
Shadow of annoyance
Never came near _thee_;
_Thou_ lovest; but ne'er knew love's sad satiety.--SHELLEY.
(2) _In addressing the Deity_, as in prayers, etc.; for example,--
Oh, _thou_ Shepherd of Israel, that didst comfort _thy_ people of
old, to _thy_ care we commit the helpless.--BEECHER.
[Sidenote: _The form_ its.]
81. It is worth while to consider the possessive _its_. This is of
comparatively recent growth. The old form was _his_ (from the
nominative _hit_), and this continued in use till the sixteenth
century. The transition from the old _his_ to the modern _its_ is
shown in these sentences:--
1 He anointed the altar and all _his_ vessels.--_Bible_
Here _his_ refers to _altar_, which is a neuter noun. The quotation
represents the usage of the early sixteenth century.
2 It's had _it_ head bit off by _it_ young--SHAKESPEARE
Shakespeare uses _his_, _it_, and sometimes _its_, as possessive of
_it_.
In Milton's poetry (seventeenth century) _its_ occurs only three
times.
3 See heaven _its_ sparkling portals wide display--POPE
[Sidenote: _A relic of the olden time._]
82. We have an interesting relic in such sentences as this from
Thackeray: "One of the ways to know '_em_ is to watch the scared looks
of the ogres' wives and children."
As shown above, the Old English objective was _hem_ (or _heom_), which
was often sounded with the _h_ silent, just as we now say, "I saw
'_im_ yesterday" when the word _him_ is not emphatic. In spoken
English, this form '_em_ has survived side by side with the literary
_them_.
[Sidenote: _Use of the pronouns in personification._]
83. The pronouns _he_ and _she_ are often used in poetry, and
sometimes in ordinary speech, to personify objects (Sec. 34).
CASES OF PERSONAL PRONOUNS.
I The Nominative.
[Sidenote: _Nominative forms._]
84. The nominative forms of personal pronouns have the same uses as
the nominative of nouns (see Sec. 58). The case of most of these
pronouns can be determined more easily than the case of nouns, for,
besides a nominative _use_, they have a nominative form. The words
_I_, _thou_, _he_, _she_, _we_, _ye_, _they_, are very rarely anything
but nominative in literary English, though _ye_ is occasionally used
as objective.
[Sidenote: _Additional nominatives in spoken English._]
85. In spoken English, however, there are some others that are added
to the list of nominatives: they are, _me_, _him_, _her_, _us_,
_them_, when they occur in the _predicate position_. That is, in such
a sentence as, "I am sure it was _him_," the literary language would
require _he_ after _was_; but colloquial English regularly uses as
predicate nominatives the forms _me_, _him_, _her_, _us_, _them_,
though those named in Sec. 84 are always subjects. Yet careful
speakers avoid this, and follow the usage of literary English.
II. The Possessive.
[Sidenote: _Not a separate class._]
86. The forms _my_, _thy_, _his_, _her_, _its_, _our_, _your_,
_their_, are sometimes grouped separately as POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS, but
it is better to speak of them as the possessive case of personal
pronouns, just as we speak of the possessive case of nouns, and not
make more classes.
[Sidenote: Absolute _personal pronouns._]
The forms _mine_, _thine_, _yours_, _hers_, _theirs_, sometimes _his_
and _its_, have a peculiar use, standing apart from the words they
modify instead of immediately before them. From this use they are
called ABSOLUTE PERSONAL PRONOUNS, or, some say, ABSOLUTE POSSESSIVES.
As instances of the use of absolute pronouns, note the following:--
'Twas _mine_, 'tis _his_, and has been slave to thousands.
--SHAKESPEARE.
And since thou own'st that praise, I spare thee _mine_.--COWPER.
My arm better than _theirs_ can ward it off.--LANDOR.
_Thine_ are the city and the people of Granada.--BULWER.
[Sidenote: _Old use of_ mine _and_ thine.]
Formerly _mine_ and _thine_ stood before their nouns, if the nouns
began with a vowel or _h_ silent; thus,--
Shall I not take _mine_ ease in _mine_ inn?--SHAKESPEARE.
Give every man _thine_ ear, but few thy voice.--_Id._
If _thine_ eye offend thee, pluck it out.--_Bible._
My greatest apprehension was for _mine_ eyes.--SWIFT.
This usage is still preserved in poetry.
[Sidenote: _Double and triple possessives._]
87. The forms _hers_, _ours_, _yours_, _theirs_, are really double
possessives, since they add the possessive _s_ to what is already a
regular possessive inflection.
Besides this, we have, as in nouns, a possessive phrase made up of the
preposition _of_ with these double possessives, _hers_, _ours_,
_yours_, _theirs_, and with _mine_, _thine_, _his_, sometimes _its_.
[Sidenote: _Their uses._]
Like the noun possessives, they have several uses:--
(1) _To prevent ambiguity_, as in the following:--
I have often contrasted the habitual qualities of that gloomy
friend _of theirs_ with the astounding spirits of Thackeray and
Dickens.--J.T. FIELDS.
No words _of ours_ can describe the fury of the conflict.--J.F.
COOPER.
(2) _To bring emphasis_, as in these sentences:--
This thing _of yours_ that you call a Pardon of Sins, it is a bit
of rag-paper with ink.--CARLYLE.
This ancient silver bowl _of mine_, it tells of good old times.
--HOLMES.
(3) _To express contempt, anger, or satire_; for example,--
"Do you know the charges that unhappy sister _of mine_ and her
family have put me to already?" says the Master.--THACKERAY.
He [John Knox] had his pipe of Bordeaux too, we find, in that old
Edinburgh house _of his_.--CARLYLE.
"Hold thy peace, Long Allen," said Henry Woodstall, "I tell thee
that tongue _of thine_ is not the shortest limb about
_thee_."--SCOTT.
(4) _To make a noun less limited in application_; thus,--
A favorite liar and servant _of mine_ was a man I once had to
drive a brougham.--THACKERAY.
In New York I read a newspaper criticism one day, commenting upon
a letter _of mine_.--_Id._
What would the last two sentences mean if the word _my_ were written
instead of _of mine_, and preceded the nouns?
[Sidenote: _About the case of absolute pronouns._]
88. In their function, or use in a sentence, the absolute possessive
forms of the personal pronouns are very much like adjectives used as
nouns.
In such sentences as, "_The good_ alone are great," "None but _the
brave_ deserves _the fair_," the words italicized have an adjective
force and also a noun force, as shown in Sec. 20.
So in the sentences illustrating absolute pronouns in Sec. 86: _mine_
stands for _my property_, _his_ for _his property_, in the first
sentence; _mine_ stands for _my praise_ in the second. But the first
two have a nominative use, and _mine_ in the second has an objective
use.
They may be spoken of as possessive in form, but nominative or
objective in use, according as the modified word is in the nominative
or the objective.
III. The Objective.
[Sidenote: _The old_ dative _case._]
89. In Old English there was one case which survives in use, but not
in form. In such a sentence as this one from Thackeray, "Pick _me_ out
a whip-cord thong with some dainty knots in it," the word _me_ is
evidently not the direct object of the verb, but expresses _for whom_,
_for whose benefit_, the thing is done. In pronouns, this dative
use, as it is called, was marked by a separate case.
[Sidenote: _Now the objective._]
In Modern English the same _use_ is frequently seen, but the _form_ is
the same as the objective. For this reason a word thus used is called
a dative-objective.
The following are examples of the dative-objective:--
Give _me_ neither poverty nor riches.--_Bible._
Curse _me_ this people.--_Id._
Both joined in making _him_ a present.--MACAULAY
Is it not enough that you have _burnt me_ down three houses with
your dog's tricks, and be hanged to you!--LAMB
I give _thee_ this to wear at the collar.--SCOTT
[Sidenote: _Other uses of the objective._]
90. Besides this use of the objective, there are others:--
(1) _As the direct object of a verb._
They all handled _it_.--LAMB
(2) _As the object of a preposition._
Time is behind _them_ and before _them_.--CARLYLE.
(3) _In apposition._
She sate all last summer by the bedside of the blind beggar,
_him_ that so often and so gladly I talked with.--DE QUINCEY.
SPECIAL USES OF PERSONAL PRONOUNS.
[Sidenote: _Indefinite use of_ you _and_ your.]
91. The word _you_, and its possessive case _yours_ are sometimes
used without reference to a particular person spoken to. They approach
the indefinite pronoun in use.
_Your_ mere puny stripling, that winced at the least flourish of
the rod, was passed by with indulgence.--IRVING
To empty here, _you_ must condense there.--EMERSON.
The peasants take off their hats as _you_ pass; _you_ sneeze, and
they cry, "God bless you!" The thrifty housewife shows _you_ into
her best chamber. _You_ have oaten cakes baked some months
before.--LONGFELLOW
[Sidenote: _Uses of_ it.]
92. The pronoun _it_ has a number of uses:--
(1) _To refer to some single word preceding_; as,--
Ferdinand ordered the _army_ to recommence _its_ march.--BULWER.
_Society_, in this century, has not made _its_ progress, like
Chinese skill, by a greater acuteness of ingenuity in
trifles.--D. WEBSTER.
(2) _To refer to a preceding word group_; thus,--
If any man should do wrong merely out of ill nature, why, yet
_it_ is but like the thorn or brier, which prick and scratch
because they can do no other.--BACON.
Here _it_ refers back to the whole sentence before it, or to the idea,
"any man's doing wrong merely out of ill nature."
(3) _As a grammatical subject, to stand for the real, logical
subject, which follows the verb_; as in the sentences,--
_It_ is easy in the world _to live after the world's opinion_.
--EMERSON.
_It_ is this _haziness_ of intellectual vision which is the
malady of all classes of men by nature.--NEWMAN.
_It_ is a pity _that he has so much learning, or that he has not
a great deal more_.--ADDISON.
(4) _As an impersonal subject in certain expressions which need no
other subject_; as,--
_It_ is finger-cold, and prudent farmers get in their barreled
apples.--THOREAU.
And when I awoke, _it_ rained.--COLERIDGE.
For when _it_ dawned, they dropped their arms.--_Id._
_It_ was late and after midnight.--DE QUINCEY.
(5) _As an impersonal or indefinite object of a verb or a
preposition_; as in the following sentences:--
(_a_) Michael Paw, who _lorded it_ over the fair regions of
ancient Pavonia.--IRVING.
I made up my mind _to foot it_.--HAWTHORNE.
A sturdy lad ... who in turn tries all the professions, who
_teams it, farms it, peddles it_, keeps a school.--EMERSON.
(_b_) "Thy mistress leads thee a dog's life _of it_."--IRVING.
There was nothing _for it_ but to return.--SCOTT.
An editor has only to say "respectfully declined," and there is
an end _of it_.--HOLMES.
Poor Christian was hard put _to it_.--BUNYAN.
[Sidenote: _Reflexive use of the personal pronouns._]
93. The personal pronouns in the objective case are often used
_reflexively_; that is, referring to the same person as the subject of
the accompanying verb. For example, we use such expressions as, "I
found _me_ a good book," "He bought _him_ a horse," etc. This
reflexive use of the _dative_-objective is very common in spoken and
in literary English.
The personal pronouns are not often used reflexively, however, when
they are _direct_ objects. This occurs in poetry, but seldom in prose;
as,--
Now I lay _me_ down to sleep.--ANON.
I set _me_ down and sigh.--BURNS.
And millions in those solitudes, since first
The flight of years began, have laid _them_ down
In their last sleep.--BRYANT.
REFLEXIVE OR COMPOUND PERSONAL PRONOUNS.
[Sidenote: _Composed of the personal pronouns with_ -self, -selves.]
94. The REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS, or COMPOUND PERSONAL, as they are also
called, are formed from the personal pronouns by adding the word
_self_, and its plural _selves_.
They are _myself_, (_ourself_), _ourselves_, _yourself_, (_thyself_),
_yourselves_, _himself_, _herself_, _itself_, _themselves_.
Of the two forms in parentheses, the second is the old form of the
second person, used in poetry.
_Ourself_ is used to follow the word _we_ when this represents a
single person, especially in the speech of rulers; as,--
Methinks he seems no better than a girl;
As girls were once, as we _ourself_ have been.--TENNYSON.
[Sidenote: _Origin of these reflexives._]
95. The question might arise, Why are _himself_ and _themselves_ not
_hisself_ and _theirselves_, as in vulgar English, after the analogy
of _myself_, _ourselves_, etc.?
The history of these words shows they are made up of the
dative-objective forms, not the possessive forms, with _self_. In
Middle English the forms _meself_, _theself_, were changed into the
possessive _myself_, _thyself_, and the others were formed by analogy
with these. _Himself_ and _themselves_ are the only ones retaining a
distinct objective form.
In the forms _yourself_ and _yourselves_ we have the possessive _your_
marked as singular as well as plural.
[Sidenote: _Use of the reflexives._]
96. There are three uses of reflexive pronouns:--
(1) _As object of a verb or preposition, and referring to the same
person or thing as the subject_; as in these sentences from Emerson:--
He who offers _himself_ a candidate for that covenant comes up
like an Olympian.
I should hate _myself_ if then I made my other friends my asylum.
We fill _ourselves_ with ancient learning.
What do we know of nature or of _ourselves_?
(2) _To emphasize a noun or pronoun_; for example,--
The great globe _itself_ ... shall dissolve.--SHAKESPEARE.
Threats to all;
To _you yourself_, to us, to every one.--_Id._
Who would not sing for Lycidas! he knew
_Himself_ to sing, and build the lofty rhyme.--MILTON.
NOTE.--In such sentences the pronoun is sometimes omitted, and the
reflexive modifies the pronoun understood; for example,--
Only _itself_ can inspire whom it will.--EMERSON.
My hands are full of blossoms plucked before, Held dead within
them till _myself_ shall die.--E.B. BROWNING.
As if it were _thyself_ that's here, I shrink with
pain.--WORDSWORTH.
(3) _As the precise equivalent of a personal pronoun_; as,--
Lord Altamont designed to take his son and _myself_.--DE QUINCEY.
Victories that neither _myself_ nor my cause always deserved.--B.
FRANKLIN.
For what else have our forefathers and _ourselves_ been
taxed?--LANDOR.
Years ago, Arcturus and _myself_ met a gentleman from China who
knew the language.--THACKERAY.
Exercises on Personal Pronouns.
(_a_) Bring up sentences containing ten personal pronouns, some each
of masculine, feminine, and neuter.
(_b_) Bring up sentences containing five personal pronouns in the
possessive, some of them being double possessives.
(_c_) Tell which use each _it_ has in the following sentences:--
1. Come and trip it as we go,
On the light fantastic toe.
2. Infancy conforms to nobody; all conform to it.
3. It is an ill wind that blows nobody good.
4. Courage, father, fight it out.
5. And it grew wondrous cold.
6. To know what is best to do, and how to do it, is wisdom.
7. If any phenomenon remains brute and dark, it is because the
corresponding faculty in the observer is not yet active.
8. But if a man do not speak from within the veil, where the word is
one with that it tells of, let him lowly confess it.
9. It behooved him to keep on good terms with his pupils.
10. Biscuit is about the best thing I know; but it is the soonest
spoiled; and one would like to hear counsel on one point, why it is
that a touch of water utterly ruins it.
INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS.
[Sidenote: _Three now in use._]
97. The interrogative pronouns now in use are _who_ (with the forms
_whose_ and _whom_), _which_, and _what_.
[Sidenote: _One obsolete._]
There is an old word, _whether_, used formerly to mean which of two,
but now obsolete. Examples from the Bible:--
_Whether_ of them twain did the will of his father?
_Whether_ is greater, the gold, or the temple?
From Steele (eighteenth century):--
It may be a question _whether_ of these unfortunate persons had
the greater soul.
[Sidenote: _Use of_ who _and its forms._]
98. The use of _who_, with its possessive and objective, is seen in
these sentences:--
_Who_ is she in bloody coronation robes from Rheims?--DE QUINCEY.
_Whose_ was that gentle voice, that, whispering sweet,
Promised, methought, long days of bliss sincere?--BOWLES.
What doth she look on? _Whom_ doth she behold?--WORDSWORTH.
From these sentences it will be seen that interrogative _who_ refers
to _persons only_; that it is not inflected for gender or number, but
for case alone, having three forms; it is always third person, as it
always asks _about_ somebody.
[Sidenote: _Use of_ which.]
99. Examples of the use of interrogative _which_:--
_Which_ of these had speed enough to sweep between the question
and the answer, and divide the one from the other?--DE QUINCEY.
_Which_ of you, shall we say, doth love us most?--SHAKESPEARE.
_Which_ of them [the sisters] shall I take?--_Id._
As shown here, _which_ is not inflected for gender, number, or case;
it refers to either persons or things; it is selective, that is, picks
out one or more from a number of known persons or objects.
[Sidenote: _Use of_ what.]
100. Sentences showing the use of interrogative _what_:--
Since I from Smaylho'me tower have been,
_What_ did thy lady do?--SCOTT.
_What_ is so rare as a day in June?--LOWELL.
_What_ wouldst thou do, old man?--SHAKESPEARE.
These show that _what_ is not inflected for case; that it is always
singular and neuter, referring to things, ideas, actions, etc., not to
persons.
DECLENSION OF INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS.
101. The following are all the interrogative forms:--
SING. AND PLUR. SING. AND PLUR. SINGULAR
_Nom._ who? which? what?
_Poss._ whose? -- --
_Obj._ whom? which? what?
In spoken English, _who_ is used as objective instead of _whom_; as,
"_Who_ did you see?" "_Who_ did he speak to?"
[Sidenote: _To tell the case of interrogatives._]
102. The interrogative _who_ has a separate form for each case,
consequently the case can be told by the form of the word; but the
case of _which_ and _what_ must be determined exactly as in nouns,--by
the _use_ of the words.
For instance, in Sec. 99, _which_ is nominative in the first sentence,
since it is subject of the verb _had_; nominative in the second also,
subject of _doth love_; objective in the last, being the direct
object of the verb _shall take_.
[Sidenote: _Further treatment of_ who, which _and_ what.]
103. _Who_, _which_, and _what_ are also relative pronouns; _which_
and _what_ are sometimes adjectives; _what_ may be an adverb in some
expressions.
They will be spoken of again in the proper places, especially in the
treatment of indirect questions (Sec. 127).
RELATIVE PRONOUNS.
[Sidenote: _Function of the relative pronoun_.]
104. Relative pronouns differ from both personal and interrogative
pronouns in referring to an antecedent, and also in having a
conjunctive use. The advantage in using them is to unite short
statements into longer sentences, and so to make smoother discourse.
Thus we may say, "The last of all the Bards was he. These bards sang
of Border chivalry." Or, it may be shortened into,--
"The last of all the Bards was he,
_Who_ sung of Border chivalry."
In the latter sentence, _who_ evidently refers to _Bards_, which is
called the antecedent of the relative.
[Sidenote: _The antecedent._]
105. The antecedent of a pronoun is the noun, pronoun, or other
word or expression, for which the pronoun stands. It usually precedes
the pronoun.
Personal pronouns of the third person may have antecedents also, as
they take the place usually of a word already used; as,--
The priest hath _his_ fee who comes and shrives us.--LOWELL
In this, both _his_ and _who_ have the antecedent _priest_.
The pronoun _which_ may have its antecedent following, and the
antecedent may be a word or a group of words, as will be shown in the
remarks on _which_ below.
[Sidenote: _Two kinds._]
106. Relatives may be SIMPLE or INDEFINITE.
When the word _relative_ is used, a simple relative is meant.
Indefinite relatives, and the indefinite use of simple relatives, will
be discussed further on.
The SIMPLE RELATIVES are _who_, _which_, _that_, _what_.
[Sidenote: Who _and its forms._]
107. Examples of the relative _who_ and its forms:--
1. Has a man gained anything _who_ has received a hundred favors
and rendered none?--EMERSON.
2. That man is little to be envied _whose_ patriotism would not
gain force upon the plain of Marathon.--DR JOHNSON.
3. For her enchanting son,
_Whom_ universal nature did lament.--MILTON.
4. The nurse came to us, _who_ were sitting in an adjoining
apartment.--THACKERAY.
5. Ye mariners of England,
That guard our native seas;
_Whose_ flag has braved, a thousand years,
The battle and the breeze!--CAMPBELL.
6. The men _whom_ men respect, the women _whom_ women approve,
are the men and women _who_ bless their species.--PARTON
[Sidenote: Which _and its forms._]
108. Examples of the relative _which_ and its forms:--
1. They had not their own luster, but the look _which_ is not of
the earth.--BYRON.
2. The embattled portal arch he pass'd,
_Whose_ ponderous grate and massy bar
Had oft roll'd back the tide of war.--SCOTT.
3. Generally speaking, the dogs _which_ stray around the butcher
shops restrain their appetites.--COX.
4. The origin of language is divine, in the same sense in _which_
man's nature, with all its capabilities ..., is a divine
creation.--W.D. WHITNEY.
5. (_a_) This gradation ... ought to be kept in view; else this
description will seem exaggerated, _which_ it certainly is
not.--BURKE.
(_b_) The snow was three inches deep and still falling, _which_
prevented him from taking his usual ride.--IRVING.
[Sidenote: That.]
109. Examples of the relative _that_:--
1. The man _that_ hath no music in himself,...
Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils.
--SHAKESPEARE
2. The judge ... bought up all the pigs _that_ could be
had.--LAMB
3. Nature and books belong to the eyes _that_ see them.--EMERSON.
4. For the sake of country a man is told to yield everything
_that_ makes the land honorable.--H.W. BEECHER
5. Reader, _that_ do not pretend to have leisure for very much
scholarship, you will not be angry with me for telling you.--DE
QUINCEY.
6. The Tree Igdrasil, _that_ has its roots down in the kingdoms
of Hela and Death, and whose boughs overspread the highest
heaven!--CARLYLE.
[Sidenote: What.]
110. Examples of the use of the relative _what_:--
1. Its net to entangle the enemy seems to be _what_ it chiefly
trusts to, and _what_ it takes most pains to render as complete
as possible.--GOLDSMITH.
2. For _what_ he sought below is passed above, Already done is
all that he would do.--MARGARET FULLER.
3. Some of our readers may have seen in India a crowd of crows
picking a sick vulture to death, no bad type of _what_ often
happens in that country.--MACAULAY
[_To the Teacher._--If pupils work over the above sentences carefully,
and test every remark in the following paragraphs, they will get a
much better understanding of the relatives.]
REMARKS ON THE RELATIVE PRONOUNS.
[Sidenote: Who.]
111. By reading carefully the sentences in Sec. 107, the following
facts will be noticed about the relative _who_:--
(1) It usually refers to persons: thus, in the first sentence, Sec.
107, _a man...who_; in the second, _that man...whose_; in the third,
_son_, _whom_; and so on.
(2) It has three case forms,--_who_, _whose_, _whom_.
(3) The forms do not change for person or number of the antecedent. In
sentence 4, _who_ is first person; in 5, _whose_ is second person; the
others are all third person. In 1, 2, and 3, the relatives are
singular; in 4, 5, and 6, they are plural.
[Sidenote: Who _referring to animals_.]
112. Though in most cases _who_ refers to persons there are
instances found where it refers to animals. It has been seen (Sec. 24)
that animals are referred to by personal pronouns when their
characteristics or habits are such as to render them important or
interesting to man. Probably on the same principle the personal
relative _who_ is used not infrequently in literature, referring to
animals.
Witness the following examples:--
And you, warm little housekeeper [the cricket], _who_ class With
those who think the candles come too soon.--LEIGH HUNT.
The robins...have succeeded in driving off the bluejays _who_
used to build in our pines.--LOWELL.
The little gorilla, _whose_ wound I had dressed, flung its arms
around my neck.--THACKERAY.
A lake frequented by every fowl _whom_ Nature has taught to dip
the wing in water.--DR. JOHNSON.
While we had such plenty of domestic insects _who_ infinitely
excelled the former, because they understood how to weave as well
as to spin.--SWIFT.
My horse, _who_, under his former rider had hunted the buffalo,
seemed as much excited as myself.--IRVING.
Other examples might be quoted from Burke, Kingsley, Smollett, Scott,
Cooper, Gibbon, and others.
[Sidenote: Which.]
113. The sentences in Sec. 108 show that--
(1) _Which_ refers to animals, things, or ideas, not persons.
(2) It is not inflected for gender or number.
(3) It is nearly always third person, rarely second (an example of its
use as second person is given in sentence 32, p. 96).
(4) It has two case forms,--_which_ for the nominative and objective,
_whose_ for the possessive.
[Sidenote: _Examples of_ whose, _possessive case of_ which.]
114. Grammarians sometimes object to the statement that _whose_ is
the possessive of _which_, saying that the phrase _of which_ should
always be used instead; yet a search in literature shows that the
possessive form _whose_ is quite common in prose as well as in poetry:
for example,--
I swept the horizon, and saw at one glance the glorious
elevations, on _whose_ tops the sun kindled all the melodies and
harmonies of light.--BEECHER.
Men may be ready to fight to the death, and to persecute without
pity, for a religion _whose_ creed they do not understand, and
_whose_ precepts they habitually disobey.--MACAULAY
Beneath these sluggish waves lay the once proud cities of the
plain, _whose_ grave was dug by the thunder of the
heavens.--SCOTT.
Many great and opulent cities _whose_ population now exceeds that
of Virginia during the Revolution, and _whose_ names are spoken
in the remotest corner of the civilized world.--MCMASTER.
Through the heavy door _whose_ bronze network closes the place of
his rest, let us enter the church itself.--RUSKIN.
This moribund '61, _whose_ career of life is just coming to its
terminus.--THACKERAY.
So in Matthew Arnold, Kingsley, Burke, and numerous others.
[Sidenote: Which _and its antecedents_.]
115. The last two sentences in Sec. 108 show that _which_ may have
other antecedents than nouns and pronouns. In 5 (_a_) there is a
participial adjective used as the antecedent; in 5 (_b_) there is a
complete clause employed as antecedent. This often occurs.
Sometimes, too, the antecedent follows _which_; thus,--
And, which is worse, _all you have done
Hath been but for a wayward son_.
--SHAKESPEARE.
Primarily, which is very notable and curious, I observe that _men
of business rarely know the meaning of the word "rich_."--RUSKIN.
I demurred to this honorary title upon two grounds,--first, as
being one toward which I had no natural aptitudes or predisposing
advantages; secondly (which made her stare), _as carrying with it
no real or enviable distinction_.--DE QUINCEY.
[Sidenote: That.]
116. In the sentences of Sec. 109, we notice that--
(1) _That_ refers to persons, animals, and things.
(2) It has only one case form, no possessive.
(3) It is the same form for first, second, and third persons.
(4) It has the same form for singular and plural.
It sometimes borrows the possessive _whose_, as in sentence 6, Sec.
109, but this is not sanctioned as good usage.
[Sidenote: What.]
117. The sentences of Sec. 110 show that--
(1) _What_ always refers to things; is always neuter.
(2) It is used almost entirely in the singular.
1. The man _that_ hath no music in himself,...
Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils.
--SHAKESPEARE
(3) Its antecedent is hardly ever expressed. When expressed, it
usually follows, and is emphatic; as, for example,--
What I would, _that_ do I not; but what I hate, _that_ do
I.--_Bible_
What fates impose, _that_ men must needs abide.--SHAKESPEARE.
What a man does, _that_ he has.--EMERSON.
Compare this:--
Alas! is _it_ not too true, what we said?--CARLYLE.
DECLENSION OF RELATIVE PRONOUNS.
118. These are the forms of the simple relatives:--
SINGULAR AND PLURAL.
_Nom._ who which that what
_Poss._ whose whose -- --
_Obj._ whom which that what
HOW TO PARSE RELATIVES.
119. The _gender_, _number_, and _person_ of the relatives _who_,
_which_, and _that_ must be determined by those of the antecedent; the
_case_ depends upon the function of the relative in its own clause.
For example, consider the following sentence:
"He uttered truths _that_ wrought upon and molded the lives of
those _who_ heard him."
Since the relatives hold the sentence together, we can, by taking them
out, let the sentence fall apart into three divisions: (1) "He uttered
truths;" (2) "The truths wrought upon and molded the lives of the
people;" (3) "These people heard him."
_That_ evidently refers to _truths_, consequently is neuter, third
person, plural number. _Who_ plainly stands for _those_ or _the
people_, either of which would be neuter, third person, plural number.
Here the relative agrees with its antecedent.
We cannot say the relative agrees with its antecedent in _case_.
_Truths_ in sentence (2), above, is subject of _wrought upon and
molded_; in (1), it is object of _uttered_. In (2), _people_ is the
object of the preposition _of_; in (3), it is subject of the verb
_heard_. Now, _that_ takes the case of _the truths_ in (2), not of
_truths_ which is expressed in the sentence: consequently _that_ is in
the nominative case. In the same way _who_, standing for _the people_
understood, subject of _heard_, is in the nominative case.
Exercise.
First find the antecedents, then parse the relatives, in the following
sentences:--
1. How superior it is in these respects to the pear, whose blossoms
are neither colored nor fragrant!
2. Some gnarly apple which I pick up in the road reminds me by its
fragrance of all the wealth of Pomona.
3. Perhaps I talk with one who is selecting some choice barrels for
filling an order.
4. Ill blows the wind that profits nobody.
5. Alas! it is we ourselves that are getting buried alive under this
avalanche of earthly impertinences.
6. This method also forces upon us the necessity of thinking, which
is, after all, the highest result of all education.
7. I know that there are many excellent people who object to the
reading of novels as a waste of time.
8. I think they are trying to outwit nature, who is sure to be
cunninger than they.
[Sidenote: _Parsing_ what, _the simple relative_.]
120. The relative _what_ is handled differently, because it has
usually no antecedent, but is singular, neuter, third person. Its case
is determined exactly as that of other relatives. In the sentence,
"What can't be cured must be endured," the verb _must be endured_ is
the predicate of something. What must be endured? Answer, _What can't
be cured_. The whole expression is its subject. The word _what_,
however, is subject of the verb _can't be cured_, and hence is in the
nominative case.
"What we call nature is a certain self-regulated motion or change."
Here the subject of _is_, etc., is _what we call nature_; but of this,
_we_ is the subject, and _what_ is the direct object of the verb
_call_, so is in the objective case.
[Sidenote: _Another way._]
Some prefer another method of treatment. As shown by the following
sentences, _what_ is equivalent to _that which_:--
It has been said that "common souls pay with _what_ they do,
nobler souls with _that which_ they are."--EMERSON.
_That which_ is pleasant often appears under the name of evil;
and _what_ is disagreeable to nature is called good and
virtuous.--BURKE.
Hence some take _what_ as a double relative, and parse _that_ in the
first clause, and _which_ in the second clause; that is, "common
souls pay with _that_ [singular, object of _with_] _which_ [singular,
object of _do_] they do."
INDEFINITE RELATIVES.
[Sidenote: _List and examples._]
121. INDEFINITE RELATIVES are, by meaning and use, not as direct as
the simple relatives.
They are _whoever_, _whichever_, _whatever_, _whatsoever_; less common
are _whoso_, _whosoever_, _whichsoever_, _whatsoever_. The simple
relatives _who_, _which_, and _what_ may also be used as indefinite
relatives. Examples of indefinite relatives (from Emerson):--
1. _Whoever_ has flattered his friend successfully must at once
think himself a knave, and his friend a fool.
2. It is no proof of a man's understanding, to be able to affirm
_whatever_ he pleases.
3. They sit in a chair or sprawl with children on the floor, or
stand on their head, or _what_ else _soever_, in a new and
original way.
4. _Whoso_ is heroic will always find crises to try his edge.
5. Only itself can inspire _whom_ it will.
6. God offers to every mind its choice between truth and repose.
Take _which_ you please,--you cannot have both.
7. Do _what_ we can, summer will have its flies.
[Sidenote: _Meaning and use._]
122. The fitness of the term _indefinite_ here cannot be shown
better than by examining the following sentences:--
1. There is something so overruling in _whatever_ inspires us
with awe, in _all things which_ belong ever so remotely to
terror, that nothing else can stand in their presence.--BURKE.
2. Death is there associated, not with _everything that_ is most
endearing in social and domestic charities, but with _whatever_
is darkest in human nature and in human destiny.--MACAULAY.
It is clear that in 1, _whatever_ is equivalent to _all things
which_, and in 2, to _everything that_; no certain antecedent, no
particular thing, being referred to. So with the other indefinites.
[Sidenote: What _simple relative and_ what _indefinite relative_.]
123. The above helps us to discriminate between _what_ as a simple
and _what_ as an indefinite relative.
As shown in Sec. 120, the simple relative _what_ is equivalent to
_that which_ or the _thing which_,--some particular thing; as shown by
the last sentence in Sec. 121, _what_ means _anything that_,
_everything that_ (or _everything which_). The difference must be seen
by the meaning of the sentence, as _what_ hardly ever has an
antecedent.
The examples in sentences 5 and 6, Sec. 121, show that _who_ and
_which_ have no antecedent expressed, but mean _any one whom_, _either
one that_, etc.
OTHER WORDS USED AS RELATIVES.
[Sidenote: But _and_ as.]
124. Two words, but and as, are used with the force of relative
pronouns in some expressions; for example,--
1. There is not a leaf rotting on the highway _but_ has force in
it: how else could it rot?--CARLYLE.
2. This, amongst such other troubles _as_ most men meet with in
this life, has been my heaviest affliction.--DE QUINCEY.
[Sidenote: _Proof that they have the force of relatives._]
Compare with these the two following sentences:--
3. There is nothing _but_ is related to us, nothing _that_ does
_not_ interest us.--EMERSON.
4. There were articles of comfort and luxury such _as_ Hester
never ceased to use, but _which_ only wealth could have
purchased.--HAWTHORNE.
Sentence 3 shows that _but_ is equivalent to the relative _that_ with
_not_, and that _as_ after _such_ is equivalent to _which_.
For _as_ after _same_ see "Syntax" (Sec. 417).
[Sidenote: _Former use of_ as.]
125. In early modern English, _as_ was used just as we use _that_ or
_which_, not following the word _such_; thus,--
I have not from your eyes that gentleness
And show of love _as_ I was wont to have.--SHAKESPEARE
This still survives in vulgar English in England; for example,--
"Don't you mind Lucy Passmore, _as_ charmed your warts for you
when you was a boy? "--KINGSLEY
This is frequently illustrated in Dickens's works.
[Sidenote: _Other substitutes._]
126. Instead of the phrases _in which_, _upon which_, _by which_,
etc., the conjunctions _wherein_, _whereupon_, _whereby_, etc., are
used.
A man is the facade of a temple _wherein_ all wisdom and good
abide.--EMERSON.
The sovereignty of this nature _whereof_ we speak.--_Id._
The dear home faces _whereupon_
That fitful firelight paled and shone.--WHITTIER.
PRONOUNS IN INDIRECT QUESTIONS.
[Sidenote: _Special caution needed here._]
127. It is sometimes hard for the student to tell a relative from an
interrogative pronoun. In the regular direct question the
interrogative is easily recognized; so is the relative when an
antecedent is close by. But compare the following in pairs:--
1. (_a_) Like a gentleman of leisure _who_ is strolling out for
pleasure.
(_b_) Well we knew _who_ stood behind, though the earthwork hid
them.
2. (_a_) But _what_ you gain in time is perhaps lost in power.
(_b_) But _what_ had become of them they knew not.
3. (_a_) These are the lines _which_ heaven-commanded Toil shows on
his deed.
(_b_) And since that time I thought it not amiss To judge _which_
were the best of all these three.
In sentences 1 (_a_), 2 (_a_) and 3 (_a_) the regular relative use is
seen; _who_ having the antecedent _gentleman_, _what_ having the
double use of pronoun and antecedent, _which_ having the antecedent
_lines_.
But in 1 (_b_), 2 (_b_), and 3 (_b_), there are two points of
difference from the others considered: first, no antecedent is
expressed, which would indicate that they are not relatives; second, a
question is disguised in each sentence, although each sentence as a
whole is declarative in form. Thus, 1 (_b_), if expanded, would be,
"Who stood behind? We knew," etc., showing that _who_ is plainly
interrogative. So in 2 (_b_), _what_ is interrogative, the full
expression being, "But what had become of them? They knew not."
Likewise with _which_ in 3 (_b_).
[Sidenote: _How to decide._]
In studying such sentences, (1) see whether there is an antecedent of
_who_ or _which_, and whether _what_ = _that_ + _which_ (if so, it is
a simple relative; if not, it is either an indefinite relative or an
interrogative pronoun); (2) see if the pronoun introduces an indirect
question (if it does, it is an interrogative; if not, it is an
indefinite relative).
[Sidenote: _Another caution._]
128. On the other hand, care must be taken to see whether the
pronoun is the word that really _asks the question_ in an
interrogative sentence. Examine the following:--
1. Sweet rose! whence is this hue
_Which_ doth all hues excel?
--DRUMMOND
2. And then what wonders shall you do
_Whose_ dawning beauty warms us so?
--WALKER
3. Is this a romance? Or is it a faithful picture of _what_ has
lately been in a neighboring land?--MACAULAY
These are interrogative sentences, but in none of them does the
pronoun ask the question. In the first, _whence_ is the interrogative
word, _which_ has the antecedent _hue_. In the second, _whose_ has the
antecedent _you_, and asks no question. In the third, the question is
asked by the verb.
OMISSION OF THE RELATIVES.
[Sidenote: _Relative omitted when_ object.]
129. The relative is frequently omitted in spoken and in literary
English when it would be the object of a preposition or a verb. Hardly
a writer can be found who does not leave out relatives in this way
when they can be readily supplied in the mind of the reader. Thus,--
These are the sounds we feed upon.--FLETCHER.
I visited many other apartments, but shall not trouble my reader
with all the curiosities I observed.--SWIFT.
Exercise.
Put in the relatives _who_, _which_, or _that_ where they are omitted
from the following sentences, and see whether the sentences are any
smoother or clearer:--
1. The insect I am now describing lived three years,--GOLDSMITH.
2. They will go to Sunday schools through storms their brothers
are afraid of.--HOLMES.
3. He opened the volume he first took from the shelf.--G. ELIOT.
4. He could give the coals in that queer coal scuttle we read of
to his poor neighbor.--THACKERAY.
5. When Goldsmith died, half the unpaid bill he owed to Mr.
William Filby was for clothes supplied to his nephew.--FORSTER
6. The thing I want to see is not Redbook Lists, and Court
Calendars, but the life of man in England.--CARLYLE.
7. The material they had to work upon was already democratical by
instinct and habitude.--LOWELL.
[Sidenote: _Relative omitted when_ subject.]
130. We often hear in spoken English expressions like these:--
There isn't one here ‸ knows how to play ball.
There was such a crowd ‸ went, the house was full.
Here the omitted relative would be in the nominative case. Also in
literary English we find the same omission. It is rare in prose, and
comparatively so in poetry. Examples are,--
The silent truth that it was she was superior.--THACKERAY
I have a mind presages me such thrift.--SHAKESPEARE.
There is a nun in Dryburgh bower,
Ne'er looks upon the sun.
--SCOTT.
And you may gather garlands there
Would grace a summer queen.
_Id._
'Tis distance lends enchantment to the view.--CAMPBELL.
Exercises on the Relative Pronoun.
(_a_) Bring up sentences containing ten instances of the relatives
_who_, _which_, _that_, and _what_.
(_b_) Bring up sentences having five indefinite relatives.
(_c_) Bring up five sentences having indirect questions introduced by
pronouns.
(_d_) Tell whether the pronouns in the following are interrogatives,
simple relatives, or indefinite relatives:--
1. He ushered him into one of the wherries which lay ready to attend
the Queen's barge, which was already proceeding.
2. The nobles looked at each other, but more with the purpose to see
what each thought of the news, than to exchange any remarks on what
had happened.
3. Gracious Heaven! who was this that knew the word?
4. It needed to be ascertained which was the strongest kind of men;
who were to be rulers over whom.
5. He went on speaking to who would listen to him.
6. What kept me silent was the thought of my mother.
ADJECTIVE PRONOUNS.
[Sidenote: _Function of adjective pronouns._]
131. Most of the words how to be considered are capable of a double
use,--they may be pure modifiers of nouns, or they may stand for
nouns. In the first use they are adjectives; in the second they retain
an adjective _meaning_, but have lost their adjective _use_. Primarily
they are adjectives, but in this function, or use, they are properly
classed as adjective pronouns.
The following are some examples of these:--
_Some_ say that the place was bewitched.--IRVING.
That mysterious realm where _each_ shall take
His chamber in the silent halls of death.
--BRYANT.
How happy is he born or taught
That serveth not _another's_ will.
--WOTTON
_That_ is more than any martyr can stand.--EMERSON.
[Sidenote: _Caution._]
[Sidenote: _Adjectives, not pronouns._]
Hence these words are like adjectives used as nouns, which we have
seen in such expressions as, "_The dead_ are there;" that is, a word,
in order to be an adjective pronoun, _must not modify any word,
expressed or understood_. It must come under the requirement of
pronouns, and _stand for a noun_. For instance, in the following
sentences--"The cubes are of stainless ivory, and on _each_ is
written, in letters of gold, '_Truth_;'" "You needs must play such
pranks as _these_;" "They will always have one bank to sun themselves
upon, and _another_ to get cool under;" "Where two men ride on a
horse, _one_ must ride behind"--the words italicized modify nouns
understood, necessarily thought of: thus, in the first, "each _cube_;"
in the second, "these _pranks_," in the others, "another _bank_," "one
_man_."
[Sidenote: _Classes of adjective pronouns._]
132. Adjective pronouns are divided into three classes:--
(1) DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS, such as _this_, _that_, _the former_, etc.
(2) DISTRIBUTIVE PRONOUNS, such as _each_, _either_, _neither_, etc.
(3) NUMERAL PRONOUNS, as _some_, _any_, _few_, _many_, _none_, _all_,
etc.
DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS.
[Sidenote: _Definition and examples._]
133. A DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUN is one that definitely points out what
persons or things are alluded to in the sentence.
The person or thing alluded to by the demonstrative may be in another
sentence, or may be the whole of a sentence. For example, "Be _that_
as it may" could refer to a sentiment in a sentence, or an argument in
a paragraph; but the demonstrative clearly points to that thing.
The following are examples of demonstratives:--
I did not say _this_ in so many words.
All _these_ he saw; but what he fain had seen He could not see.
Beyond _that_ I seek not to penetrate the veil.
How much we forgive in _those_ who yield us the rare spectacle of
heroic manners!
The correspondence of Bonaparte with his brother Joseph, when
_the latter_ was the King of Spain.
_Such_ are a few isolated instances, accidentally preserved.
Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness,
reap _the same_.
They know that patriotism has its glorious opportunities and its
sacred duties. They have not shunned _the one_, and they have
well performed _the other_.
NOTE.--It will be noticed in the first four sentences that _this_ and
_that_ are inflected for number.
Exercises.
(_a_) Find six sentences using demonstrative adjective pronouns.
(_b_) In which of the following is _these_ a pronoun?--
1. Formerly the duty of a librarian was to keep people as much as
possible from the books, and to hand _these_ over to his
successor as little worn as he could.--LOWELL.
2. They had fewer books, but _these_ were of the best.--_Id._
3. A man inspires affection and honor, because he was not lying
in wait for _these_.--EMERSON
4. Souls such as _these_ treat you as gods would.--_Id._
5. _These_ are the first mountains that broke the uniform level
of the earth's surface.--AGASSIZ
DISTRIBUTIVE PRONOUNS.
[Sidenote: _Definition and examples._]
134. The DISTRIBUTIVE PRONOUNS are those which stand for the names
of persons or things considered singly.
[Sidenote: _Simple._]
Some of these are _simple_ pronouns; for example,--
They stood, or sat, or reclined, as seemed good to _each_.
As two yoke devils sworn to _other's_ purpose.
Their minds accorded into one strain, and made delightful music
which _neither_ could have claimed as all his own.
[Sidenote: _Compound_.]
Two are compound pronouns,--_each other_, _one another_. They may be
separated into two adjective pronouns; as,
We violated our reverence _each_ for _the other's_ soul.
--HAWTHORNE.
More frequently they are considered as one pronoun.
They led one another, as it were, into a high pavilion of their
thoughts.--HAWTHORNE.
Men take each other's measure when they react.--EMERSON.
Exercise.--Find sentences containing three distributive pronouns.
NUMERAL PRONOUNS.
[Sidenote: _Definition and examples_.]
135. The NUMERAL PRONOUNS are those which stand for an uncertain
number or quantity of persons or things.
The following sentences contain numeral pronouns:--
Trusting too much to _others'_ care is the ruin of _many_.
'Tis of no importance how large his house, you quickly come to
the end of _all_.
_Another_ opposes him with sound argument.
It is as if _one_ should be so enthusiastic a lover of poetry as
to care nothing for Homer or Milton.
There were plenty _more_ for him to fall in company with, as
_some_ of the rangers had gone astray.
The Soldan, imbued, as _most_ were, with the superstitions of his
time, paused over a horoscope.
If those [taxes] were the only _ones_ we had to pay, we might the
more easily discharge them.
_Much_ might be said on both sides.
If hand of mine _another's_ task has lightened.
It felt the guidance that it does not claim.
So perish _all_ whose breast ne'er learned to glow
For _others_' good, or melt for _others_' woe.
_None_ shall rule but the humble.
[Sidenote: _Some inflected._]
It will be noticed that some of these are inflected for case and
number; such as _one other_, _another_.
The word _one_ has a reflexive form; for example,--
[Sidenote: One _reflexive_.]
The best way to punish _oneself_ for doing ill seems to me to go
and do good.--KINGSLEY.
The lines sound so prettily to _one's self_. HOLMES.
Exercise.--Find sentences containing ten numeral pronouns.
INDEFINITE PRONOUNS.
[Sidenote: _Definition and examples._]
136. Indefinite pronouns are words which stand for an indefinite
number or quantity of persons or things; but, unlike adjective
pronouns, they are never used as adjectives.
Most of them are compounds of two or more words:--
[Sidenote: _List._]
_Somebody_, _some one_, _something_; _anybody_, _any one_ (or
_anyone_), _anything_; _everybody_, _every one_ (or _everyone_),
_everything_; _nobody_, _no one_, _nothing_; _somebody else_, _anyone
else_, _everybody else_, _every one else_, etc.; also _aught_,
_naught_; and _somewhat_, _what_, and _they_.
The following sentences contain indefinite pronouns:--
As he had them of all hues, he hoped to fit _everybody's_ fancy.
_Every one_ knows how laborious the usual method is of attaining
to arts and sciences.
_Nothing_ sheds more honor on our early history than the
impression which these measures everywhere produced in America.
Let us also perform _something_ worthy to be remembered.
William of Orange was more than _anything else_ a religious man.
Frederick was discerned to be a purchaser of _everything_ that
_nobody else_ would buy.
These other souls draw me as _nothing else_ can.
The genius that created it now creates _somewhat else_.
_Every one else_ stood still at his post.
That is perfectly true: I did not want _anybody else's_ authority
to write as I did.
_They_ indefinite means people in general; as,--
At lovers' perjuries, _they_ say, Jove laughs.--SHAKESPEARE.
_What_ indefinite is used in the expression "I tell you _what_." It
means _something_, and was indefinite in Old English.
Now, in building of chaises, I tell you _what_,
There is always somewhere a weakest spot.
Exercise.--Find sentences with six indefinite pronouns.
137. Some indefinite pronouns are inflected for case, as shown in
the words _everybody's_, _anybody else's_, etc.
See also "Syntax" (Sec. 426) as to the possessive case of the forms
with _else_.
HOW TO PARSE PRONOUNS.
[Sidenote: _A reminder._]
138. In parsing pronouns the student will need particularly to
guard against the mistake of parsing words according to _form_ instead
of according to function or use.
Exercise.
Parse in full the pronouns in the following sentences:--
1. She could not help laughing at the vile English into which
they were translated.
2. Our readers probably remember what Mrs. Hutchinson tells us of
herself.
3. Whoever deals with M. de Witt must go the plain way that he
pretends to, in his negotiations.
4. Some of them from whom nothing was to be got, were suffered to
depart; but those from whom it was thought that anything could be
extorted were treated with execrable cruelty.
5. All was now ready for action.
6. Scarcely had the mutiny broken up when he was himself again.
7. He came back determined to put everything to the hazard.
8. Nothing is more clear than that a general ought to be the
servant of his government, and of no other.
9. Others did the same thing, but not to quite so enormous an
extent.
10. On reaching the approach to this about sunset of a beautiful
evening in June, I first found myself among the mountains,--a
feature of natural scenery for which, from my earliest days, it
was not extravagant to say that I hungered and thirsted.
11. I speak of that part which chiefly it is that I know.
12. A smaller sum I had given to my friend the attorney (who was
connected with the money lenders as their lawyer), to which,
indeed, he was entitled for his unfurnished lodgings.
13. Whatever power the law gave them would be enforced against
me to the utmost.
14. O thou that rollest above, round as the shield of my fathers!
15. But there are more than you ever heard of who die of grief in
this island of ours.
16. But amongst themselves is no voice nor sound.
17. For this did God send her a great reward.
18. The table was good; but that was exactly what Kate cared
little about.
19. Who and what was Milton? That is to say, what is the place
which he fills in his own vernacular literature?
20. These hopes are mine as much as theirs.
21. What else am I who laughed or wept yesterday, who slept last
night like a corpse?
22. I who alone am, I who see nothing in nature whose existence I
can affirm with equal evidence to my own, behold now the
semblance of my being, in all its height, variety, and curiosity
reiterated in a foreign form.
23. What hand but would a garland cull
For thee who art so beautiful?
24. And I had done a hellish thing,
And it would work 'em woe.
25. Whatever he knows and thinks, whatever in his apprehension is
worth doing, that let him communicate.
26. Rip Van Winkle was one of those foolish, well-oiled
dispositions, who take the world easy, eat white bread or brown,
whichever can be got with least thought or trouble.
27. And will your mother pity me,
Who am a maiden most forlorn?
28. They know not I knew thee,
Who knew thee too well.
29. I did remind thee of our own dear Lake,
By the old Hall which may be mine no more.
30. He sate him down, and seized a pen, and traced
Words which I could not guess of.
31. Time writes no wrinkle on thine azure brow:
Such as creation's dawn beheld, thou rollest now.
32. Wild Spirit which art moving everywhere;
Destroyer and preserver; hear, oh, hear!
33. A smile of hers was like an act of grace.
34. No man can learn what he has not preparation for learning.
35. What can we see or acquire but what we are?
36. He teaches who gives, and he learns who receives.
37. We are by nature observers; that is our permanent state.
38. He knew not what to do, and so he read.
39. Who hears me, who understands me, becomes mine.
40. The men who carry their points do not need to inquire of
their constituents what they should say.
41. Higher natures overpower lower ones by affecting them with a
certain sleep.
42. Those who live to the future must always appear selfish to
those who live to the present.
43. I am sorry when my independence is invaded or when a gift
comes from such as do not know my spirit.
44. Here I began to howl and scream abominably, which was no bad
step towards my liberation.
45. The only aim of the war is to see which is the stronger of
the two--which is the master.
ADJECTIVES.
[Sidenote: _Office of Adjectives._]
139. Nouns are seldom used as names of objects without additional
words joined to them to add to their meaning. For example, if we wish
to speak of a friend's house, we cannot guide one to it by merely
calling it _a house_. We need to add some words to tell its color,
size, position, etc., if we are at a distance; and if we are near, we
need some word to point out the house we speak of, so that no other
will be mistaken for it. So with any object, or with persons.
As to the kind of words used, we may begin with the common adjectives
telling the _characteristics_ of an object. If a chemist discovers a
new substance, he cannot describe it to others without telling its
qualities: he will say it is _solid_, or _liquid_, or _gaseous_;
_heavy_ or _light_; _brittle_ or _tough_; _white_ or _red_; etc.
Again, in _pointing out_ an object, adjectives are used; such as in
the expressions "_this_ man," "_that_ house," "_yonder_ hill," etc.
Instead of using nouns indefinitely, the _number_ is limited by
adjectives; as, "_one_ hat," "_some_ cities," "_a hundred_ men."
The office of an adjective, then, is to narrow down or limit the
application of a noun. It may have this office alone, or it may at the
same time add to the meaning of the noun.
[Sidenote: _Substantives._]
140. Nouns are not, however, the only words limited by adjectives:
pronouns and other words and expressions also have adjectives joined
to them. Any word or word group that performs the same office as a
noun may be modified by adjectives.
To make this clear, notice the following sentences:--
[Sidenote: _Pronoun._]
If _he_ be _thankful_ for small benefits, it shows that he weighs
men's minds, and their trash.--BACON.
[Sidenote: _Infinitives._]
_To err_ is _human_; _to forgive, divine_.--POPE.
With exception of the "and then," the "and there," and the still
less _significant_ "_and so_," they constitute all his
connections.--COLERIDGE.
[Sidenote: _Definition._]
141. An adjective is a word joined to a noun or other substantive
word or expression, to describe it or to limit its application.
[Sidenote: _Classes of adjectives._]
142. Adjectives are divided into four classes:--
(1) Descriptive adjectives, which describe by expressing qualities
or attributes of a substantive.
(2) Adjectives of quantity, used to tell how many things are spoken
of, or how much of a thing.
(3) Demonstrative adjectives, pointing out particular things.
(4) Pronominal adjectives, words primarily pronouns, but used
adjectively sometimes in modifying nouns instead of standing for them.
They include relative and interrogative words.
DESCRIPTIVE ADJECTIVES.
143. This large class includes several kinds of words:--
(1) SIMPLE ADJECTIVES expressing quality; such as _safe_, _happy_,
_deep_, _fair_, _rash_, _beautiful_, _remotest_, _terrible_, etc.
(2) COMPOUND ADJECTIVES, made up of various words thrown together to
make descriptive epithets. Examples are, "_Heaven-derived_ power,"
"this _life-giving_ book," "his spirit wrapt and _wonder-struck_,"
"_ice-cold_ water," "_half-dead_ traveler," "_unlooked-for_ burden,"
"_next-door_ neighbor," "_ivory-handled_ pistols," "the
_cold-shudder-inspiring_ Woman in White."
(3) PROPER ADJECTIVES, derived from proper nouns; such as, "an old
_English_ manuscript," "the _Christian_ pearl of charity," "the
well-curb had a _Chinese_ roof," "the _Roman_ writer Palladius."
(4) PARTICIPIAL ADJECTIVES, which are either pure participles used to
describe, or participles which have lost all verbal force and have no
function except to express quality. Examples are,--
_Pure participial adjectives_: "The _healing_ power of the Messiah,"
"The _shattering_ sway of one strong arm," "_trailing_ clouds," "The
_shattered_ squares have opened into line," "It came on like the
_rolling_ simoom," "God tempers the wind to the _shorn_ lamb."
_Faded participial adjectives_: "Sleep is a _blessed_ thing;" "One is
hungry, and another is _drunken_;" "under the _fitting_ drapery of the
jagged and trailing clouds;" "The clearness and quickness are
_amazing_;" "an _aged_ man;" "a _charming_ sight."
[Sidenote: _Caution._]
144. Care is needed, in studying these last-named words, to
distinguish between a participle that forms part of a verb, and a
participle or participial adjective that belongs to a noun.
For instance: in the sentence, "The work was well and rapidly
accomplished," _was accomplished_ is a verb; in this, "No man of his
day was more brilliant or more accomplished," _was_ is the verb, and
_accomplished_ is an adjective.
Exercises.
1. Bring up sentences with twenty descriptive adjectives, having some
of each subclass named in Sec. 143.
2. Is the italicized word an adjective in this?--
The old sources of intellectual excitement seem to be well-nigh
_exhausted_.
ADJECTIVES OF QUANTITY.
145. Adjectives of quantity tell _how much_ or _how many_. They have
these three subdivisions:--
[Sidenote: _How much._]
(1) QUANTITY IN BULK: such words as _little_, _much_, _some_, _no_,
_any_, _considerable_, sometimes _small_, joined usually to singular
nouns to express an indefinite measure of the thing spoken of.
The following examples are from Kingsley:--
So he parted with _much_ weeping of the lady.
Which we began to do with _great_ labor and _little_ profit.
Because I had _some_ knowledge of surgery and blood-letting.
But ever she looked on Mr. Oxenham, and seemed to take _no_
care as long as he was by.
Examples of _small_ an adjective of quantity:--
"The deil's in it but I bude to anger him!" said the woman, and
walked away with a laugh of _small_ satisfaction.--MACDONALD.
'Tis midnight, but _small_ thoughts have I of sleep.--COLERIDGE.
It gives _small_ idea of Coleridge's way of talking.--CARLYLE.
When _some_, _any_, _no_, are used with plural nouns, they come under
the next division of adjectives.
[Sidenote: _How many._]
(2) QUANTITY IN NUMBER, which may be expressed exactly by numbers or
remotely designated by words expressing indefinite amounts. Hence the
natural division into--
(_a_) _Definite numerals_; as, "_one_ blaze of musketry;" "He found in
the pathway _fourteen_ Spaniards;" "I have lost _one_ brother, but I
have gained _fourscore_;" "_a dozen_ volunteers."
(_b_) _Indefinite numerals_, as the following from Kingsley: "We gave
_several_ thousand pounds for it;" "In came some five and twenty more,
and with them _a few_ negroes;" "Then we wandered for _many_ days;"
"Amyas had evidently _more_ schemes in his head;" "He had lived by
hunting for _some_ months;" "That light is far too red to be the
reflection of _any_ beams of hers."
[Sidenote: _Single ones of any number of changes._]
(3) DISTRIBUTIVE NUMERALS, which occupy a place midway between the
last two subdivisions of numeral adjectives; for they are indefinite
in telling how many objects are spoken of, but definite in referring
to the objects one at a time. Thus,--
_Every_ town had its fair; _every_ village, its wake.--THACKERAY.
An arrow was quivering in _each_ body.--KINGSLEY.
Few on _either_ side but had their shrewd scratch to show.--_Id._
Before I taught my tongue to wound
My conscience with a sinful sound,
Or had the black art to dispense
A _several_ sin to _every_ sense.--VAUGHAN.
Exercise.--Bring up sentences with ten adjectives of quantity.
DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVES.
[Sidenote: _Not primarily pronouns._]
146. The words of this list are placed here instead of among
pronominal adjectives, for the reason that they are felt to be
primarily adjectives; their pronominal use being evidently a
shortening, by which the words point out but stand for words omitted,
instead of modifying them. Their natural and original use is to be
joined to a noun following or in close connection.
[Sidenote: _The list._]
The demonstrative adjectives are _this_, _that_, (plural _these_,
_those_), _yonder_ (or _yon_), _former_, _latter_; also the pairs
_one_ (or _the one_)--_the other_, _the former_--_the latter_, used to
refer to two things which have been already named in a sentence.
[Sidenote: _Examples._]
The following sentences present some examples:--
The bashful virgin's sidelong looks of love, The matron's glance
that would _those_ looks reprove.--GOLDSMITH.
These were thy charms...but all _these_ charms are fled.--_Id._
About _this_ time I met with an odd volume of the
"Spectator."--B. FRANKLIN.
_Yonder_ proud ships are not means of annoyance to you.--D.
WEBSTER.
_Yon_ cloud with _that_ long purple cleft.--WORDSWORTH.
I chose for the students of Kensington two characteristic
examples of early art, of equal skill; but in _the one_ case,
skill which was progressive--in _the other_, skill which was at
pause.--RUSKIN.
Exercise.--Find sentences with five demonstrative adjectives.
[Sidenote: _Ordinal numerals classed under demonstratives._]
147. The class of numerals known as ordinals must be placed here,
as having the same function as demonstrative adjectives. They point
out which thing is meant among a series of things mentioned. The
following are examples:--
The _first_ regular provincial newspapers appear to have been
created in the last decade of the _seventeenth_ century, and by
the middle of the _eighteenth_ century almost every important
provincial town had its local organ.--BANCROFT.
These do not, like the other numerals, tell _how many_ things are
meant. When we speak of the seventeenth century, we imply nothing as
to how many centuries there may be.
PRONOMINAL ADJECTIVES.
[Sidenote: _Definition._]
148. As has been said, pronominal adjectives are primarily
pronouns; but, when they _modify_ words instead of referring to them
as antecedents, they are changed to adjectives. They are of two
kinds,--RELATIVE and INTERROGATIVE,--and are used to join sentences or
to ask questions, just as the corresponding pronouns do.
[Sidenote: _Modify names of persons or things._]
149. The RELATIVE ADJECTIVES are _which_ and _what_; for example,--
It matters not _what_ rank he has, _what_ revenues or garnitures.
--CARLYLE.
The silver and laughing Xenil, careless _what_ lord should
possess the banks that bloomed by its everlasting
course.--BULWER.
The taking of _which_ bark. I verily believe, was the ruin of
every mother's son of us.--KINGSLEY.
In _which_ evil strait Mr. Oxenham fought desperately.--_Id._
[Sidenote: _Indefinite relative adjectives._]
150. The INDEFINITE RELATIVE adjectives are _what_, _whatever_,
_whatsoever_, _whichever_, _whichsoever_. Examples of their use are,--
He in his turn tasted some of its flavor, which, make _what_ sour
mouths he would for pretense, proved not altogether displeasing
to him.--LAMB.
_Whatever_ correction of our popular views from insight, nature
will be sure to bear us out in.--EMERSON.
_Whatsoever_ kind of man he is, you at least give him full
authority over your son.--RUSKIN.
Was there, as it rather seemed, a circle of ominous shadow moving
along with his deformity, _whichever_ way he turned
himself?--HAWTHORNE.
New torments I behold, and new tormented
Around me, _whichsoever_ way I move,
And _whichsoever_ way I turn, and gaze.
--LONGFELLOW (FROM DANTE).
151. The INTERROGATIVE ADJECTIVES are _which_ and _what_. They may
be used in direct and indirect questions. As in the pronouns, _which_
is selective among what is known; _what_ inquires about things or
persons not known.
[Sidenote: _In direct questions._]
Sentences with _which_ and _what_ in direct questions:--
_Which_ debt must I pay first, the debt to the rich, or the debt
to the poor?--EMERSON.
But when the Trojan war comes, _which_ side will you take?
--THACKERAY.
But _what_ books in the circulating library circulate?--LOWELL.
_What_ beckoning ghost along the moonlight shade
Invites my steps, and points to yonder glade?--POPE.
[Sidenote: _In indirect questions._]
Sentences with _which_ and _what_ in indirect questions:--
His head...looked like a weathercock perched upon his spindle
neck to tell _which_ way the wind blew.--IRVING.
A lady once remarked, he [Coleridge] could never fix _which_ side
of the garden walk would suit him best.--CARLYLE.
He was turned before long into all the universe, where it was
uncertain _what_ game you would catch, or whether any.--_Id._
At _what_ rate these materials would be distributed and
precipitated in regular strata, it is impossible to
determine.--AGASSIZ.
[Sidenote: _Adjective_ what _in exclamations_.]
152. In exclamatory expressions, _what_ (or _what a_) has a force
somewhat like a descriptive adjective. It is neither relative nor
interrogative, but might be called an EXCLAMATORY ADJECTIVE; as,--
Oh, _what a_ revolution! and _what a_ heart must I have, to
contemplate without emotion that elevation and that fall!--BURKE.
_What a_ piece of work is man!--SHAKESPEARE.
And yet, alas, the making of it right, _what a_ business for long
time to come!--CARLYLE
Through _what_ hardships it may attain to bear a sweet
fruit!--THOREAU.
Exercise.--Find ten sentences containing pronominal adjectives.
INFLECTIONS OF ADJECTIVES.
153 .Adjectives have two inflections,--number and comparison.
NUMBER.--_This_, _That_.
[Sidenote: _History of_ this--these _and_ that--those.]
154. The only adjectives having a plural form are _this_ and _that_
(plural _these_, _those_).
_This_ is the old demonstrative; _that_ being borrowed from the forms
of the definite article, which was fully inflected in Old English. The
article _that_ was used with neuter nouns.
In Middle English the plural of _this_ was _this_ or _thise_, which
changed its spelling to the modern form _these_.
[Sidenote: Those _borrowed from_ this.]
But _this_ had also another plural, _thās_ (modern _those_). The old
plural of _that_ was _tha_ (Middle English _tho_ or _thow_):
consequently _tho_ (plural of _that_) and _those_ (plural of _this_)
became confused, and it was forgotten that _those_ was really the
plural of _this_; and in Modern English we speak of _these_ as the
plural of _this_, and _those_ as the plural of _that_.
COMPARISON.
155. Comparison is an inflection not possessed by nouns and
pronouns: it belongs to adjectives and adverbs.
[Sidenote: _Meaning of comparison._]
When we place two objects side by side, we notice some differences
between them as to size, weight, color, etc. Thus, it is said that a
cow is _larger_ than a sheep, gold is _heavier_ than iron, a sapphire
is _bluer_ than the sky. All these have certain qualities; and when we
compare the objects, we do so by means of their qualities,--cow and
sheep by the quality of largeness, or size; gold and iron by the
quality of heaviness, or weight, etc.,--but not the same degree, or
amount, of the quality.
The degrees belong to any beings or ideas that may be known or
conceived of as possessing quality; as, "untamed thought, great,
giant-like, enormous;" "the commonest speech;" "It is a nobler valor;"
"the largest soul."
Also words of quantity may be compared: for example, "more matter,
with less wit;" "no fewer than a hundred."
[Sidenote: _Words that cannot be compared._]
156. There are some descriptive words whose meaning is such as not
to admit of comparison; for example,--
His company became very agreeable to the brave old professor of
arms, whose _favorite_ pupil he was.--THACKERAY.
A _main_ difference betwixt men is, whether they attend their own
affair or not.--EMERSON
It was his business to administer the law in its _final_ and
closest application to the offender--HAWTHORNE.
Freedom is a _perpetual, organic, universal_ institution, in
harmony with the Constitution of the United States.--SEWARD.
So with the words _sole_, _sufficient_, _infinite_, _immemorial_,
_indefatigable_, _indomitable_, _supreme_, and many others.
It is true that words of comparison are sometimes prefixed to them,
but, strictly considered, they are not compared.
[Sidenote: _Definition._]
157. Comparison means the changes that words undergo to express
degrees in quality, or amounts in quantity.
[Sidenote: _The two forms._]
158. There are two forms for this inflection: the comparative,
expressing a greater degree of quality; and the superlative,
expressing the greatest degree of quality.
These are called degrees of comparison.
These are properly the only degrees, though the simple, uninflected
form is usually called the positive degree.
159. The comparative is formed by adding _-er_, and the superlative
by adding _-est_, to the simple form; as, _red_, _redder_, _reddest_;
_blue_, _bluer_, _bluest_; _easy_, _easier_, _easiest_.
[Sidenote: _Substitute for inflection in comparison._]
160. Side by side with these inflected forms are found comparative
and superlative expressions making use of the adverbs more and
most. These are often useful as alternative with the inflected
forms, but in most cases are used before adjectives that are never
inflected.
They came into use about the thirteenth century, but were not common
until a century later.
[Sidenote: _Which rule_,-- -er _and_ -est _or_ more _and_ most?]
161. The English is somewhat capricious in choosing between the
inflected forms and those with _more_ and _most_, so that no
inflexible rule can be given as to the formation of the comparative
and the superlative.
The general rule is, that monosyllables and easily pronounced words of
two syllables add _-er_ and _-est_; and other words are preceded by
_more_ and _most_.
But room must be left in such a rule for pleasantness of sound and for
variety of expression.
To see how literary English overrides any rule that could be given,
examine the following taken at random:--
From Thackeray: "The _handsomest_ wives;" "the _immensest_ quantity of
thrashing;" "the _wonderfulest_ little shoes;" "_more odd, strange_,
and yet familiar;" "_more austere_ and _holy_."
From Ruskin: "The sharpest, finest chiseling, and _patientest_
fusing;" "_distantest_ relationships;" "_sorrowfulest_ spectacles."
Carlyle uses _beautifulest_, _mournfulest_, _honestest_,
_admirablest_, _indisputablest_, _peaceablest_, _most small_, etc.
These long, harsh forms are usually avoided, but _more_ and _most_ are
frequently used with monosyllables.
162. Expressions are often met with in which a superlative form does
not carry the superlative meaning. These are equivalent usually to
_very_ with the positive degree; as,--
To this the Count offers a _most wordy_ declaration of the
benefits conferred by Spain.--_The Nation_, No 1507
In all formulas that Johnson could stand by, there needed to be a
_most genuine_ substance.--CARLYLE
A gentleman, who, though born in no very high degree, was _most
finished_, _polished_, _witty_, _easy_, _quiet_.--THACKERAY
He had actually nothing else save a rope around his neck, which
hung behind in the _queerest_ way.--_Id._
"So help me God, madam, I will," said Henry Esmond, falling on
his knees, and kissing the hand of his _dearest_ mistress.--_Id._
[Sidenote: _Adjectives irregularly compared._]
163. Among the variously derived adjectives now in our language
there are some which may always be recognized as native English. These
are adjectives irregularly compared.
Most of them have worn down or become confused with similar words, but
they are essentially the same forms that have lived for so many
centuries.
The following lists include the majority of them:--
LIST I.
1. Good or well Better Best
2. Evil, bad, ill Worse Worst
3. Little Less, lesser Least
4. Much or many More Most
5. Old Elder, older Eldest, oldest
6. Nigh Nigher Nighest, next
7. Near Nearer Nearest
8. Far Farther, further Farthest, furthest
9. Late Later, latter Latest, last
10. Hind Hinder Hindmost, hindermost
LIST II.
These have no adjective positive:--
1. [In] Inner Inmost, innermost
2. [Out] Outer, utter {Outmost, outermost
{Utmost, uttermost
3. [Up] Upper Upmost, uppermost
LIST III.
A few of comparative form but not comparative meaning:--
After Over Under Nether
Remarks on Irregular Adjectives.
[Sidenote: _List I._]
164. (1) The word good has no comparative or superlative, but takes
the place of a positive to _better_ and _best_. There was an old
comparative _bet_, which has gone out of use; as in the sentence (14th
century), "Ich singe _bet_ than thu dest" (I sing better than thou
dost). The superlative I form was _betst_, which has softened to the
modern _best_.
(2) In Old English, evil was the positive to _worse_, _worst_; but
later _bad_ and _ill_ were borrowed from the Norse, and used as
positives to the same comparative and superlative. _Worser_ was once
used, a double comparative; as in Shakespeare,--
O, throw away the _worser_ part of it.--HAMLET.
(3) Little is used as positive to _less_, _least_, though from a
different root. A double comparative, _lesser_, is often used; as,--
We have it in a much _lesser_ degree.--MATTHEW ARNOLD.
Thrust the _lesser_ half by main force into the fists of Ho-ti.
--LAMB.
(4) The words much and many now express quantity; but in former
times _much_ was used in the sense of _large_, _great_, and was the
same word that is found in the proverb, "Many a little makes _a
mickle_." Its spelling has been _micel_, _muchel_, _moche_, _much_,
the parallel form _mickle_ being rarely used.
The meanings _greater_, _greatest_, are shown in such phrases as,--
The _more_ part being of one mind, to England we
sailed.--KINGSLEY.
The _most_ part kept a stolid indifference.--_Id._
The latter, meaning _the largest part_, is quite common.
(5) The forms elder, eldest, are earlier than _older_, _oldest_. A
few other words with the vowel _o_ had similar change in the
comparative and superlative, as _long_, _strong_, etc.; but these have
followed _old_ by keeping the same vowel _o_ in all the forms, instead
of _lenger_, _strenger_, etc., the old forms.
(6) and (7) Both nigh and near seem regular in Modern English,
except the form _next_; but originally the comparison was _nigh_,
_near_, _next_. In the same way the word high had in Middle English
the superlative _hexte_.
By and by the comparative _near_ was regarded as a positive form, and
on it were built a double comparative _nearer_, and the superlative
_nearest_, which adds _-est_ to what is really a comparative instead
of a simple adjective.
(8) These words also show confusion and consequent modification,
coming about as follows: further really belongs to another
series,--_forth_, _further_, _first_. First became entirely
detached from the series, and _furthest_ began to be used to follow
the comparative _further_; then these were used as comparative and
superlative of _far_.
The word far had formerly the comparative and superlative _farrer_,
_farrest_. In imitation of _further_, _furthest_, _th_ came into the
others, making the modern _farther_, _farthest_. Between the two sets
as they now stand, there is scarcely any distinction, except perhaps
_further_ is more used than _farther_ in the sense of _additional_;
as, for example,--
When that evil principle was left with no _further_ material to
support it.--HAWTHORNE.
(9) Latter and last are the older forms. Since _later_, _latest_,
came into use, a distinction has grown up between the two series.
_Later_ and _latest_ have the true comparative and superlative force,
and refer to time; _latter_ and _last_ are used in speaking of
succession, or series, and are hardly thought of as connected in
meaning with the word _late_.
(10) Hinder is comparative in form, but not in meaning. The form
_hindmost_ is really a double superlative, since the _m_ is for _-ma_,
an old superlative ending, to which is added _-ost_, doubling the
inflection. _Hind-er-m-ost_ presents the combination comparative +
superlative + superlative.
[Sidenote: _List II._]
165. In List II. (Sec. 163) the comparatives and superlatives are
adjectives, but they have no adjective positives.
The comparatives are so in form, but not in their meaning.
The superlatives show examples again of double inflection, and of
comparative added to double-superlative inflection.
Examples (from Carlyle) of the use of these adjectives: "revealing the
_inner_ splendor to him;" "a mind that has penetrated into the
_inmost_ heart of a thing;" "This of painting is one of the
_outermost_ developments of a man;" "The _outer_ is of the day;"
"far-seeing as the sun, the _upper_ light of the world;" "the
_innermost_ moral soul;" "their _utmost_ exertion."
[Sidenote: -Most _added to other words_.]
166. The ending _-most_ is added to some words that are not usually
adjectives, or have no comparative forms.
There, on the very _topmost_ twig, sits that ridiculous but
sweet-singing bobolink.--H.W. BEECHER.
Decidedly handsome, having such a skin as became a young woman of
family in _northernmost_ Spain.--DE QUINCEY.
Highest and _midmost_, was descried The royal banner floating
wide.--SCOTT.
[Sidenote: _List III._]
167. The adjectives in List III. are like the comparative forms in
List II. in having no adjective positives. They have no superlatives,
and have no comparative force, being merely descriptive.
Her bows were deep in the water, but her _after_ deck was still
dry.--KINGSLEY.
Her, by the by, in _after_ years I vainly endeavored to
trace.--DE QUINCEY.
The upper and the _under_ side of the medal of Jove.--EMERSON.
Have you ever considered what a deep _under_ meaning there lies
in our custom of strewing flowers?--RUSKIN.
Perhaps he rose out of some _nether_ region.--HAWTHORNE.
_Over_ is rarely used separately as an adjective.
CAUTION FOR ANALYZING OR PARSING.
[Sidenote: _Think what each adjective belongs to._]
168. Some care must be taken to decide what word is modified by an
adjective. In a series of adjectives in the same sentence, all may
belong to the same noun, or each may modify a different word or group
of words.
For example, in this sentence, "The young pastor's voice was
tremulously sweet, rich, deep, and broken," it is clear that all four
adjectives after _was_ modify the noun _voice_. But in this sentence,
"She showed her usual prudence and her usual incomparable decision,"
_decision_ is modified by the adjective _incomparable_; _usual_
modifies _incomparable decision_, not _decision_ alone; and the
pronoun _her_ limits _usual incomparable decision_.
Adjectives modifying the same noun are said to be of the _same rank_;
those modifying different words or word groups are said to be
adjectives of _different rank_. This distinction is valuable in a
study of punctuation.
Exercise.
In the following quotations, tell what each adjective modifies:--
1. Whenever that look appeared in her wild, bright, deeply black
eyes, it invested them with a strange remoteness and
intangibility.--HAWTHORNE.
2. It may still be argued, that in the present divided state of
Christendom a college which is positively Christian must be
controlled by some religious denomination.--NOAH PORTER.
3. Every quaking leaf and fluttering shadow sent the blood
backward to her heart.--MRS. STOWE.
4. This, our new government, is the first in the history of the
world based upon this great physical, philosophical, and moral
truth.--A.H. STEPHENS
5. May we not, therefore, look with confidence to the ultimate
universal acknowledgment of the truths upon which our system
rests?--_Id._
6. A few improper jests and a volley of good, round, solid,
satisfactory, and heaven-defying oaths.--HAWTHORNE.
7. It is well known that the announcement at any private rural
entertainment that there is to be ice cream produces an immediate
and profound impression.--HOLMES.
ADVERBS USED AS ADJECTIVES.
169. By a convenient brevity, adverbs are sometimes used as
adjectives; as, instead of saying, "the one who was then king," in
which _then_ is an adverb, we may say "the _then_ king," making _then_
an adjective. Other instances are,--
My _then_ favorite, in prose, Richard Hooker.--RUSKIN.
Our _sometime_ sister, now our queen.--SHAKESPEARE
Messrs. Bradbury and Evans, the _then_ and _still_ owners.
--TROLLOPE.
The _seldom_ use of it.--TRENCH.
For thy stomach's sake, and thine _often_ infirmities.--_Bible._
HOW TO PARSE ADJECTIVES.
[Sidenote: _What to tell in parsing._]
170. Since adjectives have no gender, person, or case, and very few
have number, the method of parsing is simple.
In parsing an adjective, tell--
(1) The class and subclass to which it belongs.
(2) Its number, if it has number.
(3) Its degree of comparison, if it can be compared.
(4) What word or words it modifies.
MODEL FOR PARSING.
These truths are not unfamiliar to your thoughts.
_These_ points out _what_ truths, therefore demonstrative; plural
number, having a singular, _this_; cannot be compared; modifies the
word _truths_.
_Unfamiliar_ describes _truths_, therefore descriptive; not inflected
for number; compared by prefixing _more_ and _most_; positive degree;
modifies _truths_.
Exercise.
Parse in full each adjective in these sentences:--
1. A thousand lives seemed concentrated in that one moment to
Eliza.
2. The huge green fragment of ice on which she alighted pitched
and creaked.
3. I ask nothing of you, then, but that you proceed to your end
by a direct, frank, manly way.
4. She made no reply, and I waited for none.
5. A herd of thirty or forty tall ungainly figures took their
way, with awkward but rapid pace, across the plain.
6. Gallantly did the lion struggle in the folds of his terrible
enemy, whose grasp each moment grew more fierce and secure, and
most astounding were those frightful yells.
7. This gave the young people entire freedom, and they enjoyed it
to the fullest extent.
8. I will be as harsh as truth and as uncompromising as justice.
9. To every Roman citizen he gives, To every several man,
seventy-five drachmas.
10. Each member was permitted to entertain all the rest on his or
her birthday, on which occasion the elders of the family were
bound to be absent.
11. Instantly the mind inquires whether these fishes under the
bridge, yonder oxen in the pasture, those dogs in the yard, are
immutably fishes, oxen, and dogs.
12. I know not what course others may take.
13. With every third step, the tomahawk fell.
14. What a ruthless business this war of extermination is!
15. I was just emerging from that many-formed crystal country.
16. On what shore has not the prow of your ships dashed?
17. The laws and institutions of his country ought to have been
more to him than all the men in his country.
18. Like most gifted men, he won affections with ease.
19. His letters aim to elicit the inmost experience and outward
fortunes of those he loves, yet are remarkably self-forgetful.
20. Their name was the last word upon his lips.
21. The captain said it was the last stick he had seen.
22. Before sunrise the next morning they let us out again.
23. He was curious to know to what sect we belonged.
24. Two hours elapsed, during which time I waited.
25. In music especially, you will soon find what personal benefit
there is in being serviceable.
26. To say what good of fashion we can, it rests on reality, and
hates nothing so much as pretenders.
27. Here lay two great roads, not so much for travelers that were
few, as for armies that were too many by half.
28. On whichever side of the border chance had thrown Joanna, the
same love to France would have been nurtured.
29. What advantage was open to him above the English boy?
30. Nearer to our own times, and therefore more interesting to
us, is the settlement of our own country.
31. Even the topmost branches spread out and drooped in all
directions, and many poles supported the lower ones.
32. Most fruits depend entirely on our care.
33. Even the sourest and crabbedest apple, growing in the most
unfavorable position, suggests such thoughts as these, it is so
noble a fruit.
34. Let him live in what pomps and prosperities he like, he is no
literary man.
35. Through what hardships it may bear a sweet fruit!
36. Whatsoever power exists will have itself organized.
37. A hard-struggling, weary-hearted man was he.
ARTICLES.
171. There is a class of words having always an adjectival use in
general, but with such subtle functions and various meanings that they
deserve separate treatment. In the sentence, "He passes an ordinary
brick house on the road, with an ordinary little garden," the words
_the_ and _an_ belong to nouns, just as adjectives do; but they cannot
be accurately placed under any class of adjectives. They are nearest
to demonstrative and numeral adjectives.
[Sidenote: _Their origin._]
172. The article the comes from an old demonstrative adjective
(_sē_, _sēo_, _ðat_, later _thē_, _thēo_, _that_) which was also an
article in Old English. In Middle English _the_ became an article, and
_that_ remained a demonstrative adjective.
An or a came from the old numeral _ān_, meaning _one_.
[Sidenote: _Two relics._]
Our expressions _the one_, _the other_, were formerly _that one_,
_that other_; the latter is still preserved in the expression, in
vulgar English, _the tother_. Not only this is kept in the Scotch
dialect, but the former is used, these occurring as _the tane, the
tother_, or _the tane, the tither_; for example,--
We ca' her sometimes _the tane_, sometimes _the tother_.--SCOTT.
[Sidenote: An _before vowel sounds_, a _before consonant sounds_.]
173. Ordinarily _an_ is used before vowel sounds, and _a_ before
consonant sounds. Remember that a _vowel sound_ does not necessarily
mean beginning with a vowel, nor does _consonant sound_ mean
beginning with a consonant, because English spelling does not
coincide closely with the sound of words. Examples: "_a_ house," "_an_
orange," "_a_ European," "_an_ honor," "_a_ yelling crowd."
[Sidenote: An _with consonant sounds_.]
174. Many writers use _an_ before _h_, even when not silent, when
the word is not accented on the first syllable.
_An_ historian, such as we have been attempting to describe,
would indeed be an intellectual prodigy.--MACAULAY.
The Persians were _an_ heroic people like the Greeks.--BREWER.
He [Rip] evinced _an_ hereditary disposition to attend to
anything else but his business.--IRVING.
_An_ habitual submission of the understanding to mere events and
images.--COLERIDGE.
_An_ hereditary tenure of these offices.--THOMAS JEFFERSON.
[Sidenote: _Definition._]
175. An article is a limiting word, not descriptive, which cannot
be used alone, but always joins to a substantive word to denote a
particular thing, or a group or class of things, or any individual of
a group or class.
[Sidenote: _Kinds._]
176. Articles are either definite or indefinite.
The is the definite article, since it points out a particular
individual, or group, or class.
An or a is the indefinite article, because it refers to any one of
a group or class of things.
An and a are different forms of the same word, the older _ān_.
USES OF THE DEFINITE ARTICLE.
[Sidenote: _Reference to a known object._]
177. The most common use of the definite article is to refer to an
object that the listener or reader is already acquainted with; as in
the sentence,--
Don't you remember how, when _the_ dragon was infesting _the_
neighborhood of Babylon, _the_ citizens used to walk dismally out
of evenings, and look at _the_ valleys round about strewed with
_the_ bones?--THACKERAY.
NOTE.--This use is noticed when, on opening a story, a person is
introduced by _a_, and afterwards referred to by _the_:--
By and by _a_ giant came out of the dark north, and lay down on
the ice near Audhumla.... _The_ giant frowned when he saw the
glitter of the golden hair.--_Heroes of Asgard._
[Sidenote: _With names of rivers._]
178. _The_ is often prefixed to the names of rivers; and when the
word _river_ is omitted, as "_the_ Mississippi," "_the_ Ohio," the
article indicates clearly that a river, and not a state or other
geographical division, is referred to.
No wonder I could face _the_ Mississippi with so much courage
supplied to me.--THACKERAY.
The Dakota tribes, doubtless, then occupied the country southwest
of _the_ Missouri.--G. BANCROFT.
[Sidenote: _To call attention to attributes._]
179. When _the_ is prefixed to a proper name, it alters the force of
the noun by directing attention to _certain qualities_ possessed by
the person or thing spoken of; thus,--
_The_ Bacon, _the_ Spinoza, _the_ Hume, Schelling, Kant, or
whosoever propounds to you a philosophy of the mind, is only a
more or less awkward translator of things in your
consciousness.--EMERSON.
[Sidenote: _With plural of abstract nouns._]
180. _The_, when placed before the pluralized abstract noun, marks
it as half abstract or a common noun.
[Sidenote: _Common._]
His messages to _the_ provincial _authorities_.--MOTLEY.
[Sidenote: _Half abstract._]
He was probably skilled in _the subtleties_ of Italian
statesmanship.--_Id._
[Sidenote: _With adjectives used as nouns._]
181. When _the_ precedes adjectives of the positive degree used
substantively, it marks their use as common and plural nouns when they
refer to persons, and as singular and abstract when they refer to
qualities.
1. _The simple_ rise as by specific levity, not into a particular
virtue, but into the region of all the virtues.--EMERSON.
2. If _the good_ is there, so is _the evil_.--_Id._
[Sidenote: _Caution._]
NOTE.--This is not to be confused with words that have shifted from
adjectives and become pure nouns; as,--
As she hesitated to pass on, _the gallant_, throwing his cloak
from his shoulders, laid it on the miry spot.--SCOTT.
But De Soto was no longer able to abate the confidence or punish
the temerity of _the natives_.--G. BANCROFT.
[Sidenote: _One thing for its class._]
182. _The_ before class nouns may mark one thing as a representative
of the class to which it belongs; for example,--
The faint, silvery warblings heard over the partially bare and
moist fields from _the bluebird_, _the song sparrow_, and _the
redwing_, as if the last flakes of winter tinkled as they
fell!--THOREAU.
In the sands of Africa and Arabia _the camel_ is a sacred and
precious gift.--GIBBON.
[Sidenote: _For possessive person pronouns._]
183. _The_ is frequently used instead of the possessive case of the
personal pronouns _his_, _her_, etc.
More than one hinted that a cord twined around _the head_, or a
match put between _the fingers_, would speedily extract the
required information.--KINGSLEY.
_The_ mouth, and the region of the mouth, were about the
strongest features in Wordsworth's face.--DE QUINCEY.
[Sidenote: The _for_ a.]
184. In England and Scotland _the_ is often used where we use _a_,
in speaking of measure and price; as,--
Wheat, the price of which necessarily varied, averaged in the
middle of the fourteenth century tenpence _the bushel_, barley
averaging at the same time three shillings _the
quarter_.--FROUDE.
[Sidenote: _A very strong restrictive._]
185. Sometimes _the_ has a strong force, almost equivalent to a
descriptive adjective in emphasizing a word,--
No doubt but ye are _the_ people, and wisdom shall die with
you.--_Bible._
As for New Orleans, it seemed to me _the_ city of the world where
you can eat and drink the most and suffer the least.--THACKERAY.
He was _the_ man in all Europe that could (if any could) have
driven six-in-hand full gallop over Al Sirat.--DE QUINCEY.
[Sidenote: _Mark of a substantive._]
186. _The_, since it belongs distinctively to substantives, is a
sure indication that a word of verbal form is not used participially,
but substantively.
In the hills of Sacramento there is gold for _the
gathering_.--EMERSON.
I thought _the writing_ excellent, and wished, if possible, to
imitate it.--FRANKLIN.
[Sidenote: _Caution._]
187. There is one use of _the_ which is different from all the
above. It is an adverbial use, and is spoken of more fully in Sec.
283. Compare this sentence with those above:--
There was something ugly and evil in his face, which they had not
previously noticed, and which grew still _the more obvious_ to
the sight _the oftener_ they looked upon him.--HAWTHORNE.
Exercise.--Find sentences with five uses of the definite article.
USES OF THE INDEFINITE ARTICLE.
[Sidenote: _Denotes any one of a class._]
188. The most frequent use of the indefinite article is to denote
any one of a class or group of objects: consequently it belongs to
singular words; as in the sentence,--
Near the churchyard gate stands _a_ poor-box, fastened to _a_
post by iron bands and secured by _a_ padlock, with _a_ sloping
wooden roof to keep off the rain.--LONGFELLOW
[Sidenote: _Widens the scope of proper nouns._]
189. When the indefinite article precedes proper names, it alters
them to class names. The qualities or attributes of the object are
made prominent, and transferred to any one possessing them; as,--
The vulgar riot and debauchery, which scarcely disgraced _an
Alcibiades_ or _a Cæsar_, have been exchanged for the higher
ideals of _a Bayard_ or _a Sydney_.--PEARSON
[Sidenote: _With abstract nouns._]
190. _An_ or _a_ before abstract nouns often changes them to half
abstract: the idea of quality remains, but the word now denotes only
one instance or example of things possessing the quality.
[Sidenote: _Become half abstract._]
The simple perception of natural forms is _a delight_.--EMERSON
If thou hadst _a sorrow_ of thine own, the brook might tell thee
of it.--HAWTHORNE
In the first sentence, instead of the general abstract notion of
delight, which cannot be singular or plural, _a delight_ means one
thing delightful, and implies others having the same quality.
So _a sorrow_ means one cause of sorrow, implying that there are
other things that bring sorrow.
[Sidenote: _Become pure class nouns._]
NOTE.--Some abstract nouns become common class nouns with the
indefinite article, referring simply to persons; thus,--
If the poet of the "Rape of the Lock" be not _a wit_, who
deserves to be called so?--THACKERAY.
He had a little brother in London with him at this time,--as
great _a beauty_, as great a dandy, as great a villain.--_Id._
_A youth_ to fortune and to fame unknown.--GRAY.
[Sidenote: _Changes material to class nouns._]
191. _An_ or _a_ before a material noun indicates the change to a
class noun, meaning one kind or a detached portion; as,--
They that dwell up in the steeple,...
Feel a glory in so rolling
On the human heart _a stone_.
--POE.
When God at first made man,
Having _a glass_ of blessings standing by.
--HERBERT.
The roofs were turned into arches of massy stone, joined by _a
cement_ that grew harder by time.--JOHNSON.
[Sidenote: _Like the numeral adjective_ one.]
192. In some cases _an_ or _a_ has the full force of the numeral
adjective _one_. It is shown in the following:--
To every room there was _an_ open and _a_ secret
passage.--JOHNSON.
In a short time these become a small tree, _an_ inverted pyramid
resting on the apex of the other.--THOREAU.
All men are at last of _a_ size.--EMERSON.
At the approach of spring the red squirrels got under my house,
two at _a_ time.--THOREAU.
[Sidenote: _Equivalent to the word_ each _or_ every.]
193. Often, also, the indefinite article has the force of _each_ or
_every_, particularly to express measure or frequency.
It would be so much more pleasant to live at his ease than to
work eight or ten hours _a day_.--BULWER
[Sidenote: _Compare to Sec. 184._]
Strong beer, such as we now buy for eighteenpence _a gallon_, was
then a penny _a gallon_.--FROUDE
[Sidenote: _With_ such, many, what.]
194. _An_ or _a_ is added to the adjectives _such_, _many_, and
_what_, and may be considered a part of these in modifying
substantives.
How was I to pay _such a_ debt?--THACKERAY.
_Many a_ one you and I have had here below.--THACKERAY.
_What a_ world of merriment then melody foretells!--POE.
[Sidenote: _With_ not _and_ many.]
195 LIST III.
A few of comparative form but not comparative meaning:--
After Over Under Nether.
_Not_ and _never_ with _a_ or _an_ are numeral adjectives,
instead of adverbs, which they are in general.
_Not a_ drum was heard, _not a_ funeral note.--WOLFE
My Lord Duke was as hot as a flame at this salute, but said
_never a_ word.--THACKERAY.
NOTE.--All these have the function of adjectives; but in the last
analysis of the expressions, _such_, _many_, _not_, etc., might be
considered as adverbs modifying the article.
[Sidenote: _With_ few _or_ little.]
196. The adjectives _few_ and _little_ have the negative meaning of
_not much_, _not many_, without the article; but when _a_ is put
before them, they have the positive meaning of _some_. Notice the
contrast in the following sentences:--
Of the country beyond the Mississippi _little_ more was known
than of the heart of Africa.--MCMASTER
To both must I of necessity cling, supported always by the hope
that when _a little_ time, _a few_ years, shall have tried me
more fully in their esteem, I may be able to bring them
together.--_Keats's Letters_.
_Few_ of the great characters of history have been so differently
judged as Alexander.--SMITH, _History of Greece_
[Sidenote: _With adjectives, changed to nouns_.]
197. When _the_ is used before adjectives with no substantive
following (Sec. 181 and note), these words are adjectives used as
nouns, or pure nouns; but when _an_ or _a_ precedes such words, they
are always nouns, having the regular use and inflections of nouns; for
example,--
Such are the words _a brave_ should use.--COOPER.
In the great society of wits, John Gay deserves to be _a
favorite_, and to have a good place.--THACKERAY
Only the name of one obscure epigrammatist has been embalmed for
use in the verses of _a rival_.--PEARSON.
Exercise.--Bring up sentences with five uses of the indefinite
article.
HOW TO PARSE ARTICLES.
198. In parsing the article, tell--
(1) What word it limits.
(2) Which of the above uses it has.
Exercise.
Parse the articles in the following:--
1. It is like gathering a few pebbles off the ground, or bottling
a little air in a phial, when the whole earth and the whole
atmosphere are ours.
2. Aristeides landed on the island with a body of Hoplites,
defeated the Persians and cut them to pieces to a man.
3. The wild fire that lit the eye of an Achilles can gleam no
more.
4. But it is not merely the neighborhood of the cathedral that is
mediæval; the whole city is of a piece.
5. To the herdsman among his cattle in remote woods, to the
craftsman in his rude workshop, to the great and to the little, a
new light has arisen.
6. When the manners of Loo are heard of, the stupid become
intelligent, and the wavering, determined.
7. The student is to read history actively, and not passively.
8. This resistance was the labor of his life.
9. There was always a hope, even in the darkest hour.
10. The child had a native grace that does not invariably coexist
with faultless beauty.
11. I think a mere gent (which I take to be the lowest form of
civilization) better than a howling, whistling, clucking,
stamping, jumping, tearing savage.
12. Every fowl whom Nature has taught to dip the wing in water.
13. They seem to be lines pretty much of a length.
14. Only yesterday, but what a gulf between now and then!
15. Not a brick was made but some man had to think of the making
of that brick.
16. The class of power, the working heroes, the Cortes, the
Nelson, the Napoleon, see that this is the festivity and
permanent celebration of such as they; that fashion is funded
talent.
VERBS AND VERBALS..
VERBS.
[Sidenote: _Verb,--the word of the sentence._]
199. The term _verb_ is from the Latin _verbum_ meaning _word_:
hence it is _the_ word of a sentence. A thought cannot be expressed
without a verb. When the child cries, "Apple!" it means, _See_ the
apple! or I _have_ an apple! In the mariner's shout, "A sail!" the
meaning is, "Yonder _is_ a sail!"
Sentences are in the form of declarations, questions, or commands; and
none of these can be put before the mind without the use of a verb.
[Sidenote: _One group or a group of words._]
200. The verb may not always be a single word. On account of the
lack of inflections, _verb phrases_ are very frequent. Hence the verb
may consist of:
(1) _One word_; as, "The young man _obeyed_."
(2) _Several words of verbal nature, making one expression_; as, (_a_)
"Some day it _may be considered_ reasonable," (_b_) "Fearing lest he
_might have been anticipated_."
(3) _One or more verbal words united with other words to compose one
verb phrase_: as in the sentences, (_a_) "They knew well that this
woman _ruled over_ thirty millions of subjects;" (_b_) "If all the
flummery and extravagance of an army _were done away with_, the money
could be made to go much further;" (_c_) "It is idle cant to pretend
anxiety for the better distribution of wealth until we can devise
means by which this preying upon people of small incomes _can be put a
stop to_."
In (_a_), a verb and a preposition are used as one verb; in (_b_), a
verb, an adverb, and a preposition unite as a verb; in (_c_), an
article, a noun, a preposition, are united with verbs as one verb
phrase.
[Sidenote: _Definition and caution._]
201. A verb is a word used as a predicate, to say something to or
about some person or thing. In giving a definition, we consider a verb
as one word.
Now, it is indispensable to the nature of a verb that it is "a word
used as a predicate." Examine the sentences in Sec. 200: In (1),
_obeyed_ is a predicate; in (2, _a_), _may be considered_ is a unit in
doing the work of one predicate; in (2, _b_), _might have been
anticipated_ is also one predicate, but _fearing_ is not a predicate,
hence is not a verb; in (3, _b_), _to go_ is no predicate, and not a
verb; in (3, _c_), _to pretend_ and _preying_ have something of
verbal nature in expressing action in a faint and general way, but
cannot be predicates.
In the sentence, "_Put_ money in thy purse," _put_ is the predicate,
with some word understood; as, "Put _thou_ money in thy purse."
VERBS CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO MEANING AND USE.
TRANSITIVE AND INTRANSITIVE VERBS.
[Sidenote: _The nature of the transitive verb._]
202. By examining a few verbs, it may be seen that not all verbs are
used alike. All do not express action: some denote state or condition.
Of those expressing action, all do not express it in the same way; for
example, in this sentence from Bulwer,--"The proud lone _took_ care to
conceal the anguish she _endured_; and the pride of woman _has_ an
hypocrisy which _can deceive_ the most penetrating, and _shame_ the
most astute,"--every one of the verbs in Italics has one or more words
before or after it, representing something which it influences or
controls. In the first, lone _took_ what? answer, _care_; _endured_
what? _anguish_; etc. Each influences some object, which may be a
person, or a material thing, or an idea. _Has_ takes the object
_hypocrisy_; _can deceive_ has an object, _the most penetrating_;
(can) _shame_ also has an object, _the most astute_.
In each case, the word following, or the object, is necessary to the
completion of the action expressed in the verb.
All these are called transitive verbs, from the Latin _transire_,
which means _to go over_. Hence
[Sidenote: _Definition._]
203. A transitive verb is one which must have an object to complete
its meaning, and to receive the action expressed.
[Sidenote: _The nature of intransitive verbs._]
204. Examine the verbs in the following paragraph:--
She _sprang up_ at that thought, and, taking the staff which
always guided her steps, she _hastened_ to the neighboring shrine
of Isis. Till she _had been_ under the guardianship of the kindly
Greek, that staff _had sufficed_ to conduct the poor blind girl
from corner to corner of Pompeii.--BULWER
In this there are some verbs unlike those that have been examined.
_Sprang_, or _sprang up_, expresses action, but it is complete in
itself, does not affect an object; _hastened_ is similar in use; _had
been_ expresses condition, or state of being, and can have no object;
_had sufficed_ means _had been sufficient_, and from its meaning
cannot have an object.
Such verbs are called intransitive (not crossing over). Hence
[Sidenote: _Definition._]
205. An intransitive verb is one which is complete in itself, or
which is completed by other words without requiring an object.
[Sidenote: _Study_ use, _not_ form, _of verbs here._]
206. Many verbs can be either transitive or intransitive, according to
their use in the sentence, It can be said, "The boy _walked_ for two
hours," or "The boy _walked_ the horse;" "The rains _swelled_ the
river," or "The river _swelled_ because of the rain;" etc.
The important thing to observe is, many words must be distinguished as
transitive or intransitive by _use_, not by _form_.
207. Also verbs are sometimes made transitive by prepositions.
These may be (1) compounded with the verb; or (2) may follow the verb,
and be used as an integral part of it: for example,--
Asking her pardon for having _withstood_ her.--SCOTT.
I can wish myself no worse than to have it all to _undergo_ a
second time.--KINGSLEY.
A weary gloom in the deep caverns of his eyes, as of a child that
has _outgrown_ its playthings.--HAWTHORNE.
It is amusing to walk up and down the pier and _look at_ the
countenances passing by.--B. TAYLOR.
He was at once so out of the way, and yet so sensible, that I
loved, _laughed at_, and pitied him.--GOLDSMITH.
My little nurse told me the whole matter, which she had cunningly
_picked out_ from her mother.--SWIFT.
Exercises.
(_a_) Pick out the transitive and the intransitive verbs in the
following:--
1. The women and children collected together at a distance.
2. The path to the fountain led through a grassy savanna.
3. As soon as I recovered my senses and strength from so sudden a
surprise, I started back out of his reach where I stood to view him;
he lay quiet whilst I surveyed him.
4. At first they lay a floor of this kind of tempered mortar on the
ground, upon which they deposit a layer of eggs.
5. I ran my bark on shore at one of their landing places, which was a
sort of neck or little dock, from which ascended a sloping path or
road up to the edge of the meadow, where their nests were; most of
them were deserted, and the great thick whitish eggshells lay broken
and scattered upon the ground.
6. Accordingly I got everything on board, charged my gun, set sail
cautiously, along shore. As I passed by Battle Lagoon, I began to
tremble.
7. I seized my gun, and went cautiously from my camp: when I had
advanced about thirty yards, I halted behind a coppice of orange
trees, and soon perceived two very large bears, which had made their
way through the water and had landed in the grove, and were advancing
toward me.
(_b_) Bring up sentences with five transitive and five intransitive
verbs.
VOICE, ACTIVE AND PASSIVE.
[Sidenote: _Meaning of active voice._]
208. As has been seen, transitive verbs are the only kind that can
express action so as to go over to an object. This implies three
things,--the agent, or person or thing acting; the verb representing
the action; the person or object receiving the act.
In the sentence, "We reached the village of Sorgues by dusk, and
accepted the invitation of an old dame to lodge at her inn," these
three things are found: the actor, or agent, is expressed by _we_; the
action is asserted by _reached_ and _accepted_; the things acted upon
are _village_ and _invitation_. Here the subject is represented as
doing something. The same word is the subject and the agent. This use
of a transitive verb is called the active voice.
[Sidenote: _Definition._]
209. The active voice is that form of a verb which represents the
subject as acting; or
The active voice is that form of a transitive verb which makes the
_subject_ and the _agent_ the same word.
[Sidenote: _A question._]
210. Intransitive verbs are _always active voice_. Let the student
explain why.
[Sidenote: _Meaning of passive voice._]
211. In the assertion of an action, it would be natural to suppose,
that, instead of always representing the subject as acting upon some
person or thing, it must often happen that the subject is spoken of as
_acted upon_; and the person or thing acting may or may not be
expressed in the sentence: for example,--
All infractions of love and equity in our social relations are
speedily punished. They are punished by fear.--EMERSON.
Here the subject _infractions_ does nothing: it represents the object
toward which the action of _are punished_ is directed, yet it is the
subject of the same verb. In the first sentence the agent is not
expressed; in the second, _fear_ is the agent of the same action.
So that in this case, instead of having the agent and subject the same
word, we have the _object_ and _subject_ the same word, and the agent
may be omitted from the statement of the action.
_Passive_ is from the Latin word _patior_, meaning _to endure_ or
_suffer_; but in ordinary grammatical use _passive_ means _receiving
an action_.
[Sidenote: _Definition._]
212. The passive voice is that form of the verb which represents the
subject as being acted upon; or--
The passive voice is that form of the verb which represents the
_subject_ and the _object_ by the same word.
Exercises.
(_a_) Pick out the verbs in the active and the passive voice:--
1. In the large room some forty or fifty students were walking about
while the parties were preparing.
2. This was done by taking off the coat and vest and binding a great
thick leather garment on, which reached to the knees.
3. They then put on a leather glove reaching nearly to the shoulder,
tied a thick cravat around the throat, and drew on a cap with a large
visor.
4. This done, they were walked about the room a short time; their
faces all this time betrayed considerable anxiety.
5. We joined the crowd, and used our lungs as well as any.
6. The lakes were soon covered with merry skaters, and every afternoon
the banks were crowded with spectators.
7. People were setting up torches and lengthening the rafts which had
been already formed.
8. The water was first brought in barrels drawn by horses, till some
officer came and opened the fire plug.
9. The exclusive in fashionable life does not see that he excludes
himself from enjoyment, in the attempt to appropriate it.
(_b_) Find sentences with five verbs in the active and five in the
passive voice.
MOOD.
[Sidenote: _Definition._]
213. The word _mood_ is from the Latin _modus_, meaning _manner_,
_way_, _method_. Hence, when applied to verbs,--
Mood means the manner of conceiving and expressing action or being
of some subject.
[Sidenote: _The three ways._]
214. There are three chief ways of expressing action or being:--
(1) As a fact; this may be a question, statement, or assumption.
(2) As doubtful, or merely conceived of in the mind.
(3) As urged or commanded.
INDICATIVE MOOD.
[Sidenote: _Deals with facts._]
215. The term _indicative_ is from the Latin _indicare_ (to declare,
or assert). The indicative represents something as a fact,--
[Sidenote: _Affirms or denies._]
(1) _By declaring a thing to be true or not to be true_; thus,--
Distinction _is_ the consequence, never the object, of a great
mind.--ALLSTON.
I _do not remember_ when or by whom I _was taught_ to read;
because I _cannot_ and never _could recollect_ a time when I
_could not read_ my Bible.--D. WEBSTER.
[Sidenote: _Assumed as a fact._]
[Sidenote: _Caution._]
(2) _By assuming a thing to be true_ without declaring it to be so.
This kind of indicative clause is usually introduced by _if_ (meaning
_admitting that, granting that_, etc.), _though, although_, etc.
Notice that the action is not merely conceived as possible; it is
assumed to be a fact: for example,--
If the penalties of rebellion hung over an unsuccessful contest;
if America was yet in the cradle of her political existence; if
her population little exceeded two millions; if she was without
government, without fleets or armies, arsenals or magazines,
without military knowledge,--still her citizens had a just and
elevated sense of her rights.--A. HAMILTON.
(3) _By asking a question to find out some fact_; as,--
Is private credit the friend and patron of industry?--HAMILTON.
With respect to novels what shall I say?--N. WEBSTER.
[Sidenote: _Definition._]
216 .The indicative mood is that form of a verb which represents a
thing as a fact, or inquires about some fact.
SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD.
[Sidenote: _Meaning of the word._]
217. _Subjunctive_ means _subjoined_, or joined as dependent or
subordinate to something else.
[Sidenote: _This meaning is misleading._]
If its original meaning be closely adhered to, we must expect every
dependent clause to have its verb in the subjunctive mood, and every
clause _not_ dependent to have its verb in some other mood.
But this is not the case. In the quotation from Hamilton (Sec. 215, 2)
several subjoined clauses introduced by _if_ have the indicative mood,
and also independent clauses are often found having the verb in the
subjunctive mood.
[Sidenote: _Cautions._]
Three cautions will be laid down which must be observed by a student
who wishes to understand and use the English subjunctive:--
(1) You cannot tell it always by the form of the word. The main
difference is, that the subjunctive has no _-s_ as the ending of the
present tense, third person singular; as, "If he _come_."
(2) The fact that its clause is dependent or is introduced by certain
words will not be a safe rule to guide you.
(3) The _meaning_ of the verb itself must be keenly studied.
[Sidenote: _Definition._]
218. The subjunctive mood is that form or use of the verb which
expresses action or being, not as a fact, but as merely conceived of
in the mind.
Subjunctive in Independent Clauses.
I. Expressing a Wish.
219. The following are examples of this use:--
Heaven _rest_ her soul!--MOORE.
God _grant_ you find one face there You loved when all was
young.--KINGSLEY.
Now _tremble_ dimples on your cheek, Sweet _be_ your lips to
taste and speak.--BEDDOES.
Long _die_ thy happy days before thy death.--SHAKESPEARE.
II. A Contingent Declaration or Question.
220. This really amounts to the conclusion, or principal clause, in
a sentence, of which the condition is omitted.
Our chosen specimen of the hero as literary man [if we were to
choose one] _would be_ this Goethe.--CARLYLE.
I _could lie_ down like a tired child,
And _weep_ away the life of care
Which I have borne and yet must bear.--SHELLEY.
Most excellent stranger, as you come to the lakes simply to see
their loveliness, _might_ it not _be_ as well to ask after the
most beautiful road, rather than the shortest?--DE QUINCEY.
Subjunctive in Dependent Clauses.
I. Condition or Supposition.
221. The most common way of representing the action or being as
merely thought of, is by putting it into the form of a _supposition_
or _condition_; as,--
Now, if the fire of electricity and that of lightning _be_ the
same, this pasteboard and these scales may represent electrified
clouds.--FRANKLIN.
Here no assertion is made that the two things _are_ the same; but, if
the reader merely _conceives_ them for the moment to be the same, the
writer can make the statement following. Again,--
If it _be_ Sunday [supposing it to be Sunday], the peasants sit
on the church steps and con their psalm books.--LONGFELLOW.
STUDY OF CONDITIONAL SENTENCES.
222. There are three kinds of conditional sentences:--
[Sidenote: _Real or true._]
(1) Those in which an assumed or admitted fact is placed before the
mind in the form of a condition (see Sec. 215, 2); for example,--
If they _were_ unacquainted with the works of philosophers and
poets, they were deeply read in the oracles of God. If their
names _were not found_ in the registers of heralds, they were
recorded in the Book of Life.--MACAULAY.
[Sidenote: _Ideal,--may or may not be true._]
(2) Those in which the condition depends on something uncertain, and
_may or may not be regarded true, or be fulfilled_; as,--
If, in our case, the representative system ultimately _fail_,
popular government must be pronounced impossible.--D. WEBSTER.
If this _be_ the glory of Julius, the first great founder of the
Empire, so it is also the glory of Charlemagne, the second
founder.--BRYCE.
If any man _consider_ the present aspects of what is called by
distinction society, he will see the need of these ethics.
--EMERSON.
[Sidenote: _Unreal--cannot be true._]
(3) Suppositions _contrary to fact_, which cannot be true, or
conditions that cannot be fulfilled, but are presented only in order
to suggest what _might be_ or _might have been_ true; thus,--
If these things _were_ true, society could not hold together.
--LOWELL.
_Did not_ my writings _produce_ me some solid pudding, the great
deficiency of praise would have quite discouraged me.--FRANKLIN.
_Had_ he for once _cast_ all such feelings aside, and _striven_
energetically to save Ney, it _would have cast_ such an enhancing
light over all his glories, that we cannot but regret its
absence.--BAYNE.
NOTE.--Conditional sentences are usually introduced by _if_,
_though_, _except_, _unless_, etc.; but when the verb precedes
the subject, the conjunction is often omitted: for example,
"_Were I bidden_ to say how the highest genius could be most
advantageously employed," etc.
Exercise.
In the following conditional clauses, tell whether each verb is
indicative or subjunctive, and what kind of condition:--
1. The voice, if he speak to you, is of similar physiognomy,
clear, melodious, and sonorous.--CARLYLE.
2. Were you so distinguished from your neighbors, would you, do
you think, be any the happier?--THACKERAY.
3. Epaminondas, if he was the man I take him for, would have sat
still with joy and peace, if his lot had been mine.--EMERSON.
4. If a damsel had the least smattering of literature, she was
regarded as a prodigy.--MACAULAY.
5. I told him, although it were the custom of our learned in
Europe to steal inventions from each other,... yet I would take
such caution that he should have the honor entire.--SWIFT.
6. If he had reason to dislike him, he had better not have
written, since he [Byron] was dead.--N.P. WILLIS.
7. If it were prostrated to the ground by a profane hand, what
native of the city would not mourn over its fall?--GAYARRE.
8. But in no case could it be justified, except it be for a
failure of the association or union to effect the object for
which it was created.--CALHOUN.
II. Subjunctive of Purpose.
223. The subjunctive, especially _be_, _may_, _might_, and _should_,
is used to express purpose, the clause being introduced by _that_ or
_lest_; as,--
It was necessary, he supposed, to drink strong beer, that he
_might be_ strong to labor.--FRANKLIN.
I have been the more particular...that you _may compare_ such
unlikely beginnings with the figure I have since made
there.--_Id._
He [Roderick] with sudden impulse that way rode, To tell of what
had passed, lest in the strife They _should engage_ with Julian's
men.--SOUTHEY.
III. Subjunctive of Result.
224. The subjunctive may represent the result toward which an action
tends:--
So many thoughts move to and fro,
That vain it _were_ her eyes to close.
--COLERIDGE.
So live, that when thy summons comes to join
The innumerable caravan...
Thou _go_ not, like the quarry-slave at night.
--BRYANT.
IV. In Temporal Clauses.
225. The English subjunctive, like the Latin, is sometimes used in a
clause to express the time when an action is to take place.
Let it rise, till it _meet_ the sun in his coming.--D. WEBSTER.
Rise up, before it _be_ too late!--HAWTHORNE.
But it will not be long
Ere this _be thrown_ aside.
--WORDSWORTH.
V. In Indirect Questions.
226. The subjunctive is often found in indirect questions, the
answer being regarded as doubtful.
Ask the great man if there _be_ none greater.--EMERSON
What the best arrangement _were_, none of us could say.--CARLYLE.
Whether it _were_ morning or whether it _were_ afternoon, in her
confusion she had not distinctly known.--DE QUINCEY.
VI. Expressing a Wish.
227. After a verb of wishing, the subjunctive is regularly used in
the dependent clause.
The transmigiation of souls is no fable. I would it _were_!
--EMERSON.
Bright star! Would I _were_ steadfast as thou art!--KEATS.
I've wished that little isle _had_ wings,
And we, within its fairy bowers,
_Were wafted_ off to seas unknown.
--MOORE.
VII. In a Noun Clause.
[Sidenote: _Subject._]
228. The noun clause, in its various uses as subject, object, in
apposition, etc., often contains a subjunctive.
The essence of originality is not that it _be_ new.--CARLYLE
[Sidenote: _Apposition or logical subject._]
To appreciate the wild and sharp flavors of those October fruits,
it is necessary that you _be breathing_ the sharp October or
November air.--THOREAU.
[Sidenote: _Complement._]
The first merit, that which admits neither substitute nor
equivalent, is, that everything _be_ in its place.--COLERIDGE.
[Sidenote: _Object._]
As sure as Heaven shall rescue me, I have no thought what men
they _be_.--COLERIDGE.
Some might lament that I _were_ cold.--SHELLEY.
[Sidenote: _After verbs of commanding._]
This subjunctive is very frequent after verbs of _commanding_.
See that there _be_ no traitors in your camp.--TENNYSON.
Come, tell me all that thou hast seen,
And look thou _tell_ me true.
--SCOTT.
See that thy scepter _be_ heavy on his head.--DE QUINCEY.
VIII. Concessive Clauses.
229. The concession may be expressed--
(1) In the nature of the verb; for example,--
_Be_ the matter how it may, Gabriel Grub was afflicted with
rheumatism to the end of his days.--DICKENS.
_Be_ the appeal _made_ to the understanding or the heart, the
sentence is the same--that rejects it.--BROUGHAM
(2) By an indefinite relative word, which may be
(_a_) _Pronoun._
Whatever _betide_, we'll turn aside,
And see the Braes of Yarrow.
--WORDSWORTH.
(_b_) _Adjective._
That hunger of applause, of cash, or whatsoever victual it _may
be_, is the ultimate fact of man's life.--CARLYLE.
(_c_) _Adverb._
Wherever he _dream_ under mountain or stream,
The spirit he loves remains.
--SHELLEY.
Prevalence of the Subjunctive Mood.
230. As shown by the wide range of literature from which these
examples are selected, the subjunctive is very much used in literary
English, especially by those who are artistic and exact in the
expression of their thought.
At the present day, however, the subjunctive is becoming less and
less used. Very many of the sentences illustrating the use of the
subjunctive mood could be replaced by numerous others using the
indicative to express the same thoughts.
The three uses of the subjunctive now most frequent are, to express a
wish, a concession, and condition contrary to fact.
In spoken English, the subjunctive _were_ is much used in a wish or a
condition contrary to fact, but hardly any other subjunctive forms
are.
It must be remembered, though, that many of the verbs in the
subjunctive have the same form as the indicative. Especially is this
true of unreal conditions in past time; for example,--
Were we of open sense as the Greeks were, we _had found_ [should
have found] a poem here.--CARLYLE.
IMPERATIVE MOOD.
[Sidenote: _Definition._]
231. The imperative mood is the form of the verb used in direct
commands, entreaties, or requests.
[Sidenote: _Usually second person._]
232. The imperative is naturally used mostly with the second
person, since commands are directed to a person addressed.
(1) _Command._
_Call up_ the shades of Demosthenes and Cicero to vouch for your
words; _point_ to their immortal works.--J.Q. ADAMS.
_Honor_ all men; _love_ all men; _fear_ none.--CHANNING.
(2) _Entreaty._
Oh, from these sterner aspects of thy face
_Spare_ me and mine, nor _let_ us need the wrath
Of the mad unchained elements.
--BRYANT.
(3) _Request._
"_Hush_! mother," whispered Kit. "_Come_ along with me."--DICKENS
_Tell_ me, how was it you thought of coming here?--_Id._
[Sidenote: _Sometimes with_ first person _in the plural_.]
But the imperative may be used with the plural of the first person.
Since the first person plural person is not really I + I, but I + you,
or I + they, etc., we may use the imperative with _we_ in a command,
request, etc., to _you_ implied in it. This is scarcely ever found
outside of poetry.
_Part we_ in friendship from your land,
And, noble earl, receive my hand.
--SCOTT.
Then _seek we_ not their camp--for there
The silence dwells of my despair.
--CAMPBELL.
_Break we_ our watch up.--SHAKESPEARE.
Usually this is expressed by _let_ with the objective: "_Let_ us go."
And the same with the third person: "_Let_ him be accursed."
Exercises on the Moods.
(_a_) Tell the mood of each verb in these sentences, and what special
use it is of that mood:--
1. Wherever the standard of freedom and independence has been or
shall be unfurled, there will her heart and her prayers be.
2. Mark thou this difference, child of earth!
While each performs his part,
Not all the lip can speak is worth
The silence of the heart.
3. Oh, that I might be admitted to thy presence! that mine were
the supreme delight of knowing thy will!
4. 'Twere worth ten years of peaceful life,
One glance at their array!
5. Whatever inconvenience ensue, nothing is to be preferred
before justice.
6. The vigorous sun would catch it up at eve
And use it for an anvil till he had filled
The shelves of heaven with burning thunderbolts.
7. Meet is it changes should control
Our being, lest we rust in ease.
8. Quoth she, "The Devil take the goose,
And God forget the stranger!"
9. Think not that I speak for your sakes.
10. "Now tread we a measure!" said young Lochinvar.
11. Were that a just return? Were that Roman magnanimity?
12. Well; how he may do his work, whether he do it right or
wrong, or do it at all, is a point which no man in the world has
taken the pains to think of.
13. He is, let him live where else he like, in what pomps and
prosperities he like, no literary man.
14. Could we one day complete the immense figure which these
flagrant points compose!
15. "Oh, then, my dear madam," cried he, "tell me where I may
find my poor, ruined, but repentant child."
16. That sheaf of darts, will it not fall unbound,
Except, disrobed of thy vain earthly vaunt,
Thou bring it to be blessed where saints and angels haunt?
17. Forget thyself to marble, till
With a sad leaden downward cast
Thou fix them on the earth as fast.
18. He, as though an instrument,
Blew mimic hootings to the silent owls,
That they might answer him.
19. From the moss violets and jonquils peep,
And dart their arrowy odor through the brain,
Till you might faint with that delicious pain.
20. That a man parade his doubt, and get to imagine that debating
and logic is the triumph and true work of what intellect he has;
alas! this is as if you should overturn the tree.
21. The fat earth feed thy branchy root
That under deeply strikes!
The northern morning o'er thee shoot,
High up in silver spikes!
22. Though abyss open under abyss, and opinion displace opinion,
all are at last contained in the Eternal cause.
23. God send Rome one such other sight!
24. "Mr. Marshall," continued Old Morgan, "see that no one
mentions the United States to the prisoner."
25. If there is only one woman in the nation who claims the right
to vote, she ought to have it.
26. Though he were dumb, it would speak.
27. Meantime, whatever she did,--whether it were in display of
her own matchless talents, or whether it were as one member of a
general party,--nothing could exceed the amiable, kind, and
unassuming deportment of Mrs. Siddons.
28. It makes a great difference to the force of any sentence
whether there be a man behind it or no.
(_b_) Find sentences with five verbs in the indicative mood, five in
the subjunctive, five in the imperative.
TENSE.
[Sidenote: _Definition._]
233. _Tense_ means _time_. The tense of a verb is the form or use
indicating the time of an action or being.
[Sidenote: _Tenses in English._]
Old English had only two tenses,--the present tense, which represented
present and future time; and the past tense. We still use the present
for the future in such expressions as, "I _go_ away to-morrow;" "If he
_comes_, tell him to wait."
But English of the present day not only has a tense for each of the
natural time divisions,--present, past, and future,--but has other
tenses to correspond with those of highly inflected languages, such as
Latin and Greek.
The distinct inflections are found only in the present and past
tenses, however: the others are compounds of verbal forms with
various helping verbs, called auxiliaries; such as _be_, _have_,
_shall_, _will_.
[Sidenote: _The tenses in detail._]
234. Action or being may be represented as occurring in present,
past, or future time, by means of the present, the past, and the
future tense. It may also be represented as _finished_ in present or
past or future time by means of the present perfect, past perfect, and
future perfect tenses.
Not only is this so: there are what are called definite forms of
these tenses, showing more exactly the time of the action or being.
These make the English speech even more exact than other languages, as
will be shown later on, in the conjugations.
PERSON AND NUMBER.
235. The English verb has never had full inflections for number and
person, as the classical languages have.
When the older pronoun _thou_ was in use, there was a form of the verb
to correspond to it, or agree with it, as, "Thou walk_est_," present;
"Thou walked_st_," past; also, in the third person singular, a form
ending in -_eth_, as, "It is not in man that walk_eth_, to direct his
steps."
But in ordinary English of the present day there is practically only
one ending for person and number. This is the third person, singular
number; as, "He walk_s_;" and this only in the present tense
indicative. This is important in questions of agreement when we come
to syntax.
CONJUGATION.
[Sidenote: _Definition._]
236. Conjugation is the regular arrangement of the forms of the
verb in the various voices, moods, tenses, persons, and numbers.
In classical languages, conjugation means _joining together_ the
numerous endings to the stem of the verb; but in English, inflections
are so few that conjugation means merely the exhibition of the forms
and the different verb phrases that express the relations of voice,
mood, tense, etc.
[Sidenote: _Few forms._]
237. Verbs in modern English have only four or five forms; for
example, _walk_ has _walk_, _walks_, _walked_, _walking_, sometimes
adding the old forms _walkest_, _walkedst_, _walketh_. Such verbs as
_choose_ have five,--_choose_, _chooses_, _chose_, _choosing_,
_chosen_ (old, _choosest_, _chooseth_, _chosest_).
The verb _be_ has more forms, since it is composed of several
different roots,--_am_, _are_, _is_, _were_, _been_, etc.
238. INFLECTIONS OF THE VERB _BE_.
Indicative Mood.
PRESENT TENSE. | PAST TENSE.
|
_Singular_ _Plural_ | _Singular_ _Plural_
|
1. I am We are | 1. I was We were
2. You are You are | 2. You were You were
(thou art) | (thou wast, wert)
3. [He] is [They] are | 3. [He] was [They were]
Subjunctive Mood.
PRESENT TENSE. | PAST TENSE.
|
_Singular_ _Plural_ | _Singular_ _Plural_
|
1. I be We be | 1. I were We were
2. You (thou) be You be | 2. You were You were
| (thou wert)
3. [He] be [They] be | 3. [He] were [They] were
Imperative Mood.
PRESENT TENSE, _Singular and Plural_, Be.
[Sidenote: _Remarks on the verb_ be.]
239. This conjugation is pieced out with three different roots: (1)
_am_, _is_; (2) _was_, _were_; (3) _be_.
Instead of the plural _are_, Old English had _beoth_ and _sind_ or
_sindon_, same as the German _sind_. _Are_ is supposed to have come
from the Norse language.
The old indicative third person plural _be_ is sometimes found in
literature, though it is usually a dialect form; for example,--
Where _be_ the sentries who used to salute as the Royal chariots
drove in and out?--THACKERAY
Where _be_ the gloomy shades, and desolate mountains?--WHITTIER
[Sidenote: _Uses of_ be.]
240. The forms of the verb _be_ have several uses:--
(1) _As principal verbs._
The light that never _was_ on sea and land.--WORDSWORTH.
(2) _As auxiliary verbs_, in four ways,--
(_a_) With verbal forms in _-ing_ (imperfect participle) to form the
definite tenses.
Broadswords _are maddening_ in the rear,--Each broadsword bright
_was brandishing_ like beam of light.--SCOTT.
(_b_) With the past participle in _-ed_, _-en_, etc., to form the
passive voice.
By solemn vision and bright silver dream,
His infancy _was nurtured_.
--SHELLEY.
(_c_) With past participle of intransitive verbs, being equivalent to
the present perfect and past perfect tenses active; as,
When we _are gone_
From every object dear to mortal sight.
--WORDSWORTH
We drank tea, which _was_ now _become_ an occasional
banquet.--GOLDSMITH.
(_d_) With the infinitive, to express intention, obligation,
condition, etc.; thus,
It _was to have been called_ the Order of Minerva.--THACKERAY.
Ingenuity and cleverness _are to be rewarded_ by State
prizes.--_Id._
If I _were to explain_ the motion of a body falling to the
ground.--BURKE
241. INFLECTIONS OF THE VERB _CHOOSE_.
Indicative Mood.
PRESENT TENSE.
_Singular._ _Plural._
1. I choose We choose
2. You choose You choose
3. [He] chooses [They] choose
PAST TENSE.
_Singular._ _Plural._
1. I chose We chose
2. You chose You chose
3. [He] chose [They] chose
Subjunctive Mood.
PRESENT TENSE.
_Singular._ _Plural._
1. I choose We choose
2. You choose You choose
3. [He] choose [They] choose
PAST TENSE.
_Singular._ _Plural._
1. I chose We chose
2. You chose You chose
3. [He] chose [They] chose
Imperative Mood.
PRESENT TENSE, _Singular and Plural_, Choose.
FULL CONJUGATION OF THE VERB _CHOOSE_.
[Sidenote: _Machinery of a verb in the voices, tenses, etc._]
242. In addition to the above _inflected_ forms, there are many
periphrastic or _compound_ forms, made up of auxiliaries with the
infinitives and participles. Some of these have been indicated in
Sec. 240, (2).
The ordinary tenses yet to be spoken of are made up as follows:--
(1) _Future tense_, by using _shall_ and _will_ with the simple or
root form of the verb; as, "I _shall be_," "He _will choose._"
(2) _Present perfect_, _past perfect_, _future perfect_, tenses, by
placing _have_, _had_, and _shall_ (or _will_) _have_ before the past
participle of any verb; as, "I _have gone_" (present perfect), "I _had
gone_" (past perfect), "I _shall have gone_" (future perfect).
(3) The _definite form_ of each tense, by using auxiliaries with the
imperfect participle active; as, "I _am running_," "They _had been
running_."
(4) The _passive forms_, by using the forms of the verb _be_ before
the past participle of verbs; as, "I _was chosen_," "You _are
chosen_."
243. The following scheme will show how rich our language is in verb
phrases to express every variety of meaning. Only the third person,
singular number, of each tense, will be given.
ACTIVE VOICE.
Indicative Mood.
_Present._ He chooses.
_Present definite._ He is choosing.
_Past._ He chose.
_Past definite._ He was choosing.
_Future._ He will choose.
_Future definite._ He will he choosing.
_Present perfect._ He has chosen.
_Present perfect definite._ He has been choosing.
_Past perfect._ He had chosen.
_Past perfect definite._ He had been choosing.
_Future perfect._ He will have chosen.
_Future perfect definite._ He will have been choosing.
Subjunctive Mood.
_Present._ [If, though, he choose.
_Present definite._ lest, etc.] he be choosing.
_Past._ " he chose (or were to choose).
_Past definite._ " he were choosing
(or were to be choosing).
_Present perfect._ " he have chosen.
_Present perfect definite._ " he have been choosing.
_Past perfect._ " Same as indicative.
_Past perfect definite._ " " "
Imperative Mood.
_Present._ (2d per.) Choose.
_Present definite._ " Be choosing.
NOTE.--Since participles and infinitives are not really verbs, but
verbals, they will be discussed later (Sec. 262).
PASSIVE VOICE.
Indicative Mood.
_Present._ He is chosen.
_Present definite._ He is being chosen.
_Past._ He was chosen.
_Past definite._ He was being chosen.
_Future._ He will be chosen.
_Future definite._ None.
_Present perfect._ He has been chosen.
_Present perfect definite._ None.
_Past perfect._ He had been chosen.
_Past perfect definite._ None.
_Future perfect._ He will have been chosen.
_Future perfect definite._ None.
Subjunctive Mood.
_Present._. [If, though, he be chosen.
_Present definite._ lest, etc.] None.
_Past._ " he were chosen
(or were to be chosen).
_Past definite._ " he were being chosen.
_Present perfect._ " he have been chosen.
_Present perfect definite._ " None.
_Past Perfect._ " he had been chosen.
_Past perfect definite._ " None.
Imperative Mood.
_Present tense._ (2d per.) Be chosen.
Also, in _affirmative sentences_, the indicative present and past
tenses have emphatic forms made up of _do_ and _did_ with the
infinitive or simple form; as, "He _does strike_," "He _did strike_."
[_Note to Teacher_.--This table is not to be learned now; if learned
at all, it should be as practice work on strong and weak verb forms.
Exercises should be given, however, to bring up sentences containing
such of these conjugation forms as the pupil will find readily in
literature.]
VERBS CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO FORM.
[Sidenote: _Kinds._]
244. According to form, verbs are strong or weak.
[Sidenote: _Definition._]
A strong verb forms its past tense by changing the vowel of the
present tense form, but adds no ending; as, _run_, _ran_; _drive_,
_drove_.
A weak verb always adds an ending to the present to form the past
tense, and _may_ or _may not_ change the vowel: as, _beg_, _begged_;
_lay_, _laid_; _sleep_, _slept_; _catch_, _caught_.
245. TABLE OF STRONG VERBS.
NOTE. Some of these also have weak forms, which are in parentheses
_Present Tense._ _Past Tense._ _Past Participle._
abide abode abode
arise arose arisen
awake awoke (awaked) awoke (awaked)
bear bore {borne (active)
{born (passive)
begin began begun
behold beheld beheld
bid bade, bid bidden, bid
bind bound {bound,
{[_adj._ bounden]
bite bit bitten, bit
blow blew blown
break broke broken
chide chid chidden, chid
choose chose chosen
cleave clove, clave (cleft) cloven (cleft)
climb [clomb] climbed climbed
cling clung clung
come came come
crow crew (crowed) (crowed)
dig dug dug
do did done
draw drew drawn
drink drank {drunk, drank
{[_adj._ drunken]
drive drove driven
eat ate, eat eaten, eat
fall fell fallen
fight fought fought
find found found
fling flung flung
fly flew flown
forbear forbore forborne
forget forgot forgotten
forsake forsook forsaken
freeze froze frozen
get got got [gotten]
give gave given
go went gone
grind ground ground
grow grew grown
hang hung (hanged) hung (hanged)
hold held held
know knew known
lie lay lain
ride rode ridden
ring rang rung
run ran run
see saw seen
shake shook shaken
shear shore (sheared) shorn (sheared)
shine shone shone
shoot shot shot
shrink shrank or shrunk shrunk
shrive shrove shriven
sing sang or sung sung
sink sank or sunk sunk _[adj._ sunken]
sit sat [sate] sat
slay slew slain
slide slid slidden, slid
sling slung slung
slink slunk slunk
smite smote smitten
speak spoke spoken
spin spun spun
spring sprang, sprung sprung
stand stood stood
stave stove (staved) (staved)
steal stole stolen
stick stuck stuck
sting stung stung
stink stunk, stank stunk
stride strode stridden
strike struck struck, stricken
string strung strung
strive strove striven
swear swore sworn
swim swam or swum swum
swing swung swung
take took taken
tear tore torn
thrive throve (thrived) thriven (thrived)
throw threw thrown
tread trod trodden, trod
wear wore worn
weave wove woven
win won won
wind wound wound
wring wrung wrung
write wrote written
Remarks on Certain Verb Forms.
246. Several of the perfect participles are seldom used except as
adjectives: as, "his _bounden_ duty," "the _cloven_ hoof," "a
_drunken_ wretch," "a _sunken_ snag." _Stricken_ is used mostly of
diseases; as, "_stricken_ with paralysis."
The verb bear (to bring forth) is peculiar in having one participle
(_borne_) for the active, and another (_born_) for the passive. When
it means _to carry_ or to _endure_, _borne_ is also a passive.
The form clomb is not used in prose, but is much used in vulgar
English, and sometimes occurs in poetry; as,--
Thou hast _clomb_ aloft.--WORDSWORTH
Or pine grove whither woodman never _clomb_.--COLERIDGE
The forms of cleave are really a mixture of two verbs,--one meaning
_to adhere_ or _cling_; the other, _to split_. The former used to be
_cleave_, _cleaved_, _cleaved_; and the latter, _cleave_, _clave_ or
_clove_, _cloven_. But the latter took on the weak form _cleft_ in the
past tense and past participle,--as (from Shakespeare), "O Hamlet!
thou hast _cleft_ my heart in twain,"--while _cleave_ (to cling)
sometimes has _clove_, as (from Holmes), "The old Latin tutor _clove_
to Virgilius Maro." In this confusion of usage, only one set remains
certain,--_cleave_, _cleft_, _cleft_ (to split).
Crew is seldom found in present-day English.
Not a cock _crew_, nor a dog barked.--IRVING.
Our cock, which always _crew_ at eleven, now told us it was time
for repose.--GOLDSMITH.
Historically, drunk is the one correct past participle of the verb
_drink_. But _drunk_ is very much used as an adjective, instead of
_drunken_ (meaning intoxicated); and, probably to avoid confusion with
this, drank is a good deal used as a past participle: thus,--
We had each _drank_ three times at the well.--B. TAYLOR.
This liquor _was_ generally _drank_ by Wood and Billings.
--THACKERAY.
Sometimes in literary English, especially in that of an earlier
period, it is found that the verb eat has the past tense and past
participle _eat_ (ĕt), instead of _ate_ and _eaten_; as, for
example,--
It ate the food it ne'er had _eat_.--COLERIDGE.
How fairy Mab the junkets _eat_.--MILTON.
The island princes overbold
Have _eat_ our substance.--TENNYSON.
This is also very much used in spoken and vulgar English.
The form gotten is little used, _got_ being the preferred form of
past participle as well as past tense. One example out of many is,--
We _had_ all _got_ safe on shore.--DE FOE.
Hung and hanged both are used as the past tense and past
participle of _hang_; but _hanged_ is the preferred form when we speak
of execution by hanging; as,
The butler _was hanged_.--_Bible._
The verb sat is sometimes spelled _sate_; for example,--
Might we have _sate_ and talked where gowans blow.--WORDSWORTH.
He _sate_ him down, and seized a pen.--BYRON.
"But I _sate_ still and finished my plaiting."--KINGSLEY.
Usually shear is a weak verb. _Shorn_ and _shore_ are not commonly
used: indeed, _shore_ is rare, even in poetry.
This heard Geraint, and grasping at his sword,
_Shore_ thro' the swarthy neck.--TENNYSON.
_Shorn_ is used sometimes as a participial adjective, as "a _shorn_
lamb," but not much as a participle. We usually say, "The sheep were
_sheared_" instead of "The sheep were _shorn_."
Went is borrowed as the past tense of _go_ from the old verb _wend_,
which is seldom used except in poetry; for example,--
If, maiden, thou would'st _wend_ with me
To leave both tower and town.--SCOTT.
Exercises.
(_a_) From the table (Sec. 245), make out lists of verbs having the
same vowel changes as each of the following:--
1. Fall, fell, fallen.
2. Begin, began, begun.
3. Find, found, found.
4. Give, gave, given.
5. Drive, drove, driven.
6. Throw, threw, thrown.
7. Fling, flung, flung.
8. Break, broke, broken.
9. Shake, shook, shaken.
10. Freeze, froze, frozen.
(_b_) Find sentences using ten past-tense forms of strong verbs.
(_c_) Find sentences using ten past participles of strong verbs.
[_To the Teacher_,--These exercises should be continued for several
lessons, for full drill on the forms.]
DEFECTIVE STRONG VERBS.
247. There are several verbs which are lacking in one or more
principal parts. They are as follows:--
PRESENT. PAST. | PRESENT. PAST.
|
may might | [ought] ought
can could | shall should
[must] must | will would
248. May is used as either indicative or subjunctive, as it has two
meanings. It is indicative when it expresses _permission_, or, as it
sometimes does, _ability_, like the word _can_: it is subjunctive when
it expresses doubt as to the reality of an action, or when it
expresses wish, purpose, etc.
[Sidenote: _Indicative Use: Permission. Ability._]
If I _may_ lightly employ the Miltonic figure, "far off his
coming shines."--WINIER.
A stripling arm _might_ sway
A mass no host could raise.--SCOTT.
His superiority none _might_ question.--CHANNING.
[Sidenote: _Subjunctive use._]
In whatever manner the separate parts of a constitution _may_ be
arranged, there is one general principle, etc.--PAINE.
[Sidenote: (_See also Sec. 223._)]
And from her fair and unpolluted flesh
_May_ violets spring!
--SHAKESPEARE.
249. Can is used in the indicative only. The _l_ in _could_ did
not belong there originally, but came through analogy with _should_
and _would_. _Could_ may be subjunctive, as in Sec. 220.
250. Must is historically a past-tense form, from the obsolete
verb _motan_, which survives in the sentence, "So _mote_ it be."
_Must_ is present or past tense, according to the infinitive used.
All _must concede_ to him a sublime power of action.--CHANNING
This, of course, _must have been_ an ocular
deception.--HAWTHORNE.
251. The same remarks apply to ought, which is historically the
past tense of the verb _owe_. Like _must_, it is used only in the
indicative mood; as,
The just imputations on our own faith _ought_ first _to be
removed_.... Have we valuable territories and important
posts...which _ought_ long since _to have been surrendered_?--A.
HAMILTON.
It will be noticed that all the other defective verbs take the pure
infinitive without _to_, while _ought_ always has _to_.
Shall and Will.
252. The principal trouble in the use of _shall_ and _will_ is the
disposition, especially in the United States, to use _will_ and
_would_, to the neglect of _shall_ and _should_, with pronouns of the
first person; as, "I think I _will_ go."
[Sidenote: _Uses of_ shall _and_ should.]
The following distinctions must be observed:--
(1) With the FIRST PERSON, shall and should are used,--
[Sidenote: _Futurity and questions--first person._]
(_a_) In making simple statements or predictions about future time;
as,--
The time will come full soon, I _shall_ be gone.--L.C. MOULTON.
(_b_) In questions asking for orders, or implying obligation or
authority resting upon the subject; as,--
With respect to novels, what _shall_ I say?--N. WEBSTER.
How _shall_ I describe the luster which at that moment burst upon
my vision?--C. BROCKDEN BROWN.
[Sidenote: _Second and third persons._]
(2) With the SECOND AND THIRD PERSONS, _shall_ and _should_ are
used,--
(_a_) To express authority, in the form of command, promise, or
confident prediction. The following are examples:--
Never mind, my lad, whilst I live thou _shalt_ never want a
friend to stand by thee.--IRVING.
They _shall_ have venison to eat, and corn to hoe.--COOPER.
The sea _shall_ crush thee; yea, the ponderous wave up the loose
beach _shall_ grind and scoop thy grave.--THAXTER.
She _should_ not walk, he said, through the dust and heat of
the noonday;
Nay, she _should_ ride like a queen, not plod along like a
peasant.--LONGFELLOW.
(_b_) In _indirect quotations_, to express the same idea that the
original speaker put forth (i.e., future action); for example,--
He declares that he _shall_ win the purse from you.--BULWER.
She rejects his suit with scorn, but assures him that she _shall_
make great use of her power over him.--MACAULAY.
Fielding came up more and more bland and smiling, with the
conviction that he _should_ win in the end.--A. LARNED.
Those who had too presumptuously concluded that they _should_
pass without combat were something disconcerted.--SCOTT.
(_c_) With _direct questions_ of the second person, when the answer
expected would express simple futurity; thus,--
"_Should_ you like to go to school at Canterbury?"--DICKENS.
[Sidenote: _First, second and third persons._]
(3) With ALL THREE PERSONS,--
(_a_) _Should_ is used with the meaning of obligation, and is
equivalent to _ought_.
I never was what I _should_ be.--H. JAMES, JR.
Milton! thou _should'st_ be living at this hour.--WORDSWORTH.
He _should_ not flatter himself with the delusion that he can
make or unmake the reputation of other men.--WINTER.
(_b_) _Shall_ and _should_ are both used in _dependent clauses_ of
condition, time, purpose, etc.; for example,--
When thy mind
_Shall_ be a mansion for all stately forms.--WORDSWORTH.
Suppose this back-door gossip _should_ be utterly blundering and
untrue, would any one wonder?--THACKERAY.
Jealous lest the sky _should_ have a listener.--BYRON.
If thou _should'st_ ever come by chance or choice to
Modena.--ROGERS.
If I _should_ be where I no more can hear thy voice.--WORDSWORTH.
That accents and looks so winning _should_ disarm me of my
resolution, was to be expected.--C.B. BROWN.
253. Will and would are used as follows:--
[Sidenote: _Authority as to future action--first person._]
(1) With the FIRST PERSON, _will_ and _would_ are used to express
determination as to the future, or a promise; as, for example,--
I _will_ go myself now, and _will_ not return until all is
finished.--CABLE.
And promised...that I _would_ do him justice, as the sole
inventor.--SWIFT.
[Sidenote: _Disguising a command._]
(2) With the SECOND PERSON, _will_ is used to express command. This
puts the order more mildly, as if it were merely expected action;
as,--
Thou _wilt_ take the skiff, Roland, and two of my people,... and
fetch off certain plate and belongings.--SCOTT.
You _will_ proceed to Manassas at as early a moment as
practicable, and mark on the grounds the works, etc.--_War
Records._
[Sidenote: _Mere futurity._]
(3) With both SECOND AND THIRD PERSONS, _will_ and _would_ are used to
express simple futurity, action merely expected to occur; for
example,--
All this _will_ sound wild and chimerical.--BURKE.
She _would_ tell you that punishment is the reward of the
wicked.--LANDOR.
When I am in town, _you'll_ always have somebody to sit with you.
To be sure, so you _will_.--DICKENS.
(4) With FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD PERSONS, _would_ is used to express
a _wish_,--the original meaning of the word _will_; for example,--
[Sidenote: _Subject_ I _omitted: often so._]
_Would_ that a momentary emanation from thy glory would visit
me!--C.B. BROWN.
Thine was a dangerous gift, when thou wast born, The gift of
Beauty. _Would_ thou hadst it not.--ROGERS
It shall be gold if thou _wilt_, but thou shalt answer to me for
the use of it.--SCOTT.
What _wouldst_ thou have a good great man obtain?--COLERIDGE.
(5) With the THIRD PERSON, _will_ and _would_ often denote an action
as customary, without regard to future time; as,
They _will_ go to Sunday schools, through storms their brothers
are afraid of.... They _will_ stand behind a table at a fair all
day.--HOLMES
On a slight suspicion, they _would_ cut off the hands of numbers
of the natives, for punishment or intimidation.--BANCROFT.
In this stately chair _would_ he sit, and this magnificent pipe
_would_ he smoke, shaking his right knee with a constant
motion.--IRVING.
Conjugation of _Shall_ and _Will_ as Auxiliaries (with _Choose_).
254. To express simply expected action:--
ACTIVE VOICE. PASSIVE VOICE.
_Singular_. _Singular_.
1. I shall choose. I shall be chosen.
2. You will choose. You will be chosen.
3. [He] will choose. [He] will be chosen.
_Plural_. _Plural_.
1. We shall choose. We shall be chosen.
2. You will choose. You will be chosen.
3. [They] will choose. [They] will be chosen.
To express determination, promise, etc.:--
ACTIVE VOICE. PASSIVE VOICE.
_Singular_. _Singular_.
1. I will choose. I will be chosen.
2. You shall choose. You shall be chosen.
3. [He] shall choose. [He] shall be chosen.
ACTIVE VOICE. PASSIVE VOICE.
_Plural_. _Plural_.
1. We will choose. 1. We will be chosen.
2. You shall choose. 2. You shall be chosen.
3. [They] shall choose. 3. [They] shall be chosen.
Exercises on _Shall_ and _Will_.
(_a_) From Secs. 252 and 253, write out a summary or outline of the
various uses of _shall_ and _will_.
(_b_) Examine the following sentences, and justify the use of _shall_
and _will_, or correct them if wrongly used:--
1. Thou art what I would be, yet only seem.
2. We would be greatly mistaken if we thought so.
3. Thou shalt have a suit, and that of the newest cut; the wardrobe
keeper shall have orders to supply you.
4. "I shall not run," answered Herbert stubbornly.
5. He informed us, that in the course of another day's march we would
reach the prairies on the banks of the Grand Canadian.
6. What shall we do with him? This is the sphinx-like riddle which we
must solve if we would not be eaten.
7. Will not our national character be greatly injured? Will we not be
classed with the robbers and destroyers of mankind?
8. Lucy stood still, very anxious, and wondering whether she should
see anything alive.
9. I would be overpowered by the feeling of my disgrace.
10. No, my son; whatever cash I send you is yours: you will spend it
as you please, and I have nothing to say.
11. But I will doubtless find some English person of whom to make
inquiries.
12. Without having attended to this, we will be at a loss to
understand several passages in the classics.
13. "I am a wayfarer," the stranger said, "and would like permission
to remain with you a little while."
14. The beast made a sluggish movement, then, as if he would have more
of the enchantment, stirred her slightly with his muzzle.
WEAK VERBS.
255. Those weak verbs which add _-d_ or _-ed_ to form the past tense
and past participle, and have no change of vowel, are so easily
recognized as to need no special treatment. Some of them are already
given as secondary forms of the strong verbs.
But the rest, which may be called irregular weak verbs, need some
attention and explanation.
256. The irregular weak verbs are divided into two classes,--
[Sidenote: _The two classes of irregular weak verbs._]
(1) Those which retain the _-d_ or _-t_ in the past tense, with some
change of form for the past tense and past participle.
(2) Those which end in _-d_ or _-t_, and have lost the ending which
formerly was added to this.
The old ending to verbs of Class II. was _-de_ or _-te_; as,--
This worthi man ful wel his wit _bisette_ [used].--CHAUCER.
Of smale houndes _hadde_ she, that sche _fedde_ With rosted
flessh, or mylk and wastel breed.--_Id._
This ending has now dropped off, leaving some weak verbs with the same
form throughout: as set, set, set; put, put, put.
257. Irregular Weak Verbs.--Class I.
_Present Tense_. _Past Tense_. _Past Participle_.
bereave bereft, bereave bereft, bereaved
beseech besought besought
burn burned, burnt burnt
buy bought bought
catch caught caught
creep crept crept
deal dealt dealt
dream dreamt, dreamed dreamt, dreamed
dwell dwelt dwelt
feel felt felt
flee fled fled
have had had (_once_ haved)
hide hid hidden, hid
keep kept kept
kneel knelt knelt
lay laid laid
lean leaned, leant leaned, leant
leap leaped, leapt leaped, leapt
leave left left
lose lost lost
make made (_once_ maked) made
mean meant meant
pay paid paid
pen [inclose] penned, pen penned, pent
say said said
seek sought sought
sell sold sold
shoe shod shod
sleep slept slept
spell spelled, spelt spelt
spill spilt spilt
stay staid, stayed staid, stayed
sweep swept swept
teach taught taught
tell told told
think thought thought
weep wept wept
work worked, wrought worked, wrought
258. Irregular Weak Verbs.--Class II.
_Present Tense_. _Past Tense_. _Past Participle_.
bend bent, bended bent, bended
bleed bled bled
breed bred bred
build built built
cast cast cast
cost cost cost
feed fed fed
gild gilded, gilt gilded, gilt
gird girt, girded girt, girded
hit hit hit
hurt hurt hurt
knit knit, knitted knit, knitted
lead led led
let let let
light lighted, lit lighted, lit
meet met met
put put put
quit quit, quitted quit, quitted
read read read
rend rent rent
rid rid rid
send sent sent
set set set
shed shed shed
shred shred shred
shut shut shut
slit slit slit
speed sped sped
spend spent spent
spit spit [_obs._ spat] spit [_obs._ spat]
split split split
spread spread spread
sweat sweat sweat
thrust thrust thrust
wed wed, wedded wed, wedded
wet wet, wetted wet, wetted
[Sidenote: _Tendency to phonetic spelling._]
250. There seems to be in Modern English a growing tendency toward
phonetic spelling in the past tense and past participle of weak verbs.
For example, _-ed_, after the verb _bless_, has the sound of _t_:
hence the word is often written _blest_. So with _dipt_, _whipt_,
_dropt_, _tost_, _crost_, _drest_, _prest_, etc. This is often seen in
poetry, and is increasing in prose.
Some Troublesome Verbs.
[Sidenote: Lie _and_ lay _in use and meaning._]
260. Some sets of verbs are often confused by young students, weak
forms being substituted for correct, strong forms.
Lie and lay need close attention. These are the forms:--
_Present Tense._ _Past Tense._ _Pres. Participle._ _Past Participle._
1. Lie lay lying lain
2. Lay laid laying laid
The distinctions to be observed are as follows:--
(1) _Lie_, with its forms, is regularly _intransitive_ as to use. As
to meaning, _lie_ means to rest, to recline, to place one's self in a
recumbent position; as, "There _lies_ the ruin."
(2) _Lay_, with its forms, is always _transitive_ as to use. As to
meaning, _lay_ means to put, to place a person or thing in position;
as, "Slowly and sadly we _laid_ him down." Also _lay_ may be used
without any object expressed, but there is still a transitive meaning;
as in the expressions, "to _lay_ up for future use," "to _lay_ on with
the rod," "to _lay_ about him lustily."
[Sidenote: Sit _and_ set.]
261. Sit and set have principal parts as follows:--
_Present Tense._ _Past Tense._ _Pres. Participle._ _Past Participle._
1. Sit sat sitting sat
2. Set set setting set
Notice these points of difference between the two verbs:--
(1) _Sit_, with its forms, is always _intransitive_ in use. In
meaning, _sit_ signifies (_a_) to place one's self on a seat, to rest;
(_b_) to be adjusted, to fit; (_c_) to cover and warm eggs for
hatching, as, "The hen _sits_."
(2) _Set_, with its forms, is always _transitive_ in use when it has
the following meanings: (_a_) to put or place a thing or person in
position, as "He _set_ down the book;" (_b_) to fix or establish, as,
"He _sets_ a good example."
_Set_ is _intransitive_ when it means (_a_) to go down, to decline,
as, "The sun has _set_;" (_b_) to become fixed or rigid, as, "His eyes
_set_ in his head because of the disease;" (_c_) in certain idiomatic
expressions, as, for example, "to _set_ out," "to _set_ up in
business," "to _set_ about a thing," "to _set_ to work," "to _set_
forward," "the tide _sets_ in," "a strong wind _set_ in," etc.
Exercise.
Examine the forms of _lie_, _lay_, _sit_ and _set_ in these sentences;
give the meaning of each, and correct those used wrongly.
1. If the phenomena which lie before him will not suit his purpose,
all history must be ransacked.
2. He sat with his eyes fixed partly on the ghost and partly on
Hamlet, and with his mouth open.
3. The days when his favorite volume set him upon making wheelbarrows
and chairs,... can never again be the realities they were.
4. To make the jacket sit yet more closely to the body, it was
gathered at the middle by a broad leathern belt.
5. He had set up no unattainable standard of perfection.
6. For more than two hundred years his bones lay undistinguished.
7. The author laid the whole fault on the audience.
8. Dapple had to lay down on all fours before the lads could bestride
him.
9. And send'st him...to his gods where happy lies
His petty hope in some near port or bay,
And dashest him again to earth:--there let him lay.
10. Achilles is the swift-footed when he is sitting still.
11. It may be laid down as a general rule, that history begins in
novel, and ends in essay.
12. I never took off my clothes, but laid down in them.
VERBALS.
[Sidenote: _Definition._]
262. Verbals are words that express action in a general way,
without limiting the action to any time, or asserting it of any
subject.
[Sidenote: _Kinds._]
Verbals may be participles, infinitives, or gerunds.
PARTICIPLES.
[Sidenote: _Definition._]
263. Participles are _adjectival_ verbals; that is, they either
belong to some substantive by expressing action in connection with it,
or they express action, and directly modify a substantive, thus having
a descriptive force. Notice these functions.
[Sidenote: _Pure participle in function._]
1. At length, _wearied_ by his cries and agitations, and not
_knowing_ how to put an end to them, he addressed the animal as
if he had been a rational being.--DWIGHT.
Here _wearied_ and _knowing_ belong to the subject _he_, and express
action in connection with it, but do not describe.
[Sidenote: _Express action and also describe._]
2. Another name glided into her petition--it was that of the
_wounded_ Christian, whom fate had placed in the hands of
bloodthirsty men, his _avowed_ enemies.--SCOTT.
Here _wounded_ and _avowed_ are participles, but are used with the
same adjectival force that _bloodthirsty_ is (see Sec. 143, 4).
Participial adjectives have been discussed in Sec. 143 (4), but we
give further examples for the sake of comparison and distinction.
[Sidenote: _Fossil participles as adjectives._]
3. As _learned_ a man may live in a cottage or a college
commmon-room.--THACKERAY
4. Not merely to the soldier are these campaigns _interesting_
--BAYNE.
5. How _charming_ is divine philosophy!--MILTON.
[Sidenote: _Forms of the participle._]
264. Participles, in expressing action, may be active or
passive, incomplete (or imperfect), complete (perfect or past),
and perfect definite.
They cannot be divided into tenses (present, past, etc.), because they
have no tense of their own, but derive their tense from the verb on
which they depend; for example,--
1. He walked conscientiously through the services of the day,
_fulfilling_ every section the minutest, etc.--DE QUINCEY.
_Fulfilling_ has the form to denote continuance, but depends on the
verb _walked_, which is past tense.
2. Now the bright morning star, day's harbinger,
Comes _dancing_ from the East.--MILTON.
_Dancing_ here depends on a verb in the present tense.
265. PARTICIPLES OF THE VERB _CHOOSE_.
ACTIVE VOICE.
_Imperfect._ Choosing.
_Perfect._ Having chosen.
_Perfect definite._ Having been choosing.
PASSIVE VOICE.
_Imperfect._ None
_Perfect._ Chosen, being chosen, having been chosen.
_Perfect definite._ None.
Exercise.
Pick out the participles, and tell whether active or passive,
imperfect, perfect, or perfect definite. If pure participles, tell to
what word they belong; if adjectives, tell what words they modify.
1. The change is a large process, accomplished within a large and
corresponding space, having, perhaps, some central or equatorial line,
but lying, like that of our earth, between certain tropics, or limits
widely separated.
2. I had fallen under medical advice the most misleading that it is
possible to imagine.
3. These views, being adopted in a great measure from my mother, were
naturally the same as my mother's.
4. Endowed with a great command over herself, she soon obtained an
uncontrolled ascendency over her people.
5. No spectacle was more adapted to excite wonder.
6. Having fully supplied the demands of nature in this respect, I
returned to reflection on my situation.
7. Three saplings, stripped of their branches and bound together at
their ends, formed a kind of bedstead.
8. This all-pervading principle is at work in our system,--the
creature warring against the creating power.
9. Perhaps I was too saucy and provoking.
10. Nothing of the kind having been done, and the principles of this
unfortunate king having been distorted,... try clemency.
INFINITIVES.
266. Infinitives, like participles, have no tense. When active,
they have an indefinite, an imperfect, a perfect, and a perfect
definite form; and when passive, an indefinite and a perfect form, to
express action unconnected with a subject.
267. INFINITIVES OF THE VERB _CHOOSE._
ACTIVE VOICE.
_Indefinite._ [To] choose. _Imperfect._ [To] be choosing.
_Perfect._ [To] have chosen.
_Perfect definite._ [To] have been choosing.
PASSIVE VOICE.
_Indefinite._ [To] be chosen. _Perfect._ [To] have been chosen.
[Sidenote: To _with the infinitive._]
268. In Sec. 267 the word _to_ is printed in brackets because it is
not a necessary part of the infinitive.
It originally belonged only to an inflected form of the infinitive,
expressing purpose; as in the Old English, "Ūt ēode se sǣdere his sæd
tō sāwenne" (Out went the sower his seed _to sow_).
[Sidenote: _Cases when_ to _is omitted._]
But later, when inflections became fewer, _to_ was used before the
infinitive generally, except in the following cases:--
(1) After the auxiliaries _shall_, _will_ (with _should_ and _would_).
(2) After the verbs _may (might), can (could), must_; also _let_,
_make_, _do_ (as, "I _do go_" etc.), _see_, _bid_ (command), _feel_,
_hear_, _watch_, _please_; sometimes _need_ (as, "He _need_ not _go_")
and _dare_ (to venture).
(3) After _had_ in the idiomatic use; as, "You _had_ better _go_" "He
_had_ rather _walk_ than _ride_."
(4) In exclamations; as in the following examples:--
"He _find_ pleasure in doing good!" cried Sir
William.--GOLDSMITH.
I _urge_ an address to his kinswoman! I _approach_ her when in a
base disguise! I _do_ this!--SCOTT.
"She _ask_ my pardon, poor woman!" cried Charles.--MACAULAY.
269. _Shall_ and _will_ are not to be taken as separate verbs, but
with the infinitive as one tense of a verb; as, "He _will choose_," "I
_shall have chosen_," etc.
Also _do_ may be considered an auxiliary in the interrogative,
negative, and emphatic forms of the present and past, also in the
imperative; as,--
What! _doth_ she, too, as the credulous imagine, _learn_ [_doth
learn_ is one verb, present tense] the love of the great stars?
--BULWER.
_Do_ not _entertain_ so weak an imagination--BURKE.
She _did_ not _weep_--she _did_ not _break forth_ into
reproaches.--IRVING.
270. The infinitive is sometimes active in form while it is passive
in meaning, as in the expression, "a house _to let_." Examples are,--
She was a kind, liberal woman; rich rather more than needed where
there were no opera boxes _to rent_.--DE QUINCEY.
Tho' it seems my spurs are yet _to win_.--TENNYSON.
But there was nothing _to do_.--HOWELLS.
They shall have venison _to eat_, and corn _to hoe_.--COOPER.
Nolan himself saw that something was _to pay_.--E.E. HALE.
271. The various offices which the infinitive and the participle
have in the sentence will be treated in Part II., under "Analysis," as
we are now learning merely to recognize the forms.
GERUNDS.
272. The gerund is like the participle in form, and like a noun in
use.
The participle has been called an adjectival verbal; the gerund may
be called a _noun verbal_. While the gerund expresses action, it has
several attributes of a noun,--it may be governed as a noun; it may be
the subject of a verb, or the object of a verb or a preposition; it is
often preceded by the definite article; it is frequently modified by a
possessive noun or pronoun.
[Sidenote: _Distinguished from participle and verbal noun._]
273. It differs from the participle in being always used as a noun:
it never belongs to or limits a noun.
It differs from the verbal noun in having the property of governing a
noun (which the verbal noun has not) and of expressing action (the
verbal noun merely names an action, Sec. II).
The following are examples of the uses of the gerund:--
(1) _Subject_: "The _taking_ of means not to see another morning had
all day absorbed every energy;" "Certainly _dueling_ is bad, and has
been put down."
(2) _Object_: (_a_) "Our culture therefore must not omit the _arming_
of the man." (_b_) "Nobody cares for _planting_ the poor fungus;" "I
announce the good of _being interpenetrated_ by the mind that made
nature;" "The guilt of _having been cured_ of the palsy by a Jewish
maiden."
(3) _Governing and Governed_: "We are far from _having exhausted_ the
significance of the few symbols we use," also (2, _b_), above; "He
could embellish the characters with new traits without _violating_
probability;" "He could not help _holding_ out his hand in return."
Exercise.--Find sentences containing five participles, five
infinitives, and five gerunds.
SUMMARY OF WORDS IN _-ING_.
274. Words in -ing are of six kinds, according to use as well as
meaning. They are as follows:--
(1) _Part of the verb_, making the definite tenses.
(2) _Pure participles_, which express action, but do not assert.
(3) _Participial adjectives_, which express action and also modify.
(4) _Pure adjectives_, which have lost all verbal force.
(5) _Gerunds_, which express action, may govern and be governed.
(6) _Verbal nouns,_ which name an action or state, but cannot govern.
Exercise.
Tell to which of the above six classes each _-ing_ word in the
following sentences belongs:--
1. Here is need of apologies for shortcomings.
2. Then how pleasing is it, on your leaving the spot, to see the
returning hope of the parents, when, after examining the nest, they
find the nurslings untouched!
3. The crowning incident of my life was upon the bank of the Scioto
Salt Creek, in which I had been unhorsed by the breaking of the saddle
girths.
4. What a vast, brilliant, and wonderful store of learning!
5. He is one of the most charming masters of our language.
6. In explaining to a child the phenomena of nature, you must, by
object lessons, give reality to your teaching.
7. I suppose I was dreaming about it. What is dreaming?
8. It is years since I heard the laughter ringing.
9. Intellect is not speaking and logicizing: it is seeing and
ascertaining.
10. We now draw toward the end of that great martial drama which we
have been briefly contemplating.
11. The second cause of failure was the burning of Moscow.
12. He spread his blessings all over the land.
13. The only means of ascending was by my hands.
14. A marble figure of Mary is stretched upon the tomb, round which is
an iron railing, much corroded, bearing her national emblem.
15. The exertion left me in a state of languor and sinking.
16. Thackeray did not, like Sir Walter Scott, write twenty pages
without stopping, but, dictating from his chair, he gave out sentence
by sentence, slowly.
HOW TO PARSE VERBS AND VERBALS.
I. VERBS.
275. In parsing verbs, give the following points:--
(1) Class: (_a_) as to _form_,--strong or weak, giving principal
parts; (_b_) as to _use_,--transitive or intransitive.
(2) Voice,--active or passive.
(3) Mood,--indicative, subjunctive, or imperative.
(4) Tense,--which of the tenses given in Sec. 234.
(5) Person and number, in determining which you must tell--
(6) What the subject is, for the form of the verb may not show the
person and number.
[Sidenote: _Caution._]
276. It has been intimated in Sec. 235, we must beware of the rule,
"A verb agrees with its subject in person and number." Sometimes it
does; usually it does not, if _agrees_ means that the verb changes its
form for the different persons and numbers. The verb _be_ has more
forms than other verbs, and may be said to _agree_ with its subject in
several of its forms. But unless the verb is present, and ends in
_-s_, or is an old or poetic form ending in _-st_ or _-eth_, it is
best for the student not to state it as a general rule that "the verb
agrees with its subject in person and number," but merely to _tell
what the subject of the verb is_.
II. VERB PHRASES.
277. Verb phrases are made up of a principal verb followed by an
infinitive, and should always be analyzed as phrases, and not taken as
single verbs. Especially frequent are those made up of _should_,
_would_, _may_, _might_, _can_, _could_, _must_, followed by a pure
infinitive without _to_. Take these examples:--
1. Lee _should_ of himself _have replenished_ his stock.
2. The government _might have been_ strong and prosperous.
In such sentences as 1, call _should_ a weak verb, intransitive,
therefore active; indicative, past tense; has for its subject _Lee_.
_Have replenished_ is a perfect active infinitive.
In 2, call _might_ a weak verb, intransitive, active, indicative (as
it means could), past tense; has the subject _government_. _Have been_
is a perfect active infinitive.
For fuller parsing of the infinitive, see Sec. 278(2).
III. VERBALS.
278. (1) Participle. Tell (_a_) from what verb it is derived;
(_b_) whether active or passive, imperfect, perfect, etc.; (_c_) to
what word it belongs. If a participial adjective, give points (_a_)
and (_b_), then parse it as an adjective.
(2) Infinitive. Tell (_a_) from what verb it is derived; (_b_)
whether indefinite, perfect, definite, etc.
(3) Gerund. (_a_) From what verb derived; (_b_) its use (Sec. 273).
Exercise.
Parse the verbs, verbals, and verb phrases in the following
sentences:--
1. Byron builds a structure that repeats certain elements in nature or
humanity.
2. The birds were singing as if there were no aching hearts, no sin
nor sorrow, in the world.
3. Let it rise! let it rise, till it meet the sun in his coming; let
the earliest light of the morning gild it, and parting day linger and
play on its summit.
4. You are gathered to your fathers, and live only to your country in
her grateful remembrance.
5. Read this Declaration at the head of the army.
6. Right graciously he smiled on us, as rolled from wing to wing,
Down all the line, a deafening shout, "God save our Lord the King!"
7. When he arose in the morning, he thought only of her, and wondered
if she were yet awake.
8. He had lost the quiet of his thoughts, and his agitated soul
reflected only broken and distorted images of things.
9. So, lest I be inclined
To render ill for ill,
Henceforth in me instill,
O God, a sweet good will.
10. The sun appears to beat in vain at the casements.
11. Margaret had come into the workshop with her sewing, as usual.
12. Two things there are with memory will abide--
Whatever else befall--while life flows by.
13. To the child it was not permitted to look beyond into the hazy
lines that bounded his oasis of flowers.
14. With them, morning is not a new issuing of light, a new bursting
forth of the sun; a new waking up of all that has life, from a sort of
temporary death.
15. Whatever ground you sow or plant, see that it is in good
condition.
16. However that be, it is certain that he had grown to delight in
nothing else than this conversation.
17. The soul having been often born, or, as the Hindoos say,
"traveling the path of existence through thousands of births," there
is nothing of which she has not gained knowledge.
18. The ancients called it ecstasy or absence,--a getting-out of their
bodies to think.
19. Such a boy could not whistle or dance.
20. He had rather stand charged with the imbecility of skepticism than
with untruth.
21. He can behold with serenity the yawning gulf between the ambition
of man and his power of performance.
22. He passed across the room to the washstand, leaving me upon the
bed, where I afterward found he had replaced me on being awakened by
hearing me leap frantically up and down on the floor.
23. In going for water, he seemed to be traveling over a desert plain
to some far-off spring.
24. Hasheesh always brings an awakening of perception which magnifies
the smallest sensation.
25. I have always talked to him as I would to a friend.
26. Over them multitudes of rosy children came leaping to throw
garlands on my victorious road.
27. Oh, had we some bright little isle of our own!
28. Better it were, thou sayest, to consent;
Feast while we may, and live ere life be spent.
29. And now wend we to yonder fountain, for the hour of rest is at
hand.
ADVERBS.
[Sidenote: _Adverbs modify._]
279. The word _adverb_ means _joined to a verb_. The adverb is the
only word that can join to a verb to modify it.
[Sidenote: _A verb._]
When action is expressed, an adverb is usually added to define the
action in some way,--time, place, or manner: as, "He began _already_
to be proud of being a Rugby boy [time];" "One of the young heroes
scrambled up _behind_ [place];" "He was absolute, but _wisely_ and
_bravely_ ruling [manner]."
[Sidenote: _An adjective or an adverb._]
But this does not mean that adverbs modify verbs _only_: many of them
express degree, and limit adjectives or adverbs; as, "William's
private life was _severely_ pure;" "Principles of English law are put
down _a little_ confusedly."
[Sidenote: _Sometimes a noun or pronoun._]
Sometimes an adverb may modify a noun or pronoun; for example,--
The young man reveres men of genius, because, to speak truly,
they are _more_ himself than he is.--EMERSON.
Is it _only_ poets, and men of leisure and cultivation, who live
with nature?--_Id._
To the _almost_ terror of the persons present, Macaulay began
with the senior wrangler of 1801-2-3-4, and so on.--THACKERAY.
Nor was it _altogether_ nothing.--CARLYLE.
Sounds overflow the listener's brain So sweet that joy is
_almost_ pain.--SHELLEY.
The condition of Kate is _exactly_ that of Coleridge's "Ancient
Mariner."--DE QUINCEY.
He was _incidentally_ news dealer.--T.B. ALDRICH.
NOTE.--These last differ from the words in Sec. 169, being adverbs
naturally and fitly, while those in Sec. 169 are felt to be
elliptical, and rather forced into the service of adjectives.
Also these adverbs modifying nouns are to be distinguished from those
standing _after_ a noun by ellipsis, but really modifying, not the
noun, but some verb understood; thus,--
The gentle winds and waters [that are] near, Make music to the
lonely ear.--BYRON.
With bowering leaves [that grow] _o'erhead_, to which the eye
Looked up half sweetly, and half awfully.--LEIGH HUNT.
[Sidenote: _A phrase._]
An adverb may modify a phrase which is equivalent to an adjective or
an adverb, as shown in the sentences,--
They had begun to make their effort much _at the same
time_.--TROLLOPE.
I draw forth the fruit, all wet and glossy, maybe _nibbled by
rabbits and hollowed out by crickets_, and perhaps _with a leaf
or two cemented to it_, but still _with a rich bloom to
it_.--THOREAU.
[Sidenote: _A clause or sentence._]
It may also modify a sentence, emphasizing or qualifying the
statement expressed; as, for example,--
And _certainly_ no one ever entered upon office with so few
resources of power in the past.--LOWELL.
_Surely_ happiness is reflective, like the light of heaven.
--IRVING.
We are offered six months' credit; and that, _perhaps_, has
induced some of us to attend it.--FRANKLIN.
[Sidenote: _Definition._]
280. An adverb, then, is a modifying word, which may qualify an
action word or a statement, and may add to the meaning of an adjective
or adverb, or a word group used as such.
NOTE.--The expression _action word_ is put instead of _verb_, because
_any_ verbal word may be limited by an adverb, not simply the forms
used in predication.
281. Adverbs may be classified in two ways: (1) according to the
meaning of the words; (2) according to their use in the sentence.
ADVERBS CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO MEANING.
282. Thus considered, there are six classes:--
(1) Time; as _now_, _to-day_, _ever_, _lately_, _before_,
_hitherto_, etc.
(2) Place. These may be adverbs either of
(_a_) PLACE WHERE; as _here_, _there_, _where_, _near_, _yonder_,
_above_, etc.
(_b_) PLACE TO WHICH; as _hither_, _thither_, _whither_,
_whithersoever_, etc.
(_c_) PLACE FROM WHICH; as _hence_, _thence_, _whence_,
_whencesoever_, etc.
(3) Manner, telling _how_ anything is done; as _well_, _slowly_,
_better_, _bravely_, _beautifully_. Action is conceived or performed
in so many ways, that these adverbs form a very large class.
(4) Number, telling _how many times_: _once_, _twice_, _singly_,
_two by two_, etc.
(5) Degree, telling _how much_; as _little_, _slightly_, _too_,
_partly_, _enough_, _greatly_, _much_, _very_, _just_, etc. (see also
Sec. 283).
(6) Assertion, telling the speaker's belief or disbelief in a
statement, or how far he believes it to be true; as _perhaps_,
_maybe_, _surely_, _possibly_, _probably_, _not_, etc.
[Sidenote: _Special remarks on adverbs of degree._]
283. The is an adverb of degree when it limits an adjective or an
adverb, especially the comparative of these words; thus,--
But not _the_ less the blare of the tumultuous organ wrought its
own separate creations.--DE QUINCEY.
_The_ more they multiply, _the_ more friends you will have; _the_
more evidently they love liberty, _the_ more perfect will be
their obedience.--BURKE.
This and that are very common as adverbs in spoken English, and
not infrequently are found in literary English; for example,--
The master...was for _this_ once of her opinion.--R. LOUIS
STEVENSON.
Death! To die! I owe _that_ much To what, at least, I
was.--BROWNING.
_This_ long's the text.--SHAKESPEARE.
[Sidenote _The status of such_.]
Such is frequently used as an equivalent of _so_: _such_ precedes an
adjective with its noun, while _so_ precedes only the adjective
usually.
Meekness,...which gained him _such_ universal
popularity.--IRVING.
_Such_ a glittering appearance that no ordinary man would have
been able to close his eyes there.--HAWTHORNE.
An eye of _such_ piercing brightness and _such_ commanding power
that it gave an air of inspiration.--LECKY.
So also in Grote, Emerson, Thackeray, Motley, White, and others.
[Sidenote: _Pretty._]
Pretty has a wider adverbial use than it gets credit for.
I believe our astonishment is _pretty_ equal.--FIELDING.
Hard blows and hard money, the feel of both of which you know
_pretty_ well by now.--KINGSLEY.
The first of these generals is _pretty_ generally recognized as
the greatest military genius that ever lived.--BAYNE.
A _pretty_ large experience.--THACKERAY.
_Pretty_ is also used by Prescott, Franklin, De Quincey, Defoe,
Dickens, Kingsley, Burke, Emerson, Aldrich, Holmes, and other writers.
[Sidenote: Mighty.]
The adverb mighty is very common in colloquial English; for example,--
"_Mighty_ well, Deacon Gookin!" replied the solemn tones of the
minister.--HAWTHORNE.
"Maybe you're wanting to get over?--anybody sick? Ye seem
_mighty_ anxious!"--H.B. STOWE.
It is only occasionally used in literary English; for example,--
You are _mighty_ courteous.--BULWER.
Beau Fielding, a _mighty_ fine gentleman.--THACKERAY.
"Peace, Neville," said the king, "thou think'st thyself _mighty_
wise, and art but a fool."--SCOTT.
I perceived his sisters _mighty_ busy.--GOLDSMITH.
[Sidenote: _Notice meanings._]
284. Again, the meaning of words must be noticed rather than their
form; for many words given above may be moved from one class to
another at will: as these examples,--"He walked too _far_ [place];"
"That were _far_ better [degree];" "He spoke _positively_ [manner];"
"That is _positively_ untrue [assertion];" "I have seen you _before_
[time];" "The house, and its lawn _before_ [place]."
ADVERBS CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO USE.
[Sidenote: _Simple._]
285. All adverbs which have no function in the sentence except to
modify are called simple adverbs. Such are most of those given
already in Sec. 282.
[Sidenote: _Interrogative._]
286. Some adverbs, besides modifying, have the additional function
of asking a question.
[Sidenote: _Direct questions._]
These may introduce direct questions of--
(1) Time.
_When_ did this humane custom begin?--H. CLAY.
(2) Place.
_Where_ will you have the scene?--LONGFELLOW
(3) Manner.
And _how_ looks it now?--HAWTHORNE.
(4) Degree.
"_How_ long have you had this whip?" asked he.--BULWER.
(5) Reason.
_Why_ that wild stare and wilder cry?--WHITTIER
Now _wherefore_ stopp'st thou me?--COLERIDGE
[Sidenote: _Indirect questions._]
Or they may introduce indirect questions of--
(1) Time.
I do not remember _when_ I was taught to read.--D. WEBSTER.
(2) Place.
I will not ask _where_ thou liest low.--BYRON
(3) Manner.
Who set you to cast about what you should say to the select
souls, or _how_ to say anything to such?--EMERSON.
(4) Degree.
Being too full of sleep to understand
_How_ far the unknown transcends the what we know.
--LONGFELLOW
(5) Reason.
I hearkened, I know not _why_.--POE.
287. There is a class of words usually classed as conjunctive
adverbs, as they are said to have the office of conjunctions in
joining clauses, while having the office of adverbs in modifying; for
example,--
_When_ last I saw thy young blue eyes, they smiled.--BYRON.
But in reality, _when_ does not express time and modify, but the whole
clause, _when_..._eyes_; and _when_ has simply the use of a
conjunction, not an adverb. For further discussion, see Sec. 299 under
"Subordinate Conjunctions."
Exercise.--Bring up sentences containing twenty adverbs,
representing four classes.
COMPARISON OF ADVERBS.
288. Many adverbs are compared, and, when compared, have the same
inflection as adjectives.
The following, irregularly compared, are often used as adjectives:--
_Positive._ _Comparative._ _Superlative._
well better best
ill or badly worse worst
much more most
little less least
nigh or near nearer nearest or next
far farther, further farthest, furthest
late later latest, last
(rathe, _obs._) rather
289. Most monosyllabic adverbs add _-er_ and _-est_ to form the
comparative and superlative, just as adjectives do; as, _high_,
_higher_, _highest_; _soon_, _sooner_, _soonest_.
Adverbs in _-ly_ usually have _more_ and _most_ instead of the
inflected form, only occasionally having _-er_ and _-est_.
Its strings _boldlier_ swept.--COLERIDGE.
None can deem _harshlier_ of me than I deem.--BYRON.
Only that we may _wiselier_ see.--EMERSON.
Then must she keep it _safelier_.--TENNYSON.
I should _freelier_ rejoice in that absence.--SHAKESPEARE.
[Sidenote: _Form_ vs. _use._]
290. The fact that a word ends in _-ly_ does not make it an adverb.
Many adjectives have the same ending, and must be distinguished by
their use in the sentence.
Exercise.
Tell what each word in _ly_ modifies, then whether it is an adjective
or an adverb.
1. It seems certain that the Normans were more cleanly in their
habits, more courtly in their manners.
2. It is true he was rarely heard to speak.
3. He would inhale the smoke slowly and tranquilly.
4. The perfectly heavenly law might be made law on earth.
5. The king winced when he saw his homely little bride.
6. With his proud, quick-flashing eye,
And his mien of kingly state.
7. And all about, a lovely sky of blue
Clearly was felt, or down the leaves laughed through.
8. He is inexpressibly mean, curiously jolly, kindly and good-natured
in secret.
291. Again, many words without _-ly_ have the same form, whether
adverbs or adjectives.
The reason is, that in Old and Middle English, adverbs derived from
adjectives had the ending _-e_ as a distinguishing mark; as,--
If men smoot it with a yerde _smerte_ [If men smote it with a rod
smartly].--CHAUCER.
This _e_ dropping off left both words having the same form.
Weeds were sure to grow _quicker_ in his fields.--IRVING.
O _sweet_ and _far_ from cliff and scar The horns of Elfland
faintly blowing.--TENNYSON.
But he must do his errand _right._--DRAKE
_Long_ she looked in his tiny face.--_Id._
Not _near_ so black as he was painted.--THACKERAY.
In some cases adverbs with _-ly_ are used side by side with those
without _-ly_, but with a different meaning. Such are _most_,
_mostly_; _near_, _nearly_; _even_, _evenly_; _hard_, _hardly_; etc.
[Sidenote: _Special use of_ there.]
292. Frequently the word there, instead of being used adverbially,
merely introduces a sentence, and inverts the usual order of subject
and predicate.
This is such a fixed idiom that the sentence, if it has the verb _be_,
seems awkward or affected without this "_there_ introductory." Compare
these:--
1. _There_ are eyes, to be sure, that give no more admission into
the man than blueberries.--EMERSON.
2. Time was when field and watery cove With modulated echoes
rang.--WORDSWORTH.
HOW TO PARSE ADVERBS.
293. In parsing adverbs, give--
(1) The class, according to meaning and also use.
(2) Degree of comparison, if the word is compared.
(3) What word or word group it modifies.
Exercise.
Parse all the adverbs in the following sentences:--
1. Now the earth is so full that a drop overfills it.
2. The higher we rise in the scale of being, the more certainly we
quit the region of the brilliant eccentricities and dazzling contrasts
which belong to a vulgar greatness.
3. We sit in the warm shade and feel right well
How the sap creeps up and blossoms swell.
4. Meanwhile the Protestants believed somewhat doubtfully that he was
theirs.
5. Whence else could arise the bruises which I had received, but from
my fall?
6. We somehow greedily gobble down all stories in which the characters
of our friends are chopped up.
7. How carefully that blessed day is marked in their little calendars!
8. But a few steps farther on, at the regular wine-shop, the Madonna
is in great glory.
9. The foolish and the dead alone never change their opinion.
10. It is the Cross that is first seen, and always, burning in the
center of the temple.
11. For the impracticable, however theoretically enticing, is always
politically unwise.
12. Whence come you? and whither are you bound?
13. How comes it that the evil which men say spreads so widely and
lasts so long, whilst our good kind words don't seem somehow to take
root and blossom?
14. At these carousals Alexander drank deep.
15. Perhaps he has been getting up a little architecture on the road
from Florence.
16. It is left you to find out why your ears are boxed.
17. Thither we went, and sate down on the steps of a house.
18. He could never fix which side of the garden walk would suit him
best, but continually shifted.
19. But now the wind rose again, and the stern drifted in toward the
bank.
20. He caught the scent of wild thyme in the air, and found room to
wonder how it could have got there.
21. They were soon launched on the princely bosom of the Thames, upon
which the sun now shone forth.
22. Why should we suppose that conscientious motives, feeble as they
are constantly found to be in a good cause, should be omnipotent for
evil?
24. It was pretty bad after that, and but for Polly's outdoor
exercise, she would undoubtedly have succumbed.
CONJUNCTIONS.
294. Unlike adverbs, conjunctions do not modify: they are used
solely for the purpose of connecting.
Examples of the use of conjunctions:--
[Sidenote: _They connect_ words.]
(1) _Connecting words_: "It is the very necessity _and_ condition of
existence;" "What a simple _but_ exquisite illustration!"
[Sidenote: Word groups: _Phrases._]
[Sidenote: _Clauses._]
(2) _Connecting word groups_: "Hitherto the two systems have existed
in different States, _but_ side by side within the American Union;"
"This has happened _because_ the Union is a confederation of States."
[Sidenote: _Sentences._]
(3) _Connecting sentences_: "Unanimity in this case can mean only a
very large majority. _But_ even unanimity itself is far from
indicating the voice of God."
[Sidenote: _Paragraphs._]
(4) _Connecting sentence groups_: Paragraphs would be too long to
quote here, but the student will readily find them, in which the
writer connects the divisions of narration or argument by such words
as _but_, _however_, _hence_, _nor_, _then_, _therefore_, etc.
[Sidenote: _Definition._]
295. A conjunction is a linking word, connecting words, word
groups, sentences, or sentence groups.
[Sidenote: _Classes of conjunctions._]
296. Conjunctions have two principal divisions:--
(1) Coördinate, joining words, word groups, etc., of the _same
rank_.
(2) Subordinate, joining a subordinate or dependent clause to a
principal or independent clause.
COÖRDINATE CONJUNCTIONS.
297. Coördinate conjunctions are of four kinds:
(1) COPULATIVE, coupling or uniting words and expressions in the same
line of thought; as _and_, _also_, _as well as_, _moreover_, etc.
(2) ADVERSATIVE, connecting words and expressions that are opposite in
thought; as _but_, _yet_, _still_, _however_, _while_, _only_, etc.
(3) CAUSAL, introducing a reason or cause. The chief ones are, _for_,
_therefore_, _hence_, _then_.
(4) ALTERNATIVE, expressing a choice, usually between two things. They
are _or_, _either_, _else_, _nor_, _neither_, _whether_.
[Sidenote: _Correlatives._]
298. Some of these go in pairs, answering to each other in the same
sentence; as, _both_..._and_; _not only_..._but_ (or _but also_);
_either_..._or_; _whether_..._or_; _neither_..._nor_; _whether_..._or
whether_.
Some go in threes; as, _not only_..._but_... _and_;
_either_..._or_..._or_; _neither_..._nor_... _nor_.
Further examples of the use of coördinate conjunctions:--
[Sidenote: _Copulative._]
Your letter, _likewise_, had its weight; the bread was spent, the
butter _too_; the window being open, _as well as_ the room door.
[Sidenote: _Adversative._]
The assertion, _however_, serves but to show their ignorance. "Can
this be so?" said Goodman Brown. "_Howbeit_, I have nothing to do with
the governor and council."
_Nevertheless_, in this mansion of gloom I now proposed to myself a
sojourn of some weeks.
[Sidenote: _Alternative._]
While the earth bears a plant, _or_ the sea rolls its waves.
_Nor_ mark'd they less, where in the air
A thousand streamers flaunted fair.
[Sidenote: _Causal._]
_Therefore_ the poet is not any permissive potentate, but is emperor
in his own right. _For_ it is the rule of the universe that corn shall
serve man, and not man corn.
Examples of the use of correlatives:--
He began to doubt whether _both_ he _and_ the world around him
were not bewitched.--IRVING.
He is _not only_ bold and vociferous, _but_ possesses a
considerable talent for mimicry, _and_ seems to enjoy great
satisfaction in mocking and teasing other birds.--WILSON.
It is...the same _whether_ I move my hand along the surface of a
body, _or whether_ such a body is moved along my hand.--BURKE.
_Neither_ the place in which he found himself, _nor_ the
exclusive attention that he attracted, disturbed the
self-possession of the young Mohican.--COOPER.
_Neither_ was there any phantom memorial of life, _nor_ wing of
bird, _nor_ echo, _nor_ green leaf, _nor_ creeping thing, that
moved or stirred upon the soundless waste.--DE QUINCEY.
SUBORDINATE CONJUNCTIONS.
299. Subordinate conjunctions are of the following kinds:--
(1) PLACE: _where_, _wherever_, _whither_, _whereto_, _whithersoever_,
_whence_, etc.
(2) TIME: _when_, _before_, _after_, _since_, _as_, _until_,
_whenever_, _while_, _ere_, etc.
(3) MANNER: _how_, _as_, _however_, _howsoever_.
(4) CAUSE or REASON: _because_, _since_, _as_, _now_, _whereas_,
_that_, _seeing_, etc.
(5) COMPARISON: _than_ and _as_.
(6) PURPOSE: _that_, _so_, _so that_, _in order that_, _lest_,
_so_..._as_.
(7) RESULT: _that_, _so that_, especially _that_ after _so_.
(8) CONDITION or CONCESSION: _if_, _unless_, _so_, _except_, _though_,
_although_; _even if_, _provided_, _provided that_, _in case_, _on
condition that_, etc.
(9) SUBSTANTIVE: _that_, _whether_, sometimes _if_, are used
frequently to introduce noun clauses used as _subject, object, in
apposition_, etc.
Examples of the use of subordinate conjunctions:--
[Sidenote: _Place._]
Where the treasure is, there will the heart be also.--_Bible._
To lead from eighteen to twenty millions of men _whithersoever_
they will.--J. QUINCY.
An artist will delight in excellence _wherever_ he meets it.
--ALLSTON.
[Sidenote: _Time._]
I promise to devote myself to your happiness _whenever_ you shall
ask it of me.--PAULDING.
It is sixteen years _since_ I saw the Queen of France.--BURKE.
[Sidenote: _Manner._]
Let the world go _how_ it will.--CARLYLE
Events proceed, not _as_ they were expected or intended, but _as_
they are impelled by the irresistible laws.--AMES.
[Sidenote: _Cause, reason._]
I see no reason _why_ I should not have the same
thought.--EMERSON.
Then Denmark blest our chief,
_That_ he gave her wounds repose.
--CAMPBELL.
_Now_ he is dead, his martyrdom will reap
Late harvests of the palms he should have had in life.
--H.H. JACKSON
Sparing neither whip nor spur, _seeing that_ he carried the
vindication of his patron's fame in his saddlebags.--IRVING.
[Sidenote: _Comparison._]
As a soldier, he was more solicitous to avoid mistakes _than_ to
perform exploits that are brilliant.--AMES.
All the subsequent experience of our race had gone over him with
as little permanent effect _as_ [_as_ follows the semi-adverbs
_as_ and _so_ in expressing comparison] the passing
breeze.--HAWTHORNE.
[Sidenote: _Purpose._]
We wish for a thousand heads, a thousand bodies, _that_ we might
celebrate its immense beauty.--EMERSON.
[Sidenote: _Result._]
So many thoughts moved to and fro,
_That_ vain it were her eyes to close.
--COLERIDGE.
I was again covered with water, but not so long _but_ I held it
out.--DEFOE.
[Sidenote: _Condition._]
A ridicule which is of no import _unless_ the scholar heed
it.--EMERSON.
There flowers or weeds at will may grow,
_So_ I behold them not.
--BYRON.
[Sidenote: _Concession_.]
What _though_ the radiance which was once so bright
Be now forever taken from my sight.--WORDSWORTH.
[Sidenote: _Substantive._]
It seems a pity _that_ we can only spend it once.--EMERSON.
We do not believe _that_ he left any worthy man his foe who had
ever been his friend.--AMES.
Let us see _whether_ the greatest, the wisest, the purest-hearted
of all ages are agreed in any wise on this point.--RUSKIN.
Who can tell _if_ Washington be a great man or no?--EMERSON.
300. As will have been noticed, some words--for example, _since_,
_while_, _as_, _that_, etc.--may belong to several classes of
conjunctions, according to their meaning and connection in the
sentence.
Exercises.
(_a_) Bring up sentences containing five examples of coördinate
conjunctions.
(_b_) Bring up sentences containing three examples of correlatives.
(_c_) Bring up sentences containing ten subordinate conjunctions.
(_d_) Tell whether the italicized words in the following sentences are
conjunctions or adverbs; classify them if conjunctions:--
1. _Yet_ these were often exhibited throughout our city.
2. No one had _yet_ caught his character.
3. _After_ he was gone, the lady called her servant.
4. And they lived happily forever _after_.
5. They, _however_, hold a subordinate rank.
6. _However_ ambitious a woman may be to command admiration abroad,
her real merit is known at home.
7. _Whence_ else could arise the bruises which I had received?
8. He was brought up for the church, _whence_ he was occasionally
called the Dominie.
9. And _then_ recovering, she faintly pressed her hand.
10. In what point of view, _then_, is war not to be regarded with
horror?
11. The moth fly, _as_ he shot in air, Crept under the leaf, and hid
her there.
12. Besides, _as_ the rulers of a nation are _as_ liable _as_ other
people to be governed by passion and prejudice, there is little
prospect of justice in permitting war.
13. _While_ a faction is a minority, it will remain harmless.
14. _While_ patriotism glowed in his heart, wisdom blended in his
speech her authority with her charms.
15. _Hence_ it is highly important that the custom of war should be
abolished.
16. The raft and the money had been thrown near her, none of the
lashings having given way; _only_ what is the use of a guinea amongst
tangle and sea gulls?
17. _Only_ let his thoughts be of equal scope, and the frame will suit
the picture.
SPECIAL REMARKS.
[Sidenote: As if.]
301. _As if_ is often used as one conjunction of manner, but really
there is an ellipsis between the two words; thus,--
But thy soft murmuring
Sounds sweet _as if_ a sister's voice reproved.
--BYRON.
If analyzed, the expression would be, "sounds sweet _as_ [the sound
would be] _if_ a sister's voice reproved;" _as_, in this case,
expressing degree if taken separately.
But the ellipsis seems to be lost sight of frequently in writing, as
is shown by the use of _as though_.
[Sidenote: As though.]
302. In Emerson's sentence, "We meet, and part _as though_ we parted
not," it cannot be said that there is an ellipsis: it cannot mean "we
part _as_ [we should part] _though_" etc.
Consequently, _as if_ and _as though_ may be taken as double
conjunctions expressing manner. _As though_ seems to be in as wide use
as the conjunction _as if_; for example,--
Do you know a farmer who acts and lives _as though_ he believed
one word of this?--H GREELEY.
His voice ... sounded _as though_ it came out of a
barrel.--IRVING.
Blinded alike from sunshine and from rain,
_As though_ a rose should shut, and be a bud again.
--KEATS
Examples might be quoted from almost all authors.
[Sidenote: As _for_ as if.]
303. In poetry, _as_ is often equivalent to _as if_.
And their orbs grew strangely dreary,
Clouded, even _as_ they would weep.
--EMILY BRONTE.
So silently we seemed to speak,
So slowly moved about,
_As_ we had lent her half our powers
To eke her living out.
--HOOD.
HOW TO PARSE CONJUNCTIONS.
304. In parsing conjunctions, tell--
(1) To what class and subclass they belong.
(2) What words, word groups, etc., they connect.
[Sidenote: _Caution_.]
In classifying them, particular attention must be paid to the
_meaning_ of the word. Some conjunctions, such as _nor, and, because,
when_, etc., are regularly of one particular class; others belong to
several classes. For example, compare the sentences,--
1. It continued raining, _so_ that I could not stir
abroad.--DEFOE
2. There will be an agreement in whatever variety of actions,
_so_ they be each honest and natural in their hour.--EMERSON
3. It was too dark to put an arrow into the creature's eye; _so_
they paddled on.--KINGSLEY
In sentence 1, _so that_ expresses result, and its clause depends on
the other, hence it is a subordinate conjunction of result; in 2, _so_
means provided,--is subordinate of condition; in 3, _so_ means
therefore, and its clause is independent, hence it is a coördinate
conjunction of reason.
Exercise.
Parse all the conjunctions in these sentences:--
1. When the gods come among men, they are not known.
2. If he could solve the riddle, the Sphinx was slain.
3. A lady with whom I was riding in the forest said to me that the
woods always seemed to wait, as if the genii who inhabit them
suspended their deeds until the wayfarer had passed.
4. The mountain of granite blooms into an eternal flower, with the
lightness and delicate finish as well as the aërial proportions and
perspective of vegetable scenery.
5. At sea, or in the forest, or in the snow, he sleeps as warm, dines
with as good an appetite, and associates as happily, as beside his own
chimneys.
6. Our admiration of the antique is not admiration of the old, but of
the natural.
7. "Doctor," said his wife to Martin Luther, "how is it that whilst
subject to papacy we prayed so often and with such fervor, whilst now
we pray with the utmost coldness, and very seldom?"
8. All the postulates of elfin annals,--that the fairies do not like
to be named; that their gifts are capricious and not to be trusted;
and the like,--I find them true in Concord, however they might be in
Cornwall or Bretagne.
9. He is the compend of time; he is also the correlative of nature.
10. He dismisses without notice his thought, because it is his.
11. The eye was placed where one ray should fall, that it might
testify of that particular ray.
12. It may be safely trusted, so it be faithfully imparted.
13. He knows how to speak to his contemporaries.
14. Goodness must have some edge to it,--else it is none.
15. I hope it is somewhat better than whim at last.
16. Now you have the whip in your hand, won't you lay on?
17. I scowl as I dip my pen into the inkstand.
18. I speak, therefore, of good novels only.
19. Let her loose in the library as you do a fawn in a field.
20. And whether consciously or not, you must be, in many a heart,
enthroned.
21. It is clear, however, the whole conditions are changed.
22. I never rested until I had a copy of the book.
23. For, though there may be little resemblance otherwise, in this
they agree, that both were wayward.
24. Still, she might have the family countenance; and Kate thought he
looked with a suspicious scrutiny into her face as he inquired for the
young don.
25. He follows his genius whithersoever it may lead him.
26. The manuscript indeed speaks of many more, whose names I omit,
seeing that it behooves me to hasten.
27. God had marked this woman's sin with a scarlet letter, which had
such efficacy that no human sympathy could reach her, save it were
sinful like herself.
28. I rejoice to stand here no longer, to be looked at as though I
had seven heads and ten horns.
29. He should neither praise nor blame nor defend his equals.
30. There was no iron to be seen, nor did they appear acquainted with
its properties; for they unguardedly took a drawn sword by the edge,
when it was presented to them.
PREPOSITIONS..
305. The word _preposition_ implies _place before_: hence it would
seem that a preposition is always _before_ its object. It may be so in
the majority of cases, but in a considerable proportion of instances
the preposition is _after_ its object.
This occurs in such cases as the following:--
[Sidenote: Preposition not before its object.]
(1) _After a relative pronoun_, a very common occurrence; thus,--
The most dismal Christmas fun _which_ these eyes ever looked
_on_.--THACKERAY.
An ancient nation _which_ they know nothing _of_.--EMERSON.
A foe, _whom_ a champion has fought _with_ to-day.--SCOTT.
Some little toys _that_ girls are fond _of_.--SWIFT.
"It's the man _that_ I spoke to you _about_" said Mr.
Pickwick.--DICKENS.
(2) _After an interrogative adverb, adjective, or pronoun_, also
frequently found:--
_What_ God doth the wizard pray _to_?--HAWTHORNE.
_What_ is the little one thinking about?--J.G. HOLLAND.
_Where_ the Devil did it come _from_, I wonder?--DICKENS.
(3) _With an infinitive_, in such expressions as these:--
A proper _quarrel_ for a Crusader to do battle _in_.--SCOTT.
"You know, General, it was _nothing_ to joke _about_."--CABLE
Had no harsh _treatment_ to reproach herself _with_.--BOYESEN
A _loss of vitality_ scarcely to be accounted _for_.--HOLMES.
Places for _horses_ to be hitched _to_.--_Id._
(4) _After a noun_,--the case in which the preposition is expected to
be, and regularly is, before its object; as,--
And unseen mermaids' pearly song
Comes bubbling up, the weeds _among_.
--BEDDOES.
Forever panting and forever young,
All breathing human passion far _above_.
--KEATS.
306. Since the object of a preposition is most often a noun, the
statement is made that the preposition usually precedes its object; as
in the following sentence, "Roused _by_ the shock, he started _from_
his trance."
Here the words _by_ and _from_ are connectives; but they do more than
connect. _By_ shows the relation in thought between _roused_ and
_shock_, expressing means or agency; _from_ shows the relation in
thought between _started_ and _trance_, and expresses separation. Both
introduce phrases.
[Sidenote: _Definition_.]
307. A preposition is a word joined to a noun or its equivalent to
make up a qualifying or an adverbial phrase, and to show the relation
between its object and the word modified.
[Sidenote: _Objects, nouns and the following_.]
308. Besides nouns, prepositions may have as objects--
(1) _Pronouns_: "Upon _them_ with the lance;" "With _whom_ I traverse
earth."
(2) _Adjectives_: "On _high_ the winds lift up their voices."
(3) _Adverbs_: "If I live wholly from _within_;" "Had it not been for
the sea from _aft_."
(4) _Phrases_: "Everything came to her from _on high_;" "From _of old_
they had been zealous worshipers."
(5) _Infinitives_: "The queen now scarce spoke to him save _to convey_
some necessary command for her service."
(6) _Gerunds_: "They shrink from _inflicting_ what they threaten;" "He
is not content with _shining_ on great occasions."
(7) _Clauses_:
"Each soldier eye shall brightly turn
To _where thy sky-born glories burn_."
[Sidenote: _Object usually objective case, if noun or pronoun_.]
309. The object of a preposition, if a noun or pronoun, is usually
in the objective case. In pronouns, this is shown by the form of the
word, as in Sec. 308 (1).
[Sidenote: _Often possessive_.]
In the double-possessive idiom, however, the object is in the
possessive case after _of_; for example,--
There was also a book _of Defoe's_,... and another _of_
_Mather's_.--FRANKLIN.
See also numerous examples in Secs. 68 and 87.
[Sidenote: _Sometimes nominative_.]
And the prepositions _but_ and _save_ are found with the nominative
form of the pronoun following; as,--
Nobody knows _but_ my mate and _I_
Where our nest and our nestlings lie.
--BRYANT.
USES OF PREPOSITIONS.
[Sidenote: _Inseparable._]
310. Prepositions are used in three ways:--
(1) _Compounded with verbs_, _adverbs_, or _conjunctions_; as, for
example, with verbs, _with_draw, _under_stand, _over_look, _over_take,
_over_flow, _under_go, _out_stay, _out_number, _over_run, _over_grow,
etc.; with adverbs, there_at_, there_in_, there_from_, there_by_,
there_with_, etc.; with conjunctions, where_at_, where_in_, where_on_,
where_through_, where_upon_, etc.
[Sidenote: _Separable._]
(2) _Following a verb_, and being really a part of the verb. This use
needs to be watched closely, to see whether the preposition belongs to
the verb or has a separate prepositional function. For example, in the
sentences, (_a_) "He broke a pane _from_ the window," (_b_) "He broke
_into_ the bank," in (_a_), the verb _broke_ is a predicate, modified
by the phrase introduced by _from_; in (_b_), the predicate is not
_broke_, modified by _into the bank_, but _broke into_--the object,
_bank_.
Study carefully the following prepositions with verbs:--
Considering the space they _took up_.--SWIFT.
I loved, _laughed at_, and pitied him.--GOLDSMITH.
The sun _breaks through_ the darkest clouds.--SHAKESPEARE.
They will _root up_ the whole ground.--SWIFT.
A friend _prevailed upon_ one of the interpreters.--ADDISON
My uncle _approved of_ it.--FRANKLIN.
The robber who _broke into_ them.--LANDOR.
This period is not obscurely _hinted at_.--LAMB.
The judge _winked at_ the iniquity of the decision.--_Id._
The pupils' voices, _conning over_ their lessons.--IRVING.
To _help out_ his maintenance.--_Id._
With such pomp is Merry Christmas _ushered in_.--LONGFELLOW.
[Sidenote: _Ordinary use as connective, relation words._]
(3) As _relation words_, introducing phrases,--the most common use, in
which the words have their own proper function.
[Sidenote: _Usefulness of prepositions._]
311. Prepositions are the subtlest and most useful words in the
language for compressing a clear meaning into few words. Each
preposition has its proper and general meaning, which, by frequent and
exacting use, has expanded and divided into a variety of meanings more
or less close to the original one.
Take, for example, the word _over_. It expresses place, with motion,
as, "The bird flew _over_ the house;" or rest, as, "Silence broods
_over_ the earth." It may also convey the meaning of _about_,
_concerning_; as, "They quarreled _over_ the booty." Or it may express
time: "Stay _over_ night."
The language is made richer and more flexible by there being several
meanings to each of many prepositions, as well as by some of them
having the same meaning as others.
CLASSES OF PREPOSITIONS.
312. It would be useless to attempt to classify all the
prepositions, since they are so various in meaning.
The largest groups are those of place, time, and exclusion.
PREPOSITIONS OF PLACE.
313. The following are the most common to indicate place:--
(1) PLACE WHERE: _abaft_, _about_, _above_, _across_, _amid_
(_amidst_), _among_ (_amongst_), _at_, _athwart_, _below_, _beneath_,
_beside_, _between_ (_betwixt_), _beyond_, _in_, _on_, _over_, _under_
(_underneath_), _upon_, _round_ or _around_, _without_.
(2) PLACE WHITHER: _into_, _unto_, _up_, _through_, _throughout_,
_to_, _towards_.
(3) PLACE WHENCE: _down_, _from_ (_away from_, _down from_, _from
out_, etc.), _off_, _out of_.
Abaft is exclusively a sea term, meaning _back of_.
Among (or amongst) and between (or betwixt) have a difference
in meaning, and usually a difference in use. _Among_ originally meant
in the crowd (_on gemong_), referring to several objects; _between_
and _betwixt_ were originally made up of the preposition _be_ (meaning
_by_) and _twēon_ or _twēonum_ (modern _twain_), _by two_, and _be_
with _twīh_ (or _twuh_), having the same meaning, _by two_ objects.
As to modern use, see "Syntax" (Sec. 459).
PREPOSITIONS OF TIME.
314. They are _after_, _during_, _pending_, _till_ or _until_; also
many of the prepositions of place express time when put before words
indicating time, such as _at_, _between_, _by_, _about_, _on_,
_within_, etc.
These are all familiar, and need no special remark.
EXCLUSION OR SEPARATION.
315. The chief ones are _besides_, _but_, _except_, _save_,
_without_. The participle _excepting_ is also used as a preposition.
MISCELLANEOUS PREPOSITIONS.
316. Against implies opposition, sometimes place where. In
colloquial English it is sometimes used to express time, now and then
also in literary English; for example,--
She contrived to fit up the baby's cradle for me _against_
night.--SWIFT
About, and the participial prepositions concerning, respecting,
regarding, mean _with reference to_.
[Sidenote: _Phrase prepositions._]
317. Many phrases are used as single prepositions: _by means of_,
_by virtue of_, _by help of_, _by dint of_, _by force of_; _out of_,
_on account of_, _by way of_, _for the sake of_; _in consideration
of_, _in spite of_, _in defiance of_, _instead of_, _in view of_, _in
place of_; _with respect to_, _with regard to_, _according to_,
_agreeably to_; and some others.
318. Besides all these, there are some prepositions that have so
many meanings that they require separate and careful treatment: _on_
(_upon_), _at_, _by_, _for_, _from_, _of_, _to_, _with_.
No attempt will be made to give _all_ the meanings that each one in
this list has: the purpose is to stimulate observation, and to show
how useful prepositions really are.
At.
319. The general meaning of at is _near_, _close to_, after a verb
or expression implying position; and _towards_ after a verb or
expression indicating motion. It defines position approximately, while
_in_ is exact, meaning _within_.
Its principal uses are as follows:--
(1) _Place where._
They who heard it listened with a curling horror _at_ the
heart.--J.F. COOPER.
There had been a strike _at_ the neighboring manufacturing
village, and there was to be a public meeting, _at_ which he was
besought to be present.--T.W. HIGGINSON.
(2) _Time_, more exact, meaning the point of time at which.
He wished to attack _at_ daybreak.--PARKMAN.
They buried him darkly, _at_ dead of night.--WOLFE
(3) _Direction._
The mother stood looking wildly down _at_ the unseemly
object.--COOPER.
You are next invited...to grasp _at_ the opportunity, and take
for your subject, "Health."--HIGGINSON.
Here belong such expressions as _laugh at_, _look at_, _wink at_,
_gaze at_, _stare at_, _peep at_, _scowl at_, _sneer at_, _frown at_,
etc.
We _laugh at_ the elixir that promises to prolong life to a
thousand years.--JOHNSON.
"You never mean to say," pursued Dot, sitting on the floor and
_shaking_ her head _at_ him.--DICKENS.
(4) _Source_ or _cause_, meaning _because of_, _by reason of_.
I felt my heart chill _at_ the dismal sound.--T.W. KNOX.
Delighted _at_ this outburst against the Spaniards.--PARKMAN.
(5) Then the idiomatic phrases _at last_, _at length_, _at any rate_,
_at the best_, _at the worst_, _at least_, _at most_, _at first_, _at
once_, _at all_, _at one_, _at naught_, _at random_, etc.; and phrases
signifying state or condition of being, as, _at work_, _at play_, _at
peace_, _at war_, _at rest_, etc.
Exercise.--Find sentences with three different uses of _at_.
By.
320. Like _at_, by means _near_ or _close to_, but has several
other meanings more or less connected with this,--
(1) The general meaning of _place_.
Richard was standing _by_ the window.--ALDRICH.
Provided always the coach had not shed a wheel _by_ the
roadside.--_Id._
(2) _Time._
But _by_ this time the bell of Old Alloway began tolling.--B.
TAYLOR
The angel came _by_ night.--R.H. STODDARD.
(3) _Agency_ or _means_.
Menippus knew which were the kings _by_ their howling
louder.--M.D. CONWAY.
At St. Helena, the first port made _by_ the ship, he stopped.
--PARTON.
(4) _Measure of excess_, expressing the degree of difference.
At that time [the earth] was richer, _by_ many a million of
acres.--DE QUINCEY.
He was taller _by_ almost the breadth of my nail.--SWIFT.
(5) It is also used in _oaths and adjurations_.
_By_ my faith, that is a very plump hand for a man of
eighty-four!--PARTON.
They implore us _by_ the long trials of struggling humanity; _by_
the blessed memory of the departed; _by_ the wrecks of time; _by_
the ruins of nations.--EVERETT.
Exercise.--Find sentences with three different meanings of _by_.
For.
321. The chief meanings of for are as follows:--
(1) _Motion towards_ a place, or a tendency or action toward the
attainment of any object.
Pioneers who were opening the way _for_ the march of the
nation.--COOPER.
She saw the boat headed _for_ her.--WARNER.
(2) _In favor of_, _for the benefit of_, _in behalf of_, a person or
thing.
He and they were _for_ immediate attack.--PARKMAN
The people were then against us; they are now _for_ us.--W.L.
GARRISON.
(3) _Duration of time_, or _extent of space_.
_For_ a long time the disreputable element outshone the
virtuous.--H.H. BANCROFT.
He could overlook all the country _for_ many a mile of rich
woodland.--IRVING.
(4) _Substitution_ or _exchange_.
There are gains _for_ all our losses.--STODDARD.
Thus did the Spaniards make bloody atonement _for_ the butchery
of Fort Caroline.--PARKMAN.
(5) _Reference_, meaning _with regard to_, _as to_, _respecting_, etc.
_For_ the rest, the Colonna motto would fit you best.--EMERSON.
_For_ him, poor fellow, he repented of his folly.--E.E. HALE
This is very common with _as_--_as for_ me, etc.
(6) Like _as_, meaning _in the character of_, _as being_, etc.
"Nay, if your worship can accomplish that," answered Master
Brackett, "I shall own you _for_ a man of skill indeed!"
--HAWTHORNE.
Wavering whether he should put his son to death _for_ an
unnatural monster.--LAMB.
(7) _Concession_, meaning _although_, _considering that_ etc.
"_For_ a fool," said the Lady of Lochleven, "thou hast counseled
wisely."--SCOTT
By my faith, that is a very plump hand _for_ a man of
eighty-four!--PARTON.
(8) Meaning _notwithstanding_, or _in spite of_.
But the Colonel, _for_ all his title, had a forest of poor
relations.--HOLMES.
Still, _for_ all slips of hers,
One of Eve's family.--HOOD.
(9) _Motive, cause, reason, incitement to action._
The twilight being...hardly more wholesome _for_ its glittering
mists of midge companies.--RUSKIN.
An Arab woman, but a few sunsets since, ate her child, _for_
famine.--_Id._
Here Satouriona forgot his dignity, and leaped _for_
joy.--PARKMAN.
(10) _For_ with its object preceding the infinitive, and having the
same meaning as a noun clause, as shown by this sentence:--
It is by no means necessary _that he should devote his whole
school existence to physical science_; nay, more, it is not
necessary for _him to give up more than a moderate share of his
time to such studies_.--HUXLEY.
Exercise.--Find sentences with five meanings of _for_.
From.
322. The general idea in from is separation or source. It may be
with regard to--
(1) _Place._
Like boys escaped _from_ school.--H.H. BANCROFT
Thus they drifted _from_ snow-clad ranges to burning
plain.--_Id._
(2) _Origin._
Coming _from_ a race of day-dreamers, Ayrault had inherited the
faculty of dreaming also by night.--HIGGINSON.
_From_ harmony, _from_ heavenly harmony
This universal frame began.--DRYDEN.
(3) _Time._
A distrustful, if not a desperate man, did he become _from_ the
night of that fearful dream--HAWTHORNE.
(4) _Motive_, _cause_, or _reason_.
It was _from_ no fault of Nolan's.--HALE.
The young cavaliers, _from_ a desire of seeming valiant, ceased
to be merciful.--BANCROFT.
Exercise.--Find sentences with three meanings of _from_.
Of.
323. The original meaning of of was separation or source, like
_from_. The various uses are shown in the following examples:--
I. The _From_ Relation.
(1) _Origin or source._
The king holds his authority _of_ the people.--MILTON.
Thomas à Becket was born _of_ reputable parents in the city of
London.--HUME.
(2) _Separation_: (_a_) After certain verbs, such as _ease_, _demand_,
_rob_, _divest_, _free_, _clear_, _purge_, _disarm_, _deprive_,
_relieve_, _cure_, _rid_, _beg_, _ask_, etc.
Two old Indians cleared the spot _of_ brambles, weeds, and
grass.--PARKMAN.
Asked no odds _of_, acquitted them _of,_ etc.--ALDRICH.
(_b_) After some adjectives,--_clear of_, _free of_, _wide of_, _bare
of_, etc.; especially adjectives and adverbs of direction, as _north
of_, _south of_, etc.
The hills were bare _of_ trees.--BAYARD TAYLOR.
Back _of_ that tree, he had raised a little Gothic chapel.
--GAVARRE.
(_c_) After nouns expressing lack, deprivation, etc.
A singular want _of_ all human relation.--HIGGINSON.
_(d)_ With words expressing distance.
Until he had come within a staff's length _of_ the old dame.
--HAWTHORNE
Within a few yards _of_ the young man's hiding place.--_Id._
(3) _With expressions of material_, especially _out of_.
White shirt with diamond studs, or breastpin _of_ native
gold.--BANCROFT.
Sandals, bound with thongs _of_ boar's hide.--SCOTT
Who formed, _out of_ the most unpromising materials, the finest
army that Europe had yet seen.--MACAULAY
(4) _Expressing cause, reason, motive._
The author died _of_ a fit of apoplexy.--BOSWELL.
More than one altar was richer _of_ his vows.--LEW WALLACE.
"Good for him!" cried Nolan. "I am glad _of_ that."--E.E. HALE.
(5) _Expressing agency._
You cannot make a boy know, _of_ his own knowledge, that Cromwell
once ruled England.--HUXLEY.
He is away _of_ his own free will.--DICKENS
II. Other Relations expressed by _Of_.
(6) _Partitive_, expressing a part of a number or quantity.
_Of_ the Forty, there were only twenty-one members present.
--PARTON.
He washed out some _of_ the dirt, separating thereby as much of
the dust as a ten-cent piece would hold.--BANCROFT.
[Sidenote: _See also Sec. 309._]
(7) _Possessive_, standing, with its object, for the possessive, or
being used with the possessive case to form the double possessive.
Not even woman's love, and the dignity _of_ a queen, could give
shelter from his contumely.--W.E. CHANNING.
And the mighty secret _of_ the Sierra stood revealed.--BANCROFT.
(8) _Appositional_, which may be in the case of--
(_a_) Nouns.
Such a book as that _of_ Job.--FROUDE.
The fair city _of_ Mexico.--PRESCOTT.
The nation _of_ Lilliput.--SWIFT.
(_b_) Noun and gerund, being equivalent to an infinitive.
In the vain hope _of_ appeasing the savages.--COOPER.
Few people take the trouble _of_ finding out what democracy
really is.--LOWELL.
(_c_) Two nouns, when the first is descriptive of the second.
This crampfish _of_ a Socrates has so bewitched him.--EMERSON
A sorry antediluvian makeshift _of_ a building you may think
it.--LAMB.
An inexhaustible bottle _of_ a shop.--ALDRICH.
(9) _Of time._ Besides the phrases _of old_, _of late_, _of a sudden_,
etc., _of_ is used in the sense of _during_.
I used often to linger _of_ a morning by the high gate.--ALDRICH
I delighted to loll over the quarter railing _of_ a calm day.
--IRVING.
(10) _Of reference_, equal to _about_, _concerning_, _with regard to_.
The Turk lay dreaming _of_ the hour.--HALLECK.
Boasted _of_ his prowess as a scalp hunter and
duelist.--BANCROFT.
Sank into reverie _of_ home and boyhood scenes.--_Id._
[Sidenote: _Idiomatic use with verbs._]
_Of_ is also used as an appendage of certain verbs, such as _admit_,
_accept_, _allow_, _approve_, _disapprove_, _permit_, without adding
to their meaning. It also accompanies the verbs _tire_, _complain_,
_repent_, _consist_, _avail_ (one's self), and others.
Exercise.--Find sentences with six uses of _of_.
On, Upon.
324. The general meaning of on is position or direction. _On_ and
_upon_ are interchangeable in almost all of their applications, as
shown by the sentences below:--
(1) _Place_: (_a_) Where.
Cannon were heard close _on_ the left.--PARKMAN.
The Earl of Huntley ranged his host
_Upon_ their native strand.--MRS. SIGOURNEY.
(_b_) With motion.
It was the battery at Samos firing _on_ the boats.--PARKMAN.
Thou didst look down _upon_ the naked earth.--BRYANT.
(2) _Time._
The demonstration of joy or sorrow _on_ reading their letters.
--BANCROFT.
_On_ Monday evening he sent forward the Indians.--PARKMAN.
Upon is seldom used to express time.
(3) _Reference_, equal to _about_, _concerning_, etc.
I think that one abstains from writing _on_ the immortality of
the soul.--EMERSON.
He pronounced a very flattering opinion _upon_ my brother's
promise of excellence.--DE QUINCEY.
(4) _In adjurations._
_On_ my life, you are eighteen, and not a day more.--ALDRICH.
_Upon_ my reputation and credit.--SHAKESPEARE
(5) _Idiomatic phrases_: _on fire_, _on board_, _on high_, _on the
wing_, _on the alert_, _on a sudden_, _on view_, _on trial_, etc.
Exercise.--Find sentences with three uses of _on_ or _upon_.
To.
325. Some uses of to are the following:--
(1) _Expressing motion_: (_a_) To a place.
Come _to_ the bridal chamber, Death!--HALLECK.
Rip had scrambled _to_ one of the highest peaks.--IRVING.
(_b_) Referring to time.
Full of schemes and speculations _to_ the last.--PARTON.
Revolutions, whose influence is felt _to_ this hour.--PARKMAN.
(2) _Expressing result._
He usually gave his draft to an aid...to be written over,--often
_to_ the loss of vigor.--BENTON
_To_ our great delight, Ben Lomond was unshrouded.--B. TAYLOR
(3) _Expressing comparison._
But when, unmasked, gay Comedy appears,
'Tis ten _to_ one you find the girl in tears.
--ALDRICH
They are arrant rogues: Cacus was nothing _to_ them.--BULWER.
Bolingbroke and the wicked Lord Littleton were saints _to_
him.--WEBSTER
(4) _Expressing concern, interest._
_To_ the few, it may be genuine poetry.--BRYANT.
His brother had died, had ceased to be, _to_ him.--HALE.
Little mattered _to_ them occasional privations--BANCROFT.
(5) _Equivalent to_ according to.
Nor, _to_ my taste, does the mere music...of your style fall far
below the highest efforts of poetry.--LANG.
We cook the dish _to_ our own appetite.--GOLDSMITH.
(6) _With the infinitive_ (see Sec. 268).
Exercise.--Find sentences containing three uses of _to_.
With.
326. With expresses the idea of accompaniment, and hardly any of
its applications vary from this general signification.
In Old English, _mid_ meant _in company with_, while _wið_ meant
_against_: both meanings are included in the modern _with_.
The following meanings are expressed by _with_:--
(1) _Personal accompaniment._
The advance, _with_ Heyward at its head, had already reached the
defile.--COOPER.
For many weeks I had walked _with_ this poor friendless girl.--DE
QUINCEY.
(2) _Instrumentality._
_With_ my crossbow I shot the albatross.--COLERIDGE.
Either _with_ the swingle-bar, or _with_ the haunch of our near
leader, we had struck the off-wheel of the little gig.--DE
QUINCEY.
(3) _Cause, reason, motive._
He was wild _with_ delight about Texas.--HALE.
She seemed pleased _with_ the accident.--HOWELLS.
(4) _Estimation, opinion._
How can a writer's verses be numerous if _with_ him, as _with_
you, "poetry is not a pursuit, but a pleasure"?--LANG.
It seemed a supreme moment _with_ him.--HOWELLS.
(5) _Opposition_.
After battling _with_ terrific hurricanes and typhoons on every
known sea.--ALDRICH.
The quarrel of the sentimentalists is not _with_ life, but _with_
you.--LANG.
(6) _The equivalent of_ notwithstanding, in spite of.
_With_ all his sensibility, he gave millions to the
sword.--CHANNING.
Messala, _with_ all his boldness, felt it unsafe to trifle
further.--WALLACE
(7) _Time._
He expired _with_ these words.--SCOTT.
_With_ each new mind a new secret of nature transpires.--EMERSON.
Exercise.--Find sentences with four uses of _with_.
HOW TO PARSE PREPOSITIONS.
327. Since a preposition introduces a phrase and shows the relation
between two things, it is necessary, first of all, to find the object
of the preposition, and then to find what word the prepositional
phrase limits. Take this sentence:--
The rule adopted on board the ships on which I have met "the man
without a country" was, I think, transmitted from the
beginning.--E.E. HALE.
The phrases are (1) _on board the ships_, (2) _on which_, (3) _without
a country_, (4) _from the beginning_. The object of _on board_ is
_ships_; of _on_, _which_; of _without_, _country_; of _from_,
_beginning_.
In (1), the phrase answers the question _where_, and has the office of
an adverb in telling _where_ the rule is adopted; hence we say, _on
board_ shows the relation between _ships_ and the participle
_adopted_.
In (2), _on which_ modifies the verb _have met_ by telling where:
hence _on_ shows the relation between _which_ (standing for _ships_)
and the verb _have met_.
In (3), _without a country_ modifies _man_, telling what man, or the
verb _was_ understood: hence _without_ shows the relation between
_country_ and _man_, or _was_. And so on.
The parsing of prepositions means merely telling between what words
or word groups they show relation.
Exercises.
(_a_) Parse the prepositions in these paragraphs:--
1. I remember, before the dwarf left the queen, he followed us
one day into those gardens. I must needs show my wit by a silly
illusion between him and the trees, which happens to hold in
their language as it does in ours. Whereupon, the malicious
rogue, watching his opportunity when I was walking under one of
them, shook it directly over my head, by which a dozen apples,
each of them near as large as a Bristol barrel, came tumbling
about my ears; one of them hit me on the back as I chanced to
stoop, and knocked me down flat on my face; but I received no
other hurt, and the dwarf was pardoned at my desire, because I
had given the provocation.--SWIFT
2. Be that as it will, I found myself suddenly awakened with a
violent pull upon the ring, which was fastened at the top of my
box for the conveniency of carriage. I felt my box raised very
high in the air, and then borne forward with prodigious speed.
The first jolt had like to have shaken me out of my hammock. I
called out several times, but all to no purpose. I looked towards
my windows, and could see nothing but the clouds and the sky. I
heard a noise just over my head, like the clapping of wings, and
then began to perceive the woeful condition I was in; that some
eagle had got the ring of my box in his beak, with an intent to
let it fall on a rock: for the sagacity and smell of this bird
enabled him to discover his quarry at a great distance, though
better concealed than I could be within a two-inch board.--_Id._
(_b_) Give the exact meaning of each italicized preposition in the
following sentences:--
1. The guns were cleared _of_ their lumber.
2. They then left _for_ a cruise up the Indian Ocean.
3. I speak these things _from_ a love of justice.
4. _To_ our general surprise, we met the defaulter here.
5. There was no one except a little sunbeam _of_ a sister.
6. The great gathering in the main street was _on_ Sundays, when,
after a restful morning, though unbroken _by_ the peal of church
bells, the miners gathered _from_ hills and ravines _for_ miles around
_for_ marketing.
7. The troops waited in their boats _by_ the edge of a strand.
8. His breeches were _of_ black silk, and his hat was garnished _with_
white and sable plumes.
9. A suppressed but still distinct murmur of approbation ran through
the crowd _at_ this generous proposition.
10. They were shriveled and colorless _with_ the cold.
11. On every solemn occasion he was the striking figure, even _to_ the
eclipsing of the involuntary object of the ceremony.
12. _On_ all subjects known to man, he favored the world with his
opinions.
13. Our horses ran _on_ a sandy margin of the road.
14. The hero of the poem is _of_ a strange land and a strange
parentage.
15. He locked his door _from_ mere force of habit.
16. The lady was remarkable _for_ energy and talent.
17. Roland was acknowledged _for_ the successor and heir.
18. _For_ my part, I like to see the passing, in town.
19. A half-dollar was the smallest coin that could be tendered _for_
any service.
20. The mother sank and fell, grasping _at_ the child.
21. The savage army was in war-paint, plumed _for_ battle.
22. He had lived in Paris _for_ the last fifty years.
23. The hill stretched _for_ an immeasurable distance.
24. The baron of Smaylho'me rose _with_ day,
He spurred his courser on,
Without stop or stay, down the rocky way
That leads _to_ Brotherstone.
25. _With_ all his learning, Carteret was far from being a pedant.
26. An immense mountain covered with a shining green turf is nothing,
in this respect, _to_ one dark and gloomy.
27. Wilt thou die _for_ very weakness?
28. The name of Free Joe strikes humorously _upon_ the ear of memory.
29. The shout I heard was _upon_ the arrival of this engine.
30. He will raise the price, not merely _by_ the amount of the tax.
WORDS THAT NEED WATCHING.
328. If the student has now learned fully that words must be studied
in grammar according to their function or use, and not according to
form, he will be able to handle some words that are used as several
parts of speech. A few are discussed below,--a summary of their
treatment in various places as studied heretofore.
THAT.
329. That may be used as follows:
(1) _As a demonstrative adjective._
_That_ night was a memorable one.--STOCKTON.
(2) _As an adjective pronoun._
_That_ was a dreadful mistake.--WEBSTER.
(3) _As a relative pronoun._
And now it is like an angel's song,
_That_ makes the heavens be mute.--COLERIDGE.
(4) _As an adverb of degree._
_That_ far I hold that the Scriptures teach.--BEECHER.
(5) _As a conjunction_: (_a_) Of purpose.
Has bounteously lengthened out your lives, _that_ you might
behold this joyous day.--WEBSTER.
(_b_) Of result.
Gates of iron so massy _that_ no man could without the help of
engines open or shut them.--JOHNSON.
(_c_) Substantive conjunction.
We wish _that_ labor may look up here, and be proud in the midst
of its toil.--WEBSTER.
WHAT.
330. (1) _Relative pronoun._
That is _what_ I understand by scientific education.--HUXLEY.
(_a_) Indefinite relative.
Those shadowy recollections,
Which be they _what_ they may,
Are yet the fountain light of all our day.--WORDSWORTH.
(2) _Interrogative pronoun_: (_a_) Direct question.
_What_ would be an English merchant's character after a few such
transactions?--THACKERAY.
(_b_) Indirect question.
I have not allowed myself to look beyond the Union, to see _what_
might be hidden.--WEBSTER.
(3) _Indefinite pronoun:_ The saying, "I'll tell you _what_."
(4) _Relative adjective._
But woe to _what_ thing or person stood in the way.--EMERSON.
(_a_) Indefinite relative adjective.
To say _what_ good of fashion we can, it rests on reality.--_Id._
(5) _Interrogative adjective_: (_a_) Direct question.
_What_ right have you to infer that this condition was caused by
the action of heat?--AGASSIZ.
(_b_) Indirect question.
At _what_ rate these materials would be distributed,...it is
impossible to determine.--_Id._
(6) _Exclamatory adjective._
Saint Mary! _what_ a scene is here!--SCOTT.
(7) _Adverb of degree._
If he has [been in America], he knows _what_ good people are to
be found there.--THACKERAY.
(8) _Conjunction_, nearly equivalent to _partly_... _partly_, or _not
only...but_.
_What_ with the Maltese goats, who go tinkling by to their
pasturage; _what_ with the vocal seller of bread in the early
morning;...these sounds are only to be heard...in Pera.--S.S.
Cox.
(9) _As an exclamation._
_What_, silent still, and silent all!--BYRON.
_What_, Adam Woodcock at court!--SCOTT.
BUT.
331. (1) _Coördinate conjunction_: (_a_) Adversative.
His very attack was never the inspiration of courage, _but_ the
result of calculation.--EMERSON.
(_b_) Copulative, after _not only_.
Then arose not only tears, _but_ piercing cries, on all sides.
--CARLYLE.
(2) _Subordinate conjunction_: (_a_) Result, equivalent to _that_ ...
_not_.
Nor is Nature so hard _but_ she gives me this joy several
times.--EMERSON.
(_b_) Substantive, meaning _otherwise_ ... _than_.
Who knows _but_, like the dog, it will at length be no longer
traceable to its wild original--THOREAU.
(3) _Preposition_, meaning _except_.
Now there was nothing to be seen _but_ fires in every
direction.--LAMB.
(4) _Relative pronoun_, after a negative, stands for _that_ ... _not_,
or _who_ ... _not_.
There is not a man in them _but_ is impelled withal, at all
moments, towards order.--CARLYLE.
(5) _Adverb_, meaning _only_.
The whole twenty years had been to him _but_ as one
night.--IRVING.
To lead _but_ one measure.--SCOTT.
AS.
332. (1) _Subordinate conjunction_: (_a_) Of time.
Rip beheld a precise counterpart of himself _as_ he went up the
mountain.--IRVING.
(_b_) Of manner.
_As_ orphans yearn on to their mothers,
He yearned to our patriot bands.--MRS BROWNING.
(_c_) Of degree.
His wan eyes
Gaze on the empty scene _as_ vacantly
_As_ ocean's moon looks on the moon in heaven.
--SHELLEY.
(_d_) Of reason.
I shall see but little of it, _as_ I could neither bear walking
nor riding in a carriage.--FRANKLIN.
(_e_) Introducing an appositive word.
Reverenced _as_ one of the patriarchs of the village.--IRVING.
Doing duty _as_ a guard.--HAWTHORNE.
(2) _Relative pronoun_, after _such_, sometimes _same_.
And was there such a resemblance _as_ the crowd had
testified?--HAWTHORNE.
LIKE.
[Sidenote: _Modifier of a noun or pronoun._]
333. (1) _An adjective._
The aforesaid general had been exceedingly _like_ the majestic
image.--HAWTHORNE.
They look, indeed, _liker_ a lion's mane than a Christian man's
locks.-SCOTT.
No Emperor, this, _like_ him awhile ago.--ALDRICH.
There is no statue _like_ this living man.--EMERSON.
That face, _like_ summer ocean's.--HALLECK.
In each case, _like_ clearly modifies a noun or pronoun, and is
followed by a dative-objective.
[Sidenote: _Introduces a clause, but its verb is omitted._]
(2) _A subordinate conjunction_ of manner. This follows a verb or a
verbal, but the verb of the clause introduced by _like_ is _regularly
omitted_. Note the difference between these two uses. In Old English
_gelic_ (like) was followed by the dative, and was clearly an
adjective. In this second use, _like_ introduces a shortened clause
modifying a verb or a verbal, as shown in the following sentences:--
Goodman Brown came into the street of Salem village, staring
_like_ a bewildered man.--HAWTHORNE.
Give Ruskin space enough, and he grows frantic and beats the air
_like_ Carlyle.--HIGGINSON.
They conducted themselves much _like_ the crew of a man-of-war.
--PARKMAN.
[The sound] rang in his ears _like_ the iron hoofs of the steeds
of Time.--LONGFELLOW.
Stirring it vigorously, _like_ a cook beating eggs.--ALDRICH.
If the verb is expressed, _like_ drops out, and _as_ or _as if_ takes
its place.
The sturdy English moralist may talk of a Scotch supper _as_ he
pleases.--CASS.
Mankind for the first seventy thousand ages ate their meat raw,
just _as_ they do in Abyssinia to this day.--LAMB.
I do with my friends _as_ I do with my books.--EMERSON.
NOTE.--Very rarely _like_ is found with a verb following, but this is
not considered good usage: for example,--
A timid, nervous child, _like_ Martin _was_.--MAYHEW.
Through which they put their heads, _like_ the Gauchos _do_
through their cloaks.--DARWIN.
_Like_ an arrow shot
From a well-experienced archer _hits_ the mark.--SHAKESPEARE.
INTERJECTIONS.
[Sidenote: _Definition._]
334. Interjections are exclamations used to express emotion, and
are not parts of speech in the same sense as the words we have
discussed; that is, entering into the structure of a sentence.
Some of these are imitative sounds; as, tut! buzz! etc.
_Humph_! attempts to express a contemptuous nasal utterance that no
letters of our language can really spell.
[Sidenote: _Not all exclamatory words are interjections._]
Other interjections are _oh_! _ah_! _alas_! _pshaw_! _hurrah_! etc.
But it is to be remembered that almost any word may be used as an
exclamation, but it still retains its identity as noun, pronoun,
verb, etc.: for example, "Books! lighthouses built on the sea of time
[noun];" "Halt! the dust-brown ranks stood fast [verb]," "Up! for
shame! [adverb]," "Impossible! it cannot be [adjective]."
PART II.
_ANALYSIS OF SENTENCES._
CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO FORM.
[Sidenote: _What analysis is._.]
335. All discourse is made up of sentences: consequently the
sentence is the unit with which we must begin. And in order to get a
clear and practical idea of the structure of sentences, it is
necessary to become expert in analysis; that is, in separating them
into their component parts.
A general idea of analysis was needed in our study of the parts of
speech,--in determining case, subject and predicate, clauses
introduced by conjunctions, etc.
[Sidenote: _Value of analysis._]
A more thorough and accurate acquaintance with the subject is
necessary for two reasons,--not only for a correct understanding of
the principles of syntax, but for the study of punctuation and other
topics treated in rhetoric.
[Sidenote: _Definition._]
336. A sentence is the expression of a thought in words.
[Sidenote: _Kinds of sentences as to form._]
337. According to the way in which a thought is put before a
listener or reader, sentences may be of three kinds:--
(1) Declarative, which puts the thought in the form of a declaration
or assertion. This is the most common one.
(2) Interrogative, which puts the thought in a question.
(3) Imperative, which expresses command, entreaty, or request.
Any one of these may be put in the form of an exclamation, but the
sentence would still be declarative, interrogative, or imperative;
hence, _according to form_, there are only the three kinds of
sentences already named.
Examples of these three kinds are, declarative, "Old year, you must
not die!" interrogative, "Hath he not always treasures, always
friends?" imperative, "Come to the bridal chamber, Death!"
CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO NUMBER OF STATEMENTS.
SIMPLE SENTENCES.
[Sidenote: _Division according to number of statements._]
338. But the division of sentences most necessary to analysis is the
division, not according to the form in which a thought is put, but
according to how many statements there are.
The one we shall consider first is the simple sentence.
[Sidenote: _Definition._]
339. A simple sentence is one which contains a single statement,
question, or command: for example, "The quality of mercy is not
strained;" "What wouldst thou do, old man?" "Be thou familiar, but by
no means vulgar."
340. Every sentence must contain two parts,--a subject and a
predicate.
[Sidenote: _Definition: Predicate._]
The predicate of a sentence is a verb or verb phrase which says
something about the subject.
In order to get a correct definition of the subject, let us examine
two specimen sentences:--
1. But now all is to be changed.
2. A rare old plant is the ivy green.
In the first sentence we find the subject by placing the word _what_
before the predicate,--_What_ is to be changed? Answer, _all_.
Consequently, we say _all_ is the subject of the sentence.
But if we try this with the second sentence, we have some
trouble,--_What_ is the ivy green? Answer, _a rare old plant_. But we
cannot help seeing that an assertion is made, not of _a rare old
plant_, but about _the ivy green_; and the real subject is the latter.
Sentences are frequently in this inverted order, especially in poetry;
and our definition must be the following, to suit all cases:--
[Sidenote: _Subject._]
The subject is that which answers the question _who_ or _what_
placed before the predicate, and which at the same time names that of
which the predicate says something.
[Sidenote: _The subject in interrogative and imperative simple
sentences._]
341. In the interrogative sentence, the subject is frequently after
the verb. Either the verb is the first word of the sentence, or an
interrogative pronoun, adjective, or adverb that asks about the
subject. In analyzing such sentences, _always reduce them to the order
of a statement_. Thus,--
(1) "When should this scientific education be commenced?"
(2) "This scientific education should be commenced when?"
(3) "What wouldst thou have a good great man obtain?"
(4) "Thou wouldst have a good great man obtain what?"
In the imperative sentence, the subject (_you_, _thou_, or _ye_) is in
most cases omitted, and is to be supplied; as, "[You] behold her
single in the field."
Exercise.
Name the subject and the predicate in each of the following
sentences:--
1. The shadow of the dome of pleasure
Floated midway on the waves.
2. Hence originated their contempt for terrestrial distinctions.
3. Nowhere else on the Mount of Olives is there a view like this.
4. In the sands of Africa and Arabia the camel is a sacred and
precious gift.
5. The last of all the Bards was he.
6. Slavery they can have anywhere.
7. Listen, on the other hand, to an ignorant man.
8. What must have been the emotions of the Spaniards!
9. Such was not the effect produced on the sanguine spirit of the
general.
10. What a contrast did these children of southern Europe present to
the Anglo-Saxon races!
ELEMENTS OF THE SIMPLE SENTENCE.
342. All the elements of the simple sentence are as follows:--
(1) The subject.
(2) The predicate.
(3) The object.
(4) The complements.
(5) Modifiers.
(6) Independent elements.
The subject and predicate have been discussed.
343. The object may be of two kinds:--
[Sidenote: _Definitions. Direct Object_.]
(1) The DIRECT OBJECT is that word or expression which answers the
question _who_ or _what_ placed after the verb; or the direct object
names that toward which the action of the predicate is directed.
It must be remembered that any verbal may have an object; but for the
present we speak of the object of the verb, and by _object_ we mean
the _direct_ object.
[Sidenote: _Indirect object_.]
(2) The INDIRECT OBJECT is a noun or its equivalent used as the
modifier of a verb or verbal to name the person or thing for whose
benefit an action is performed.
Examples of direct and indirect objects are, direct, "She seldom saw
her _course_ at a glance;" indirect, "I give _thee_ this to wear at
the collar."
[Sidenote: _Complement_:]
344. A complement is a word added to a verb of incomplete
predication to complete its meaning.
Notice that a verb of incomplete predication may be of two
kinds,--transitive and intransitive.
[Sidenote: _Of a transitive verb_.]
The _transitive verb_ often requires, in addition to the object, a
word to define fully the action that is exerted upon the object; for
example, "Ye call me chief." Here the verb _call_ has an object _me_
(if we leave out _chief_), and means summoned; but _chief_ belongs to
the verb, and _me_ here is not the object simply of _call_, but of
_call chief_, just as if to say, "Ye _honor me_." This word completing
a transitive verb is sometimes called a _factitive object_, or _second
object_, but it is a true complement.
The fact that this is a complement can be more clearly seen when the
verb is in the passive. See sentence 19, in exercise following Sec.
364.
[Sidenote: _Complement of an intransitive verb_.]
An _intransitive verb_, especially the forms of _be_, _seem_,
_appear_, _taste_, _feel_, _become_, etc., must often have a word to
complete the meaning: as, for instance, "Brow and head were _round,
and of massive weight_;" "The good man, he was now getting _old_,
above sixty;" "Nothing could be _more copious_ than his talk;" "But in
general he seemed _deficient in laughter_."
All these complete intransitive verbs. The following are examples of
complements of transitive verbs: "Hope deferred maketh the heart
_sick_;" "He was termed _Thomas_, or, more familiarly, _Thom of the
Gills_;" "A plentiful fortune is reckoned _necessary_, in the popular
judgment, to the completion of this man of the world."
345. The modifiers and independent elements will be discussed in
detail in Secs. 351, 352, 355.
[Sidenote: _Phrases_.]
346. A phrase is a group of words, not containing a verb, but used
as a single modifier.
As to _form_, phrases are of three kinds:--
[Sidenote: _Three kinds_.]
(1) PREPOSITIONAL, introduced by a preposition: for example, "Such a
convulsion is the struggle _of gradual suffocation_, as _in drowning_;
and, _in the original Opium Confessions_, I mentioned a case _of that
nature_."
(2) PARTICIPIAL, consisting of a participle and the words dependent on
it. The following are examples: "Then _retreating into the warm
house_, and _barring the door_, she sat down to undress the two
youngest children."
(3) INFINITIVE, consisting of an infinitive and the words dependent
upon it; as in the sentence, "She left her home forever in order _to
present herself at the Dauphin's court_."
Things used as Subject.
347. The subject of a simple sentence may be--
(1) _Noun_: "There seems to be no _interval_ between greatness and
meanness." Also an expression used as a noun; as, "A cheery, '_Ay, ay,
sir_!' rang out in response."
(2) _Pronoun_: "We are fortified by every heroic anecdote."
(3) _Infinitive phrase_: "_To enumerate and analyze these relations_
is to teach the science of method."
(4) _Gerund_: "There will be _sleeping_ enough in the grave;" "What
signifies _wishing_ and _hoping_ for better things?"
(5) _Adjective used as noun_: "_The good_ are befriended even by
weakness and defect;" "_The dead_ are there."
(6) _Adverb_: "_Then_ is the moment for the humming bird to secure the
insects."
348. The subject is often found _after the verb_--
(1) _By simple inversion_: as, "Therein has been, and ever will be, my
_deficiency_,--the talent of starting the game;" "Never, from their
lips, was heard one _syllable_ to justify," etc.
(2) _In interrogative sentences_, for which see Sec. 341.
(3) _After_ "it _introductory_:" "It ought not to need _to print_ in
a reading room a caution not to read aloud."
In this sentence, _it_ stands in the position of a grammatical
subject; but the real or logical subject is _to print_, etc. _It_
merely serves to throw the subject after a verb.
[Sidenote: _Disguised infinitive subject_.]
There is one kind of expression that is really an infinitive, though
disguised as a prepositional phrase: "It is hard _for honest men to
separate_ their country from their party, or their religion from their
sect."
The _for_ did not belong there originally, but obscures the real
subject,--the infinitive phrase. Compare Chaucer: "No wonder is a
lewed man to ruste" (No wonder [it] is [for] a common man to rust).
(4) _After_ "there _introductory_," which has the same office as _it_
in reversing the order (see Sec. 292): "There was a _description_ of
the destructive operations of time;" "There are _asking eyes_,
_asserting eyes_, _prowling eyes_."
Things used as Direct Object.
349. The words used as direct object are mainly the same as those
used for subject, but they will be given in detail here, for the sake
of presenting examples:--
(1) _Noun_: "Each man has his own _vocation_." Also expressions used
as nouns: for example, "'_By God, and by Saint George!_' said the
King."
(2) _Pronoun_: "Memory greets _them_ with the ghost of a smile."
(3) _Infinitive_: "We like _to see_ everything do its office."
(4) _Gerund_: "She heard that _sobbing_ of litanies, or the
_thundering_ of organs."
(5) _Adjective used as a noun_: "For seventy leagues through the
mighty cathedral, I saw _the quick_ and _the dead_."
Things used as Complement.
[Sidenote: _Complement: Of an intransitive verb_.]
350. As complement of an _intransitive_ verb,--
(1) _Noun_: "She had been an ardent _patriot_."
(2) _Pronoun_: "_Who_ is she in bloody coronation robes from Rheims?"
"This is _she_, the shepherd girl."
(3) _Adjective_: "Innocence is ever _simple_ and _credulous_."
(4) _Infinitive_: "To enumerate and analyze these relations is _to
teach_ the science of method."
(5) _Gerund_: "Life is a _pitching_ of this penny,--heads or tails;"
"Serving others is _serving_ us."
(6) _A prepositional phrase_: "His frame is _on a larger scale_;" "The
marks were _of a kind_ not to be mistaken."
It will be noticed that all these complements have a double
office,--completing the predicate, and explaining or modifying the
subject.
[Sidenote: _Of a transitive verb_.]
As complement of a _transitive_ verb,--
(1) _Noun_: "I will not call you _cowards_."
(2) _Adjective_: "Manners make beauty _superfluous_ and _ugly_;"
"Their tempers, doubtless, are rendered _pliant_ and _malleable_ in
the fiery furnace of domestic tribulation." In this last sentence, the
object is made the subject by being passive, and the words italicized
are still complements. Like all the complements in this list, they are
adjuncts of the object, and, at the same time, complements of the
predicate.
(3) _Infinitive_, or _infinitive phrase_: "That cry which made me
_look a thousand ways_;" "I hear the echoes _throng_."
(4) _Participle_, or _participial phrase_: "I can imagine him _pushing
firmly on, trusting the hearts of his countrymen_."
(5) _Prepositional phrase:_ "My antagonist would render my poniard and
my speed _of no use_ to me."
Modifiers.
I. Modifiers of Subject, Object, or Complement.
351. Since the subject and object are either nouns or some
equivalent of a noun, the words modifying them must be adjectives or
some equivalent of an adjective; and whenever the complement is a
noun, or the equivalent of the noun, it is modified by the same words
and word groups that modify the subject and the object.
These modifiers are as follows:--
(1) _A possessive_: "_My_ memory assures me of this;" "She asked her
_father's_ permission."
(2) _A word in apposition_: "Theodore Wieland, the _prisoner_ at the
bar, was now called upon for his defense;" "Him, this young
_idolater_, I have seasoned for thee."
(3) _An adjective_: "_Great_ geniuses have the _shortest_
biographies;" "Her father was a prince in Lebanon,--_proud_,
_unforgiving_, _austere_."
(4) _Prepositional phrase_: "Are the opinions _of a man on right and
wrong on fate and causation_, at the mercy of a broken sleep or an
indigestion?" "The poet needs a ground _in popular tradition_ to work
on."
(5) _Infinitive phrase_: "The way _to know him_ is to compare him, not
with nature, but with other men;" "She has a new and unattempted
problem _to solve_;" "The simplest utterances are worthiest _to be
written_."
(6) _Participial phrase_: "Another reading, _given at the request of a
Dutch lady_, was the scene from King John;" "This was the hour
_already appointed for the baptism_ of the new Christian daughter."
Exercise.--In each sentence in Sec. 351, tell whether the subject,
object, or complement is modified.
II. Modifiers of the Predicate.
352. Since the predicate is always a verb, the word modifying it
must be an adverb or its equivalent:--
(1) _Adverb:_ "_Slowly_ and _sadly_ we laid him down."
(2) _Prepositional phrase_: "The little carriage is creeping on _at
one mile an hour_;" "_In the twinkling of an eye_, our horses had
carried us _to the termination of the umbrageous isle_."
In such a sentence as, "He died like a God," the word group _like a
God_ is often taken as a phrase; but it is really a contracted clause,
the verb being omitted.
[Sidenote: _Tells how._]
(3) _Participial phrase:_ "She comes down from heaven to his help,
_interpreting for him the most difficult truths_, and _leading him
from star to star_."
(4) _Infinitive phrase:_ "No imprudent, no sociable angel, ever
dropped an early syllable _to answer his longing_."
(For participial and infinitive phrases, see further Secs. 357-363.)
(5) _Indirect object:_ "I gave _every man_ a trumpet;" "Give _them_
not only noble teachings, but noble teachers."
These are equivalent to the phrases _to every man_ and _to them_, and
modify the predicate in the same way.
[Sidenote: _Retained with passive; or_]
When the verb is changed from active to passive, the indirect object
is retained, as in these sentences: "It is left _you_ to find out the
reason why;" "All such knowledge should be given _her_."
[Sidenote: _subject of passive verb and direct object retained._]
Or sometimes the indirect object of the active voice becomes the
subject of the passive, and the direct object is retained: for
example, "She is to be taught _to extend the limits of her sympathy_;"
"I was shown an immense _sarcophagus_."
(6) _Adverbial objective._ These answer the question _when_, or _how
long_, _how far_, etc., and are consequently equivalent to adverbs in
modifying a predicate: "We were now running _thirteen miles an hour_;"
"_One way_ lies hope;" "_Four hours_ before midnight we approached a
mighty minster."
Exercises.
(_a_) Pick out subject, predicate, and (direct) object:--
1. This, and other measures of precaution, I took.
2. The pursuing the inquiry under the light of an end or final cause,
gives wonderful animation, a sort of personality to the whole writing.
3. Why does the horizon hold me fast, with my joy and grief, in this
center?
4. His books have no melody, no emotion, no humor, no relief to the
dead prosaic level.
5. On the voyage to Egypt, he liked, after dinner, to fix on three or
four persons to support a proposition, and as many to oppose it.
6. Fashion does not often caress the great, but the children of the
great.
7. No rent roll can dignify skulking and dissimulation.
8. They do not wish to be lovely, but to be loved.
(_b_) Pick out the subject, predicate, and complement:
1. Evil, according to old philosophers, is good in the making.
2. But anger drives a man to say anything.
3. The teachings of the High Spirit are abstemious, and, in regard to
particulars, negative.
4. Spanish diet and youth leave the digestion undisordered and the
slumbers light.
5. Yet they made themselves sycophantic servants of the King of Spain.
6. A merciless oppressor hast thou been.
7. To the men of this world, to the animal strength and spirits, the
man of ideas appears out of his reason.
8. I felt myself, for the first time, burthened with the anxieties of
a man, and a member of the world.
(_c_) Pick out the direct and the indirect object in each:--
1. Not the less I owe thee justice.
2. Unhorse me, then, this imperial rider.
3. She told the first lieutenant part of the truth.
4. I promised her protection against all ghosts.
5. I gave him an address to my friend, the attorney.
6. Paint me, then, a room seventeen feet by twelve.
(_d_) Pick out the words and phrases in apposition:--
1. To suffer and to do, that was thy portion in life.
2. A river formed the boundary,--the river Meuse.
3. In one feature, Lamb resembles Sir Walter Scott; viz., in the
dramatic character of his mind and taste.
4. This view was luminously expounded by Archbishop Whately, the
present Archbishop of Dublin.
5. Yes, at length the warrior lady, the blooming cornet, this nun so
martial, this dragoon so lovely, must visit again the home of her
childhood.
(_e_) Pick out the modifiers of the predicate:--
1. It moves from one flower to another like a gleam of light, upwards,
downwards, to the right and to the left.
2. And hark! like the roar of the billows on the shore,
The cry of battle rises along their changing line.
3. Their intention was to have a gay, happy dinner, after their long
confinement to a ship, at the chief hotel.
4. That night, in little peaceful Easedale, six children sat by a peat
fire, expecting the return of their parents.
Compound Subject, Compound Predicate, etc.
[Sidenote: _Not compound sentences._]
353. Frequently in a simple sentence the writer uses two or more
predicates to the same subject, two or more subjects of the same
predicate, several modifiers, complements, etc.; but it is to be
noticed that, in all such sentences as we quote below, the writers of
them purposely combined them _in single statements_, and they are not
to be expanded into compound sentences. In a compound sentence the
object is to make two or more full statements.
Examples of compound subjects are, "By degrees Rip's _awe_ and
_apprehension_ subsided;" "The _name of the child_, _the air of the
mother_, the _tone of her voice_,--all awakened a train of
recollections in his mind."
Sentences with compound predicates are, "The company _broke up_, and
_returned_ to the more important concerns of the election;" "He
_shook_ his head, _shouldered_ the rusty firelock, and, with a heart
full of trouble and anxiety, _turned_ his steps homeward."
Sentences with compound objects of the same verb are, "He caught his
_daughter_ and her _child_ in his arms;" "_Voyages_ and _travels_ I
would also have."
And so with complements, modifiers, etc.
Logical Subject and Logical Predicate.
354. The logical subject is the simple or grammatical subject,
together with all its modifiers.
The logical predicate is the simple or grammatical predicate (that
is, the verb), together with its modifiers, and its object or
complement.
[Sidenote: _Larger view of a sentence._]
It is often a help to the student to find the logical subject and
predicate first, then the grammatical subject and predicate. For
example, in the sentence, "The situation here contemplated exposes a
dreadful ulcer, lurking far down in the depths of human nature," the
logical subject is _the situation here contemplated_, and the rest is
the logical predicate. Of this, the simple subject is _situation_; the
predicate, _exposes_; the object, _ulcer_, etc.
Independent Elements of the Sentence.
355. The following words and expressions are grammatically
independent of the rest of the sentence; that is, they are not a
necessary part, do not enter into its structure:--
(1) _Person or thing addressed_: "But you know them, _Bishop_;" "_Ye
crags and peaks_, I'm with you once again."
(2) _Exclamatory expressions_: "But the _lady_--! Oh, _heavens_! will
that spectacle ever depart from my dreams?"
[Sidenote: _Caution._]
The exclamatory expression, however, may be the person or thing
addressed, same as (1), above: thus, "Ah, _young sir_! what are you
about?" Or it may be an imperative, forming a sentence: "Oh, _hurry,
hurry_, my brave young man!"
(3) _Infinitive phrase_ thrown in loosely: "_To make a long story
short_, the company broke up;" "_Truth to say_, he was a conscientious
man."
(4) _Prepositional phrase_ not modifying: "Within the railing sat, _to
the best of my remembrance_, six quill-driving gentlemen;" "_At all
events_, the great man of the prophecy had not yet appeared."
(5) _Participial phrase:_ "But, _generally speaking_, he closed his
literary toils at dinner;" "_Considering the burnish of her French
tastes_, her noticing even this is creditable."
(6) _Single words_: as, "Oh, _yes_! everybody knew them;" "_No_, let
him perish;" "_Well_, he somehow lived along;" "_Why_, grandma, how
you're winking!" "_Now_, this story runs thus."
[Sidenote: _Another caution._]
There are some adverbs, such as _perhaps_, _truly_, _really_,
_undoubtedly_, _besides_, etc., and some conjunctions, such as
_however_, _then_, _moreover_, _therefore_, _nevertheless_, etc., that
have an office in the sentence, and should not be confused with the
words spoken of above. The words _well_, _now_, _why_, and so on, are
independent when they merely arrest the attention without being
necessary.
PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES.
356. In their use, prepositional phrases may be,
(1) _Adjectival_, modifying a noun, pronoun, or word used as a noun:
for example, "He took the road _to King Richard's pavilion_;" "I bring
reports _on that subject_ from Ascalon."
(2) _Adverbial_, limiting in the same way an adverb limits: as, "All
nature around him slept _in calm moonshine_ or _in deep shadow_;" "Far
_from the madding crowd's ignoble strife_."
(3) _Independent_, not dependent on any word in the sentence (for
examples, see Sec. 355, 4).
PARTICIPLES AND PARTICIPIAL PHRASES.
357. It will be helpful to sum up here the results of our study of
participles and participial phrases, and to set down all the uses
which are of importance in analysis:--
(1) _The adjectival use_, already noticed, as follows:--
(_a_) As a complement of a transitive verb, and at the same time a
modifier of the object (for an example, see Sec. 350, 4).
(_b_) As a modifier of subject, object, or complement (see Sec. 351,
6).
(2) _The adverbial use_, modifying the predicate, instances of which
were seen in Sec. 352, 3. In these the participial phrases connect
closely with the verb, and there is no difficulty in seeing that they
modify.
[Sidenote: _These need close watching._]
There are other participial phrases which are used adverbially, but
require somewhat closer attention; thus, "The letter of
introduction_, containing no matters of business_, was speedily run
through."
In this sentence, the expression _containing no matters of business_
does not describe _letter_, but it is equivalent to _because it
contained no matters of business_, and hence is adverbial, modifying
_was speedily run through_.
Notice these additional examples:--
_Being a great collector of everything relating to Milton_ [reason,
"Because I was," etc.], I had naturally possessed myself of Richardson
the painter's thick octavo volumes.
Neither the one nor the other writer was valued by the public, _both
having_ [since they had] _a long warfare to accomplish of contumely
and ridicule_.
Wilt thou, therefore, _being now wiser_ [as thou art] _in thy
thoughts_, suffer God to give by seeming to refuse?
(3) _Wholly independent_ in meaning and grammar. See Sec. 355, (5),
and these additional examples:--
_Assuming the specific heat to be the same as that of water_, the
entire mass of the sun would cool down to 15,000° Fahrenheit in five
thousand years.
_This case excepted_, the French have the keenest possible sense of
everything odious and ludicrous in posing.
INFINITIVES AND INFINITIVE PHRASES.
358. The various uses of the infinitive give considerable trouble,
and they will be presented here in full, or as nearly so as the
student will require.
I. The verbal use. (1) Completing an incomplete verb, but having no
other office than a verbal one.
(_a_) With _may (might)_, _can (could)_, _should_, _would_, _seem_,
_ought_, etc.: "My weekly bill used invariably _to be_ about fifty
shillings;" "There, my dear, he should not _have known_ them at all;"
"He would _instruct_ her in the white man's religion, and _teach_ her
how to be happy and good."
(_b_) With the forms of _be_, being equivalent to a future with
obligation, necessity, etc.: as in the sentences, "Ingenuity and
cleverness are _to be rewarded_ by State prizes;" "'The Fair Penitent'
was _to be acted_ that evening."
(_c_) With the definite forms of _go_, equivalent to a future: "I was
going _to repeat_ my remonstrances;" "I am not going _to dissert_ on
Hood's humor."
(2) Completing an incomplete transitive verb, but also belonging to a
subject or an object (see Sec. 344 for explanation of the complements
of transitive verbs): "I am constrained every moment _to acknowledge_
a higher origin for events" (retained with passive); "Do they not
cause the heart _to beat_, and the eyes _to fill_?"
359. II. The substantive use, already examined; but see the
following examples for further illustration:--
(1) _As the subject: "To have_ the wall there, was to have the foe's
life at their mercy;" "_To teach_ is to learn."
(2) _As the object_: "I like _to hear_ them tell their old stories;"
"I don't wish _to detract_ from any gentleman's reputation."
(3) _As complement:_ See examples under (1), above.
(4) _In apposition_, explanatory of a noun preceding: as, "She
forwarded to the English leaders a touching invitation _to unite_ with
the French;" "He insisted on his right _to forget_ her."
360. III. The adjectival use, modifying a noun that may be a
subject, object, complement, etc.: for example, "But there was no time
_to be lost_;" "And now Amyas had time _to ask_ Ayacanora the meaning
of this;" "I have such a desire _to be_ well with my public" (see also
Sec. 351, 5).
361. IV. The adverbial use, which may be to express--
(1) _Purpose:_ "The governor, Don Guzman, sailed to the eastward only
yesterday _to look_ for you;" "Isn't it enough to bring us to death,
_to please_ that poor young gentleman's fancy?"
(2) _Result:_ "Don Guzman returns to the river mouth _to find_ the
ship a blackened wreck;" "What heart could be so hard as _not to take_
pity on the poor wild thing?"
(3) _Reason:_ "I am quite sorry _to part_ with them;" "Are you mad,
_to betray_ yourself by your own cries?" "Marry, hang the idiot, _to
bring me_ such stuff!"
(4) _Degree:_ "We have won gold enough _to serve_ us the rest of our
lives;" "But the poor lady was too sad _to talk_ except to the boys
now and again."
(5) _Condition:_ "You would fancy, _to hear_ McOrator after dinner,
the Scotch fighting all the battles;" "_To say_ what good of fashion
we can, it rests on reality" (the last is not a simple sentence, but
it furnishes a good example of this use of the infinitive).
362. The fact that the infinitives in Sec. 361 are used adverbially,
is evident from the meaning of the sentences.
Whether each sentence containing an adverbial infinitive has the
meaning of purpose, result, etc., may be found out by turning the
infinitive into an equivalent clause, such as those studied under
subordinate conjunctions.
To test this, notice the following:--
In (1), _to look_ means _that he might look_; _to please_ is
equivalent to _that he may please_,--both purpose clauses.
In (2), _to find_ shows the result of the return; _not to take pity_
is equivalent to _that it would not take pity_.
In (3), _to part_ means _because I part_, etc.; and _to betray_ and
_to bring_ express the reason, equivalent to _that you betray_, etc.
In (4), _to serve_ and _to talk_ are equivalent to [_as much gold_]
_as will serve us_; and "too sad _to talk_" also shows degree.
In (5), _to hear_ means _if you should hear_, and _to say_ is
equivalent to _if we say_,--both expressing condition.
363. V. The independent use, which is of two kinds,--
(1) Thrown loosely into the sentence; as in Sec. 355, (3).
(2) _Exclamatory:_ "I a philosopher! I _advance_ pretensions;" "'He
_to die_!' resumed the bishop." (See also Sec. 268, 4.)
OUTLINE OF ANALYSIS.
364. In analyzing simple sentences, give--
(1) The predicate. If it is an incomplete verb, give the complement
(Secs. 344 and 350) and its modifiers (Sec. 351).
(2) The object of the verb (Sec. 349).
(3) Modifiers of the object (Sec. 351).
(4) Modifiers of the predicate (Sec. 352).
(5) The subject (Sec. 347).
(6) Modifiers of the subject (Sec. 351).
(7) Independent elements (Sec. 355).
This is not the same order that the parts of the sentence usually
have; but it is believed that the student will proceed more easily by
finding the predicate with its modifiers, object, etc., and then
finding the subject by placing the question _who_ or _what_ before it.
Exercise in Analyzing Simple Sentences.
Analyze the following according to the directions given:--
1. Our life is March weather, savage and serene in one hour.
2. I will try to keep the balance true.
3. The questions of Whence? What? and Whither? and the solution of
these, must be in a life, not in a book.
4. The ward meetings on election days are not softened by any
misgiving of the value of these ballotings.
5. Our English Bible is a wonderful specimen of the strength and music
of the English language.
6. Through the years and the centuries, through evil agents, through
toys and atoms, a great and beneficent tendency irresistibly streams.
7. To be hurried away by every event, is to have no political system
at all.
8. This mysticism the ancients called ecstasy,--a getting-out of their
bodies to think.
9. He risked everything, and spared nothing, neither ammunition, nor
money, nor troops, nor generals, nor himself.
10. We are always in peril, always in a bad plight, just on the edge
of destruction, and only to be saved by invention and courage.
11. His opinion is always original, and to the purpose.
12. To these gifts of nature, Napoleon added the advantage of having
been born to a private and humble fortune.
13. The water, like a witch's oils,
Burnt green and blue and white.
14. We one day descried some shapeless object floating at a distance.
15. Old Adam, the carrion crow,
The old crow of Cairo;
He sat in the shower, and let it flow
Under his tail and over his crest.
16. It costs no more for a wise soul to convey his quality to other
men.
17. It is easy to sugar to be sweet.
18. At times the black volume of clouds overhead seemed rent asunder
by flashes of lightning.
19. The whole figure and air, good and amiable otherwise, might be
called flabby and irresolute.
20. I have heard Coleridge talk, with eager energy, two stricken
hours, and communicate no meaning whatsoever to any individual.
21. The word _conscience_ has become almost confined, in popular use,
to the moral sphere.
22. You may ramble a whole day together, and every moment discover
something new.
23. She had grown up amidst the liberal culture of Henry's court a
bold horsewoman, a good shot, a graceful dancer, a skilled musician,
an accomplished scholar.
24. Her aims were simple and obvious,--to preserve her throne, to keep
England out of war, to restore civil and religious order.
25. Fair name might he have handed down,
Effacing many a stain of former crime.
26. Of the same grandeur, in less heroic and poetic form, was the
patriotism of Peel in recent history.
27. Oxford, ancient mother! hoary with ancestral honors, time-honored,
and, haply, time-shattered power--I owe thee nothing!
28. The villain, I hate him and myself, to be a reproach to such
goodness.
29. I dare this, upon my own ground, and in my own garden, to bid you
leave the place now and forever.
30. Upon this shore stood, ready to receive her, in front of all this
mighty crowd, the prime minister of Spain, the same Condé Olivarez.
31. Great was their surprise to see a young officer in uniform
stretched within the bushes upon the ground.
32. She had made a two days' march, baggage far in the rear, and no
provisions but wild berries.
33. This amiable relative, an elderly man, had but one foible, or
perhaps one virtue, in this world.
34. Now, it would not have been filial or ladylike.
35. Supposing this computation to be correct, it must have been in the
latitude of Boston, the present capital of New England.
36. The cry, "A strange vessel close aboard the frigate!" having
already flown down the hatches, the ship was in an uproar.
37. But yield, proud foe, thy fleet
With the crews at England's feet.
38. Few in number, and that number rapidly perishing away through
sickness and hardships; surrounded by a howling wilderness and savage
tribes; exposed to the rigors of an almost arctic winter,--their minds
were filled with doleful forebodings.
39. List to the mournful tradition still sung by the pines of the
forest.
40. In the Acadian land, on the shores of the Basin of Minas,
Distant, secluded, still, the little village of Grand-Pré
Lay in the fruitful valley.
41. Must we in all things look for the how, and the why, and the
wherefore?
CONTRACTED SENTENCES.
[Sidenote: _Words left out after_ than _or_ as.]
365. Some sentences look like simple ones in form, but have an
essential part omitted that is so readily supplied by the mind as not
to need expressing. Such are the following:--
"There is no country more worthy of our study than England [is
worthy of our study]."
"The distinctions between them do not seem to be so marked as
[they are marked] in the cities."
To show that these words are really omitted, compare with them the two
following:--
"The nobility and gentry are more popular among the inferior
orders than _they are_ in any other country."
"This is not so universally the case at present as _it was_
formerly."
[Sidenote: _Sentences with_ like.]
366. As shown in Part I. (Sec. 333). the expressions _of manner_
introduced by _like_, though often treated as phrases, are really
contracted clauses; but, if they were expanded, _as_ would be the
connective instead of _like_; thus,--
"They'll shine o'er her sleep, like [as] a smile from the west
[would shine].
From her own loved island of sorrow."
This must, however, be carefully discriminated from cases where _like_
is an adjective complement; as,--
"She is _like_ some tender tree, the pride and beauty of the
grove;" "The ruby seemed _like_ a spark of fire burning upon her
white bosom."
Such contracted sentences form a connecting link between our study of
simple and complex sentences.
COMPLEX SENTENCES.
[Sidenote: _The simple sentence the basis._]
367. Our investigations have now included all the machinery of the
simple sentence, which is the _unit of speech_.
Our further study will be in sentences which are combinations of
simple sentences, made merely for convenience and smoothness, to avoid
the tiresome repetition of short ones of monotonous similarity.
Next to the simple sentence stands the complex sentence. The basis of
it is two or more simple sentences, which are so united that one
member is the main one,--the backbone,--the other members subordinate
to it, or dependent on it; as in this sentence,--
"When such a spirit breaks forth into complaint, we are aware how
great must be the suffering that extorts the murmur."
The relation of the parts is as follows:--
we are aware
_______ _____
| |
__| _when such a spirit breaks_
| _forth into complaint_,
|
_how great must be the suffering_
|
that extorts the murmur.
This arrangement shows to the eye the picture that the sentence forms
in the mind,--how the first clause is held in suspense by the mind
till the second, we are aware, is taken in; then we recognize this
as the main statement; and the next one, _how great ... suffering_,
drops into its place as subordinate to _we are aware_; and the last,
_that ... murmur_, logically depends on _suffering_.
Hence the following definition:--
[Sidenote: _Definition._]
368. A complex sentence is one containing one main or independent
clause (also called the principal proposition or clause), and _one or
more_ subordinate or dependent clauses.
369. The elements of a complex sentence are the same as those of
the simple sentence; that is, each clause has its subject, predicate,
object, complements, modifiers, etc.
But there is this difference: whereas the simple sentence always has a
word or a phrase for subject, object, complement, and modifier, the
complex sentence has _statements_ or _clauses_ for these places.
CLAUSES.
[Sidenote: _Definition._]
370. A clause is a division of a sentence, containing a verb with
its subject.
Hence the term _clause_ may refer to the main division of the complex
sentence, or it may be applied to the others,--the dependent or
subordinate clauses.
[Sidenote: _Independent clause._]
371. A principal, main, or independent clause is one making a
statement without the help of any other clause.
[Sidenote: _Dependent clause._]
A subordinate or dependent clause is one which makes a statement
depending upon or modifying some word in the principal clause.
[Sidenote: _Kinds._]
372. As to their office in the sentence, clauses are divided into
NOUN, ADJECTIVE, and ADVERB clauses, according as they are equivalent
in use to nouns, adjectives, or adverbs.
Noun Clauses.
373. Noun clauses have the following uses:--
(1) _Subject_: "_That such men should give prejudiced views of
America_ is not a matter of surprise."
(2) _Object of a verb_, _verbal_, _or the equivalent of a verb_: (_a_)
"I confess _these stories, for a time, put an end to my fancies_;"
(_b_) "I am aware [I know] _that a skillful illustrator of the
immortal bard would have swelled the materials_."
Just as the object noun, pronoun, infinitive, etc., is retained after
a passive verb (Sec. 352, 5), so the object clause is retained, and
should not be called an adjunct of the subject; for example, "We are
persuaded _that a thread runs through all things_;" "I was told _that
the house had not been shut, night or day, for a hundred years_."
(3) _Complement_: "The terms of admission to this spectacle are, _that
he have a certain solid and intelligible way of living_."
(4) _Apposition_. (_a_) Ordinary apposition, explanatory of some noun
or its equivalent: "Cecil's saying of Sir Walter Raleigh, '_I know
that he can toil terribly_,' is an electric touch."
(_b_) After "it _introductory_" (logically this is a subject clause,
but it is often treated as in apposition with _it_): "_It_ was the
opinion of some, _that this might be the wild huntsman famous in
German legend_."
(5) _Object of a preposition_: "At length he reached to _where the
ravine had opened through the cliffs_."
Notice that frequently only the introductory word is the object of
the preposition, and the whole clause is not; thus, "The rocks
presented a high impenetrable wall, _over which_ the torrent came
tumbling."
374. Here are to be noticed certain sentences seemingly complex,
with a noun clause in apposition with _it_; but logically they are
nothing but simple sentences. But since they are _complex in form_,
attention is called to them here; for example,--
"Alas! it is we ourselves that are getting buried alive under
this avalanche of earthly impertinences."
To divide this into two clauses--(_a_) _It is we ourselves_, (_b_)
_that are ... impertinences_--would be grammatical; but logically the
sentence is, _We ourselves are getting ... impertinences_, and _it is
... that_ is merely a framework used to effect emphasis. The sentence
shows how _it_ may lose its pronominal force.
Other examples of this construction are,--
"It is on the understanding, and not on the sentiment, of a
nation, that all safe legislation must be based."
"Then it is that deliberative Eloquence lays aside the plain
attire of her daily occupation."
Exercise.
Tell how each noun clause is used in these sentences:--
1. I felt that I breathed an atmosphere of sorrow.
2. But the fact is, I was napping.
3. Shaking off from my spirit what must have been a dream, I scanned
more narrowly the aspect of the building.
4. Except by what he could see for himself, he could know nothing.
5. Whatever he looks upon discloses a second sense.
6. It will not be pretended that a success in either of these kinds is
quite coincident with what is best and inmost in his mind.
7. The reply of Socrates, to him who asked whether he should choose a
wife, still remains reasonable, that, whether he should choose one or
not, he would repent it.
8. What history it had, how it changed from shape to shape, no man
will ever know.
9. Such a man is what we call an original man.
10. Our current hypothesis about Mohammed, that he was a scheming
impostor, a falsehood incarnate, that his religion is a mere mass of
quackery and fatuity, begins really to be no longer tenable to any
one.
Adjective Clauses.
375. As the office of an adjective is to modify, the only use of an
adjective clause is to limit or describe some noun, or equivalent of a
noun: consequently the adjective may modify _any_ noun, or equivalent
of a noun, in the sentence.
The adjective clause may be introduced by the relative pronouns _who_,
_which_, _that_, _but_, _as_; sometimes by the conjunctions _when_,
_where_, _whither_, _whence_, _wherein_, _whereby_, etc.
Frequently there is no connecting word, a relative pronoun being
understood.
[Sidenote: _Examples of adjective clauses_.]
376. Adjective clauses may modify--
(1) _The subject_: "The themes _it offers for contemplation_ are too
vast for their capacities;" "Those _who see the Englishman only in
town_, are apt to form an unfavorable opinion of his social
character."
(2) _The object_: "From this piazza Ichabod entered the hall, _which
formed the center of the mansion_."
(3) _The complement_: "The animal he bestrode was a broken-down
plow-horse, _that had outlived almost everything but his usefulness_;"
"It was such an apparition _as is seldom to be met with in broad
daylight_."
(4) _Other words_: "He rode with short stirrups, _which brought his
knees nearly up to the pommel of the saddle_;" "No whit anticipating
the oblivion _which awaited their names and feats_, the champions
advanced through the lists;" "Charity covereth a multitude of sins, in
another sense than that _in which it is said to do so in Scripture_."
Exercise.
Pick out the adjective clauses, and tell what each one modifies; i.e.,
whether subject, object, etc.
1. There were passages that reminded me perhaps too much of Massillon.
2. I walked home with Calhoun, who said that the principles which I
had avowed were just and noble.
3. Other men are lenses through which we read our own minds.
4. In one of those celestial days when heaven and earth meet and adorn
each other, it seems a pity that we can only spend it once.
5. One of the maidens presented a silver cup, containing a rich
mixture of wine and spice, which Rowena tasted.
6. No man is reason or illumination, or that essence we were looking
for.
7. In the moment when he ceases to help us as a cause, he begins to
help us more as an effect.
8. Socrates took away all ignominy from the place, which could not be
a prison whilst he was there.
9. This is perhaps the reason why we so seldom hear ghosts except in
our long-established Dutch settlements.
10. From the moment you lose sight of the land you have left, all is
vacancy.
11. Nature waited tranquilly for the hour to be struck when man should
arrive.
Adverbial Clauses.
377. The adverb clause takes the place of an adverb in modifying a
verb, a verbal, an adjective, or an adverb. The student has met with
many adverb clauses in his study of the subjunctive mood and of
subordinate conjunctions; but they require careful study, and will be
given in detail, with examples.
378. Adverb clauses are of the following kinds:
(1) TIME: "_As we go_, the milestones are grave-stones;" "He had gone
but a little way _before he espied a foul fiend coming_;" "_When he
was come up to Christian_, he beheld him with a disdainful
countenance."
(2) PLACE: "_Wherever the sentiment of right comes in_, it takes
precedence of everything else;" "He went several times to England,
_where he does not seem to have attracted any attention_."
(3) REASON, or CAUSE: "His English editor lays no stress on his
discoveries, _since he was too great to care to be original_;" "I give
you joy _that truth is altogether wholesome_."
(4) MANNER: "The knowledge of the past is valuable only _as it leads
us to form just calculations with respect to the future_;" "After
leaving the whole party under the table, he goes away _as if nothing
had happened_."
(5) DEGREE, or COMPARISON: "They all become wiser _than they were_;"
"The right conclusion is, that we should try, so far _as we can_, to
make up our shortcomings;" "Master Simon was in as chirping a humor
_as a grasshopper filled with dew_ [is];" "_The broader their
education is_, the wider is the horizon of their thought." The first
clause in the last sentence is dependent, expressing the degree in
which the horizon, etc., is wider.
(6) PURPOSE: "Nature took us in hand, shaping our actions, _so that we
might not be ended untimely by too gross disobedience_."
(7) RESULT, or CONSEQUENCE: "He wrote on the scale of the mind itself,
_so that all things have symmetry in his tablet_;" "The window was so
far superior to every other in the church, _that the vanquished artist
killed himself from mortification_."
(8) CONDITION: "_If we tire of the saints_, Shakespeare is our city of
refuge;" "Who cares for that, _so thou gain aught wider and nobler_?"
"You can die grandly, and as goddesses would die _were goddesses
mortal_."
(9) CONCESSION, introduced by indefinite relatives, adverbs, and
adverbial conjunctions,--_whoever_, _whatever_, _however_, etc.: "But
still, _however good she may be as a witness_, Joanna is better;"
"_Whatever there may remain of illiberal in discussion_, there is
always something illiberal in the severer aspects of study."
These mean _no matter how good, no matter what remains_, etc.
Exercise.
Pick out the adverbial clauses in the following sentences; tell what
kind each is, and what it modifies:--
1. As I was clearing away the weeds from this epitaph, the little
sexton drew me on one side with a mysterious air, and informed me in a
low voice that once upon a time, on a dark wintry night, when the wind
was unruly, howling and whistling, banging about doors and windows,
and twirling weathercocks, so that the living were frightened out of
their beds, and even the dead could not sleep quietly in their graves,
the ghost of honest Preston was attracted by the well-known call of
"waiter," and made its sudden appearance just as the parish clerk was
singing a stave from the "mirrie garland of Captain Death."
2. If the children gathered about her, as they sometimes did, Pearl
would grow positively terrible in her puny wrath, snatching up stones
to fling at them, with shrill, incoherent exclamations, that made her
mother tremble because they had so much the sound of a witch's
anathemas.
3. The spell of life went forth from her ever-creative spirit, and
communicated itself to a thousand objects, as a torch kindles a flame
wherever it may be applied.
ANALYZING COMPLEX SENTENCES.
379. These suggestions will be found helpful:--
(1) See that the sentence and all its parts are placed in the natural
order of subject, predicate, object, and modifiers.
(2) First take the sentence _as a whole_; find the principal subject
and principal predicate; then treat noun clauses as nouns, adjective
clauses as adjectives modifying certain words, and adverb clauses as
single modifying adverbs.
(3) Analyze each clause as a simple sentence. For example, in the
sentence, "Cannot we conceive that Odin was a reality?" _we_ is the
principal subject; _cannot conceive_ is the principal predicate; its
object is _that Odin was a reality_, of which clause _Odin_ is the
subject, etc.
380. It is sometimes of great advantage to map out a sentence after
analyzing it, so as to picture the parts and their relations. To take
a sentence:--
"I cannot help thinking that the fault is in themselves, and that
if the church and the cataract were in the habit of giving away
their thoughts with that rash generosity which characterizes
tourists, they might perhaps say of their visitors, 'Well, if you
are those men of whom we have heard so much, we are a little
disappointed, to tell the truth.'"
This may be represented as follows:--
I cannot help thinking
____________________
|
_______________________|
|
| (_a_) THAT THE FAULT IS IN THEMSELVES, AND
|
| (_b_) [THAT] THEY MIGHT (PERHAPS) SAY OF THEIR VISITORS
| ___________________
| |
| _____________________________|_________________________________
| | |
| | (_a_) We are (a little) disappointed |
| O| ___________________________ |
O| b| ________________________| |
b| j| M| |
j| e| o| (_b_) If you are those men |
e| c| d| ___ |
c| t| i| _________________________| |
t| | f| M| |
| | i| o| Of whom we have heard so much. |
| | e| d. |
| \ r\ \ |
| _____________________________________________________|
| M|
| o| (_a_) If the church and ... that rash generosity
| d| __________
| i| |
| f| _______________________________________________|
| i| |
| e| | (_b_) Which characterizes tourists.
| r| |
\ \ \
OUTLINE
381. (1) Find the principal clause.
(2) Analyze it according to Sec. 364.
(3) Analyze the dependent clauses according to Sec. 364. This of
course includes dependent clauses that depend on other dependent
clauses, as seen in the "map" (Sec. 380).
107 |
Exercises.
(_a_) Analyze the following complex sentences:--
1. Take the place and attitude which belong to you.
2. That mood into which a friend brings us is his dominion over us.
3. True art is only possible on the condition that every talent has
its apotheosis somewhere.
4. The deep eyes, of a light hazel, were as full of sorrow as of
inspiration.
5. She is the only church that has been loyal to the heart and soul of
man, that has clung to her faith in the imagination.
6. She has never lost sight of the truth that the product human nature
is composed of the sum of flesh and spirit.
7. But now that she has become an establishment, she begins to
perceive that she made a blunder in trusting herself to the intellect
alone.
8. Before long his talk would wander into all the universe, where it
was uncertain what game you would catch, or whether any.
9. The night proved unusually dark, so that the two principals had to
tie white handkerchiefs round their elbows in order to descry each
other.
10. Whether she would ever awake seemed to depend upon an accident.
11. Here lay two great roads, not so much for travelers that were few,
as for armies that were too many by half.
12. It was haunted to that degree by fairies, that the parish priest
was obliged to read mass there once a year.
13. More than one military plan was entered upon which she did not
approve.
14. As surely as the wolf retires before cities, does the fairy
sequester herself from the haunts of the licensed victualer.
15. M. Michelet is anxious to keep us in mind that this bishop was but
an agent of the English.
16. Next came a wretched Dominican, that pressed her with an
objection, which, if applied to the Bible, would tax every miracle
with unsoundness.
17. The reader ought to be reminded that Joanna D'Arc was subject to
an unusually unfair trial.
18. Now, had she really testified this willingness on the scaffold, it
would have argued nothing at all but the weakness of a genial nature.
19. And those will often pity that weakness most, who would yield to
it least.
20. Whether she said the word is uncertain.
21. This is she, the shepherd girl, counselor that had none for
herself, whom I choose, bishop, for yours.
22. Had _they_ been better chemists, had _we_ been worse, the mixed
result, namely, that, dying for _them_, th107 |e flower should revive for
_us_, could not have been effected.
23. I like that representation they have of the tree.
24. He was what our country people call _an old one_.
25. He thought not any evil happened to men of such magnitude as false
opinion.
107 |
26. These things we are forced to say, if we must consider the effort
of Plato to dispose of Nature,--which will not be disposed of.
27. He showed one who was afraid to go on foot to Olympia, that it was
no more than his daily walk, if continuously extended, would easily
reach.
28. What can we see or acquire but what we are?
29. Our eyes are holden that we cannot see things that stare us in the
face, until the hour arrives when the mind is ripened.
30. There is good reason why we should prize this liberation.
_(b)_ First analyze, then map out as in Sec. 380, the following
complex sentences:--
1. The way to speak and write what shall not go out of fashion, is to
speak and write sincerely.
2. The writer who takes his subject from his ear, and not from his
heart, should know that he has lost as much as he has gained.
3. "No book," said Bentley, "was ever written down by any but itself."
4. That which we do not believe, we cannot adequately say, though we
may repeat the words never so often.
5. We say so because we feel that what we love is not in your will,
but above it.
6. It makes no difference how many friends I have, and what content I
can find in conversing with each, if there be one to whom I am not
equal.
7. In every troop of boys that whoop and run in each yard and square,
a new-comer is as well and accurately weighed in the course of a few
days, and stamped with his right number, as if he had undergone a
formal trial of his strength, speed, and temper.
COMPOUND SENTENCES.
[Sidenote: _How formed._]
382. The compound sentence is a combination of two or more simple
or complex sentences. While the complex sentence has only _one_ main
clause, the compound has _two or more_ independent clauses making
statements, questions, or commands. Hence the definition,--
[Sidenote: _Definition._]
383. A compound sentence is one which contains two or more
independent clauses.
This leaves room for any number of subordinate clauses in a compound
sentence: the requirement is simply that it have at least two
independent clauses.
Examples of compound sentences:--
[Sidenote: _Examples._]
(1) _Simple sentences united:_ "He is a palace of sweet sounds and
sights; he dilates; he is twice a man; he walks with arms akimbo; he
soliloquizes."
(2) _Simple with complex:_ "The trees of the forest, the waving grass,
and the peeping flowers have grown intelligent; and he almost fears to
trust them with the secret which they seem to invite."
(3) _Complex with complex:_ "The power which resides in him is new in
nature, and none but he knows what that is which he can do, nor does
he know until he has tried."
384. From this it is evident that nothing new is added to the work
of analysis already done.
The same analysis of simple sentences is repeated in (1) and (2)
above, and what was done in complex sentences is repeated in (2) and
(3).
The division into members will be easier, for the coördinate
independent statements are readily taken apart with the subordinate
clauses attached, if there are any.
Thus in (1), the semicolons cut apart the independent members, which
are simple statements; in (2), the semicolon separates the first, a
simple member, from the second, a complex member; in (3), _and_
connects the first and second complex members, and _nor_ the second
and third complex members.
[Sidenote: _Connectives._]
385. The coördinate conjunctions _and_, _nor_, _or_ _but_, etc.,
introduce independent clauses (see Sec. 297).
But the conjunction is often omitted in copulative and adversative
clauses, as in Sec. 383 (1). Another example is, "Only the star
dazzles; the planet has a faint, moon-like ray" (adversative).
[Sidenote: _Study the thought._]
386. The one point that will give trouble is the variable use of
some connectives; as _but_, _for_, _yet_, _while_ (_whilst_),
_however_, _whereas_, etc. Some of these are now conjunctions, now
adverbs or prepositions; others sometimes coördinate, sometimes
subordinate conjunctions.
The student must watch _the logical connection_ of the members of the
sentence, and not the form of the connective.
Exercise.
Of the following illustrative sentences, tell which are compound, and
which complex:--
1. Speak your latent conviction, and it shall be the universal sense;
for the inmost in due time becomes the outmost.
2. I no longer wish to meet a good I do not earn, for example, to find
a pot of buried gold.
3. Your goodness must have some edge to it--else it is none.
4. Man does not stand in awe of man, nor is his genius admonished to
stay at home, but it goes abroad to beg a cup of water of the urns of
other men.
5. A man cannot speak but he judges himself.
6. In your metaphysics you have denied personality to the Deity, yet
when the devout motions of the soul come, yield to them heart and
life.
7. I thought that it was a Sunday morning in May; that it was Easter
Sunday, and as yet very early in the morning.
8. We denote the primary wisdom as intuition, whilst all later
teachings are tuitions.
9. Whilst the world is thus dual, so is every one of its parts.
10. They measure the esteem of each other by what each has, and not by
what each is.
11. For everything you have missed, you have gained something else;
and for everything you gain, you lose something.
12. I sometimes seemed to have lived for seventy or one hundred years
in one night; nay, I sometimes had feelings representative of a
millennium, passed in that time, or, however, of a duration far beyond
the limits of experience.
13. However some may think him wanting in zeal, the most fanatical
can find no taint of apostasy in any measure of his.
14. In this manner, from a happy yet often pensive child, he grew up
to be a mild, quiet, unobtrusive boy, and sun-browned with labor in
the fields, but with more intelligence than is seen in many lads from
the schools.
OUTLINE FOR ANALYZING COMPOUND SENTENCES.
387. (i) Separate it into its main members. (2) Analyze each complex
member as in Sec. 381. (3) Analyze each simple member as in Sec. 364.
Exercise.
Analyze the following compound sentences:--
1. The gain is apparent; the tax is certain.
2. If I feel overshadowed and outdone by great neighbors, I can yet
love; I can still receive; and he that loveth maketh his own the
grandeur that he loves.
3. Love, and thou shalt be loved.
4. All loss, all pain, is particular; the universe remains to the
heart unhurt.
5. Place yourself in the middle of the stream of power and wisdom
which animates all whom it floats, and you are without effort impelled
to truth.
6. He teaches who gives, and he learns who receives.
7. Whatever he knows and thinks, whatever in his apprehension is worth
doing, that let him communicate, or men will never know and honor him
aright.
8. Stand aside; give those merits room; let them mount and expand.
9. We see the noble afar off, and they repel us; why should we
intrude?
10. We go to Europe, or we pursue persons, or we read books, in the
instinctive faith that these will call it out and reveal us to
ourselves.
11. A gay and pleasant sound is the whetting of the scythe in the
mornings of June, yet what is more lonesome and sad than the sound of
a whetstone or mower's rifle when it is too late in the season to make
hay?
12. "Strike," says the smith, "the iron is white;" "keep the rake,"
says the haymaker, "as nigh the scythe as you can, and the cart as
nigh the rake."
13. Trust men, and they will be true to you; treat them greatly, and
they will show themselves great, though they make an exception in your
favor to all their rules of trade.
14. On the most profitable lie the course of events presently lays a
destructive tax; whilst frankness invites frankness, puts the parties
on a convenient footing, and makes their business a friendship.
15. The sturdiest offender of your peace and of the neighborhood, if
you rip up his claims, is as thin and timid as any; and the peace of
society is often kept, because, as children, one is afraid, and the
other dares not.
16. They will shuffle and crow, crook and hide, feign to confess here,
only that they may brag and conquer there, and not a thought has
enriched either party, and not an emotion of bravery, modesty, or
hope.
17. The magic they used was the ideal tendencies, which always make
the Actual ridiculous; but the tough world had its revenge the moment
they put their horses of the sun to plow in its furrow.
18. Come into port greatly, or sail with God the seas.
19. When you have chosen your part, abide by it, and do not weakly try
to reconcile yourself with the world.
20. Times of heroism are generally times of terror, but the day never
shines in which this element may not work.
21. Life is a train of moods like a string of beads, and as we pass
through them they prove to be many-colored lenses which paint the
world their own hue, and each shows only what lies at its focus.
22. We see young men who owe us a new world, so readily and lavishly
they promise, but they never acquit the debt; they die young, and
dodge the account; or, if they live, they lose themselves in the
crowd.
23. So does culture with us; it ends in headache.
24. Do not craze yourself with thinking, but go about your business
anywhere.
25. Thus journeys the mighty Ideal before us; it never was known to
fall into the rear.
PART III.
_SYNTAX_.
INTRODUCTORY.
[Sidenote: _By way of introduction._]
388. Syntax is from a Greek word meaning _order_ or _arrangement_.
Syntax deals with the relation of words to each other as component
parts of a sentence, and with their proper arrangement to express
clearly the intended meaning.
[Sidenote: _Ground covered by syntax._]
380. Following the Latin method, writers on English grammar usually
divide syntax into the two general heads,--agreement and
government.
Agreement is concerned with the following relations of words: words
in apposition, verb and subject, pronoun and antecedent, adjective and
noun.
Government has to do with verbs and prepositions, both of which are
said to govern words by having them in the objective case.
390. Considering the scarcity of inflections in English, it is clear
that if we merely follow the Latin treatment, the department of syntax
will be a small affair. But there is a good deal else to watch in
addition to the few forms; for there is an important and marked
difference between Latin and English syntax. It is this:--
Latin syntax depends upon fixed rules governing the use of inflected
forms: hence the _position_ of words in a sentence is of little
grammatical importance.
[Sidenote: _Essential point in English syntax._]
English syntax follows the Latin to a limited extent; but its leading
characteristic is, that English syntax is founded upon _the meaning_
and _the logical connection_ of words rather than upon their form:
consequently it is quite as necessary to place words properly, and to
think clearly of the meaning of words, as to study inflected forms.
For example, the sentence, "The savage here the settler slew," is
ambiguous. _Savage_ may be the subject, following the regular order of
subject; or _settler_ may be the subject, the order being inverted. In
Latin, distinct forms would be used, and it would not matter which one
stood first.
[Sidenote: _Why study syntax?_]
391. There is, then, a double reason for not omitting syntax as a
department of grammar,--
_First_, To study the rules regarding the use of inflected forms, some
of which conform to classical grammar, while some are idiomatic
(peculiar to our own language).
_Second_, To find out the _logical methods_ which control us in the
arrangement of words; and particularly when the grammatical and the
logical conception of a sentence do not agree, or when they exist side
by side in good usage.
As an illustration of the last remark, take the sentence, "Besides
these famous books of Scott's and Johnson's, there is a copious 'Life'
by Sheridan." In this there is a possessive form, and added to it the
preposition _of_, also expressing a possessive relation. This is not
logical; it is not consistent with the general rules of grammar: but
none the less it is good English.
Also in the sentence, "None remained but he," grammatical rules would
require _him_ instead of _he_ after the preposition; yet the
expression is sustained by good authority.
[Sidenote: _Some rules not rigid._]
392. In some cases, authorities--that is, standard writers--differ
as to which of two constructions should be used, or the same writer
will use both indifferently. Instances will be found in treating of
the pronoun or noun with a gerund, pronoun and antecedent, sometimes
verb and subject, etc.
When usage varies as to a given construction, both forms will be given
in the following pages.
[Sidenote: _The basis of syntax._]
393. Our treatment of syntax will be an endeavor to record the best
usage of the present time on important points; and nothing but
important points will be considered, for it is easy to confuse a
student with too many obtrusive _don'ts_.
The constructions presented as general will be justified by quotations
from _modern writers of English_ who are regarded as "standard;" that
is, writers whose style is generally acknowledged as superior, and
whose judgment, therefore, will be accepted by those in quest of
authoritative opinion.
Reference will also be made to spoken English when its constructions
differ from those of the literary language, and to vulgar English when
it preserves forms which were once, but are not now, good English.
It may be suggested to the student that the only way to acquire
correctness is to watch good usage _everywhere_, and imitate it.
NOUNS.
394. Nouns have no distinct forms for the nominative and objective
cases: hence no mistake can be made in using them. But some remarks
are required concerning the use of the possessive case.
[Sidenote: _Use of the possessive. Joint possession._]
395. When two or more possessives modify the same noun, or indicate
joint ownership or possession, the possessive sign is added to the
last noun only; for example,--
Live your _king and country's_ best support.--ROWE.
Woman, _sense and nature's_ easy fool.--BYRON.
_Oliver and Boyd's_ printing office.--MCCULLOCH.
_Adam and Eve's_ morning hymn.--MILTON.
In _Beaumont and Fletcher's_ "Sea Voyage," Juletta tells,
etc.--EMERSON.
[Sidenote: _Separate possession._]
396. When two or more possessives stand before the same noun, but
imply separate possession or ownership, the possessive sign is used
with each noun; as,--
He lands us on a grassy stage, Safe from the _storm's_ and
_prelate's_ rage.--MARVELL
Where were the sons of Peers and Members of Parliament in
_Anne's_ and _George's_ time?--THACKERAY.
_Levi's_ station in life was the receipt of custom; and
_Peter's_, the shore of Galilee; and _Paul's_, the antechamber of
the High Priest.--RUSKIN.
Swift did not keep _Stella's_ letters. He kept _Bolingbroke's,_
and _Pope's_, and _Harley's_, and _Peterborough's_.--THACKERAY.
An actor in one of _Morton's_ or _Kotzebue's_ plays.--MACAULAY.
Putting _Mr. Mill's_ and _Mr. Bentham's_ principles together.
--_Id._
397. The possessive preceding the gerund will be considered under
the possessive of pronouns (Sec. 408).
PRONOUNS.
PERSONAL PRONOUNS.
I. NOMINATIVE AND OBJECTIVE FORMS.
398. Since most of the personal pronouns, together with the relative
_who_, have separate forms for nominative and objective use, there are
two general rules that require attention.
[Sidenote: _General rules._]
(1) The _nominative use_ is usually marked by the nominative form of
the pronoun.
(2) The _objective use_ is usually marked by the objective form of the
pronoun.
These simple rules are sometimes violated in spoken and in literary
English. Some of the violations are universally condemned; others are
generally, if not universally, sanctioned.
[Sidenote: _Objective for the nominative._]
399. The objective is sometimes found instead of the nominative in
the following instances:--
(1) By a common vulgarism of ignorance or carelessness, no notice is
taken of the proper form to be used as subject; as,--
He and _me_ once went in the dead of winter in a one-hoss shay
out to Boonville.--WHITCHER, _Bedott Papers._
It seems strange to me that _them_ that preach up the doctrine
don't admire one who carrys it out.--_Josiah Allens Wife._
(2) By faulty analysis of the sentence, the true relation of the words
is misunderstood; for example, "_Whom_ think ye that I am?" (In this,
_whom_ is the complement after the verb _am_, and should be the
nominative form, _who_.) "The young Harper, _whom_ they agree was
rather nice-looking" (_whom_ is the subject of the verb _was_).
Especially is this fault to be noticed after an ellipsis with _than_
or _as_, the real thought being forgotten; thus,--
But the consolation coming from devotion did not go far with such
a one as _her_.--TROLLOPE.
This should be "as _she_," because the full expression would be "such
a one as _she is_."
400. Still, the last expression has the support of many good
writers, as shown in the following examples:--
She was neither better bred nor wiser than you or
_me_.--THACKERAY.
No mightier than thyself or _me_.--SHAKESPEARE.
Lin'd with Giants deadlier than _'em_ all.--POPE.
But he must be a stronger than _thee_.--SOUTHEY.
Not to render up my soul to such as _thee_.--BYRON.
I shall not learn my duty from such as _thee_.--FIELDING.
[Sidenote: _A safe rule._]
It will be safer for the student to follow the general rule, as
illustrated in the following sentences:--
If so, they are yet holier than _we_.--RUSKIN.
Who would suppose it is the game of such as _he_?--DICKENS.
Do we see
The robber and the murd'rer weak as _we_?
--MILTON.
I have no other saint than _thou_ to pray to.--LONGFELLOW.
[Sidenote: "_Than_ whom."]
401. One exception is to be noted. The expression than whom seems
to be used universally instead of "than _who_." There is no special
reason for this, but such is the fact; for example,--
One I remember especially,--one _than whom_ I never met a bandit
more gallant.--THACKERAY.
The camp of Richard of England, _than whom_ none knows better how
to do honor to a noble foe.--SCOTT.
She had a companion who had been ever agreeable, and her estate a
steward _than whom_ no one living was supposed to be more
competent.--PARTON.
[Sidenote: "_It was_ he" _or_ "_It was_ him"?]
402. And there is one question about which grammarians are not
agreed, namely, whether the nominative or the objective form should be
used in the predicate after _was_, _is_, _are_, and the other forms of
the verb _be_.
It may be stated with assurance that the literary language _prefers
the nominative_ in this instance, as,--
For there was little doubt that it was _he_.--KINGSLEY.
But still it is not _she_.--MACAULAY.
And it was _he_
That made the ship to go.
--COLERIDGE.
In spoken English, on the other hand, both in England and America, the
objective form is regularly found, unless a special, careful effort is
made to adopt the standard usage. The following are examples of spoken
English from conversations:--
"Rose Satterne, the mayor's daughter?"--"That's
_her_."--KINGSLEY.
"Who's there?"--"_Me_, Patrick the Porter."--WINTHROP.
"If there is any one embarrassed, it will not be _me_."--WM.
BLACK.
The usage is too common to need further examples.
Exercise.
Correct the italicized pronouns in the following sentences, giving
reasons from the analysis of the sentence:--
1. _Whom_ they were I really cannot specify.
2. Truth is mightier than _us_ all.
3. If there ever was a rogue in the world, it is _me_.
4. They were the very two individuals _whom_ we thought were far away.
5. "Seems to me as if _them_ as writes must hev a kinder gift fur it,
now."
6. The sign of the Good Samaritan is written on the face of
_whomsoever_ opens to the stranger.
7. It is not _me_ you are in love with.
8. You know _whom_ it is that you thus charge.
9. The same affinity will exert its influence on _whomsoever_ is as
noble as these men and women.
10. It was _him_ that Horace Walpole called a man who never made a bad
figure but as an author.
11. We shall soon see which is the fittest object of scorn, you or
_me_.
[Sidenote: Me _in exclamations_.]
403. It is to be remembered that the objective form is used in
exclamations which turn the attention upon a person; as,--
Unhappy _me!_ That I cannot risk my own worthless life.--KINGSLEY
Alas! miserable _me_! Alas! unhappy Señors!--_Id._
Ay _me_! I fondly dream--had ye been there.--MILTON.
[Sidenote: Nominative for the objective.]
404. The rule for the objective form is wrongly departed from--
(1) When the object is far removed from the verb, verbal, or
preposition which governs it; as, "_He_ that can doubt whether he be
anything or no, I speak not to" (_he_ should be _him_, the object of
_to_); "I saw men very like him at each of the places mentioned, but
not _he_" (_he_ should be _him_, object of _saw_).
(2) In the case of certain pairs of pronouns, used after verbs,
verbals, and prepositions, as this from Shakespeare, "All debts are
cleared between you and I" (for _you_ and _me_); or this, "Let _thou_
and _I_ the battle try" (for _thee_ and _me_, or _us_).
(3) By forgetting the construction, in the case of words used in
apposition with the object; as, "Ask the murderer, _he_ who has
steeped his hands in the blood of another" (instead of "_him_ who,"
the word being in apposition with _murderer_).
[Sidenote: _Exception 1_, who _interrogative_.]
405. The interrogative pronoun who may be said to have no
objective form in spoken English. We regularly say, "_Who_ did you
see?" or, "_Who_ were they talking to?" etc. The more formal "To
_whom_ were they talking?" sounds stilted in conversation, and is
usually avoided.
In literary English the objective form _whom_ is _preferred_ for
objective use; as,--
Knows he now to _whom_ he lies under obligation?--SCOTT.
What doth she look on? _Whom_ doth she behold?--WORDSWORTH.
Yet the nominative form is found quite frequently to divide the work
of the objective use; for example,--
My son is going to be married to I don't know _who_.--GOLDSMITH.
_Who_ have we here?--_Id._
_Who_ should I meet the other day but my old friend.--STEELE.
He hath given away half his fortune to the Lord knows
_who_.--KINGSLEY.
_Who_ have we got here?--SMOLLETT.
_Who_ should we find there but Eustache?--MARRVAT.
_Who_ the devil is he talking to?--SHERIDAN.
[Sidenote: _Exception 2, but_ he, _etc._]
406. It is a well-established usage to put the nominative form, as
well as the objective, after the preposition _but_ (sometimes _save_);
as,--
All were knocked down but _us_ two.--KINGSLEY.
Thy shores are empires, changed in all save _thee._--BYRON.
Rich are the sea gods:--who gives gifts but _they?_--EMERSON.
The Chieftains then
Returned rejoicing, all but _he_.
--SOUTHEY
No man strikes him but _I_.--KINGSLEY.
None, save _thou_ and thine, I've sworn,
Shall be left upon the morn.
BYRON.
Exercise.
Correct the italicized pronouns in the following, giving reasons from
the analysis of the quotation:--
1. _Thou_, Nature, partial Nature, I arraign.
2. Let you and _I_ look at these, for they say there are none such in
the world.
3. "Nonsense!" said Amyas, "we could kill every soul of them in half
an hour, and they know that as well as _me_."
4. Markland, _who_, with Jortin and Thirlby, Johnson calls three
contemporaries of great eminence.
5. They are coming for a visit to _she_ and _I_.
6. They crowned him long ago;
But _who_ they got to put it on
Nobody seems to know.
7. I experienced little difficulty in distinguishing among the
pedestrians _they_ who had business with St. Bartholomew.
8. The great difference lies between the laborer who moves to
Yorkshire and _he_ who moves to Canada.
9. Besides my father and Uncle Haddock--_he_ of the silver plates.
10. _Ye_ against whose familiar names not yet
The fatal asterisk of death is set,
_Ye_ I salute.
11. It can't be worth much to _they_ that hasn't larning.
12. To send me away for a whole year--_I_ who had never crept from
under the parental wing--was a startling idea.
II. POSSESSIVE FORMS.
[Sidenote: _As antecedent of a relative._]
407. The possessive forms of personal pronouns and also of nouns are
sometimes found as antecedents of relatives. This usage is not
frequent. The antecedent is usually nominative or objective, as the
use of the possessive is less likely to be clear.
We should augur ill of any _gentleman's_ property to whom this
happened every other day in his drawing room.--RUSKIN.
For _their_ sakes whose distance disabled them from knowing
me.--C.B. BROWN.
Now by _His_ name that I most reverence in Heaven, and by _hers_
whom I most worship on earth.--SCOTT.
He saw her smile and slip money into the _man's_ hand who was
ordered to ride behind the coach.--THACKERAY.
He doubted whether _his_ signature whose expectations were so
much more bounded would avail.--DE QUINCEY.
For boys with hearts as bold
As _his_ who kept the bridge so well.
--MACAULAY.
[Sidenote: _Preceding a gerund,--possessive, or objective?_]
408. Another point on which there is some variance in usage is such
a construction as this: "We heard of _Brown_ studying law," or "We
heard of _Brown's_ studying law."
That is, should the possessive case of a noun or pronoun always be
used with the gerund to indicate the active agent? Closely
scrutinizing these two sentences quoted, we might find a difference
between them: saying that in the first one _studying_ is a participle,
and the meaning is, _We heard of Brown_, [who was] _studying law_; and
that in the second, _studying_ is a gerund, object of _heard of_, and
modified by the possessive case as any other substantive would be.
[Sidenote: _Why both are found._]
But in common use there is no such distinction. Both types of
sentences are found; both are gerunds; sometimes the gerund has the
possessive form before it, sometimes it has the objective. The use of
the objective is older, and in keeping with the old way of regarding
the _person_ as the chief object before the mind: the possessive use
is more modern, in keeping with the disposition to proceed from the
material thing to the _abstract idea_, and to make the action
substantive the chief idea before the mind.
In the examples quoted, it will be noticed that the possessive of the
pronoun is more common than that of the noun.
[Sidenote: _Objective_.]
The last incident which I recollect, was my learned and worthy
_patron_ falling from a chair.--SCOTT.
He spoke of _some one_ coming to drink tea with him, and asked
why it was not made.--THACKERAY.
The old sexton even expressed a doubt as to _Shakespeare_ having
been born in her house.--IRVING.
The fact of the _Romans_ not burying their dead within the city
walls proper is a strong reason, etc.--BREWER.
I remember _Wordsworth_ once laughingly reporting to me a little
personal anecdote.--DE QUINCEY.
Here I state them only in brief, to prevent the _reader_ casting
about in alarm for my ultimate meaning.--RUSKIN.
We think with far less pleasure of _Cato_ tearing out his
entrails than of _Russell_ saying, as he turned away from his
wife, that the bitterness of death was past.--MACAULAY.
There is actually a kind of sacredness in the fact of such a
_man_ being sent into this earth.--CARLYLE.
[Sidenote: _Possessive_.]
There is no use for any _man's_ taking up his abode in a house
built of glass.--CARLYLE.
As to _his_ having good grounds on which to rest an action for
life.--DICKENS.
The case was made known to me by a _man's_ holding out the
little creature dead.--DE QUINCEY.
There may be reason for a _savage's_ preferring many kinds of
food which the civilized man rejects.--THOREAU.
It informs me of the previous circumstances of _my_ laying aside
my clothes.--C. BROCKDEN BROWN.
The two strangers gave me an account of _their_ once having been
themselves in a somewhat similar condition.--AUDUBON.
There was a chance of _their_ being sent to a new school, where
there were examinations.--RUSKIN
This can only be by _his_ preferring truth to his past
apprehension of truth.--EMERSON
III. PERSONAL PRONOUNS AND THEIR ANTECEDENTS.
409. The pronouns of the third person usually refer back to some
preceding noun or pronoun, and ought to agree with them in person,
number, and gender.
[Sidenote: _Watch for the real antecedent._]
There are two constructions in which the student will need to watch
the pronoun,--when the antecedent, in one person, is followed by a
phrase containing a pronoun of a different person; and when the
antecedent is of such a form that the pronoun following cannot
indicate exactly the gender. Examples of these constructions are,--
_Those_ of us who can only maintain _themselves_ by continuing in
some business or salaried office.--RUSKIN.
Suppose the life and fortune of _every one_ of us would depend on
_his_ winning or losing a game of chess.--HUXLEY.
If _any one_ did not know it, it was _his_ own fault.--CABLE.
_Everybody_ had _his_ own life to think of.--DEFOE.
410. In such a case as the last three sentences,--when the
antecedent includes both masculine and feminine, or is a distributive
word, taking in each of many persons,--the preferred method is to put
the pronoun following in the masculine singular; if the antecedent is
neuter, preceded by a distributive, the pronoun will be neuter
singular.
The following are additional examples:--
The next _correspondent_ wants you to mark out a whole course of
life for _him_.--HOLMES.
Every _city_ threw open _its_ gates.--DE QUINCEY.
Every _person_ who turns this page has _his_ own little
diary.--THACKERAY.
The pale realms of shade, where _each_ shall take
_His_ chamber in the silent halls of death.
--BRYANT.
[Sidenote: _Avoided: By using both pronouns._]
Sometimes this is avoided by using both the masculine and the feminine
pronoun; for example,--
Not the feeblest _grandame_, not a mowing _idiot_, but uses what
spark of perception and faculty is left, to chuckle and triumph
in _his or her_ opinion.--EMERSON.
It is a game which has been played for untold ages, every _man_
and _woman_ of us being one of the two players in a game of _his
or her_ own.--HUXLEY.
_By using the plural pronoun._
411. Another way of referring to an antecedent which is a
distributive pronoun or a noun modified by a distributive adjective,
is to use the plural of the pronoun following. This is not considered
the best usage, the logical analysis requiring the singular pronoun in
each case; but the construction is frequently found _when the
antecedent includes or implies both genders_. The masculine does not
really represent a feminine antecedent, and the expression _his or
her_ is avoided as being cumbrous.
Notice the following examples of the plural:--
_Neither_ of the sisters _were_ very much deceived.--THACKERAY.
_Every one_ must judge of _their_ own feelings.--BYRON.
Had the doctor been contented to take my dining tables, as
_anybody_ in _their_ senses would have done.--AUSTEN.
If the part deserve any comment, every considering _Christian_
will make it _themselves_ as they go.--DEFOE.
_Every person's_ happiness depends in part upon the respect
_they_ meet in the world.--PALEY.
_Every nation_ have _their_ refinements--STERNE.
_Neither_ gave vent to _their_ feelings in words.--SCOTT.
_Each_ of the nations acted according to _their_ national
custom.--PALGRAVE.
The sun, which pleases _everybody_ with it and with
_themselves_.--RUSKIN.
Urging _every one_ within reach of your influence to be neat, and
giving _them_ means of being so.--_Id._
_Everybody_ will become of use in _their_ own fittest way.--_Id._
_Everybody_ said _they_ thought it was the newest thing
there.--WENDELL PHILLIPS.
Struggling for life, _each_ almost bursting _their_ sinews to
force the other off.--PAULDING.
_Whosoever_ hath any gold, let _them_ break it off.--_Bible._
_Nobody_ knows what it is to lose a friend, till _they_ have lost
him.--FIELDING.
Where she was gone, or what was become of her, _no one_ could
take upon _them_ to say.--SHERIDAN.
I do not mean that I think _any one_ to blame for taking due care
of _their_ health.--ADDISON.
Exercise.--In the above sentences, _unless both genders are
implied_, change the pronoun to agree with its antecedent.
RELATIVE PRONOUNS.
I. RESTRICTIVE AND UNRESTRICTIVE RELATIVES.
[Sidenote: _What these terms mean._]
412. As to their conjunctive use, the definite relatives who,
which, and that may be coördinating or restrictive.
A relative, when coördinating, or unrestrictive, is equivalent to a
conjunction (_and_, _but_, _because_, etc.) and a personal pronoun.
It adds a new statement to what precedes, that being considered
already clear; as, "I gave it to the beggar, _who_ went away." This
means, "I gave it to the beggar [we know which one], _and he_ went
away."
A relative, when restrictive, introduces a clause to limit and make
clear some preceding word. The clause is restricted to the antecedent,
and does not add a new statement; it merely couples a thought
necessary to define the antecedent: as, "I gave it to a beggar _who_
stood at the gate." It defines _beggar_.
413. It is sometimes contended that who and which should always
be coördinating, and that always restrictive; but, according to the
practice of every modern writer, the usage must be stated as
follows:--
[Sidenote: _A loose rule the only one to be formulated._]
Who and which are either coördinating or restrictive, the taste of
the writer and regard for euphony being the guide.
That is in most cases restrictive, the coördinating use not being
often found among careful writers.
Exercise.
In the following examples, tell whether _who_, _which_, and _that_ are
restrictive or not, in each instance:--
[Sidenote: Who.]
1. "Here he is now!" cried those who stood near
Ernest.--HAWTHORNE.
2. He could overhear the remarks of various individuals, who were
comparing the features with the face on the mountain side.--_Id._
3. The particular recording angel who heard it pretended not to
understand, or it might have gone hard with the tutor.--HOLMES.
4. Yet how many are there who up, down, and over England are
saying, etc.--H.W. BEECHER
5. A grizzly-looking man appeared, whom we took to be sixty or
seventy years old.--THOREAU.
[Sidenote: Which.]
6. The volume which I am just about terminating is almost as much
English history as Dutch.--MOTLEY.
7. On hearing their plan, which was to go over the Cordilleras,
she agreed to join the party.--DE QUINCEY.
8. Even the wild story of the incident which had immediately
occasioned the explosion of this madness fell in with the
universal prostration of mind.--_Id._
9. Their colloquies are all gone to the fire except this first,
which Mr. Hare has printed.--CARLYLE.
10. There is a particular science which takes these matters in
hand, and it is called logic.--NEWMAN.
[Sidenote: That.]
11. So different from the wild, hard-mouthed horses at Westport,
that were often vicious.--DE QUINCEY.
12. He was often tempted to pluck the flowers that rose
everywhere about him in the greatest variety.--ADDISON.
13. He felt a gale of perfumes breathing upon him, that grew
stronger and sweeter in proportion as he advanced.--_Id._
14. With narrow shoulders, long arms and legs, hands that dangled
a mile out of his sleeves.--IRVING.
II. RELATIVE AND ANTECEDENT.
[Sidenote: _The rule._]
414. The general rule is, that the relative pronoun agrees with its
antecedent in person and number.
[Sidenote: _In what sense true._]
This cannot be true as to the form of the pronoun, as that does not
vary for person or number. We say _I_, _you_, _he_, _they_, etc.,
_who_; _these_ or _that_ _which_, etc. However, the relative _carries
over_ the agreement from the antecedent before to the verb following,
so far as the verb has forms to show its agreement with a substantive.
For example, in the sentence, "He that writes to himself writes to an
eternal public," _that_ is invariable as to person and number, but,
because of its antecedent, it makes the verb third person singular.
Notice the agreement in the following sentences:--
There is not _one_ of the company, but _myself_, who rarely
_speak_ at all, but _speaks_ of him as that sort, etc.--ADDISON.
O _Time!_ who _know'st_ a lenient hand to lay Softest on sorrow's
wound.--BOWLES.
Let us be of good cheer, remembering that the misfortunes hardest
to bear are _those_ which never _come._--LOWELL.
[Sidenote: _A disputed point._]
415. This prepares the way for the consideration of one of the vexed
questions,--whether we should say, "one of the finest books that _has_
been published," or, "one of the finest books that _have_ been
published."
[Sidenote: One of ... [_plural_] that who, _or_ which ... [_singular
or plural_.]]
The pale realms of shade, where _each_ shall take
_His_ chamber in the silent halls of death.
--BRYANT.
Both constructions are frequently found, the reason being a difference
of opinion as to the antecedent. Some consider it to be _one_ [book]
_of the finest books_, with _one_ as the principal word, the true
antecedent; others regard _books_ as the antecedent, and write the
verb in the plural. The latter is rather more frequent, but the former
has good authority.
The following quotations show both sides:--
[Sidenote: _Plural._]
He was one of the very few commanders who _appear_ to have shown
equal skill in directing a campaign, in winning a battle, and in
improving a victory.--LECKY.
He was one of the most distinguished scientists who _have_ ever
lived.--J.T.MORSE, Jr., _Franklin._
It is one of those periods which _shine_ with an unnatural and
delusive splendor.--MACAULAY.
A very little encouragement brought back one of those overflows
which _make_ one more ashamed, etc.--HOLMES.
I am one of those who _believe_ that the real will never find an
irremovable basis till it rests on the ideal.--LOWELL.
French literature of the eighteenth century, one of the most
powerful agencies that _have_ ever existed.--M. ARNOLD.
What man's life is not overtaken by one or more of those
tornadoes that _send_ us out of our course?--THACKERAY.
He is one of those that _deserve_ very well.--ADDISON.
[Sidenote: _Singular._]
The fiery youth ... struck down one of those who _was_ pressing
hardest.--SCOTT.
He appeared to me one of the noblest creatures that ever _was_,
when he derided the shams of society.--HOWELLS.
A rare Roundabout performance,--one of the very best that _has_
ever appeared in this series.--THACKERAY.
Valancourt was the hero of one of the most famous romances which
ever _was_ published in this country.--_Id._
It is one of the errors which _has_ been diligently propagated by
designing writers.--IRVING.
"I am going to breakfast with one of these fellows who _is_ at
the Piazza Hotel."--DICKENS.
The "Economy of the Animal Kingdom" is one of those books which
_is_ an honor to the human race.--EMERSON.
Tom Puzzle is one of the most eminent immethodical disputants of
any that _has_ fallen under my observation.--ADDISON.
The richly canopied monument of one of the most earnest souls
that ever gave _itself_ to the arts.--RUSKIN.
III. OMISSION OF THE RELATIVE.
416. Although the omission of the relative is common when it would
be the object of the verb or preposition _expressed_, there is an
omission which is not frequently found in careful writers; that is,
when the relative word is a pronoun, object of a preposition
_understood_, or is equivalent to the conjunction _when_, _where_,
_whence_, and such like: as, "He returned by the same route [by which]
he came;" "India is the place [in which, or where] he died." Notice
these sentences:--
In the posture I lay, I could see nothing except the sky.--SWIFT.
This is he that should marshal us the way we were
going.--EMERSON.
But I by backward steps would move;
And, when this dust falls to the urn,
In that same state I came, return.--VAUGHAN.
Welcome the hour my aged limbs
Are laid with thee to rest.--BURNS.
The night was concluded in the manner we began the
morning.--GOLDSMITH.
The same day I went aboard we set sail.--DEFOE.
The vulgar historian of a Cromwell fancies that he had determined
on being Protector of England, at the time he was plowing the
marsh lands of Cambridgeshire.--CARLYLE.
To pass under the canvas in the manner he had entered required
time and attention.--SCOTT.
Exercise.--In the above sentences, insert the omitted conjunction or
phrase, and see if the sentence is made clearer.
IV. THE RELATIVE _AS_ AFTER _SAME_.
417. It is very rarely that we find such sentences as,--
He considered...me as his apprentice, and accordingly expected
the same service from me _as_ he would from another.--FRANKLIN.
This has the same effect in natural faults _as_ maiming and
mutilation produce from accidents.--BURKE.
[Sidenote: _The regular construction_.]
[Sidenote: _Caution_.]
The usual way is to use the relative _as_ after _same_ if no verb
follows _as;_ but, if _same_ is followed by a complete clause, _as_ is
not used, but we find the relative _who, which,_ or _that_. Remember
this applies only to _as_ when used as a relative.
Examples of the use of _as_ in a contracted clause:--
Looking to the same end _as_ Turner, and working in the same
spirit, he, with Turner, was a discoverer, etc.--R.W. CHURCH.
They believe the same of all the works of art, _as_ of knives,
boats, looking-glasses.--ADDISON.
Examples of relatives following _same_ in full clauses:--
[Sidenote: Who.]
This is the very same rogue _who_ sold us the spectacles.
--GOLDSMITH.
The same person _who_ had clapped his thrilling hands at the
first representation of the Tempest.--MACAULAY.
[Sidenote: That.]
I rubbed on some of the same ointment _that_ was given me at my
first arrival.--SWIFT.
[Sidenote: Which.]
For the same sound is in my ears
_Which_ in those days I heard.--WORDSWORTH.
With the same minuteness _which_ her predecessor had exhibited,
she passed the lamp over her face and person.--SCOTT.
V. MISUSE OF RELATIVE PRONOUNS.
[Sidenote: _Anacoluthic use of_ which.]
418. There is now and then found in the pages of literature a
construction which imitates the Latin, but which is usually carefully
avoided. It is a use of the relative _which_ so as to make an
anacoluthon, or lack of proper connection between the clauses; for
example,--
_Which_, if I had resolved to go on with, I might as well have
staid at home.--DEFOE
_Which_ if he attempted to do, Mr. Billings vowed that he would
follow him to Jerusalem.--THACKERAY.
We know not the incantation of the heart that would wake
them;--_which_ if they once heard, they would start up to meet us
in the power of long ago.--RUSKIN.
He delivered the letter, _which_ when Mr. Thornhill had read, he
said that all submission was now too late.--GOLDSMITH.
But still the house affairs would draw her thence;
_Which_ ever as she could with haste dispatch,
She'd come again.--SHAKESPEARE.
As the sentences stand, _which_ really has no office in the sentence:
it should be changed to a demonstrative or a personal pronoun, and
this be placed in the proper clause.
Exercise.--Rewrite the above five sentences so as to make the proper
grammatical connection in each.
[Sidenote: And who, and which, _etc._]
419. There is another kind of expression which slips into the lines
of even standard authors, but which is always regarded as an oversight
and a blemish.
The following sentence affords an example: "The rich are now engaged
in distributing what remains among the poorer sort, _and who_ are now
thrown upon their compassion." The trouble is that such conjunctions
as _and_, _but_, _or_, etc., should connect expressions of the same
kind: _and who_ makes us look for a preceding _who_, but none is
expressed. There are three ways to remedy the sentence quoted: thus,
(1) "Among those _who_ are poor, _and who_ are now," etc.; (2) "Among
the poorer sort, _who_ are now thrown," etc.; (3) "Among the poorer
sort, now thrown upon their," etc. That is,--
[Sidenote: _Direction for rewriting._]
Express both relatives, or omit the conjunction, or leave out both
connective and relative.
Exercise.
Rewrite the following examples according to the direction just
given:--
[Sidenote: And who.]
1. Hester bestowed all her means on wretches less miserable than
herself, and who not unfrequently insulted the hand that fed
them.--HAWTHORNE.
2. With an albatross perched on his shoulder, and who might be
introduced to the congregation as the immediate organ of his
conversion.--DE QUINCEY.
3. After this came Elizabeth herself, then in the full glow of
what in a sovereign was called beauty, and who would in the
lowest walk of life have been truly judged to possess a noble
figure.--SCOTT.
4. This was a gentleman, once a great favorite of M. le Conte,
and in whom I myself was not a little interested.--THACKERAY.
[Sidenote: But who.]
5. Yonder woman was the wife of a certain learned man, English by
name, but who had long dwelt in Amsterdam.--HAWTHORNE.
6. Dr. Ferguson considered him as a man of a powerful capacity,
but whose mind was thrown off its just bias.--SCOTT.
[Sidenote: Or who.]
7. "What knight so craven, then," exclaims the chivalrous
Venetian, "that he would not have been more than a match for the
stoutest adversary; or who would not have lost his life a
thousand times sooner than return dishonored by the lady of his
love?"--PRESCOTT.
[Sidenote: And which.]
8. There are peculiar quavers still to be heard in that church,
and which may even be heard a mile off.--IRVING.
9. The old British tongue was replaced by a debased Latin, like
that spoken in the towns, and in which inscriptions are found in
the western counties.--PEARSON.
10. I shall have complete copies, one of signal interest, and
which has never been described.--MOTLEY.
[Sidenote: But which.]
11. "A mockery, indeed, but in which the soul trifled with
itself!"--HAWTHORNE.
12. I saw upon the left a scene far different, but which yet the
power of dreams had reconciled into harmony.--DE QUINCEY.
[Sidenote: Or which.]
13. He accounted the fair-spoken courtesy, which the Scotch had
learned, either from imitation of their frequent allies, the
French, or which might have arisen from their own proud and
reserved character, as a false and astucious mark, etc.--SCOTT.
[Sidenote: That ... and which, _etc._]
420. Akin to the above is another fault, which is likewise a
variation from the best usage. Two different relatives are sometimes
found referring back to the same antecedent in one sentence; whereas
the better practice is to choose one relative, and repeat this for any
further reference.
Exercise.
Rewrite the following quotations by repeating one relative instead of
using two for the same antecedent:--
[Sidenote: That ... who.]
1. Still in the confidence of children that tread without fear
every chamber in their father's house, and to whom no door is
closed.--DE QUINCEY.
2. Those renowned men that were our ancestors as much as yours,
and whose examples and principles we inherit.--BEECHER.
3. The Tree Igdrasil, that has its roots down in the kingdoms
of Hela and Death, and whose boughs overspread the highest
heaven!--CARLYLE.
[Sidenote: That ... which.]
4. Christianity is a religion that reveals men as the object of
God's infinite love, and which commends him to the unbounded love
of his brethren.--W.E. CHANNING.
5. He flung into literature, in his Mephistopheles, the first
organic figure that has been added for some ages, and which will
remain as long as the Prometheus.--EMERSON.
6. Gutenburg might also have struck out an idea that surely did
not require any extraordinary ingenuity, and which left the most
important difficulties to be surmounted.--HALLAM.
7. Do me the justice to tell me what I have a title to be
acquainted with, and which I am certain to know more truly from
you than from others.--SCOTT.
8. He will do this amiable little service out of what one may
say old civilization has established in place of goodness of
heart, but which is perhaps not so different from it.--HOWELLS.
9. In my native town of Salem, at the head of what, half a
century ago, was a bustling wharf,--but which is now burdened
with decayed wooden warehouses.--HAWTHORNE.
10. His recollection of what he considered as extreme
presumption in the Knight of the Leopard, even when he stood high
in the roles of chivalry, but which, in his present condition,
appeared an insult sufficient to drive the fiery monarch into a
frenzy of passion.--SCOTT
[Sidenote: That which ... what.]
11. He, now without any effort but that which he derived from the
sill, and what little his feet could secure the irregular
crevices, was hung in air.--W.G. SIMMS.
[Sidenote: Such as ... which.]
12. It rose into a thrilling passion, such as my heart had always
dimly craved and hungered after, but which now first interpreted
itself to my ear.--DE QUINCEY.
13. I recommend some honest manual calling, such as they have
very probably been bred to, and which will at least give them a
chance of becoming President.--HOLMES.
[Sidenote: Such as ... whom.]
14. I grudge the dollar, the dime, the cent, I give to such men
as do not belong to me, and to whom I do not belong.--EMERSON.
[Sidenote: Which ... that ... that.]
15. That evil influence which carried me first away from my
father's house, that hurried me into the wild and undigested
notion of making my fortune, and that impressed these conceits so
forcibly upon me.--DEFOE.
ADJECTIVE PRONOUNS.
[Sidenote: Each other, one another.]
421. The student is sometimes troubled whether to use each other
or one another in expressing reciprocal relation or action. Whether
either one refers to a certain number of persons or objects, whether
or not the two are equivalent, may be gathered from a study of the
following sentences:--
They [Ernest and the poet] led _one another_, as it were, into
the high pavilion of their thoughts.--HAWTHORNE.
Men take _each other's_ measure when they meet for the first
time.--EMERSON.
You ruffian! do you fancy I forget that we were fond of _each
other_?--THACKERAY.
England was then divided between kings and Druids, always at war
with _one another_, carrying off _each other's_ cattle and
wives.--BREWER
The topics follow _each other_ in the happiest order.--MACAULAY.
The Peers at a conference begin to pommel _each other_.--_Id._
We call ourselves a rich nation, and we are filthy and foolish
enough to thumb _each other's_ books out of circulating
libraries.--RUSKIN.
The real hardships of life are now coming fast upon us; let us
not increase them by dissension among _each other_.--GOLDSMITH.
In a moment we were all shaking hands with _one
another_.--DICKENS.
The unjust purchaser forces the two to bid against _each
other._--RUSKIN.
[Sidenote: _Distributives_ either _and_ neither.]
422. By their original meaning, either and neither refer to only
two persons or objects; as, for example,--
Some one must be poor, and in want of his gold--or his corn.
Assume that no one is in want of _either_.--RUSKIN
Their [Ernest's and the poet's] minds accorded into one strain,
and made delightful music which _neither_ could have claimed as
all his own.--HAWTHORNE.
[Sidenote: _Use of_ any.]
Sometimes these are made to refer to several objects, in which case
any should be used instead; as,--
Was it the winter's storm? was it hard labor and spare meals? was
it disease? was it the tomahawk? Is it possible that _neither_ of
these causes, that not all combined, were able to blast this bud
of hope?--EVERETT.
Once I took such delight in Montaigne ...; before that, in
Shakespeare; then in Plutarch; then in Plotinus; at one time in
Bacon; afterwards in Goethe; even in Bettine; but now I turn the
pages of _either_ of them languidly, whilst I still cherish their
genius.--EMERSON.
[Sidenote: Any _usually plural_.]
423. The adjective pronoun any is nearly always regarded as
plural, as shown in the following sentences:--
If _any_ of you _have_ been accustomed to look upon these hours
as mere visionary hours, I beseech you, etc.--BEECHER
Whenever, during his stay at Yuste, _any_ of his friends had
died, he had been punctual in doing honor to _their_
memory.--STIRLING.
But I enjoy the company and conversation of its inhabitants, when
_any_ of them _are_ so good as to visit me.--FRANKLIN.
Do you think, when I spoke anon of the ghosts of Pryor's
children, I mean that _any_ of them _are_ dead?--THACKERAY.
In earlier Modern English, _any_ was often singular; as,--
If _any_, speak; for _him_ have I offended.--SHAKESPEARE.
If _any_ of you lack wisdom, let _him_ ask of God.--_Bible_.
Very rarely the singular is met with in later times; as,--
Here is a poet doubtless as much affected by his own descriptions
as _any_ that _reads_ them can be.--BURKE.
[Sidenote: _Caution_.]
The above instances are to be distinguished from the adjective _any_,
which is plural as often as singular.
[Sidenote: None _usually plural_.]
424. The adjective pronoun none is, in the prose of the present
day, usually plural, although it is historically a contraction of _ne
ān_ (not one). Examples of its use are,--
In earnest, if ever man was; as _none_ of the French philosophers
_were_.--CARLYLE.
_None_ of Nature's powers _do_ better service.--PROF. DANA
One man answers some question which _none_ of his contemporaries
_put_, and is isolated.--EMERSON.
_None obey_ the command of duty so well as those who are free
from the observance of slavish bondage.--SCOTT.
Do you think, when I spoke anon of the ghosts of Pryor's
children, I mean that any of them are dead? _None are_, that I
know of.--THACKERAY.
Early apples begin to be ripe about the first of August; but I
think _none_ of them _are_ so good to eat as some to
smell.--THOREAU.
The singular use of _none_ is often found in the Bible; as,--
_None_ of them _was_ cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.--LUKE iv
27
Also the singular is sometimes found in present-day English in prose,
and less rarely in poetry; for example,--
Perhaps _none_ of our Presidents since Washington _has_ stood so
firm in the confidence of the people.--LOWELL
In signal _none his_ steed should spare.--SCOTT
Like the use of _any_, the pronoun _none_ should be distinguished from
the adjective _none_, which is used absolutely, and hence is more
likely to confuse the student.
Compare with the above the following sentences having the adjective
_none_:--
Reflecting a summer evening sky in its bosom, though _none_ [no
sky] was visible overhead.--THOREAU
The holy fires were suffered to go out in the temples, and _none_
[no fires] were lighted in their own dwellings.--PRESCOTT
[Sidenote: All _singular and plural_.]
425. The pronoun all has the singular construction when it means
_everything_; the plural, when it means _all persons_: for example,--
[Sidenote: _Singular_.]
The light troops thought ... that _all was_ lost.--PALGRAVE
_All was_ won on the one side, and _all was_ lost on the
other.--BAYNE
Having done _all_ that _was_ just toward others.--NAPIER
[Sidenote: _Plural_.]
But the King's treatment of the great lords will be judged
leniently by _all_ who _remember_, etc.--PEARSON.
When _all were_ gone, fixing his eyes on the mace, etc.--LINGARD
_All_ who did not understand French _were_ compelled,
etc.--McMASTER.
[Sidenote: Somebody's else, _or_ somebody else's?]
426. The compounds somebody else, any one else, nobody else, etc.,
are treated as units, and the apostrophe is regularly added to the
final word _else_ instead of the first. Thackeray has the expression
_somebody's else_, and Ford has _nobody's else_, but the regular usage
is shown in the following selections:--
A boy who is fond of _somebody else's_ pencil case.--G. ELIOT.
A suit of clothes like _somebody else's_.--THACKERAY.
Drawing off his gloves and warming his hands before the fire as
benevolently as if they were _somebody else's_.--DICKENS.
Certainly not! nor _any one else's_ ropes.--RUSKIN.
Again, my pronunciation--like _everyone else's_--is in some cases
more archaic.--SWEET.
Then everybody wanted some of _somebody else's_.--RUSKIN.
His hair...curled once all over it in long tendrils, unlike
_anybody else's_ in the world.--N.P. WILLIS.
"Ye see, there ain't nothin' wakes folks up like _somebody
else's_ wantin' what you've got."--MRS. STOWE.
ADJECTIVES.
AGREEMENT OF ADJECTIVES WITH NOUNS.
[Sidenote: These sort, all manner of, _etc._]
427. The statement that adjectives agree with their nouns in number
is restricted to the words this and that (with these and
those), as these are the only adjectives that have separate forms
for singular and plural; and it is only in one set of expressions that
the concord seems to be violated,--in such as "_these sort_ of books,"
"_those kind_ of trees," "_all manner_ of men;" the nouns being
singular, the adjectives plural. These expressions are all but
universal in spoken English, and may be found not infrequently in
literary English; for example,--
_These kind_ of knaves I know, which in this plainness
Harbor more craft, etc.--SHAKESPEARE
All _these sort_ of things.--SHERIDAN.
I hoped we had done with _those sort_ of things.--MULOCH.
You have been so used to _those sort_ of impertinences.--SYDNEY
SMITH.
Whitefield or Wesley, or some other such great man as a bishop,
or _those sort_ of people.--FIELDING.
I always delight in overthrowing _those kind_ of
schemes.--AUSTEN.
There are women as well as men who can thoroughly enjoy _those
sort_ of romantic spots.--_Saturday Review_, London.
The library was open, with _all manner_ of amusing
books.--RUSKIN.
According to the approved usage of Modern English, each one of the
above adjectives would have to be changed to the singular, or the
nouns to the plural.
[Sidenote: _History of this construction._]
The reason for the prevalence of these expressions must be sought in
the history of the language: it cannot be found in the statement that
the adjective is made plural by the attraction of a noun following.
[Sidenote: _At the source._]
In Old and Middle English, in keeping with the custom of looking at
things concretely rather than in the abstract, they said, not "all
_kinds_ of wild animals," but "alles cunnes wilde deor" (wild animals
of-every-kind). This the modern expression reverses.
[Sidenote: _Later form._]
But in early Middle English the modern way of regarding such
expressions also appeared, gradually displacing the old.
[Sidenote: _The result._]
Consequently we have a confused expression. We keep the form of
logical agreement in standard English, such as, "_This sort_ of trees
should be planted;" but at the same time the noun following _kind of_
is felt to be the real subject, and the adjective is, in spoken
English, made to agree with it, which accounts for the construction,
"_These kind of_ trees are best."
[Sidenote: _A question._]
The inconvenience of the logical construction is seen when we wish to
use a predicate with number forms. Should we say, "This kind of rules
_are_ the best," or "This kind of rules _is_ the best?" _Kind_ or
_sort_ may be treated as a collective noun, and in this way may take a
plural verb; for example, Burke's sentence, "A _sort_ of uncertain
sounds _are_, when the necessary dispositions concur, more alarming
than a total silence."
COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE FORMS.
[Sidenote: _Use of the comparative degree._]
428. The comparative degree of the adjective (or adverb) is used
when we wish to compare two objects or sets of objects, or one object
with a class of objects, to express a higher degree of quality; as,--
Which is _the better_ able to defend himself,--a strong man with
nothing but his fists, or a paralytic cripple encumbered with a
sword which he cannot lift?--MACAULAY.
Of two such lessons, why forget
The _nobler_ and the _manlier_ one?
--BYRON.
We may well doubt which has the _stronger_ claim to civilization,
the victor or the vanquished.--PRESCOTT.
A _braver_ ne'er to battle rode.--SCOTT.
He is _taller,_ by almost the breadth of my nail, than any of his
court.--SWIFT.
[Sidenote: Other _after the comparative form._]
429. When an object is compared with the class to which it belongs,
it is regularly excluded from that class by the word _other_; if not,
the object would really be compared with itself: thus,--
The character of Lady Castlewood has required more delicacy in
its manipulation than perhaps any _other_ which Thackeray has
drawn.--TROLLOPE.
I used to watch this patriarchal personage with livelier
curiosity than any _other_ form of humanity.--HAWTHORNE.
Exercise.
See if the word _other_ should be inserted in the following
sentences:--
1. There was no man who could make a more graceful bow than Mr.
Henry.--WIRT.
2. I am concerned to see that Mr. Gary, to whom Dante owes more
than ever poet owed to translator, has sanctioned,
etc.--MACAULAY.
3. There is no country in which wealth is so sensible of its
obligations as our own.--LOWELL.
4. This is more sincerely done in the Scandinavian than in any
mythology I know.--CARLYLE.
5. In "Thaddeus of Warsaw" there is more crying than in any novel
I remember to have read.--THACKERAY.
6. The heroes of another writer [Cooper] are quite the equals of
Scott's men; perhaps Leather-stocking is better than any one in
"Scott's lot."--_Id._
[Sidenote: _Use of the superlative degree._]
430. The superlative degree of the adjective (or adverb) is used
regularly in comparing more than two things, but is also frequently
used in comparing only two things.
Examples of superlative with several objects:--
It is a case of which the _simplest_ statement is the
_strongest_.--MACAULAY.
Even Dodd himself, who was one of the _greatest_ humbugs who ever
lived, would not have had the face.--THACKERAY.
To the man who plays well, the _highest_ stakes are
paid.--HUXLEY.
[Sidenote: _Superlative with two objects._]
Compare the first three sentences in Sec. 428 with the following:--
Which do you love _best_ to behold, the lamb or the lion?
--THACKERAY.
Which of these methods has the _best_ effect? Both of them are
the same to the sense, and differ only in form.--DR BLAIR.
Rip was one of those ... who eat white bread or brown, whichever
can be got _easiest_.--IRVING.
It is hard to say whether the man of wisdom or the man of folly
contributed _most_ to the amusement of the party.--SCOTT.
There was an interval of three years between Mary and Anne. The
_eldest_, Mary, was like the Stuarts--the _younger_ was a fair
English child.--MRS. OLIPHANT.
Of the two great parties which at this hour almost share the
nation between them, I should say that one has the _best_ cause,
and the other contains the _best_ men.--EMERSON.
In all disputes between States, though the _strongest_ is nearly
always mainly in the wrong, the _weaker_ is often so in a minor
degree.--RUSKIN.
She thought him and Olivia extremely of a size, and would bid
both to stand up to see which was the _tallest_.--GOLDSMITH.
These two properties seem essential to wit, more particularly the
_last_ of them.--ADDISON.
"Ha, ha, ha!" roared Goodman Brown when the wind laughed at him.
"Let us see which will laugh _loudest_."--HAWTHORNE.
[Sidenote: _Double comparative and superlative._]
431. In Shakespeare's time it was quite common to use a double
comparative and superlative by using _more_ or _most_ before the word
already having _-er_ or _-est_. Examples from Shakespeare are,--
How much _more elder_ art thou than thy looks!--_Merchant of
Venice._
Nor that I am _more better_ than Prospero.--_Tempest._
Come you _more nearer_.--_Hamlet._
With the _most boldest_ and best hearts of Rome.--_J. Cæsar._
Also from the same period,--
Imitating the manner of the _most ancientest_ and _finest_
Grecians.--BEN JONSON.
After the _most straitest_ sect of our religion.--_Bible_, 1611.
Such expressions are now heard only in vulgar English. The following
examples are used purposely, to represent the characters as ignorant
persons:--
The artful saddler persuaded the young traveler to look at "the
_most convenientest_ and _handsomest_ saddle that ever was
seen."--BULWER.
"There's nothing comes out but the _most lowest_ stuff in nature;
not a bit of high life among them."--GOLDSMITH.
_THREE FIRST_ OR _FIRST THREE_?
432. As to these two expressions, over which a little war has so
long been buzzing, we think it not necessary to say more than that
both are in good use; not only so in popular speech, but in literary
English. Instances of both are given below.
The meaning intended is the same, and the reader gets the same idea
from both: hence there is properly a perfect liberty in the use of
either or both.
[Sidenote: First three, _etc._]
For Carlyle, and Secretary Walsingham also, have been helping
them heart and soul for the _last two_ years.--KINGSLEY.
The delay in the _first three_ lines, and conceit in the last,
jar upon us constantly.--RUSKIN.
The _last dozen_ miles before you reach the suburbs.--DE QUINCEY.
Mankind for the _first seventy thousand_ ages ate their meat
raw.--LAMB.
The _first twenty_ numbers were expressed by a corresponding
number of dots. The _first five_ had specific names.--PRESCOTT.
[Sidenote: Three first, _etc._]
These are the _three first_ needs of civilized life.--RUSKIN.
He has already finished the _three first_ sticks of it.--ADDISON.
In my _two last_ you had so much of Lismahago that I suppose you
are glad he is gone.--SMOLLETT.
I have not numbered the lines except of the _four first_ books.
--COWPER.
The _seven first_ centuries were filled with a succession of
triumphs.--GIBBON.
ARTICLES.
[Sidenote: _Definite article_.]
433. The definite article is repeated before each of two modifiers
of the same noun, when the purpose is to call attention to the noun
expressed and the one understood. In such a case two or more separate
objects are usually indicated by the separation of the modifiers.
Examples of this construction are,--
[Sidenote: _With a singular noun_.]
The merit of _the Barb_, _the Spanish_, and _the English_ breed
is derived from a mixture of Arabian blood.--GIBBON.
_The righteous_ man is distinguished from _the unrighteous_ by
his desire and hope of justice.--RUSKIN.
He seemed deficient in sympathy for concrete human things either
on _the sunny_ or _the stormy_ side.--CARLYLE.
It is difficult to imagine a greater contrast than that between
_the first_ and _the second_ part of the volume.--_The Nation_,
No. 1508.
[Sidenote: _With a plural noun_.]
There was also a fundamental difference of opinion as to whether
the earliest cleavage was between _the Northern_ and _the
Southern_ languages.--TAYLOR, _Origin of the Aryans_.
434. The same repetition of the article is sometimes found before
nouns alone, to distinguish clearly, or to emphasize the meaning;
as,--
In every line of _the Philip_ and _the Saul_, the greatest poems,
I think, of the eighteenth century.--MACAULAY.
He is master of the two-fold Logos, _the thought_ and _the word_,
distinct, but inseparable from each other.--NEWMAN.
_The flowers_, and _the presents_, and _the trunks and bonnet
boxes_ ... having been arranged, the hour of parting
came.--THACKERAY.
[Sidenote: The _not repeated. One object and several modifiers, with a
singular noun_.]
435. Frequently, however, the article is not repeated before each of
two or more adjectives, as in Sec. 433, but is used with one only;
as,--
Or fanciest thou _the red and yellow_ Clothes-screen yonder is
but of To-day, without a Yesterday or a To-morrow?--CARLYLE.
_The lofty_, _melodious_, _and flexible_ language.--SCOTT.
_The fairest and most loving_ wife in Greece.--TENNYSON.
[Sidenote: _Meaning same as in Sec. 433, with a plural noun_.]
Neither can there be a much greater resemblance between _the
ancient and modern_ general views of the
town.--HALLIWELL-PHILLIPPS.
At Talavera _the English and French_ troops for a moment
suspended their conflict.--MACAULAY.
The Crusades brought to the rising commonwealths of _the Adriatic
and Tyrrhene_ seas a large increase of wealth.--_Id._
Here the youth of both sexes, of _the higher and middling_
orders, were placed at a very tender age.--PRESCOTT.
[Sidenote: _Indefinite article_.]
436. The indefinite article is used, like the definite article, to
limit two or more modified nouns, only one of which is expressed. The
article is repeated for the purpose of separating or emphasizing the
modified nouns. Examples of this use are,--
We shall live _a better_ and _a higher_ and _a nobler_
life.--BEECHER.
The difference between the products of _a well-disciplined_ and
those of _an uncultivated_ understanding is often and admirably
exhibited by our great dramatist.--S.T. COLERIDGE.
Let us suppose that the pillars succeed each other, _a round_ and
_a square_ one alternately.--BURKE.
As if the difference between _an accurate_ and _an inaccurate_
statement was not worth the trouble of looking into the most
common book of reference.--MACAULAY.
To every room there was _an open_ and _a secret_
passage.--JOHNSON.
Notice that in the above sentences (except the first) the noun
expressed is in contrast with the modified noun omitted.
[Sidenote: _One article with several adjectives._]
437. Usually the article is not repeated when the several adjectives
unite in describing one and the same noun. In the sentences of Secs.
433 and 436, one noun is expressed; yet the same word understood with
the other adjectives has a different meaning (except in the first
sentence of Sec. 436). But in the following sentences, as in the first
three of Sec. 435, the adjectives assist each other in describing the
same noun. It is easy to see the difference between the expressions
"_a red-and-white_ geranium," and "_a red and a white_ geranium."
Examples of several adjectives describing the same object:--
To inspire us with _a free and quiet_ mind.--B. JONSON.
Here and there _a desolate and uninhabited_ house.--DICKENS.
James was declared _a mortal and bloody_ enemy.--MACAULAY.
So wert thou born into a tuneful strain,
_An early, rich, and inexhausted_ vein.
--DRYDEN.
[Sidenote: _For rhetorical effect._]
438. The indefinite article (compare Sec. 434) is used to lend
special emphasis, interest, or clearness to each of several nouns;
as,--
James was declared _a_ mortal and bloody _enemy, a tyrant, a
murderer_, and _a usurper_.--MACAULAY.
Thou hast spoken as _a patriot_ and _a Christian_.--BULWER.
He saw him in his mind's eye, _a collegian, a parliament man--a
Baronet_ perhaps.--THACKERAY.
VERBS.
CONCORD OF VERB AND SUBJECT IN NUMBER.
[Sidenote: _A broad and loose rule._]
439. In English, the number of the verb follows the meaning rather
than the form of its subject.
It will not do to state as a general rule that the verb agrees with
its subject in person and number. This was spoken of in Part I., Sec.
276, and the following illustrations prove it.
The statements and illustrations of course refer to such verbs as have
separate forms for singular and plural number.
[Sidenote: _Singular verb._]
440. The singular form of the verb is used--
[Sidenote: _Subject of singular form._]
(1) When the subject has a singular form and a singular meaning.
Such, then, _was_ the earliest American _land_.--AGASSIZ.
_He was_ certainly a happy fellow at this time.--G. ELIOT.
_He sees_ that it is better to live in peace.--COOPER.
[Sidenote: _Collective noun of singular meaning._]
(2) When the subject is a _collective noun_ which represents a number
of persons or things _taken as one unit_; as,--
The larger _breed_ [of camels] _is_ capable of transporting a
weight of a thousand pounds.--GIBBON.
Another _school professes_ entirely opposite principles.--_The
Nation._
In this work there _was_ grouped around him _a score_ of men.--W.
PHILLIPS
A _number_ of jeweled paternosters _was_ attached to her
girdle.--FROUDE.
_Something like a horse load_ of books _has_ been written to
prove that it was the beauty who blew up the booby.--CARLYLE
This usage, like some others in this series, depends mostly on the
writer's own judgment. Another writer might, for example, prefer a
plural verb after _number_ in Froude's sentence above.
[Sidenote: _Singulars connected by_ or _or_ nor.]
(3) When the subject consists of two or more singular nouns connected
by _or_ or _nor_; as,--
It is by no means sure that either our _literature_, or the great
intellectual _life_ of our nation, _has_ got already, without
academies, all that academies can give.--M. ARNOLD.
_Jesus is_ not dead, nor _John_, nor _Paul_, nor _Mahomet_.
--EMERSON.
[Sidenote: _Plural form and singular meaning._]
(4) When the subject is _plural in form_, but represents a number of
things to be taken together as _forming one unit_; for example,--
Thirty-four years _affects_ one's remembrance of some
circumstances.--DE QUINCEY.
Between ourselves, three pounds five shillings and two pence _is_
no bad day's work.--GOLDSMITH.
Every twenty paces _gives_ you the prospect of some villa; and
every four hours, that of a large town.--MONTAGUE
Two thirds of this _is_ mine by right.--SHERIDAN
The singular form is also used with book titles, other names, and
other singulars of plural form; as,--
Politics _is_ the only field now open for me.--WHITTIER.
"Sesame and Lilies" _is_ Ruskin's creed for young
girls.--_Critic_, No. 674
The Three Pigeons _expects_ me down every moment.--GOLDSMITH.
[Sidenote: _Several singular subjects to one singular verb._]
(5) With _several singular subjects not_ disjoined by _or_ or _nor_,
in the following cases:--
(_a_) Joined by _and_, but considered as meaning about the same thing,
or as making up one general idea; as,--
In a word, all his conversation and knowledge _has been_ in the
female world--ADDISON.
The strength and glare of each [color] _is_ considerably
abated.--BURKE
To imagine that debating and logic _is_ the triumph.--CARLYLE
In a world where even to fold and seal a letter adroitly _is_ not
the least of accomplishments.--DE QUINCEY
The genius and merit of a rising poet _was_ celebrated.--GIBBON.
When the cause of ages and the fate of nations _hangs_ upon the
thread of a debate.--J.Q. ADAMS.
(_b_) Not joined by a conjunction, but each one emphatic, or
considered as appositional; for example,--
The unbought grace of life, the cheap defense of nations, the
nurse of manly sentiment and heroic enterprise, _is_
gone.--BURKE.
A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a loss of wealth,
a loss of friends, _seems_ at the moment unpaid loss.--EMERSON
The author, the wit, the partisan, the fine gentleman, _does_ not
take the place of the man.--_Id._
To receive presents or a bribe, to be guilty of collusion in any
way with a suitor, _was_ punished, in a judge, with
death.--PRESCOTT.
[Sidenote: _Subjects after the verb._]
This use of several subjects with a singular verb is especially
frequent when the subjects are after the verb; as,--
There _is_ a right and a wrong in them.--M ARNOLD.
There _is_ a moving tone of voice, an impassioned countenance, an
agitated gesture.--BURKE
There _was_ a steel headpiece, a cuirass, a gorget, and greaves,
with a pair of gauntlets and a sword hanging beneath.--HAWTHORNE.
Then _comes_ the "Why, sir!" and the "What then, sir?" and the
"No, sir!"--MACAULAY.
For wide _is_ heard the thundering fray,
The rout, the ruin, the dismay.
--SCOTT.
(_c_) Joined by _as well as_ (in this case the verb agrees with the
first of the two, no matter if the second is plural); thus,--
Asia, as well as Europe, _was_ dazzled.--MACAULAY.
The oldest, as well as the newest, wine
_Begins_ to stir itself.
--LONGFELLOW.
Her back, as well as sides, _was_ like to crack.--BUTLER.
The Epic, as well as the Drama, _is_ divided into tragedy and
Comedy.--FIELDING
(_d_) When each of two or more singular subjects is preceded by
_every_, _each_, _no_, _many a_, and such like adjectives.
Every fop, every boor, every valet, _is_ a man of wit.--MACAULAY.
Every sound, every echo, _was_ listened to for five hours.--DE
QUINCEY
Every dome and hollow _has_ the figure of Christ.--RUSKIN.
Each particular hue and tint _stands_ by itself.--NEWMAN.
Every law and usage _was_ a man's expedient.--EMERSON.
Here _is_ no ruin, no discontinuity, no spent ball.--_Id._
Every week, nay, almost every day, _was_ set down in their
calendar for some appropriate celebration.--PRESCOTT.
[Sidenote: _Plural verb._]
441. The plural form of the verb is used--
(1) When the subject is plural _in form and in meaning_; as,--
These _bits_ of wood _were_ covered on every square.--SWIFT.
Far, far away thy children _leave_ the land.--GOLDSMITH.
The Arabian poets _were_ the historians and moralists.--GIBBON.
(2) When the subject is a _collective noun_ in which _the individuals_
of the collection are thought of; as,--
A multitude _go_ mad about it.--EMERSON.
A great number of people _were_ collected at a vendue.--FRANKLIN.
All our household _are_ at rest.--COLERIDGE.
A party of workmen _were_ removing the horses.--LEW WALLACE
The fraternity _were_ inclined to claim for him the honors of
canonization.--SCOTT.
The travelers, of whom there _were_ a number.--B. TAYLOR.
(3) When the subject consists of _several singulars connected by
and_, making up a plural subject, for example,--
Only Vice and Misery _are_ abroad.--CARLYLE
But its authorship, its date, and its history _are_ alike a
mystery to us.--FROUDE.
His clothes, shirt, and skin _were_ all of the same color--SWIFT.
Aristotle and Longinus _are_ better understood by him than
Littleton or Coke.--ADDISON.
[Sidenote: _Conjunction omitted._]
The conjunction may be omitted, as in Sec. 440 (5, _b_), but the verb
is plural, as with a subject of plural form.
A shady grove, a green pasture, a stream of fresh water, _are_
sufficient to attract a colony.--GIBBON.
The Dauphin, the Duke of Berri, Philip of Anjou, _were_ men of
insignificant characters.--MACAULAY
(4) When a singular is joined with a plural by a disjunctive
word, the verb agrees with the one nearest it; as,--
One or two of these perhaps _survive_.--THOREAU.
One or two persons in the crowd _were_ insolent.--FROUDE.
One or two of the ladies _were_ going to leave.--ADDISON
One or two of these old Cromwellian soldiers _were_ still alive
in the village.--THACKERAY
One or two of whom _were_ more entertaining.--DE QUINCEY.
But notice the construction of this,--
A ray or two _wanders_ into the darkness.--RUSKIN.
AGREEMENT OF VERB AND SUBJECT IN PERSON.
[Sidenote: _General usage_.]
442. If there is only one person in the subject, the ending of the
verb indicates the person of its subject; that is, in those few cases
where there are forms for different persons: as,--
Never once _didst_ thou revel in the vision.--DE QUINCEY.
Romanism wisely _provides_ for the childish in men.--LOWELL.
It _hath_ been said my Lord would never take the
oath.--THACKERAY.
[Sidenote: _Second or third and first person in the subject_.]
443. If the subject is made up of the first person joined with the
second or third by _and_, the verb takes the construction of the first
person, the subject being really equivalent to _we_; as,--
I flatter myself you and I _shall_ meet again.--SMOLLETT.
You and I _are_ farmers; we never talk politics.--D WEBSTER.
Ah, brother! only I and thou
_Are_ left of all that circle now.
--WHITTIER.
You and I _are_ tolerably modest people.--THACKERAY.
Cocke and I _have_ felt it in our bones--_Gammer Gurton's Needle_
[Sidenote: _With adversative or disjunctive connectives_.]
444. When the subjects, of different persons, are connected by
adversative or disjunctive conjunctions, the verb usually agrees with
the pronoun nearest to it; for example,--
Neither you nor I _should_ be a bit the better or wiser.--RUSKIN.
If she or you _are_ resolved to be miserable.--GOLDSMITH.
Nothing which Mr. Pattison or I _have_ said.--M. ARNOLD.
Not Altamont, but thou, _hadst_ been my lord.--ROWE.
Not I, but thou, his blood _dost_ shed.--BYRON.
This construction is at the best a little awkward. It is avoided
either by using a verb which has no forms for person (as, "He or I
_can_ go," "She or you _may_ be sure," etc.), or by rearranging the
sentence so as to throw each subject before its proper person form
(as, "You _would_ not be wiser, nor _should_ I;" or, "I _have_ never
said so, nor _has_ she").
[Sidenote: _Exceptional examples_.]
445. The following illustrate exceptional usage, which it is proper
to mention; but the student is cautioned to follow the regular usage
rather than the unusual and irregular.
Exercise.
Change each of the following sentences to accord with standard usage,
as illustrated above (Secs. 440-444):--
1. And sharp Adversity will teach at last
Man,--and, as we would hope,--perhaps the devil,
That neither of their intellects are vast.
--BYRON.
2. Neither of them, in my opinion, give so accurate an idea of
the man as a statuette in bronze.--TROLLOPE.
3. How each of these professions are crowded.--ADDISON.
4. Neither of their counselors were to be present.--_Id._
5. Either of them are equally good to the person to whom they are
significant.--EMERSON.
6. Neither the red nor the white are strong and glaring.--BURKE.
7. A lampoon or a satire do not carry in them robbery or
murder.--ADDISON.
8. Neither of the sisters were very much deceived.--THACKERAY.
9. Nor wood, nor tree, nor bush are there,
Her course to intercept.--SCOTT.
10. Both death and I am found eternal.--MILTON.
11. In ascending the Mississippi the party was often obliged to
wade through morasses; at last they came upon the district of
Little Prairie.--G. BANCROFT.
12. In a word, the whole nation seems to be running out of their
wits.--SMOLLETT.
SEQUENCE OF TENSES (VERBS AND VERBALS).
[Sidenote: _Lack of logical sequence in verbs_.]
446. If one or more verbs depend on some leading verb, each should
be in the tense that will convey the meaning intended by the writer.
In this sentence from Defoe, "I expected every wave would have
swallowed us up," the verb _expected_ looks forward to something in
the future, while _would have swallowed_ represents something
completed in past time: hence the meaning intended was, "I expected
every wave _would swallow_" etc.
[Sidenote: _Also in verbals_.]
In the following sentence, the infinitive also fails to express the
exact thought:--
I had hoped never to have seen the statues again.--MACAULAY.
The trouble is the same as in the previous sentence; _to have seen_
should be changed to _to see_, for exact connection. Of course, if the
purpose were to represent a prior fact or completed action, the
perfect infinitive would be the very thing.
It should be remarked, however, that such sentences as those just
quoted are in keeping with the older idea of the unity of the
sentence. The present rule is recent.
Exercise.
Explain whether the verbs and infinitives in the following sentences
convey the right meaning; if not, change them to a better form:--
1. I gave one quarter to Ann, meaning, on my return, to have
divided with her whatever might remain.--DE QUINCEY
2. I can't sketch "The Five Drapers," ... but can look and be
thankful to have seen such a masterpiece.--THACKERAY.
3. He would have done more wisely to have left them to find their
own apology than to have given reasons which seemed
paradoxes.--R.W. CHURCH.
4. The propositions of William are stated to have contained a
proposition for a compromise.--PALGRAVE
5. But I found I wanted a stock of words, which I thought I
should have acquired before that time.--FRANKLIN
6. I could even have suffered them to have broken Everet
Ducking's head.--IRVING.
INDIRECT DISCOURSE.
[Sidenote: _Definitions_.]
_447_. Direct discourse--that is, a direct quotation or a direct
question--means the identical words the writer or speaker used; as,--
"I hope you have not killed him?" said Amyas.--KINGSLEY.
Indirect discourse means reported speech,--the thoughts of a writer
or speaker put in the words of the one reporting them.
[Sidenote: _Two samples of indirect discourse_.]
448. Indirect discourse may be of two kinds:--
(1) Following the thoughts and also the exact words as far as
consistent with the rules of logical sequence of verbs.
(2) Merely a concise representation of the original words, not
attempting to follow the entire quotation.
The following examples of both are from De Quincey:--
[Sidenote: _Indirect_.]
1. Reyes remarked that it was not in his power to oblige the clerk as
to that, but that he could oblige him by cutting his throat.
[Sidenote: _Direct_.]
His exact words were, "I _cannot_ oblige _you_ ..., but I _can_ oblige
_you_ by cutting _your_ throat."
[Sidenote: _Indirect_.]
Her prudence whispered eternally, that safety there was none for her
until she had laid the Atlantic between herself and St. Sebastian's.
[Sidenote: _Direct_.]
She thought to herself, "Safety there _is_ none for _me_ until _I_
have laid," etc.
[Sidenote: _Summary of the expressions_.]
2. Then he laid bare the unparalleled ingratitude of such a step. Oh,
the unseen treasure that had been spent upon that girl! Oh, the untold
sums of money that he had sunk in that unhappy speculation!
[Sidenote: _Direct synopsis_.]
The substance of his lamentation was, "Oh, unseen treasure _has_ been
spent upon that girl! Untold sums of money _have I_ sunk," etc.
449. From these illustrations will be readily seen the grammatical
changes made in transferring from direct to indirect discourse.
Remember the following facts:--
(1) Usually the main, introductory verb is in the past tense.
(2) The indirect quotation is usually introduced by _that_, and the
indirect question by _whether_ or _if_, or regular interrogatives.
(3) Verbs in the present-tense form are changed to the past-tense
form. This includes the auxiliaries _be_, _have_, _will_, etc. The
past tense is sometimes changed to the past perfect.
(4) The pronouns of the first and second persons are all changed to
the third person. Sometimes it is clearer to introduce the antecedent
of the pronoun instead.
Other examples of indirect discourse have been given in Part I.,
under interrogative pronouns, interrogative adverbs, and the
subjunctive mood of verbs.
Exercise.
Rewrite the following extract from Irving's "Sketch Book," and change
it to a direct quotation:--
He assured the company that it was a fact, handed down from his
ancestor the historian, that the Catskill Mountains had always been
haunted by strange beings; that it was affirmed that the great
Hendrick Hudson, the first discoverer of the river and country, kept a
kind of vigil there every twenty years, with his crew of the
Half-moon, being permitted in this way to revisit the scenes of his
enterprise, and keep a guardian eye upon the river and the great city
called by his name; that his father had once seen them in their old
Dutch dresses playing at ninepins in a hollow of the mountain; and
that he himself had heard, one summer afternoon, the sound of their
balls, like distant peals of thunder.
VERBALS.
PARTICIPLES.
[Sidenote: _Careless use of the participial phrase._]
450. The following sentences illustrate a misuse of the participial
phrase:--
Pleased with the "Pilgrim's Progress," my first collection was of
John Bunyan's works.--B. FRANKLIN.
My farm consisted of about twenty acres of excellent land, having
given a hundred pounds for my predecessor's goodwill.--GOLDSMITH.
Upon asking how he had been taught the art of a cognoscente so
suddenly, he assured me that nothing was more easy.--_Id._
Having thus run through the causes of the sublime, my first
observation will be found nearly true.--BURKE
He therefore remained silent till he had repeated a paternoster,
being the course which his confessor had enjoined.--SCOTT
Compare with these the following:--
[Sidenote: _A correct example._]
Going yesterday to dine with an old acquaintance, I had the
misfortune to find his whole family very much dejected.--ADDISON.
[Sidenote: _Notice this._]
The trouble is, in the sentences first quoted, that the main subject
of the sentence is not the same word that would be the subject of the
participle, if this were expanded into a verb.
[Sidenote: _Correction._]
Consequently one of two courses must be taken,--either change the
participle to a verb with its appropriate subject, leaving the
principal statement as it is; or change the principal proposition so
it shall make logical connection with the participial phrase.
For example, the first sentence would be, either "_As I was_ pleased,
... my first collection was," etc., or "Pleased with the 'Pilgrim's
Progress,' I made my first collection John Bunyan's works."
Exercise.--Rewrite the other four sentences so as to correct the
careless use of the participial phrase.
INFINITIVES.
[Sidenote: _Adverb between_ to _and the infinitive._]
451. There is a construction which is becoming more and more common
among good writers,--the placing an adverb between _to_ of the
infinitive and the infinitive itself. The practice is condemned by
many grammarians, while defended or excused by others. Standard
writers often use it, and often, purposely or not, avoid it.
The following two examples show the adverb before the infinitive:--
[Sidenote: _The more common usage._]
He handled it with such nicety of address as sufficiently _to
show_ that he fully understood the business.--SCOTT.
It is a solemn, universal assertion, deeply _to be kept_ in mind
by all sects.--RUSKIN.
This is the more common arrangement; yet frequently the desire seems
to be to get the adverb snugly against the infinitive, to modify it as
closely and clearly as possible.
Exercise.
In the following citations, see if the adverbs can be placed before or
after the infinitive and still modify it as clearly as they now do:--
1. There are, then, many things _to be_ carefully _considered_,
if a strike is to succeed.--LAUGHLIN.
2. That the mind may not have to go backwards and forwards in
order _to_ rightly _connect_ them.--HERBERT SPENCER.
3. It may be easier to bear along all the qualifications of an
idea ... than _to_ first imperfectly _conceive_ such idea.--_id._
4. In works of art, this kind of grandeur, which consists in
multitude, is _to be_ very cautiously _admitted_.--BURKE.
5. That virtue which requires _to be_ ever _guarded_ is
scarcely worth the sentinel.--GOLDSMITH.
6. Burke said that such "little arts and devices" were not _to
be_ wholly _condemned_.--_The Nation_, No. 1533.
7. I wish the reader _to_ clearly _understand_.--RUSKIN.
8. Transactions which seem _to be_ most widely _separated_ from
one another.--DR. BLAIR.
9. Would earnestly advise them for their good to order this
paper _to be_ punctually _served up_.--ADDISON.
10. A little sketch of his, in which a cannon ball is supposed
_to have_ just _carried off_ the head of an
aide-de-camp.--TROLLOPE.
11. The ladies seem _to have been_ expressly _created_ to form
helps meet for such gentlemen.--MACAULAY.
12. Sufficient to disgust a people whose manners were beginning
_to be_ strongly _tinctured_ with austerity.--_Id._
13. The spirits, therefore, of those opposed to them seemed _to
be_ considerably _damped_ by their continued success.--SCOTT.
ADVERBS.
[Sidenote: _Position of_ only, even, _etc._]
A very careful writer will so place the modifiers of a verb that the
reader will not mistake the meaning.
The rigid rule in such a case would be, to put the modifier in such a
position that the reader not only can understand the meaning intended,
but _cannot misunderstand_ the thought. Now, when such adverbs as
_only_, _even_, etc., are used, they are usually placed in a strictly
correct position, if they modify single words; but they are often
removed from the exact position, if they modify phrases or clauses:
for example, from Irving, "The site is _only_ to be traced by
fragments of bricks, china, and earthenware." Here _only_ modifies the
phrase _by fragments of bricks_, etc., but it is placed before the
infinitive. This misplacement of the adverb can be detected only by
analysis of the sentence.
Exercise.
Tell what the adverb modifies in each quotation, and see if it is
placed in the proper position:--
1. Only the name of one obscure epigrammatist has been embalmed
for us in the verses of his rival.--PALGRAVE.
2. Do you remember pea shooters? I think we only had them on
going home for holidays.--THACKERAY.
3. Irving could only live very modestly. He could only afford
to keep one old horse.--_Id._
4. The arrangement of this machinery could only be accounted
for by supposing the motive power to have been steam.--WENDELL
PHILLIPS.
5. Such disputes can only be settled by arms.--_Id._
6. I have only noted one or two topics which I thought most
likely to interest an American reader.--N.P. WILLIS.
7. The silence of the first night at the farmhouse,--stillness
broken only by two whippoorwills.--HIGGINSON.
8. My master, to avoid a crowd, would suffer only thirty people
at a time to see me.--SWIFT.
9. In relating these and the following laws, I would only be
understood to mean the original institutions.--_Id._
10. The perfect loveliness of a woman's countenance can only
consist in that majestic peace which is founded in the memory of
happy and useful years.--RUSKIN.
11. In one of those celestial days it seems a poverty that we can
only spend it once.--EMERSON.
12. My lord was only anxious as long as his wife's anxious face
or behavior seemed to upbraid him.--THACKERAY.
13. He shouted in those clear, piercing tones that could be even
heard among the roaring of the cannon.--COOPER.
14. His suspicions were not even excited by the ominous face of
Gérard.--MOTLEY.
15. During the whole course of his administration, he scarcely
befriended a single man of genius.--MACAULAY.
16. I never remember to have felt an event more deeply than his
death.--SYDNEY SMITH.
17. His last journey to Cannes, whence he was never destined to
return.--MRS. GROTE.
USE OF DOUBLE NEGATIVES.
[Sidenote: _The old usage._]
453. In Old and Middle English, two negatives strengthened a
negative idea; for example,--
He _nevere_ yet _no_ vileineye _ne_ sayde,
In al his lyf unto _no_ maner wight.--CHAUCER.
_No_ sonne, were he never so old of yeares, might _not_ marry.
--ASCHAM.
The first of these is equivalent to "He didn't never say no villainy
in all his life to no manner of man,"--four negatives.
This idiom was common in the older stages of the language, and is
still kept in vulgar English; as,--
I tell you she _ain'_ been _nowhar_ ef she don' know we all.
--PAGE, in _Ole Virginia_.
There _weren't no_ pies to equal hers.--MRS. STOWE.
[Sidenote: _Exceptional use._]
There are sometimes found two negatives in modern English with a
negative effect, when one of the negatives is a connective. This,
however, is not common.
I never did see him again, _nor never_ shall.--DE QUINCEY.
However, I did _not_ act so hastily, _neither_.--DEFOE.
The prosperity of no empire, _nor_ the grandeur of _no_ king, can
so agreeably affect, etc.--BURKE.
[Sidenote: _Regular law of negative in modern English._]
But, under the influence of Latin syntax, the usual way of regarding
the question now is, that _two negatives are equivalent to an
affirmative_, denying each other.
Therefore, if two negatives are found together, it is a sign of
ignorance or carelessness, or else a purpose to make an affirmative
effect. In the latter case, one of the negatives is often a prefix; as
_in_frequent, _un_common.
Exercise.
Tell whether the two or more negatives are properly used in each of
the following sentences, and why:--
1. The red men were not so infrequent visitors of the English
settlements.--HAWTHORNE.
2. "Huldy was so up to everything about the house, that the
doctor didn't miss nothin' in a temporal way."--MRS. STOWE.
3. Her younger sister was a wide-awake girl, who hadn't been to
school for nothing.--HOLMES.
4. You will find no battle which does not exhibit the most
cautious circumspection.--BAYNE.
5. Not only could man not acquire such information, but ought not
to labor after it.--GROTE.
6. There is no thoughtful man in America who would not consider a
war with England the greatest of calamities.--LOWELL.
7. In the execution of this task, there is no man who would not
find it an arduous effort.--HAMILTON.
8. "A weapon," said the King, "well worthy to confer honor, nor
has it been laid on an undeserving shoulder."--SCOTT.
CONJUNCTIONS.
[Sidenote: And who, and which.]
454. The sentences given in Secs. 419 and 420 on the connecting of
pronouns with different expressions may again be referred to here, as
the use of the conjunction, as well as of the pronoun, should be
scrutinized.
[Sidenote: _Choice and proper position of correlatives._]
455. The most frequent mistakes in using conjunctions are in
handling correlatives, especially _both_ ... _and, neither_ ... _nor,
either_ ... _or, not_ _only_ ... _but, not merely_ ... _but_ (_also_).
The following examples illustrate the correct use of correlatives as
to both choice of words and position:--
_Whether_ at war _or_ at peace, there we were, a standing menace
to all earthly paradises of that kind.--LOWELL.
These idols of wood can _neither_ hear _nor_ feel.--PRESCOTT.
_Both_ the common soldiery _and_ their leaders and commanders
lowered on each other as if their union had not been more
essential than ever, _not only_ to the success of their common
cause, _but_ to their own safety.--SCOTT.
[Sidenote: _Things to be watched._]
In these examples it will be noticed that _nor_, not _or_ is the
proper correlative of _neither_; and that all correlatives in a
sentence ought to have corresponding positions: that is, if the last
precedes a verb, the first ought to be placed before a verb; if the
second precedes a phrase, the first should also. This is necessary to
make the sentence clear and symmetrical.
[Sidenote: _Correction._]
In the sentence, "I am _neither_ in spirits to enjoy it, _or_ to reply
to it," both of the above requirements are violated. The word
_neither_ in such a case had better be changed to _not_ ...
_either_,--"I am not in spirits _either_ to enjoy it, _or_ to reply to
it."
Besides _neither ... or_, even _neither ... nor_ is often changed to
_not_--_either ... or_ with advantage, as the negation is sometimes
too far from the verb to which it belongs.
A noun may be preceded by one of the correlatives, and an equivalent
pronoun by the other. The sentence, "This loose and inaccurate manner
of speaking has misled us _both_ in the theory of taste _and_ of
morals," may be changed to "This loose ... misled us _both_ in the
theory of taste _and_ in _that_ of morals."
Exercise.
Correct the following sentences:--
1. An ordinary man would neither have incurred the danger of
succoring Essex, nor the disgrace of assailing him.--MACAULAY.
2. Those ogres will stab about and kill not only strangers, but
they will outrage, murder, and chop up their own kin.--THACKERAY.
3. In the course of his reading (which was neither pursued with
that seriousness or that devout mind which such a study requires)
the youth found himself, etc.--_Id._
4. I could neither bear walking nor riding in a carriage over its
pebbled streets.--FRANKLIN.
5. Some exceptions, that can neither be dissembled nor eluded,
render this mode of reasoning as indiscreet as it is
superfluous.--GIBBON.
6. They will, too, not merely interest children, but grown-up
persons.--_Westminster Review._
7. I had even the satisfaction to see her lavish some kind looks
upon my unfortunate son, which the other could neither extort by
his fortune nor assiduity.--GOLDSMITH.
8. This was done probably to show that he was neither ashamed of
his name or family.--ADDISON.
[Sidenote: Try and _for_ try to.]
456. Occasionally there is found the expression _try and_ instead of
the better authorized _try to_; as,--
We will try _and_ avoid personalities altogether.--THACKERAY.
Did any of you ever try _and_ read "Blackmore's Poems"?--_Id._
Try _and_ avoid the pronoun.--BAIN.
We will try _and_ get a clearer notion of them.--RUSKIN.
[Sidenote: But what.]
457. Instead of the subordinate conjunction _that_, _but_, or _but
that_, or the negative relative _but_, we sometimes find the bulky and
needless _but what_. Now, it is possible to use _but what_ when _what_
is a relative pronoun, as, "He never had any money _but what_ he
absolutely needed;" but in the following sentences _what_ usurps the
place of a conjunction.
Exercise.
In the following sentences, substitute _that_, _but_, or _but that_
for the words _but what_:--
1. The doctor used to say 'twas her young heart, and I don't know
_but what_ he was right.--S.O. JEWETT.
2. At the first stroke of the pickax it is ten to one _but what_
you are taken up for a trespass.--BULWER.
3. There are few persons of distinction _but what_ can hold
conversation in both languages.--SWIFT.
4. Who knows _but what_ there might be English among those
sun-browned half-naked masses of panting wretches?--KINGSLEY.
5. No little wound of the kind ever came to him _but what_ he
disclosed it at once.--TROLLOPE.
6. They are not so distant from the camp of Saladin _but what_
they might be in a moment surprised.--SCOTT.
PREPOSITIONS.
458. As to the placing of a preposition after its object in certain
cases, see Sec. 305.
[Sidenote: Between _and_ among.]
459. In the primary meaning of between and among there is a
sharp distinction, as already seen in Sec. 313; but in Modern English
the difference is not so marked.
Between is used most often with two things only, but still it is
frequently used in speaking of several objects, some relation or
connection between two at a time being implied.
Among is used in the same way as _amid_ (though not with exactly the
same meaning), several objects being spoken of in the aggregate, no
separation or division by twos being implied.
Examples of the distinctive use of the two words:--
[Sidenote: _Two things._]
The contentions that arise _between_ the parson and the
squire.--ADDISON.
We reckoned the improvements of the art of war _among_ the
triumphs of science.--EMERSON.
Examples of the looser use of _between_:--
[Sidenote: _A number of things._]
Natural objects affect us by the laws of that connection which
Providence has established _between_ certain motions of
bodies.--BURKE.
Hence the differences _between_ men in natural endowment are
insignificant in comparison with their common wealth.--EMERSON.
They maintain a good correspondence _between_ those wealthy
societies of men that are divided from one another by seas and
oceans.--ADDISON.
Looking up at its deep-pointed porches and the dark places
_between_ their pillars where there were statues once.--RUSKIN
What have I, a soldier of the Cross, to do with recollections of
war _betwixt_ Christian nations?--SCOTT.
[Sidenote: _Two groups or one and a group._]
Also _between_ may express relation or connection in speaking of two
groups of objects, or one object and a group; as,--
A council of war is going on beside the watch fire, _between_ the
three adventurers and the faithful Yeo.--KINGSLEY.
The great distinction _between_ teachers sacred or
literary,--_between_ poets like Herbert and poets like
Pope,--_between_ philosophers like Spinoza, Kant, and Coleridge,
and philosophers like Locke, Paley, Mackintosh, and Stewart, etc.
--EMERSON.
460. Certain words are followed by particular prepositions.
Some of these words show by their composition what preposition should
follow. Such are _absolve_, _involve_, _different_.
Some of them have, by custom, come to take prepositions not in keeping
with the original meaning of the words. Such are _derogatory_,
_averse_.
Many words take one preposition to express one meaning, and another to
convey a different meaning; as, _correspond_, _confer_.
And yet others may take several prepositions indifferently to express
the same meaning.
[Sidenote: _List I_.: _Words with particular prepositions_.]
461. LIST I.
Absolve _from_. Conversant _with_.
Abhorrent _to_. Dependent _on_ (_upon_).
Accord _with_. Different _from_.
Acquit _of_. Dissent _from_.
Affinity _between_. Derogatory _to_.
Averse _to_. Deprive _of_.
Bestow _on_ (_upon_). Independent _of_.
Conform _to_. Involve _in_.
Comply _with_.
"Different _to_" is frequently heard in spoken English in England,
and sometimes creeps into standard books, but it is not good usage.
[Sidenote: _List II_.: _Words taking different prepositions for
different meanings._]
462. LIST II.
Agree _with_ (a person). Differ _from_ (note below).
Agree _to_ (a proposal). Differ _with_ (note below).
Change_ for_ (a thing). Disappointed _in_ (a thing
Change _with_ (a person). obtained).
Change _to_ (become). Disappointed _of_ (a thing not
Confer _with_ (talk with). obtained).
Confer _on_ (_upon_) (give to). Reconcile _to_ (note below).
Confide _in_ (trust in). Reconcile _with_ (note below).
Confide _to_ (intrust to). A taste _of_ (food).
Correspond _with_ (write to). A taste _for_ (art, etc.).
Correspond _to_ (a thing).
"Correspond _with_" is sometimes used of things, as meaning _to be in
keeping with_.
"Differ _from_" is used in speaking of unlikeness between things or
persons; "differ _from_" and "differ _with_" are both used in speaking
of persons disagreeing as to opinions.
"Reconcile _to_" is used with the meaning of _resigned to_, as, "The
exile became reconciled _to_ his fate;" also of persons, in the sense
of making friends with, as, "The king is reconciled _to_ his
minister." "Reconcile _with_" is used with the meaning of _make to
agree with_, as, "The statement must be reconciled _with_ his previous
conduct."
[Sidenote: _List III_.: _Words taking anyone of several prepositions
for the same meaning_.]
463. LIST III.
Die _by_, die _for_, die _from_, die _of_, die _with_.
Expect _of_, expect _from_.
Part _from_, part _with_.
Illustrations of "die _of_," "die _from_," etc.:--
[Sidenote: "_Die_ of."]
The author died _of_ a fit of apoplexy.--BOSWELL.
People do not die _of_ trifling little colds.--AUSTEN
Fifteen officers died _of_ fever in a day.--MACAULAY.
It would take me long to die _of_ hunger.--G. ELIOT.
She died _of_ hard work, privation, and ill treatment.--BURNETT.
[Sidenote: "_Die_ from."]
She saw her husband at last literally die _from_ hunger.--BULWER.
He died at last without disease, simply _from_ old age.
--_Athenæum._
No one _died from_ want at Longfeld.--_Chambers' Journal._
[Sidenote: "_Die_ with."]
She would have been ready to die _with_ shame.--G. ELIOT.
I am positively dying _with_ hunger.--SCOTT.
I thought the two Miss Flamboroughs would have died _with_
laughing.--GOLDSMITH.
I wish that the happiest here may not die _with_ envy.--POPE.
[Sidenote: "_Die_ for." (_in behalf of_).]
Take thought and die _for_ Cæsar.--SHAKESPEARE.
One of them said he would die _for_ her.--GOLDSMITH.
It is a man of quality who dies _for_ her.--ADDISON.
[Sidenote: "_Die_ for." (_because of_).]
Who, as Cervantes informs us, died _for_ love of the fair
Marcella.--FIELDING.
Some officers had died _for_ want of a morsel of
bread.--MACAULAY.
[Sidenote: "_Die_ by." (_material cause, instrument_).]
If I meet with any of 'em, they shall die _by_ this hand.
--THACKERAY.
He must purge himself to the satisfaction of a vigilant tribunal
or die _by_ fire.--MACAULAY.
He died _by_ suicide before he completed his eighteenth
year.--SHAW.
464. Illustrations of "expect _of_," "expect _from:_"--
[Sidenote: "_Expect_ of."]
What do I expect _of_ Dublin?--_Punch._
That is more than I expected _of_ you.--SCOTT.
_Of_ Doctor P. nothing better was to be expected.--POE.
Not knowing what might be expected _of_ men in general.--G.
ELIOT.
[Sidenote: "_Expect_ from."]
She will expect more attention _from_ you, as my
friend.--WALPOLE.
There was a certain grace and decorum hardly to be expected
_from_ a man.--MACAULAY.
I have long expected something remarkable _from_ you.--G. ELIOT.
465. "Part _with_" is used with both persons and things, but "part
_from_" is less often found in speaking of things.
Illustrations of "part _with_," "part _from_:"--
[Sidenote: "_Part_ with."]
He was fond of everybody that he was used to, and hated to part
_with_ them.--AUSTEN.
Cleveland was sorry to part _with_ him.--BULWER.
I can part _with_ my children for their good.--DICKENS.
I part _with_ all that grew so near my heart.--WALLER.
[Sidenote: "_Part_ from."]
To part _from_ you would be misery.--MARRYAT.
I have just seen her, just parted _from_ her.--BULWER.
Burke parted _from_ him with deep emotion.--MACAULAY.
His precious bag, which he would by no means part _from_.--G.
ELIOT.
[Sidenote: _Kind_ in _you_, _kind_ of _you_.]
466. With words implying behavior or disposition, either _of_ or
_in_ is used indifferently, as shown in the following quotations:--
[Sidenote: Of.]
It was a little bad _of_ you.--TROLLOPE.
How cruel _of_ me!--COLLINS.
He did not think it handsome _of_ you.--BULWER.
But this is idle _of_ you.--TENNYSON.
[Sidenote: In.]
Very natural _in_ Mr. Hampden.--CARLYLE.
It will be anything but shrewd _in_ you.--DICKENS.
That is very unreasonable _in_ a person so young.--BEACONSFIELD.
I am wasting your whole morning--too bad _in_ me.--BULWER.
Miscellaneous Examples for Correction.
1. Can you imagine Indians or a semi-civilized people engaged on a
work like the canal connecting the Mediterranean and the Red seas?
2. In the friction between an employer and workman, it is commonly
said that his profits are high.
3. None of them are in any wise willing to give his life for the life
of his chief.
4. That which can be done with perfect convenience and without loss,
is not always the thing that most needs to be done, or which we are
most imperatively required to do.
5. Art is neither to be achieved by effort of thinking, nor explained
by accuracy of speaking.
6. To such as thee the fathers owe their fame.
7. We tread upon the ancient granite that first divided the waters
into a northern and southern ocean.
8. Thou tread'st, with seraphims, the vast abyss.
9. Eustace had slipped off his long cloak, thrown it over Amyas's
head, and ran up the alley.
10. This narrative, tedious perhaps, but which the story renders
necessary, may serve to explain the state of intelligence betwixt the
lovers.
11. To the shame and eternal infamy of whomsoever shall turn back from
the plow on which he hath laid his hand!
12. The noise of vast cataracts, raging storms, thunder, or artillery,
awake a great and awful sensation in the mind.
13. The materials and ornaments ought neither to be white, nor green,
nor yellow, nor blue, nor of a pale red.
14. This does not prove that an idea of use and beauty are the same
thing, or that they are any way dependent on each other.
15. And were I anything but what I am,
I would wish me only he.
16. But every man may know, and most of us do know, what is a just and
unjust act.
17. You have seen Cassio and she together.
18. We shall shortly see which is the fittest object of scorn, you or
me.
19. Richard glared round him with an eye that seemed to seek an enemy,
and from which the angry nobles shrunk appalled.
20. It comes to whomsoever will put off what is foreign and proud.
21. The difference between the just and unjust procedure does not lie
in the number of men hired, but in the price paid to them.
22. The effect of proportion and fitness, so far at least as they
proceed from a mere consideration of the work itself, produce
approbation, the acquiescence of the understanding.
23. When the glass or liquor are transparent, the light is sometimes
softened in the passage.
24. For there nor yew nor cypress spread their gloom.
25. Every one of these letters are in my name.
26. Neither of them are remarkable for precision.
27. Squares, triangles, and other angular figures, are neither
beautiful to the sight nor feeling.
28. There is not one in a thousand of these human souls that cares to
think where this estate is, or how beautiful it is, or what kind of
life they are to lead in it.
29. Dryden and Rowe's manner are quite out of fashion.
30. We were only permitted to stop for refreshment once.
31. The sight of the manner in which the meals were served were enough
to turn our stomach.
32. The moody and savage state of mind of the sullen and ambitious man
are admirably drawn.
33. Surely none of our readers are so unfortunate as not to know some
man or woman who carry this atmosphere of peace and good-will about
with them. (Sec. 411.)
34. Friday, whom he thinks would be better than a dog, and almost as
good as a pony.
35. That night every man of the boat's crew, save Amyas, were down
with raging fever.
36. These kind of books fill up the long tapestry of history with
little bits of detail which give human interest to it.
37. I never remember the heather so rich and abundant.
38. These are scattered along the coast for several hundred miles, in
conditions of life that seem forbidding enough, but which are accepted
without complaint by the inhabitants themselves.
39. Between each was an interval where lay a musket.
40. He had four children, and it was confidently expected that they
would receive a fortune of at least $200,000 between them.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 1: More for convenience than for absolute accuracy, the
stages of our language have been roughly divided into three:--
(1) Old English (with Anglo-Saxon) down to the twelfth century.
(2) Middle English, from about the twelfth century to the sixteenth
century.
(3) Modern English, from about 1500 to the present time.]
INDEX.
THE NUMBERS REFER TO PAGES.
A, origin of, 119.
syntax of, 310.
uses of, 124.
Absolute, nominative, 47.
Abstract nouns, 20.
with article, 25, 124.
Active voice, 133.
Address, nominative of, 47.
Adjective clauses, 260.
Adjective pronouns, demonstrative, 90.
distinguished from adjectives, 89.
distributive, 91.
numeral, 92.
Adjectives, adverbs used as, 116.
as complements, 239.
comparison of, 107.
definition of, 98.
demonstrative, 102.
from nouns, used as nouns, 27.
function of, 97.
how to parse, 115, 116.
in predicate, 239.
not compared, 109.
of quality, 99.
of quantity, 101.
ordinal, 103.
plural of, 106.
pronominal, 104.
syntax of, 303.
Adverbial clauses, 262.
Adverbial objective, 48, 242.
Adverbs, between _to_ and infinitive, 323.
classes of, 185, 187.
definition of, 184.
distinguished from adjectives, 190.
how to parse, 191.
position of, in sentence, 325.
same form as adjectives, 190.
syntax of, 325.
used as adjectives, 116.
used as nouns, 27.
what they modify, 183.
Adversative conjunction, 194.
_After_, uses of, 114, 195, 207.
_Against_, uses of, 207.
Agreement, kinds of, 275.
of adjective with noun, 303.
of personal pronoun with antecedent, 287.
of relative pronoun with antecedent, 291.
of verb with subject, 148, 316.
_All_, syntax of, 302.
_Alms_, 42.
Alternative conjunctions, 194, 328.
_Among, between_, 207, 331.
_An_. See _A_.
Anacoluthon with _which_, 295.
Analysis, definition of, 231.
of complex sentences, 264.
of compound sentences, 271.
of simple sentences, 252.
_And who_, _and which_, 296.
Antecedent, agreement of pronoun and. See _Agreement_.
definition of, 74.
of _it_, 67.
of personal pronouns, 74, 287.
of _which_, 79.
_Any_, as adjective, 101.
as pronoun, 90.
syntax of, 300.
Apostrophe in possessive, 51.
Apposition, words in, 47, 49, 67, 240.
_Are_, derivation of, 150.
Arrangement in syntax, 275.
Articles, definite, 120.
definition of, 120.
how to parse, 127.
indefinite, 124.
syntax of, 309.
_As_, after _same_, 294.
uses of, 84, 225.
_As if_, _as though_, 198.
_At_, uses of, 208.
Auxiliary verbs, 148.
_Bad_, comparison of, 110.
_Be_, conjugation of, 149.
uses of, 150.
_Better_, _best_, 110, 111.
_Between._ See _Among_.
_Brethren_, 39.
_Bridegroom_, 37.
_But_, uses of, 84, 224.
with nominative of pronoun, 283.
_But what_, 330.
_By_, uses of, 210.
_Can_, _could_, 161.
Case, definition of, 46.
Case, double possessive, of nouns, 54.
of pronouns, 64.
forms, number of, in Old and Modern English, 46.
nominative, of nouns, 47.
of pronouns, 62, 279.
objective, of nouns, 48.
of pronouns, 66, 279.
possessive, of nouns, 49, 278.
of pronouns, 63.
syntax of, 278.
Cause, clauses of, 262.
conjunctions of, 194, 195.
_Cherub_, plurals of, 45.
_Children_, 39.
Clause, adjective, 260.
adverb, 262.
definition of, 257.
kinds of, 257.
noun, 258.
_Cleave_, forms of, 158.
_Clomb_, 157.
_Cloths_, _clothes_, 43.
Collective nouns, 18.
syntax of, and verb, 312, 315.
Colloquial English, 12.
Common nouns, 18.
derived from material, 24.
derived from proper, 23.
Comparative and superlative, double, 113, 307.
syntax of, 307.
Comparison, defective, 111.
definition of, 108.
degrees of, 108.
irregular, 110.
of adjectives, 107.
of adverbs, 189.
syntax of, 305.
Complement of predicate, 239.
Complementary infinitive, 248.
Complex sentence, analysis of, 264.
definition of, 257.
Compound nouns, plural of, 43.
possessive of, 53.
Compound predicate and subject, 244.
Compound sentence, 268.
analysis of, 271.
Concessive clause, in analysis, 263.
with subjunctive, 143.
Concord. See _Agreement_.
Conditional clause, in analysis, 263.
with subjunctive, 138.
Conditional conjunctions, 196.
Conditional sentences, 139.
Conjugation, definition of, 149.
of _be_, 149.
of other verbs, 151.
Conjunctions, and other parts of speech, same words, 195, 207.
coördinate, 194.
correlative, 194.
definition of, 193.
how to parse, 199.
subordinate, 195.
syntax of, 328.
Conjunctive adverbs, 188.
Conjunctive pronoun. See _Relative pronoun_.
Contracted sentences, analysis of, 255.
Coördinate clauses, 269.
Coördinate conjunctions. See _Conjunctions_.
Coördinating _vs._ restrictive use of relative pronouns, 289.
Copulative conjunction, 194.
_Could._ See _Can_.
Dative case, in Old English, replaced by objective, 66.
Declarative sentence, 231.
Declension of interrogative pronouns, 73.
Declension, of nouns, 51.
of personal pronouns, 60.
of relative pronouns, 80.
Defective verbs, 160.
Definite article. See _Articles_.
Definite tenses, 148, 152.
Degree, adverbs of, 185.
Degrees. See _Comparison_.
Demonstrative adjectives, 102.
syntax of, 303.
Demonstrative pronouns, 90.
Dependent clause. See _Subordinate clause_.
Descriptive adjectives, 99.
Descriptive use of nouns, 26.
_Dice_, _dies_, 43.
_Die by_, _for_, _from_, _of_, _with_, 333.
Direct discourse, 320.
Direct object, _vs._ indirect, 48, 242.
retained with passive verb, 242.
Distributive adjectives, 102.
syntax of, 287, 315.
Distributive pronouns, 91.
syntax of, 288, 300.
Double comparative. See _Comparative_.
Double possessive. See _Case_.
_Drake_, _duck_, 35.
_Drank_, _drunk_, 158.
_Each_, adjective, 102.
pronoun, 90, 92.
syntax of, 287.
_Each other_, _one another_, 92, 299.
_Eat_ (ĕt), 158.
_Eaves_, 42.
_Either_, as adjective, 102.
syntax of, 287.
as conjunction, 194.
syntax of, 328.
as pronoun, 90, 92.
syntax of, 300.
_Elder_, _older_, 110, 112.
Elements of the sentence, 234, 257.
Ellipsis, a source of error in pronouns, 280.
in complex sentence, 255.
_'Em_, origin of, 62.
_Empress_, 34.
_-En_, added to plural, 39.
feminine suffix, 32.
plural suffix, original, 38.
English, literary, spoken, vulgar, 12.
periods of, 33.
Enlargement of predicate, 241.
of subject, object, complement, 240.
_-Es_ original of possessive ending, 51.
plural suffix, 40.
_-Ess_, feminine suffix, 33.
_Every_, adjective, 102.
syntax of, 287.
_Expect of_, _expect from_, 334.
_Expected to have gone_, etc., 319.
Factitive object, 48, 235.
_Farther, further_, 110, 112, 189.
Feminine, 30.
_Few, a few_, 126.
_First_, 103, 112.
_First two_, _two first_, etc., 308.
_Fish_, _fishes_, 43.
_For_, redundant, with infinitive, used as a noun, 212, 238.
uses of, 211.
Foreign plurals, 45.
_Former, the_, adjective, 102.
pronoun, 91.
_From_, uses of, 212.
_Further._ See _Farther_.
Future tense, 147, 152.
Future perfect, 148, 152.
_Gander_, _goose_, 36.
_Gender_, "common gender," 31.
definition of, 30.
distinguished from sex, 30.
in English, as compared with other languages, 29.
modes of marking, in nouns, 32.
of personal pronouns, 60.
of relative pronouns, 80.
_Genii_, _geniuses_, 43.
Gerund, distinguished from participle and verbal noun, 177.
forms of, 176.
in syntax, possessive case with, 285.
_Girl_, 35.
_Got_, 159.
Government, definition of, kinds of, 275.
Grammar, basis of, 12.
definition of, 12.
divisions of, 13.
opinions on, 9.
province of, 10.
H, _an_ before, 120.
_Had better_, _had rather_, 175.
_Hanged_, _hung_, 159.
_He_, _she_, _it_, 61.
_His_ for _its_, 61.
_Husband_, 36.
_I_, personal pronoun, 60.
Imperative mood, 144.
of first person, 145.
Imperative sentence, 231.
Imperfect participle, 173.
Indefinite adjective, 101.
Indefinite article. See _Articles_.
Indefinite pronoun, 93.
Indefinite use of _you_, _your_, 67.
Independent clause, 257.
Independent elements, 245.
_Indexes_, _indices_, 43.
Indicative mood, uses of, 136.
Indirect discourse, 320.
Indirect object. See _Direct object_.
Indirect questions. See _Questions_.
Infinitive, active, with passive meaning, 176.
not a mood, 153.
syntax of, 319, 323.
uses of, 248.
_-Ing_ words, summary of, 178.
Interjections, 227.
Interrogative adjectives, 105.
Interrogative adverbs, 188.
Interrogative pronouns, 72.
declension of, 73.
in indirect questions, 85.
syntax of, 283.
Interrogative sentence, 231, 233.
Intransitive verbs, 131.
made transitive, 131.
Irregularities in syntax, 276.
Irregularly compared adjectives, 110.
adverbs, 189.
_It_, uses of, 67.
"It was _me_," etc., 63, 281.
_Its_, history of, 61.
_Kind_, _these kind_, etc., 303.
_Kine_, double plural, 39.
_King_, _queen_, 36.
_Lady_, _lord_, 36.
_Last_, _latest_, 110, 113.
_Latter, the_, adjective, 102, 113.
pronoun, 91.
_Lay_, _lie_, 170.
_Less_, _lesser_, 110.
_Lie_. See _Lay_.
_Like_, syntax of, 227.
uses of, 226.
Literary English, 12.
_Little_, _a little_, 126.
Logic _vs._ form, in syntax, 276.
Logical subject and predicate, 245.
_Lord._ See _Lady_.
_-Ly_, words in, 190.
_Madam_, 36.
Manner, adverbs of, 185, 188.
conjunctions of, 195.
_Many_, comparison of, 110, 112.
_Many a_, 126.
Mapping out sentences, 256, 265.
_Mare_, 36.
_Master_, _mistress_, 34.
_May_, _might_, 160.
_Means_, construction of, 41.
_Mighty_ as adverb, 187.
_Mine_, of _mine_, 64.
Modifier, adverb, position of, 325.
Modifiers. See _Enlargement_.
_Mood_, definition of, 135.
imperative, 144.
indicative, 136, 137.
subjunctive, 137-144.
_-Most_, in superlatives, 113, 114, 189.
_Much_, comparison of, 110, 112, 189.
_Must_, 161.
_Near_, _nearer_, _nigh_, etc., 110, 112.
Negative, double, 326.
_Neither_, adjective, 102.
syntax of, 287.
conjunction, 194.
syntax of, 328.
pronoun, 90, 92.
syntax of, 300.
Neuter nouns, definition of, 30.
or gender nouns, according to use, 30.
two kinds of, 32.
_News_, 41.
_No_ in analysis, 246.
Nominative. See _Case_.
_None_, syntax of, 301.
_Nor_, 194, 328.
_Not a_, etc. 126.
Noun clause, 258.
Nouns, 17.
abstract, 20.
become half abstract, 25, 124.
become proper, 25.
formation of, 21.
case of, 46.
collective, 19.
common, 18.
definition of, 17.
descriptive, 26.
gender of, 29.
how to parse, 56.
kinds of, 17
material, 19.
become class nouns, 24, 125.
neuter, used as gender nouns, 30.
number in, 38.
once singular, now plural, 42.
other words used as, 27.
plural, how formed, 38-41.
of abstract, 41
of compound, etc. 43.
of foreign, 45.
of letters and figures, 46.
of material, 41.
of proper, 41.
same as singular, 39.
two forms of, 42
with titles, 44.
proper, 18.
become common, 23.
syntax of, 278.
use of possessive form of, 278, 285.
with definite article, 121.
with different meaning in plural, 42.
with indefinite article, 124.
Nouns, with no singular, 42.
with one plural, two meanings, 43.
with plural form, singular meaning, 41.
with singular or plural construction, plural form, 41.
_Now_ as conjunction, 195, 196.
_Number_, definition of, etc., in nouns.
See _Nouns_.
in adjectives, 106.
in pronouns, personal, 60.
in verbs, 148.
Numeral adjectives, definite, 101.
distributive, 102.
indefinite, 101.
Numeral pronouns, 92.
Object, adverbial, 48.
definition of, 48.
direct and indirect, 48.
in analysis, 235.
of preposition. See _Preposition_.
modifiers of, 240.
retained with passive verb, 242.
Objective case, adverbial, dative, 48, 242.
in spoken English, 281.
instead of nominative, 279.
nominative instead of, 282.
of nouns, 48.
of pronouns, 66.
syntax of, 279.
_Of_, uses of, 213.
_Older._ See _Elder_.
Omission of relative pronoun, 87, 293.
_On_, _upon_, uses of, 216.
_One_, definite numeral adjective, 101.
indefinite pronoun, 94.
possessive of, 93
_One another._ See _Each other_.
_One_ (_the_), the other, as adjective, 103.
as pronoun, 91.
_Only_, as conjunction, 194.
position of, as adverb, 325
Order, a part of syntax, 275.
inverted, in analysis, 233, 237.
Ordinal adjectives, treatment of, 103.
_Other_ with comparatives, 306.
_Ought_, 161.
_Our_, _ours_, 64.
_Ourself_, 69.
_Oxen_, 38.
_Pains_, 41.
Parsing, models for, 56, 117.
of adjectives, 115, 116.
of adverbs, 191.
of articles, 127.
of conjunctions, 199.
of nouns, 56.
of prepositions, 219.
of pronouns, 95.
of relatives, 80.
of verb phrases, 180.
of verbals, 181.
of verbs, 179.
some idioms not parsed, 56.
what it is, 56.
_Part from_, _part with_, 335.
Participial adjective, 100.
Participial phrase, 247.
Participle, definition of, 172.
distinguished from other _-ing_ words, 177.
forms of, 174.
kinds of, 173.
syntax of, 322.
uses of, 150, 172.
Parts of speech, article included in, 119.
words used as various, 27, 28.
Passive voice, 134.
_Peas_, _pease_, 43.
_Pence_, _pennies_, 43.
Person, agreement of verb and subject in, 317.
of nouns, 59.
of pronouns, 59.
of verbs, 148.
Personal pronoun, absolute use of, 63.
agreement of, with antecedent, 287.
as predicate nominative, 281.
case of, 62.
compound, or reflexive, 69.
uses of, 70.
definition of, 59.
double possessive of, 64.
_'em_ and _them_, 62.
history of, 61.
objective of, for nominative in spoken English, 63, 281.
syntax of, 281.
table of, 60.
triple possessive of, 64.
uses of _it_, 67.
Personification, of abstract nouns, 25.
of other nouns, 37.
Phrase, definition of, 236.
kinds of, 236.
infinitive, 248.
participial, 247.
prepositional, 247.
Place, adverbs of, 185, 188.
conjunctions of, 195.
prepositions of, 206.
Plural, of adjectives, 106.
syntax of, 303.
of nouns. See _Nouns_.
of pronouns, 60, 61.
_Politics_, singular or plural, 41.
Positive degree. See _Comparison_.
Possessive, appositional, of nouns, 49.
as antecedent of relative, 285.
double, of nouns, 54.
double, of pronouns. See _Personal pronoun_.
objective and subjective, 50.
of compound nouns, 53.
of indefinite pronoun, 303.
omission of _s_ in singular, 52.
origin of _'s_, 51.
syntax of, 278.
with modified noun omitted, 53.
with two objects, 278.
Predicate, complement of, 235.
complete, 245.
definition of, 232.
logical _vs._ simple, 245.
modifiers of, 241.
Prefixes, gender shown by, 32.
Prepositions, certain, with certain words, 332.
classification of, 206.
definition of, 203.
followed by possessive case, 54, 64.
by nominative case, 283.
how to parse, 219.
objects of, 203.
position of, 202.
relations expressed by certain, 208.
same words as other parts of speech, 187, 195, 207.
syntax of, 331.
uses of, 129, 132, 205.
various, with same meaning, 333.
Present tense used as future, 147.
_Pretty_ as adverb, 186.
Pronominal adjectives, interrogative, 105.
relative, 104.
_what_, exclamatory, 105.
Pronouns, 58.
adjective, 89.
_all_, singular and plural, 302.
_any_, usually plural, 300.
_each other_, _one another_, 299.
_either_, _neither_, with verbs, 300.
_none_, usually plural, 301.
_somebody else's_, 303.
definition of, 58.
how to parse, 95.
indefinite, 93.
interrogative, 72.
_who_ as objective, 283.
personal, 59.
after _than_, _as_, 280.
antecedents of, 287.
nominative and objective, forms of, 279.
nominative form of, after _but_, 284.
objective form of, for predicate nominative, 281.
objective form of, in exclamations, 282.
possessive form of, as antecedent of relative, 285.
possessive form of, with gerund, 286.
relative, 74.
agreement of, with antecedent, 291.
anacoluthon with _which_, 295.
_and who_, _and which_, 296.
_as_, _that_, _who_, and _which_ after _same_, 295.
how to parse, 80.
omission of, 87, 293.
restrictive and unrestrictive, 289.
two relatives, same antecedent, 297.
syntax of, 279.
usefulness of, 58.
Proper nouns. See _Nouns_.
Purpose, clauses of, 263.
conjunctions of, 195.
Quality, adjectives of, 99.
Quantity, adjectives of, 101.
Questions, direct and indirect, adverbs in, 188.
pronominal adjectives in, 105.
pronouns in, 85.
indirect, subjunctive in, 142.
Quotations. See _Direct discourse_.
Rank, adjectives of same and different, 115.
_Rather_, 189.
Reflexive pronouns, history of, 69.
how formed, 69.
Reflexive use of personal pronoun, 68.
Relative pronoun, 74.
_but_ and _as_, 84.
distinguished from interrogative, in indirect questions, 85.
function of, 74.
indefinite or compound, 83.
omission of, 87, 293.
restrictive use of, 289.
syntax of, 289.
use of, 74.
Result, clauses of, 263.
conjunctions of, 196.
Retained object, 242.
_Riches_, 42.
_S_, plural suffix, 40.
_'S_, possessive ending, 51.
_Same as_, _that_, _who_, _which_, 294.
_Sat_, _sate_, 159.
_Seeing_, conjunction, 195, 196.
_Self_ in reflexive pronoun, 69.
Sentences, analysis of complex, 26
of compound, 271.
of elliptical, 255.
of simple, 252.
complex in form, simple in effect, 259.
Sentences, definition of, 231.
kinds of, 231.
Sequence of tenses, 319.
_Set_, _sit_, 170.
Sex and gender, 29.
_Shall_, _should_, _will_, _would_, 162.
_Shear_, forms of, 159.
_Shot_, _shots_, 43.
Simple sentence. See _Sentences_.
Singular number, 38.
_Sir_, 36.
_Somebody else's_, etc., 303.
_Sort_, _these sort_, 303.
Spelling becoming phonetic in verbs, 169.
_Spinster_, 33.
Split infinitive, 323.
Spoken English, 12.
-Ster, feminine suffix, use of, in Middle English, 32.
in Modern English, 33.
Subject, complete, 245.
definition of, 233.
grammatical _vs._ logical, 67, 245, 258.
modifiers of, 240.
things used as, 237, 258.
Subjunctive mood, definition of, 137.
gradual disuse of, 144.
uses of, in literary English, 138.
in spoken English, 144.
Subordinate clause, 257.
adjective, 260.
adverb, 262.
definition of, 257.
how to distinguish, 270.
kinds of, 257.
noun, 258.
other names for, 257.
_Such_ as adverb, 186.
_Such a_, 126.
Suffix _-en_. See _-En_.
_-s_, _-es_, 38.
Suffixes, foreign, 33.
Superlative degree, double, 307.
in meaning, not in form, 107.
not suggesting comparison, 109.
of adjectives, 108.
of adverbs, 189.
syntax of, 306.
with two objects, 306.
Syntax, basis of, 277.
definition of, 275.
in English not same as in classical languages, 275.
Tense, definition of, 147.
Tenses, definite, meaning of, 148.
in Modern English, made up of auxiliaries, 147.
number of, in Old English, 147.
sequence of, 319.
table of, 152.
_Than me_, _than whom_, 280.
_That_, omission of, when subject, 88.
when object, 87.
relative, restrictive, and coördinating, 289, 290.
_that ... and which_, 297.
uses of, 222.
_That_, _this_, as adjectives, 106.
as adverbs, 186.
history of plural of, 106.
_The_, as article, 120.
as adverb, 123, 186.
history of, 119.
syntax of, 309.
_Their_, _they_, 61.
_Then_, "the _then_ king," etc., 116.
_There_ introductory, 191.
_These kind_, syntax of. See _Kind_.
_These_, _this_, _those_. See _That_, history of.
_Thou_, _thy_, _thee_, uses of, 61.
_Time_, adverbs of, 185, 188.
conjunctions of, 195.
prepositions of, 207.
_To_, before infinitive, 175.
in exclamations, 175.
omitted with certain verbs, 175.
uses of, as preposition, 217.
_T'other_, _the tother_, 119.
_-Trix_, feminine suffix, 33.
_Try and_, _try to_, 330.
_Two first_, _first two_, etc., 308.
_Under_, adjective, 114.
_Upon_, uses of. See _On_.
_Upper_, 114.
_Utter_, _uttermost_, 111, 114.
Verb phrases, 128.
parsing of, 180.
Verbal noun, 20.
distinguished from other _-ing_ words, 21, 173.
Verbals, cleft infinitive, 323.
gerund, 176.
how to parse, 181.
infinitive, 174, 248.
kinds of, 172.
participle, 172.
carelessly used, 322.
uses of, in analysis, 247.
syntax of, 322.
Verbs, agreement of, with subject in number, 312-316.
in person, 317.
auxiliary, 148.
conjugation of, 149.
defective, 160.
definition of, 129.
how to parse, 179.
in indirect discourse, 320.
intransitive, made transitive, 131.
mood of, 135.
of incomplete predication, 150, 236.
passive form, active meaning, 151.
person and number of, 148.
retained object with passive, 242.
strong, definition of, 154.
remarks on certain, 157.
table of, 155.
syntax of, 312.
tense of, 147.
sequence of, 319.
transitive and intransitive, 130.
voice of, 133.
weak, definition of, 154.
spelling of, 169.
table of irregular, 167.
_Vixen_, 33.
Vocative nominative, 47.
in analysis, 245.
Voice, active, 133.
passive, 134.
Vowel change, past tense of verbs formed by, 154.
plural formed by, 39.
Vulgar English, 12.
Weak verbs, regular, irregular, 167.
spelling of, becoming phonetic, 169.
_Went_, 159.
_What_, uses of, 223.
_but what_, 330.
_what a_, 105. 126.
_Whereby_, _whereto_, etc., 85.
_Whether_, conjunction, 194.
interrogative pronoun, 72.
_Which_, antecedent of, 79.
as adjective, 104, 105.
as relative pronoun, 75.
in indirect questions, 85.
indefinite relative, 83.
interrogative pronoun in direct questions, 72.
syntax of, 295-299.
_whose_, possessive of, 78.
_Who_, as relative, 75.
in direct questions, 72.
in indirect questions, 85.
indefinite relative, 83.
objective, in spoken English, 73.
referring to animals, 77.
syntax of, 296, 299.
_Widower_, 37.
_Wife_, 36.
_Will_, _would_. See _Shall_.
_Witch_, _wizard_, 36.
_With_, uses of, 218.
_Woman_, 32.
Words in _-ing_, 178.
in _-ly_, 190.
_Worse_, _worser_, 111.
_Y_, plural of nouns ending in. 40.
_Yes_ in analysis, 246.
_Yon_, _yonder_, 103.
_You_, singular and plural, 61.
_Yours_, _of yours_, 64.
_Yourself_, _yourselves_, 70.
*** End of this LibraryBlog Digital Book "An English Grammar" ***
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