PRICE'S
NEW

ENGLISH GRAMMAR
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CONTAINING ALSO

PUNCTU AT TON,

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THE NOTES UNDER RULES IN SYN1'AX,
AND

LESSONS IN rARS1NG:
..
TIIK ltULES AND DEFINITIONS . TAKEN MOSTLY FROM MURRAY

'1'0 ALL WHICH lS A.DJ.l'TSD

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A _NEW SY.STEM OF QUESTIONS;

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BY SAMUEL PUTNAM.

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RRVISBD

AND

tM~ROVBD 1

BY DAVID f.RICE,
Al.ITHOR

OF

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BNGLll!IB

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PREFACE. ·

Enteretl according lo Act of Congress, in the year 1856,

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Dv DA YID PillCE,

ln the Clerk's Office of th e Dl' trlct Court of the United Slates for the
Southern District of New Ynrk.

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Tm: sale. of the former erlitions of this work has encouraged lh e Etlitor to offer the pu\Jli c anoth er, coutaining, as
)l e woultl hope, so me valua\Jl e improv rme nts.
The o\Jj ec t of lhe questions inte r ~ persetl throu gh th is
G rnmm~r , is, to lead the learner, whil e committing hi8
lesso n, to di scover its m eani11g nnd 11pplicalion.
'rb e scbo.lar should answer th e questions which nrc numbei·ed, in th e common way. The ques tions which are not
nmn\Jcred, have no direct an swer on th e page; the d esig n
of which is, to teach tue pu pil to tltinlc f or hi111se/f, and
avai l him se lf of bis owu resources, as soou as be sha ll h.>i.ve
any at command.
As so me te achers 111we expr essed n wish for tbis Gramm ar in lh e catechetical form , with questions antl unswer•
allerontely succeeding each oth ~ r, and ns it E•~ e m ed that
one in such a form would be l e~s conveniently r ead, tlie
nltemp t bas been m adt,, hy th e help of figuree, to secure
the advantages of tbat form, while its iu conveniences arc
av oided .
The num\Jcr of lhe qupstion is prefixed to its upproprinte an swer ; and th is urrnn grmcnt will ennLle the
Ec holnr as r ead ily to knrn tbe answer, as if it followed its
proper ques tion .
Thi s editio n also conlnins Punctuntion1 nnd the most imp ortant Noles in Murray's Synlnx, wilh L essons in Parsing,
to wUcb nre prefixed Specimens illu strntive of lb a t. exercise,
arranged in their appropriate pl aces. In other grammars, .

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4

PREFACE.

these exercises arc generally found either in an appentlix,
or after all the rules relating to parsing. 'l'he oLjectiou
to this arrangement is, that the pupil ha~ first to burden his
mind with a number of principles, which are but ind efinitely
understood ; and when he comes to the exercises, be · is
obliged to apply, at the same time, mauy of these principles,
which , by being coufounded with one another, if they do
not grow more dark and mysterious, may, at least, require
much intellectual effort to be apprehended in all their
various and distinct relations. The pupil, in order to be
iucces.~ful, must learn one thing at a time ; and learn it so
thoroughly, that be shall be in no danger of confountling it
with the next to which his mind may he directed. It is
the design, in the present arrangement of exercises, that
the scholar, when he shall have learned one rule, should
immediately become acquainted with its use and .application, before he proceeds to another ; so that, when be shall
have gone through the Syntax, he may have a distinct
knowledge of its principles.
The book has not only been carefully revised, but restereotyped; and it is now presented in a neat, ·compact
form ; well bound, and it is offered at a very low price.

TIIE EDITOR.
Nt<w

York, Jfarch 12, 1866.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR is (') the art of speaking and
writing the English language with propriety.
It is divided into (2) four parts, viz. (') ORTHOGRAPHY, ETYMOLOGY, SYl'iTAX, and PnosouY.
QuESTIO?<S.-'-1. What is English Grnmmar f 2. Into how
many parts is it divitlcd 1 3. Name them.

OB.THOGRAPHY.
.LETTEns.
An articuln.tc sound is (')the sound of the human
voice, formed by the organs of.speech.*·
:·
OnT110Gn.AP11Y teach.cs (2)·thc nature ·and powers
of letters, and the just mcthodt of spelling words.
A Letter is (3) the first principle, or least part of
a word.
·
·
The letters of the English language! (called (4)
the English Alphabet) arc twenty-six ii;i number.

* Organs of speech-tongue, teeth, lips, &c. ·
,
t Just method-proper \vay.
. t Lanvuagt-spcech.
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6

ORTllOGRAPHY.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

The f oll<WJinfj ia a List of the Roman and Italic Charactera.

ROMAN.
CAP.

A
B

c

D

E

.:

F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N

0

p
Q
R

s

T

u
v
w

x
z
y

I :1

SMALL.

ITALIC.
CAP.

NAME.

SMALL.

a

A

a

b

B
0

b

a
be

(]

88

D

d

E
F

e

de
e

c
d

e
f
g
h

G

p

H
I
J
Ii
L
M
N
0
p

q
r

Q
R

B

8
T

I

J
k
1
m
n
0

t
u

v
w
x

y

z

u
w
xy
z
v

I

g

h
'/,

J
'k
l
m

n

ef

je
aitcli
~or

Ja
lea
el
em
en

eyo

•

0

0

p
q

pe
oue

'I'

a1·r

8

es
te
u. or y()1J,
ve
dmibl6 u
eks
wy
ze

t
u
v
w
aJ

'!/
z

7

Letters are divided (5) into vowels and consonan ts.
A Vowel is (6) a letter representing an articulate
sound that can be perfectly uttered* by it~elf; as,
a, e, o; which are formed without the help of .any
other sound.
The vowels (7) are a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes w
and y.
A Consonant is (8) a letter representing an articulate sound, which cannot be perfectly uttered without the help of a vowel; as, b, d,f, l; which require
vowels to express them fully.
Wand y are consonants (9 ) when they precede a
vowel in the same syllable; as in wine, twine, yet;
but in every other situationt they are vowels.
Consonants are divided (1°) into Mutes and Semivowels.
(") The Mutes cannot be sounded at all without
the aid of a vowel. They are C2 ) b, p, t, d, k, and
c and g hard.
·
(' 3 ) The S emi-vowels have an imperfect sound of
themselves. '!'hey are (1 4) f, l, m, n, r, v, s, z, :i:,
and c and g soft.
Four of the semi-vowels, viz. (") l, m, n, r, are
6
also distin~uished by the name of liquids, (' ) from
their readily uniting with other consonants, and
flowing, as it were, into their sounds.
A Diphthong is (' 7) the union of two vowels, pronounced by a single impulse of the voice ; as, ea in
beat, ou in sound.
A Triphthong is (' 8 ) the union of three vowels,
p~onounced in like manner ; as, eau in beau, iew in
view.

* Pc1jectly ttltrrrd-wholly spoken.
t Situatio11.- place.
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9

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

ETYMOLOGY.

theA Prop! er Diphthong is ('~) that in which both
vowe s are sounded · ·is · ·
·
An Improper Di hth ' ' o~ m voice, ou in ounce.
?ng ( ) h::ts _but one of the
. vowels sounded . p
.
' as, ea Ill eagle, oa m boat.

A word of one syllable is termed~' ( ) a mono3
syllable; a word of two syllables, ( ) a dissyllable;
a word of three syllables, ('') a trisyllable; and a
word of four or more syllables, (5) a polysyllable . .
All words are either PRIMITIVE 01' DEIUVATlVE,
A Primitii•e word is ( 6) that which cannot be
r educed to any simpler word in the language; as,

QuEsTIONs.-1. What is nn articuh t
.
docs Orthography teach 1 3 WI t . n e sound 1 2. What
·nre the letters of the Englisl 1'1 ia 19 a J,ettcr 1 1. What
they divided 1 6 'Wh t ·
anguage called 1 5. How are
vowels 1 8 What is. aC 15 a Vowel 1 7. Which are the
. ·
•
.. onsonant 1 Which f ti
you use m prolimmcing b 1 Which ii 1 . 1 o 1c vowe1s do
.
k · !l. When arc w
nod 'I consonants 1 WI t ·
it in 'how? Wh 1 W 1a .1s 10.11110/icre1 Why 1 What is
youl!t f Wb 1y10 I- hat IS Y Ill tr.'11 Why l What is it in
tho Muta by
· Iow :irn consonants divided 1 11 0
s c sounded without ti
'd f ·
· au
. ~Vhich are they 1 Which of the
ie :u o. a vowel 1 12.
mg each 1 13. What is said f tlvoScls _do you use m sou11dil.1c1:n. _15. By wlw.t other u~mci~r cm1-vowds 1 1~. Name
d1stmgmshcd 1 16. Why 1 17 \VI e f?ur o~ the scm1-vowcls
many diphthongs do you find ~ ' mt·~ a D1phtl10ng 1 ,How

ls~cT~?p\~~cnrg':or d11s0\wvhich cm~1~i~ ch~i,~:~~;~r? ~~~1i~tu\

l 1
'
many m
I
'
,you nn:me any other words wl.
your. ast. ans wer I Can
What IS a Proper Diphtho
con tam tn,Phthongs 1 19.
1 1
~wcr 1 20. What is an In;;·oper '£~
y m your last anln your last answer I
P ung 1 How many

"' tclk

. . Spelling is (2) the art of .· I I . . . .
mto their syllables or of . 11g it. y d1VJ<lrng words
proper letters.
'
exp1essrng a word by it..<1
What is a S II bl 1
.
. QUESnoxs.-1.
.
Y a e 2. Whatis
Spelling I
worms .
W onns are (1) articulat
d
consent, as signs of our,idecsoun s, used, by common
as.
·

01

or fo 1nung.
. .

•

man, pood, content.
A Derivative word is (7) that which may be reduced to another word in Engli~h of greater simplicity ; as, ma.11fitl, goodness, contentment, Yorkshire.
Qu1cSTIONs.-1. What are Words 1 What is an articulat,-0
Mund 1 (Sec page 5.) 2. What is a word of one syll:i.blo
called 1 3. Of two syllables 1 4. Of three 1 5. Of four or
more 1 Point out a Dissyllahle. A Polysyllable. A Monosyllnblo. 6. What is a Primitive word I ~. What is a
Derivative word 1 What sort of a word is penknife l Why I
What sort of a word is pen 1 Why 1·

;:x

SYLLABLES.
A SnLABLE is (') a sound, or the r .
.
of a sound pronounced b
.
. ep1 esentat1on
voice, and ~onstitutin()'* a y a -~rngle unpulse of the
as, a, an, ant.
o
wo1 , or part of a wor<l ;

* Constituti11g~makin"'

1

ETYMOLOGY.
The second part of Grammar is ETYMOLOGY;
which treatst of (')'the different sorts of words,
th eir various modilications,t and their derivation.\\
There are, in English, (2) nine · sorts of words,
or, as they are commonly called, Ports of S]Jeech;
namely,(') the AnncLE, the SunsTANTIVE or N ouN,
the Ao.mcTIVE, the P1t0NOUN, the 1VERD, the AnVERD, the PREPOSITION, the CoNJUNcnoN, and the
INTERJECTION.
QuESTJOKS.-1. Of what docs Etymology treat 1 2. How
many sorts of words arc there in English 1 3. Name them.

Termed-called.
t '.freats-tclls of.
.Modijicalions-changes. ! Derivation-tracing them to
tJ1cir source; thus, ma11 is the source whence we derive man·><

t

ful.

IO

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

ETYMOLOGY.

sta~ti~~ ~mc~Et is (') a word prefixed* to subthcir sig~ifica8i~t e~I~~~~ o·utt'. and to show how far
tlte woman.

·

s'

as, a garden, an eagle,

QuEsTro:<s.-1. Whnt sort of
. d.
.
words in your last answer are a~t~l~: 1IS au Article 1 Whnt

2. A SunsTANTIVE or N ou1> is (') I
:1;ny thing that exists or of',) . ·I 1
ht ie name of
t10n · as Lond
'
. ' uc we ave any no' '
on, man, virtue.
A Substantive mny in gen . 1 b d' .
making sense of itself or wi~rn l e istmguished (') by its
temperance, industry, cita.~tit1f .1 t\,~e ;:~lcl t~~>: bef<t>lre it; ns,
· '
, c sun, 1e apple.
QuEHTlONs.-1 What is n N
1
Noun be clistin~uish~d 1 \vi ~un
2. How else may a
Why i
b
·
m part of speech is book f

11

same word; as, The man is .happy; lie is benevo- ··
·lent ; lte is useful.
QuESTIONs.-1. What is a Pronoun 1 Whnt is he'? Whyl
Instead of what nomr is it used 1 Repeat the t>.xample,
using the noun only.
·

5. A VERB is (1) a word which signifies to BE, to
DO, or to sun·En; as, I am, I rule, I am ruled.
A Y erb may be distinguished(') by its making sense with
one of the following pronouns, before it; namely, I, THOU, ux,
suE, WE, You, or THEY; or with the word to before it; as, I
walk, he plays, they write ; or, to walk, to play, to write.
QuESTIONs.-1. Wlmt is a Verb 1 What is am? Why t
Wliat is rnle? W11y 1 Wlmt is am ruled? Why I 2.
How may a verb generally be distinguished I What is
walkl Why1

(It will be well for the T J I
.
Grammar, and turn to som . en.c .ier ier~ to lay aside the
the scholar select t.he Noun~ ~.m.'I'.~~ ~eaclmg-lesson, and let
them such, till he shall be ~bl~v~nbcl u~ rea.sons wh,r he calls
same course may be pursued wit! 1~ho with facility. The
e o 1er parts of speech.]

6. An ADVERB is (') a part of speech joined to
a verb, an adjective, or, sometimes, to another adverb, to express some quality or circumstance respecting it ; as, He reads well ; a truly good man ;
he writes very correctly.

3 . . An ADJECTIVE is (1) a word added t
b
stant1vc, to express its
)'t
. o a su man a vi' t ·
' · qua 1 Y; as, an industrious
,
r uous woman.

An Adverb may be generally known (') by its answering
to the question, How I How much I When I or Where I as,
in the phrase, He reads correctly, the answer to the question,
How does he rend I is, correctly.
:
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.An Adjective may be known (') b

w~th the addition of the word thin' .

.

.

Y. its mak~ng sense
thmg'; or of nny particular substaitl ~· .1 good tlung, a bad
pleasant prospect.
ve , us, a sweet apple, a

QuESTIONs.-1. What is an Adverb! What is well!
Why i 2. How may an adverb generally be known 1 What
is correctly l Why I

Qu~STI?NS.-1 . What is au Ad 'ecti 1
an aclJective be distin.,.uished 1
tve
2. How else may
Why 1 What is swea 1 Why 1 a part of speech is bad!

'1. PnEPOSITIONS serve (')to connect words with
one another, and to show the relation between them ;
as, He went from London to York ; She is above
,disguise ; They are supported by industry.

\Vb

4. A Pno ~~ UN is (') a word used instead of a
noun, to avoid the too frequ ent repetition of the
,* Pr~fixcd-pl~cr.~ before. t S;gnij!cation-meanin
+Thus a man s1gmfies ·am; m an . the mnn 'one particular
. g.
man; tnan leaving out the . t' l ' . .
'
ar IC c, BJgrufics all men.

A Preposition may be known (") by its making sense with
one of the following pronouns after it, namely, lllE, us, HEB., ·
1n111, or THEM; as, with him, for her, to them, &c.
QuEsTIONs.-1. For what do Prepositions serve I 2. How
may a preposition be known 1 What is by? Why I

'12

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

8. A CoNJUNcrroN is (') a part of speech that is
chiefly used to connect sentences, so as out of two
<ir more sentences to make but one ; (2) it sometimes connects only words ; as, Thou and he aro
happy, because you arc good; 'l'wo and three are
five.
QuESTJONs.-1. What is :i Conjunction f 2. Docs it nlways connect sentences 1 What is beca"$e? Why I Wha~

is and! Why!

!>. INTERJECTIONS or Exc1,AMATIONS arc(') words
used to express some sudden passion or emotion of
·the speaker; as, 0 virtue! how amiable tltou art !
QUESTION.-!. What are Interjections or Exclamations I

ARTICLE.

An ARTICLE is a word prefixed to substantiv.cs, ·
to point them out, and show how far their signification extends ; as, a garden, .an eagle, the woman.
In English, there arc but (') two articles, (2 ) a
and tlte; a becomes an (3) before a vowel, and before a silent It; as, an acorn, an hour; but if the h
be sounded, the a only is to be used; as, a hand,
a heart, a highway.
(~) A or an is styled* the Indefinite Article: it
is used in a vaguef sense, to point out a single thin(}'
of the kind, in other respects indeterminate ; as, Giv~
me a ~ook; Bring me an apple.
Tlw is called the Definite Article, because it ascertains what particular thing or things arc meant ;
as, Give me the book ; Bring me tlte apples; meaning some book, or apples, referred to.
A substantive, without an article to limit it, is
generally taken (') in its widest sense ; as, A

* Styled-call ed.

t

Vague-inde.finitc.

ETYMOLOGY.

13

candid temper is proper for man; that is, for all
mankind.
.
QuESTIONS.-1. How many Art.ides arc there in English.I
2 Wh·it arc they i 3. When docs a become an? I';J;
~o er' to sav a ltoiir? Why I Is it proper to say an hat
\v 1 ~ 1 4 \Vhich is the Indefinite Article 1 Why ·' Wl~at
.
in the example 1 Why! Point ?ut some m~efimte
~rtf~les. 5. Jn what sense is a substnntlve tak~n which has
no article to limit it I What does man mean, m the example I Why I

SUDSTANTIVE.

A SunsTA NTI VE or NouN is(') the name · of .any
thing that exists, or of which we have any not10n;
as, London, man, virtue.
·
Substantives are (2) either !'ROPER o; CoMMON.
Proper names, or substantives, are ( ) the names
. d* to Ill
· cl'1v1'cl uals ,. no
approprmte
~, Georne
. " , London,
Th.arnes ; hence, proper nouns are particular names.
Proper names always begin with a C:lpital letter.

Common names, or substantiv~s, ~t?nd for sorts

(4) or classes containing many mcl1Y1dual.s under
them ; as, animal, man, tree, &c. ; hence, common
nouns are general names.
Common names begin with a small letter.

'l'o substantives belong (6) GENDEii, N UMD~R, and
CASE. and they are all of the third person ( ) when
ke~ of, and of the second (7) when spoken lo;
:~o Blessii;gs attend us on every side ; Be grateful,
children of men! that is, ye childre!1.of 1~1cn ,; hence,
(s) the person of a noun is its pos1t1on Ill d1scours~'"l t IS
· a Noun I How
m
d. 'dmany
d I nouns
3 What
. I t answer I 2 How nre nouns 1v1 e
.
•
you1P .as .'Nouns I What kind of a noun is George? Why I
arc; IOpct
er substantives. 4. For what do Com
Pomt out some ~roL
d I What kind of ·a noun is man 1
t
I 0 What belong
mon Subst:m!tve, 8 ~n
Why 1 How many m your 1as answer
·
Qt;ESTIONS.-1. "' ia

*Appropriated-given.
2

14

ENGJ,JSII GRAMM A It.

2.
.Mrrle.

GEN DE~

1
G' ENDER
· of nouns with rco-ard
'I' is ( ) ti JC ~ris f mc twn
sex.
here arc ( ) three ge nders (3) ti ~.1 "
LI NE th F
'
le H ASCtJr, •
e EMININE, and the N EUTElt
1 he Jfasculine gender denotes (<). m ales .

to

man, a horse, a bull.
, as, a
Th e Feminine gender denotes.(•) f
I .
woman, a duck, a llen
cma cs , as, a
:t;be. Neuter gender. denotes (6) objects which are
nci ie1 males nor females . as a Ji ld
'

garden.

'

,

ie

'

a iwuse, a

J~J~s which nre either mnscnline or feminine may be
c
ommon gcn~er; ns, a bird, a child, a J'riencl.] '
S~me substantives, naturnlly neuter, (') arC'; by a
fj
"me· of speech,
c01wertcd'' in to the· mascu1·me or
femi
d
.nme gen er; as when we sav of the sun It~.13
(J'

set.t~ng, and ?fa ship, 1;he sails w;ll, &c.
'
d. ti.he :p;lnghsh langungc has (s) three methods of
is rngms ung the sex, viz.
I.
.Afale.

Bach elm·
Boy
Brother
'Duck
mng
Drake
Earl
Father
Friar
Gander
Ilart

By different words; ns,
Female.

maid
girl
sister
doe
queen
duck
countess
mother
nun
g<IQSC

roe

.Male.

Husband
J,ord
:Man
Masi.er
Nephew
Singer
Son
Sta"
Uncle
Wizard

* Converted-changed.

15

ETYMOLOGY.

.F.;nnlc.

·wife
lady
womnn

mistress
niece
{ s:?ngstrcss, or
smger.

daughter
hind
aunt
witch

By difference of termination ; as,
f!Cmalt.

.Malt!.

Fcmn.le.

Abbot
abbess
Host
hosteos
Actor
actress
Lion
lioness
Administrator ndrninis~ratrix Marquis
marchioness
Ambas;>ndor mnlmssadress Master
.mistress
Mayor
mayoress
Arbiter
nrbitrcss
Ilaron
baroness
Patron
patroness
Ilridegroom
bride
Poet
poetess
Ilcnefaclor
benefactress Priest
priestess
Chanter
, chantress
Prince
princess
conductress
Prior
prioress
Conductor
Count
countess
Prophet
prophetess
Duke
duchess
Protector
protectrcss
Elector
electress
Shepherd
shepherdess
Emperor
em press
Songster
iiongstress
Executor
executrix
'l'iger
tigress
trnitrcss
Governor
governess · Traitor
Jicires.~
'l'utor
tntoress
Heir
V ot nry
votaress
Hero
heroine
Hunter
huntress
Widower
widow
3. By a noun, pronoun, or adjective, being prefixed to the substantive; ns,
A cock-sparrow
A hen·sparrow
A man'scrvant
A mai<l·servant
A he-goat
A she-goat
A female-child
A male-child
Male-descendants
Fen1alc-descendants
QuEsTro:-is.-1. What is Gender I 2. How many arc there I
3. NH!nc them. 1·. What does the Mnscnli1ie gender denote I
I>. Feminine I 6. Neuter I '.Vhn.t gender is man! Why I
Garden? Why I What gender may fri end be called l
Why I 7. What is sa id of some substantives natmnlly neuter! Give an instance. What gender is sun; naturally I
Into what 11endcr is it converted by a figure of speech I Ship f
Into wh:•t IS it changed I 8. How mnny ways h:ls tho English language of di>linguishing_ the sex 1 Who.t is the ' firs~
way I Second 1 'l'hinl I
NUMDER.

NuMDER IS

one or more.

(1)

the consideration of an object as

16

ETYMOLOGY.

Substantives are of (2) two numbers, (3) the SINGULAR and PLURAL.
. The Singular number expresses (4) but one ob~
Ject ; as, a cltair, a table.
.

. does the Plurnl signify 1 '1 . How is it known 1 Whnt number is APPLES! Why 1 Whnt number is APPLE 1 Why 1 8.
Why are some nouns used only in the singular and others
only in the plum! 1 What nouns are used only in the plural I What only in the singular 1 Why 1 Name some
nouns that nre the snme in both numbers. Is it proper to
say one sheep, two slieeps, three slteeps, &c.1 Why 1 9. How
is theJJlurnl number of nouns generally formed I What do
you a d to the noun face, to make it plurnl 1 What, to box!
Why nots only 1 What, to church 1 Why i Lash 1 Why I
K iss 1 Why 1. How do you make loaf plum! 1 Why I
·What do you add to the noun
to mnke it plural 1 Why I
Into what do you change y, 'm dui.11, to ma.kc it plural I
Why 1 How do you form the plural of key 1 Why i
·'

'l'he singular number is known(') by its maki.ti
'th
the word 0 NE be10rc
'
't
• g sense WI
I ; ns, one c!tair, one table.

T~e Plura.l number signifies (6) more obj ects than
one , a,s, cluurs, tables.
thJ-'he r;Jurnl nbu~nbe~ is known (') by its milking sense with
wor TWO e1ore it; as, two chairs, two tables.

:1

.17

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

~ome nouns, (8) from the nature of the thin s
which they express, arc used only in the singul~r
form ; as, w~1eat, pitch, gold, sloth, pride, &c. : and
m the plural form ,. as , bcllo ws, scissors
.
others only
.
l ungs, nclies, &c.
.
'
Some words are the same in both numbers . as
deer, sheep, swine, &c.
' '
)The plm:al number of nouns is generally formed
9
( by addmg s to the singular ; as, dove, doves ;
face, face~; thought, tli.oughts. But when the sub~tant1vc smgular ends in x, ch, sli, or ss, we add es
m the plural;. as, ?ox, boxes; churcl~, cliurclies ·
las1l, lashes; kiss, kisses.
. '
~ouns ending in I or fe are generally rendered*
plutal by the chans-~ of .those tcrminationst into ves;
as loaf, loaves; wife, wives. Those whicli end in ff
.have the regular plu~·al ; as, cuff, cu.ffs.
Sue~ as have Y m the singular, with no other
vow~! '.n the same syllab!e, change it into ies in the
plur,1!, as, beauty, beauties; fly, flies; hut they is
not changed when there is another vowel in the syllable ; as, key, keys; delay, delays.
b QuESTIONs.-1. Whnt is Number 1 2. How many .num?rs have nouns I 3. What are they 1 4. What does 'the
Smgulnr number express I Ii. How is it known 1 6. Wl111&

* Rendered-made.

t

1'erminations-cndi11ga. '

cut·

CASE.
In English, substantives have (') three cases, the
NOMINATIVE, the PossEssrvE, and the OnJECTIVE.*.
The Nominative case simply expresses (') tho
name of a thing, or the subject of the verb ; as, Th~
boy plays ; The girls learn.
·
The Possessi·ve case expresses (3) the relation of
property or possession, and (4) has an apostrophe
with the letter s coming after it; as, The scholar's
duty; My father's house.
6
( ) When the plural ends in s, the other s is omitted, but the apostrophe is retained ; as, On (5)
eagles' wings ; 'l'he drapers' company.
Sometimes, also, (7) when the singular terminates
in ss, the apostrophic s is not added ; as, For goodness' sake ; For righteousness' sake.
'·
The Objective case expresses (8) the object of an
action, or of a relation; and generally follows a (')
transitivct verb, or a preposition; as, John assists
Charles ; They live in London.

* On the propriety of this objective case, see Murray's
"
Grammar, pp. 54, fi5.
t Sec on page 27.
2*

•

18

ENGLISH GRA!lfntAil.

ETYMOLOGY.

English substantives are declined in the following
manner:

EXERCISES IN PARSING.

Nominat;vc Case,
Possessive Case,
Objective Case,

Singular.

Plural.

A mother.
A mother's.
A mother.

Mothers.
Mothers'.
Mothers.

Singttlar.

Nominative Case,
1'ossc.~siue Case,

Objective Case,

'I'he man.
The man's.
The man.

P:ural,

The men.
'fl1e men's.

The men.
QuEsT1oxs.-l. How many Cases have nouns in English I
Name them. 2. What docs the Nominative case express f
Which words arc the nominative cases iu the example I 3.
What docs tlie Posscssi vc case express I 4. How is it w1·itten I Which are the possessive cases in the example i Why 1
6. How would you write the possessive case of ca[Jfes? Drap ers? G. Why 1 How <lo you write goodness m the possessive I Rigliteousncss? ~. Why 1 8. What docs tho Objective · case express I !l. What parts of speech does it
genernlly follow 1 What words arc the objective cases in
the example i Why I Decline mother. Spell the nouns in
each case, and tell where the apostrophe is placed.
Nouas to be declinccL

Write (or spell) in the nominative case plural the . following nouns : apple, plum, orange, bush, tree, plant, disorder,
novice, begimiing, defeat, protuberirnce.
Write the following substantives in the nominative caso
plural: cry, fly,. cherry, faucy, glory, duty, · boy, folly, play,
lily, toy, converuencc.
Write lLc following nouns in the possessi,·e case si ngular:
boy, girl, man, womau, lake, sea; chw-ch, lass, beauty, sister,
bee.
Write the following in th e nominative case plural : loaf,
sheaf, self, mull; knife, stnff, wife, staff, wolf, half, calf, shelf,
life.
.
Write the following iu the possessive cnse plural : brother,
·
child, man, woman, foot, tooth, ox, mouse, goose, penny.
Write tl1e following nouns in the nominative and posscslrive cases plum!: wife, chief, di e, staff; city, river, proof,
nrchcr, master, crutch, tooth, mouth, baker, distaff.

Article al!d Substantive.

QuEsTTo:<s.-What part of speech is-- - 1·*
ARTICLE. Why 1 (seep. 107.) Kind I (sec p. 107 .)
Why I
l ( ce
s
NOUN. Why! (sec P· 107) Common or proper
p. 107.) Why I Per son I Why I Number! (see P· 107.)
Why I Getlllcr 1 Why 1 Spell the noun in each case. In
what case is it found 1
A bush.
A princ.o.
A tree.
The Hnd~on.
A flow er.
The !'resident.
'l'he Grocer's Co.
An apple.
An almond.
Amerira.
A house.
The pens.
The girl's school
The fi elds.
The rainbow.
The Jaws.
The clouds.
' BPauty.
The continenl
'I' hc scholar's duty.
George.
. The Cesars.
NOTE.-As the questions for parsing, in these am! t,~1e.ex­
ercises that follow, arc too minute to Le. used a 10~1.,,
without becmniug tc-dious, it will be expedie n~ to omit ti.~ ;
as soon as they shall have nnswercd. the o~! cd. of makmg
the scholnr familiar 'with the ctymologrcal dehmt1ons.
Repeat the precedi.J1g exercises, and parse according to
the following

tne

SPECIMEN.

A bush.
Bwh is a common noun, of ~he .neuter gender, third person, singular number, and nommat1ve case.

ADJECTIVE.

·

An ADJECTIVE is (') a word add.ed to a. substantive to express its quality ; as, An n.idustrious mun;
A virtuou.~ woman ; A benevolent mm.d.
In English, the adjective is not vaned on account

* Here insert the wor<l to be parsed.

•

19·

20

ENGLlSH GRAMMAR.

of gender, number, or case. Thus we say, A careless boy ; Ca.reless girls.
The only variation which it admits is, (') that of
the degrees of comparison.
'fhere are commonly reckoned (') three degrees of
comparison; (') the Pos1r1vE, COMPARATIVE, and
SUPERLATIVE.
(') The Positive state expr~sses the quality of an
object, without any increase or diminution ;* as,
good, wise, great.
6
( ) The Comparative degree increases or lessens
th_e positive in signification ; as, wiser, greater, less
wise.
(7) The Superlative degree increases or lessens
the positive to the highest or lowest degree; as,
wisest, greate.~t, least wise.
'l'he simple word, or positive, becomes the comparative by adding (8 ) r or er; and the superlative
by adding (9) st or est to the ·end of it; as, wise,
wiser, wisest; great, greater, greatest. And the
adverbs (' 0) more and most, placed before the adjective, have the same effect; as, wise, more wise, most
wise.
.
Monosyllables, for the most part, are compared
by er or est; and dissyllables by more and most;
as, mild, milder, mildest ; frugal, more frugal, most
frugal.
Some words, of very common use, are irregularly
formed; as, ( 11 }good, better, best; bad, worse, worst;
little, less, least; muc/i or many, more, most; and
a few others.
QuESTIONs.-1. What is an Adjective I What word!! arc
adjectives in the example I Why 1 . 2. Of what variation
do ncljcctives aclmit I a. How many degrees of comparison i
' · Repeat them. 5. Wbat is said of the Positive state I
6. Comparative I· ~- Superlative 1 Compare wise. 8. What

* Diminution-making less.

ETYMOLOGY.

21

did you add to the positive to mnke it compnrntive 1 9.
. What, to form tbe superlative 1 10.. Wb:it will have tho
same ·effect 1 Why is mild compa~ed m the first way 1 Why
frugal in the second 1 11. Mentwn some words that aro
compared in neither of these ways. Compare them.
A djeclives to be compared.

Compare the following adjectives : fi~ir, g1m·e, bright,
Ion"' short tall wikl, deep, strong, poor, nc~i, great.
C~mpar~ th~ following adjectives :. amiable, _moderat~
disinterested, favorable, grateful, studwus, attentive, negligent, ind11st riou•, perplexing.
.
.
Write the following adjectives in the comparative de~ce:
near, far, little, low, good, i1~diff.erent, bad, worthy, _convemen~
· Write the following a<lJechves m the surcrlat1ve degree ·
feeble, bold, good, ardent, cold, bad, base, little, strong, lat.a.
EXERCISES IN PA RS ING.
Article, Adjective, i;ind Sitbslantivc.

Parse the Article and Substantive agreeably to note on
page IIJ.
.
1
QuKq-rroNs.-\Vlmt part of speech is - - .
ADJgCTIVE. Why 1 (sec page 107.) Compare 1L
Where is it found I
A cheerful, good, old man.
A better world.
'l'ender-looking charity. ,
A goocl heart.
A generous fri end.
Shady trees.
A mahogany tnble.
A fragrant flower.
A winding canal
'l'he verclnnt fields.
A happier lifo.
Composed thoughts.
The sweetest mcense.
The whistling winds.
The ivv-mantlcd tower.
A diligent scholnr.
A fair ·clay.
Fairest proposals.
A pleasing address.
ltelcntlcss wnr.
Wholesome aliment.
A temper unhappy.
Rapid streams.
A free government. .
A severe winter.
The noblest prospect.
The careless ostrich.
Repent the preceding exercises, nm\ parse them .according
to the following
SPECIMEN.

A better world.
' Better is nn adjective, and is found in the comparntivo

degree.

The personal pronouns arc thus declined :

PRONOUNS.

A P.noNOt::N is (1) a word used instead of a noun 'II
to avoid the too frequent repetition of the sa 1~ 0
wo~·d ; as, The man is happy ; he is benevolent ·
he 1s useful.
'
There are (') three kinds of PRONOl,JNS, viz., (3)
the PERSONAL, the RELATIVE, and the AoJECTIVB
Pronouns.
1'.ERSO NAL PRON.OU!\S.
There ~re (4) five Pe1·sonal Pronouns, viz. : (5)
I , thou, he, sl~e, it;. '~ith their plurals, we, ye or you,
they, and their vanat10ns of person, &c.
Personal pronouns admit of (6) PERSON, NUMDEit,
GE NDER, and CASE.
Thc Persons of pronouns arc (7) three in each of
the numbers, viz. :
(') I is th e first person
Thou i• the second person
He, site, or it, is the third person

}

We is the first person
Ye or you, is the second person
T!tey is the third person

}

Singular.
Plural
·

(9)_ The Numbers of pronouns, like those of substantives, arc two, the singular and the plural ; as,
I, thou, he ; we, ye, they.
0
• (' )
Gender bas respect only to the third person
s.mgular o~ the pronouns he, she, it. He is masculine ; she 1s feminine · it is neuter
•
.
( ") p ron.ouns have
three cases, the Nominative,
the Possesswe, and the -0/jective.
T~1c o?j.cctivc case of a pronoun has, in general,
n fo1 m _chflerent from that of the nominative or tho
possessive case.
,,. Hence the name Pronoun

means insfcacl of

·

23

ETYMOLOGY.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

Pro is a Latin word, nnd

Fir sf. p erson

i

Becondpe1·.

~ Nom.
Po.,sess.

Sin[Jular.

Nom.
l'osse,<s.

Obj.
Obj.

Third per.
Mas.
Third per.
F ein.
Third p er.
N euter.

1

Nom.
J'o.,sess.

i

Obj.

Nvm.
P ossess·

Obj.

~ Possess.
Nmn .

I
My or mine
Mo
Thou
'J'hy or thine
'l'hec
He
His
Him '
She
Her or Hers
Her
It

Pl11ral.
We
Our or ours
Us
Ye or you
Your or Yours
You
They
'l'he1r or Theirs
Them
'fhcv
Their or Thcira
'J'hem
They
Their or '!'heirs
Them

Its
It
Obj.
Norn.-.illi11.e and thine, (")instead of my and thy, were .
formerly used before a substaut.ive or adjective beginning
with n vowel, or a silent h; as, J3lot out all 111ine iniquitie9,
}dine, thine, hc?'S, anti, when £imilnrly employed, his, with
their plurals, om-.<, yours, theirs, nre generally compound
pos>essives, including both the posse~sor nnd thr. tlung possessed ; ns, The knife is hi"; that is, the knife i~ his knif~.
The book is mine; ihat is, my book.
Qur,,sT1o:<s.-What is a Pronoun 1 Mention the pronouns
in the example. Instead of what are they usl'd 1 Repeat
the example, using the nouns only. 2. How many kinds of .
pronouns I 3. Repeat them. 4. How many Personal Pronouns I 5. llepeat them. 6. Of what <lo personal pronotm9
admit I ~ - How many persons in each mnnbcr l 8. lle·
peat them. 9. What i~ snid of their numbers l 1O. Ocnder 1 11. Cn•es I Decline the first person. Second. Third
person masculine. Fcmi11ine. Neuter. 12. llow were min"
nnd thine formerly used I
NoT.:.- l'ou is cm11loyetl nlso in tho singu1nr.

RELATIVE PHOl\OUNB.
RELATIVE Pronouns are (1) such as relate, 1ri
general, to some word or phrase* going before,

* A phrase con5ists of several wor<ls.

24

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

which is .thence called the antecedent;* they are (')
1?/nch, and tltat; as, 'l'he man is happy, who
lives vu'tuously.
··

u:tw,

lV/111 ~ i~ a kind of (') con~pound ~·clative, including both

tlie. ~ntecedent ~nd the. relative, and 1s equivalent to (') .that

!ohich, or the thing wluch ; as, This is what I wanted. that
IS to say, the thing which I wanted.
'

Wlto is ~ppl.icd (5) to persons ; which, (6) to ani~als . and 11~ammate ~hings; as, He is a friend, who

is · fmthft~l m adversity; The Lird, which suno- so
swe~tl.y, 1s Hown; This is the tree, whicli' prod~ces
no fruit.

!s.

That, as a relative,
often used (') to prevent
the ~oo ~requent rcpet1t1on of wlto or which. It is
ai:p~1ed ( ) to perso~s and things ; as, He that acts
v.:1sely deserves praise ; Modesty is a quality that
highly adorns a woman.
Who is of both numbers, and is thus declined:
SINGULAR AND Pl.URAi,,

NominatiYe,
P ossessive,
Objective,

lV!w.
lV!w.•e.
W!tom.

· . Who, which, and wlwt, arc called (9) Inte1·rogatives, ~vhen they are used in asking questions; as,
W:!i.o is he? Which is the book '! What are ) ' OU
domg?
QuicsnoNs.-1. What arc Relative Pronouns 1 2 Wl1 · I
arc they 1 . Which word is the relative in t.he example 1 ~~
what d<~es '.t relate I What is man called 1 3. What kind
of relative is !oh.at 1 4. To what is it equivalent in the ex~n?plc 1 Winch of t.hesc two words is the wlati•·c I Whirh
IS Its antecct.lent i
5. To what is w!to 11pplict.l 1 6. Which f
~ Because antecedent is dcriYed from two Latin words
which mean going before.

ET1: MO LOGY.

25

Why would it not be proper to say, Friend which f Bird
who l 'l'rcr. who? 7. For what is that used as a relative I
8. To what is it applied 1 'J'o what is it applied in the firs•
example 1 To what in the second J Wlmt 1s said of who, in
rcs!Ject to number i Decline it. 0. 'Vlmt arc .who, which,
anl what, called, when they are employed in asking questions 1 What are who, which, and what in the examples I
Why!
ADJECTIVE PRONOUNS.
(') ADJECTIVE Pronouns are of a mixed nature,
participating* the properties both of pronouns and
adjectives.
The adjective pronouns may be .subdivided (')
into three sorts, namely, the DJSTRIDUTIVE, the DEMONSTRATIVE, and the INDEFINITE.

I. The Distributive arc (3) those which denote t110
persons or things that make up a number, as taken
separately and singly. 'J'hey are, (1) each, every,
eitlier; as, Each of his br-0thcrs is in a favorable
situation ; Every man must account for himself ; I
have not seen either of them.
2. The D emonstrative are (5) those which precisely point out . the subjects to which they relate :
( 6 ) this and that, these and those, arc of this class;
as, This is true charity, that is only its image.

•Thi,s )'efcrs (') to the nearest person or thing,
and that (8) to the more distnnt ; as, This man is
more intelligent than that. This indicates the latter, or last mentioned; that, the former, or first mentioned; as, Wealth and pove1;ty arc both temptations ; that tends to excite pride ; this, discontent.

* Participating-partaking.
3

26

ENGLlSU GRAMMAR.

ETYMOLOGY.

27

3. The Indefinite are (9) those ·which express " •Our hopes did flatter us.
'l.11ey may have forgotten.
their subjects in an indefinite or general manner.
I can forgive.
; They have deceived me.
0
. The following are of this kind : (' ) some, other, any, · · Your ~xpectation has failed. He might surpass them.
one, all, such, cf:c.
We could overtake him.
He had resigned himself.
' We completed our journey.
'l.11eir fears will detect them.
He may have deceived me.

Otlier is declined in the following manner :
Si11{f1AlaT.

Norn.
Poss.

PluTal.

Other.
Other's.
Other..

Others.
Others'.
Obj.
Others.
QtrESTIONS.-1. What are Adj.ective Pronouns i
2. How
may these be subdivided i 3. Which are the Distributive 1·
4. Name them. 5. Which are the Demonstrative i 6.
Na!lle them. 'l. To what does this refer 1 8. That? To
wluch man does this refer in the example I To which does
that l What does this indicate i That? What does that
i~dicate in the example i This! 9. Which are the Indefimte i 10. Name them. Decline other. Spell it in each
case, and tell where the apostrophe is placed.
Write the possessive singular and plural of the pronouns, ·
I, thou, he, she; it, who, and other.
Write the objective cases, singular and plural of the pro'
nouns, I, thou, he, she, it, and who.
~

~

00

r 'r · / ·

·~" ,
~

tt

~ ~:
'

-'

I

-:,,C
I.) '

...

(,
0

•I

SPECIMEN.

She is disinterested.
She is a personal pronoun, of the third person,' singule.r
, number, feminine gender, and nominative case.

VERBS.

A VERD is (')a word which signifies to DE, to DQ,
or to SUFFER; as, I am, I rule, I a.m ruled.
Verbs are of
three .kinds, (') ACTIVE, p ASSIVE,
and NEUTER. . 'l'hey are also divided (4) .into Regular, Irregular, and Defective.
Acti-ve Verbs are also divided into Transitive and
Intransitive.
A Transitive Verb expresses (5) action with an
' object on which that action terminates ; as, Dogs
bite men; Titus destroyed (6 ) the Temple ..
An I ntransitive Verb (7) is one that simply expresses action, without an object after it; as, 'fhe
.: dog barks.
..
. .
. A Verb Passive expresses (8) the receiving of an
9
action, and necessarily implies ( ) an o?ject. acted
upon, and an agent by. which tha~ ac,t1011 ,1~ performed ; as, Abel was killed by Cam; The lemple
was destroyed (' 0) by Titus.

e)

Article, .Adjectwe, Pronoun, &:c.

'

I

Repeat the preceding exercises, and parse them according
. to the following

EXERCISES IN PARSING.

!

!

Let the Verb be omitted; the Article, Adjective, and
Noun, parsed as before.
.
QUESTIONS.-What part of speech is - - - i
PRONOUN. Why i (see page 10'1.) Decline it. (see
page 23.) In what person, nwnber, gender and ease is i'
fu@dl
.
•
•
I am sincere.
Thon art industrious..
He is disinterested.
Thou dost improve.
He assisted me.
You will submit.
They will obey us.

We honor them.
You encourage
They commend her.
Let him consider.
Know yourselves.
Let them advance.
They may offend.

I would be happy.
Ye should repent.
W c should have considered.

us.

I

Herc was destroyed is (' 0 ) a passive verb, because the oJ>.
• ject, Temple, is acted upon by the a~ent.? 'l'itu.•.
J In an Active Verb, the Nommahve case acts.
(") ( In a Passive Verb, the Nominative case is acted upon.

28

i'

I

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

ETYMOLOGY.

A V crb Neuter expresses (' 2) neither· ac;tion nor
passion, but being, or a state of being ; as, I am, I
sleep, I sit.
•
-

MODES.

Herc am is ( ") a neuter verb, because it docs not express
any aclion.
·
.

Auxiliary or Helpin,q V crbs are (' 4) those by the
· help of whic h the English verbs are principally conjugated ; they are ( 15) do, be, have, shall, will, may,
can, with their variations; and let and must, which
have no variation.
· To Verbs belong (1 6) Number, Person, Mode, af!d
· Tense.

I

1.j
l'
!

QuESTIONs.-1. What is a Verb! What docs rule signify I
Am? Am ruled? 2. How many kinds of verbs 1 3. Whnl
nre tJiey 1 4. How else arc they divided 1 How arc Activo
verbs also di1•ided 1 5. What <loes a Transitive verb express I
'1 . What is an Intransitive verb 1 G. What kin<l of a verb is
de.1tro!ied 1 Why 1 On what docs it act l · Bite? On what
does the action of biting terminate 1 8. Wl1at docs the verb
Passive express 1 n. What does it necessarily imply 1 10.
What kind of a verb is was destroyed? Why I H ow. is it
acted upon 1 JV"" killed? Why 1 How is it acted upon I
11. How is the Active verb disting uished from 1he Passive I
12. Wha t docs a verb N cuter express 1 13. What kind of a
verb is a1n? Why 1 Sleep? Why 1 S it ? Why 1 14,
What are Auxiliary verbs 1 15. Which arc they 1 lG. Whnl
belong to vc~·bs 1

NUMBER

AND

PE RSON.

Verbs hm·e (1) two numbers, the SI NGU LAR and '
the PLURAJ,; as, I lo ve, we lo ve.
In eac h number there arc (2) three persons ; as,
Sing ul ar,

Pl ural.

First P erson,
I love.
W c love.
Second P erson,
Thon lovcst.
Y c or yon love.
Third P erso11,
Ile loves.
They love.
QuEsT1oxs.-l. How many Numbers have verbs 1 2. How
many persons in each nmnbcr I Repeat the verb love in
each p en;on, sing1dar and plural

29

Mooo or MonE is (') a particular form o( the
verb, showing the manner* in which the being, action, or passion, is represented.
. , There arc (2) five modes of verbs, (3) the INDIOA·
" rrvE, the b1rmiATIVE, the POTENTIAL, the SunJUNC·
:TIVE, and the IN FIN ITIVE.
4
• • ( ) The Indicative Mode simply indicates ?r declares a thing ; as, He 'loves, he is loved; or 1t asks
,a question; as, Does he love? Is he loved?
The Imperative Mode is used (5) for commanding,
exhorting, entreating, or permitting~ . as, D epart
thou ; mind ye ; let us stay ; 90 in peace.
6
1 The Potential . Mode implies ( ) possibility or lib' erty, power, will, or obligation; as; It may rain ;
he may go or stay; I can ride; he would walk;
they s!tonld learn.
The Subjunctive Mode represents a thi~l(S (') under a condition, motive, wish, or suppos1t1on, &c.,
.and is preceded by a conjunction, expressed or
understood, and attended by another verb ; . as, I
will re,<pect him, tlwugh he cltide me ; lVere he
good, he would be happy ; that . is, if he were
good.
The Infinitive Mode expresses a thing (~) in a
general a~d unlimited manner, without any dis tinction of number or person; as, to act, to speak, to be
feared.
. The Participle is (9) a ccrtai~ form .o'. th.e verb ;
.and de rives its nmne (1°) from its part1c1pat111g, not
,only th e properties of '.i verb, hut als? tho~e of an
adj ective; as, I am desirous of knowing hnn; Ad-

* Jlode-mcaus m anner.

:l""

30

31
ENGLISll GRAMMAR.

· ~me ; as, I have finished my letter ; I have seen the
i;iircd ~nd applauded, he became vain ; Having fin~
person that was recommended .to me.
r.shed !us work, he submitted it, &e.
. 'fhc Pluperfect Tense represents a thing (7) not
11
, There are ( ) three Participles, ('2) the p'RESE~T · only as past, but also as prior to• some other point
or ACTIVE, the PERFECT or PASSIVE, and the Cm!-' of time specifiedt in the sentence ; as, I had finished
POUND PERFECT; as, loving, loved, having loved.
my. letter ·before he arrived.
8
'fhe First Future Tense represents the action ( )
QuF.STIONs.-1. What is :Mode 1 2. Ho~ many modea
as yet to come, either with, or without respect to
h~ve . verbs 1 3. Repeat them. 4. What is said of the fo.
dicntive m?de I 5. For what is the Imperative mode used I
the precise time when ; us, The sun will rise toFor what 1s depart used I M ind? Let? Go? 6 Wh t
1 morrow ; I shall see them again.
does the Potential mode imply I What does may r.ain
'l'hc Second Future intimatest (9) that the action
ply I .!tfay [JO? Can ride 1 Could walk? Should learn/
'I. f!ow does th.e · Subju11ctive mode represent a thin I . ' will be fully accomplished at, or before the time
Winch verbs ~re 1i:i the :::lubjunctive mode in the exam I~ I
of another future action .or eyent ; as, I shall have
By what conjunctions are the.l'. J?l:ececlecl i By what v~rbs
dined at one o'clock ; The two houses will have finattended 1. 8. How d?e.s the Infunltve mode express a thing I
?· What is the Participle i 10. From what does it derive ished their business, wpen the king comes to prorogue them.
its name i. Arc there . 3;1lY p~rticiples in your last answer I

j!.

What w01 cl~ nre participles m your example i
many part1c1ples arc there i 12. Repeat them.

11. How

TENSES.
Tense, b eir~g (') the distinction of time, might
se.em to admit only of the Present, Past, and Future.; but, ~o mark it more accurately, it is made to
consist. of ( ) six variations, viz. (') the PRESENT, the
lMPEHFECT, the PERFECT, the PLUPERFECT the FmsT
'
and SECOND FuTURE 'fENSES.
The Pre.sent Tense represents the action or event
(4) as pnssmg at the time in which it is mentioned· '
'
as, I rule, I am ruled; I think; I/ear.
T~1e Impeifer.t Tense 1:epresents the action or event
~ 5) either as past and fimshed, or as remaininrT
unfin·
0
1shed at a cert'.1in time past ; as, I loved her for her
modesty and virtue; 'fhey were traveling post when
he met them. .
·
0
( ) The Perfect Tense not o'nly refers to what 18
past, but also conveys an aUusion to the present

QuESTJONs.-1. What is Tense 1 2. Of how many varia·
tions is it made to consist 1 3. What are they 1 4. How
does the Present tense represent an action i Is there any
verb of the Present tense in your last answer 1 Any par·
ticiplc 1 5. How does the Imperfect tense represent an
nction i What verbs of this tense in your example I 6.
Wlmt is snid of the Perfect tense I What verbs of thia
tense in your example 1 7. How does the Pinperfect tens&
represent a thing 1 What verb of this tense in. your ex·
ample 1 How does it represent the action 1· Before what
point of time 1 8. How does the First Future represent an
action i What verb of this tense in your fir~t exampl& t
How does it represent the action 1 9. What does the Second Future intimate 1 What verb of this tense in your ex·
nmplei

The CoNJUGATION of a verb is (1) the rerTular combination§ and arrangementll of its several numbers,
persons, modes, and tenses.

* Prior to--before.

t Spcc(fied-mentioned.
:j: Intimates-informs.
§ Combination-uniting.
I .A rrangemcnt-placing in 01·der.

32

SECOND FUTURE TENSE.

'~he, Conju~ation of an acti\'C yerb is styled the
AClIVE VOICE,
VOICE.

l!lV~;

and that of a passive verb, the

PAS-..

.

. QUESTION.-What is the conjugation of a verb f

'1'!1e auxiliary and active verb To lw.vc is conjugated rn the folio wing manner :
TO HAVE.
Indicative Mode.
SiHgular.

3!l

ETYMOLOGY.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

Singular.

Plural.

l . (0 ) I shall have had.
·2. Thou wilt have had.
8. ·He will have had.

1. W c shall have had.
2. Ye or you will have had•
3. They will have had.

: , QuF.snoN".-1. What is the first person singular of tho
·, Present Tense? 2. Iinpeifectl 3. Pcifeetf · 4. Plnperfcct? 5. Ji'irst Future I 6. Second F11t11re? Repeat all
the persons of each tense.
Proceed in the same manner with the other modes.

PRESENT TENSE.
Plural.

1 Pers. (') I have.
2 Pers. Thou hast.

S P ers. He, she, or it hath
or has.

I. We have.
2. Ye or you have.<>
3. They have.

Imperative Mode.
Singular,

lmve.

have.

IMPERFECT TENSE.
Smgular.

Potential Mode. ·

Plural,

1. (') I had.
2. Thou hadst.
3. He, &c. had

I. We had.
2. Ye 01· you had
3. They had.

PERFECT TENSF.
Singular.

l'lural.

1. (') I have had.
2. 'fhou l\nst had

I. We have had.

rRESENT TENSE.

Plurnl.

Sin:ular,

t. (') I may or can have.
2. Thon mayst or canst
hrl\"e.
8. ·He may or can have. ,

2. Ye or you have hacL

3. He ·1ias had.

Pforal.

t. Have thou, or ·do thou 2. Have ye, or do ye or yoo

1. ·we)nay or can have.
2. Ye or you may or can
have.
3. '!'hey may or· can have.

IMPERFECT TENSE.

3. They have had ·

Plural.

Singular.

PLUl'ERFECT TENSE.
Sir1;r1tla.r.

Plnral.

I. .(4) I had had.
2. Thou hadst had
3. llc had had.

1. We had had.
2. Ye or you had hacL
3. '!'hey had had.

l. I might, could, would, or
fhould have.
2. 'I'hou might.st, couldst,
wouldst or shouldsthavc.
8. He might, could, would, or
should ha vc.

1. ·we might: could, would, or :
·. should ha vc.
2. Ye o·r you might, could,
would, or should have.
3. They might., could, would,
or should have.

FIRST FUTURE TENSE.
8in..rular.

1. (') I shall or will have.
2. Thou shalt ur wilt have.
3._He sh:\lt or will lmve.

l'EltFECT

Plural.

I. We shall or will have.
2. Ye or you shall or will
have.
3. 'l11ey shall or will have.

* lu fami!iar l:mguil6c, you iscmploycU in lhe sin•ruiar·
thus · John,
0
y1u wcrn lut.u tbis morniug.
'
•

Singular.

TENSE.
Pl!tral.

1. We may or can have had. '
2. Thou mayst 01· canst have -2. Ye or you may or can have
had.
had.
8. He may or can have had. s. They may or can have hacL_:

l. I may or can have had.

34

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

rLUrERFECT TENSE.
Singular.

Ull'ERFECT TENS&.
Plural

l. I might, could, would, or 1. We might, could, would,
should have had.
or should have had.
2. Thou mightst, conldst, 2. Ye or you might, could,
wouldst, or shouldst
would, or should have
hove had.
had.
8. He might , could 0 would 3. They might, could, would,
or should have had. '
or should have had.

PRESENT TENSE.

Smgu.lar.

1. We were.
2. Ye or you were.
3. They were.

1. I was.
Thou wast.
3. He was.

z.

rEaF.E cr 'l'ENSE.
Plural.

SiJt,!Tular..

Pforal.

1. If we have.
2. If ye or you have.
3. If they have.*
. R epeat this n~ode, using one of the following conjunctio~
Instead of IF: viz. tltoug!t, lest, w!tet/i c,., unless.
2. If thou have.
3. If he have.

Infinitive Mode.

l

Plural.

Singular.

1. I have been.
2. '!'hon hast been.
3. He hath or has been.

Subjunctive Mode.
1. (') If I have.

.

Present,(') To have.
Perfect, To have had.
rARTICIPLES.
P rcse11t or active,
Having.
P e1:fect or passive, Had.
Compound perfect, Having hnd.

QuESTIONs.~l. What is the first person singular of the
present tense, m the IN010ATIVE MODE i 2. PoTENTIAL i 3.
SUBJUNCTIVE i
4. lNFINl'fIVE I

The U1.1xiliary and neuter verb Tu be is conjugated
ns follows;

PLUPERFECT TENSE.
Plural.

1. We had been.
2. Ye or you had been.
3. '!'hey bad been.

l. I had been.
2. 'l'hou hadst been.
3. He had been.

FIRST FUTURE TENS&.
Plural.

Si1tf!ular.

l. I shall or will be.
2. 'l'hou 8hnlt or wilt be.
3. He shall or will be.

2. Thou art.
8. H e, she, or it is.

1. We shall or will be:
2. Ye or yon shall or will be.
3. They shall or will be. ' · .

SECOND FUTURE TENSE.
Plural.

Sing>dar.

1. I shall have been.
2. Thou wilt have been.
3. He will have been.

1. We shall have been.
2. Ye Of' you will have been
3. They will hav~ been.

Imperative Mode.
Plural.

Singular.

2. Be thou, or do thou be.

PRESENT TENSE.
Singular.

1. We have been.
2. Ye or you have been.
3. They have been.

Sing1dar.

TO BE.

Indicative Mode.
1. I am.

35.

E'tYMOLOGY.

2. Be ye or you, o;· do ye be

PlJtral.

l, We nre.
2. Ye or you are.
3. '!'hey nrc.

* 'l'he !·e~rniniug temes of the suqjunct:ivc mode are, in
general, s11111lar to the corres pondent tenses of the indicativo
mode. S~me,. however, co11jugate the imperfect tense Qf
verbs subjunct1vely; as, f2d per. sin.], If thou loved.

Potential Mode.
PRESKNT TENS&.
Plural.

Sincvlar.

1. I may or can be.
2. Thon mayst ·or canst be.
8. He may or can be.

1. We may or can be.
you may or can be.
2. Ye
3. They may or can be.

or

36

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

37

ETYMOLOGY.
IMPERFE!lf TENSE.
Sitl{!Ula,-.

should be.
2. Thou mightst, couldst,
wouldst, or shouldst be.

a.

PARTICIPLES.

Plu,.al.

1. I might, could, would, or

He might, could, would,
or should be.

Present, Being.
P erfect, Been.
.
Oompoitnd Pe1fcct, Having been.

l. "\Ve might, could, would,

or should be.
2. Y c or you might, could,
would, or shou ld be.

3. They might, could, would,
or should be.

Repeat the First Person Singubr of all the tenses in each
of the modes in their order.
.

Of tlie Conjugation of R egular Verbs.

PEB.FECT TENSE.

Singular.

ACTIVE .

Plural.

1. I may or can have been. .1. Vfc may or can have been.
!. Thou mayst or canst 2. Ye or you may or can have
have been. ,
been.
S. He may or can have been. 3. They may ~r can have
been.

V crbs active are called Regular, (I) when they
·form their imperfect tense of the i_ndicative mode,
and their perfect participle by ad_dmg to the verb
ed, or d only, when the verb ends me; .as, .
-Present.

PLUPERFE CT TENS E.

Si"{lular.

1. I might, could, would, or
should have been.
e. Thou mightst, couldst,
wouldst, OT shouldst
have been.
a. HJ might, could, would,
or should have been.

Plural.

1. We might, could, would,

or should have been.
2. Yo or you might, could,

would, OT should have ,
been.
3. They might, could, would.
or should have been.

TO LOVE.

Indic~tive Mode.

a.

If he bo.

3. If they be
IMPERFECT TENSE.

rr I

Si"{lular.

~Jnfinitive Mode.
Pr~ent,

To be.

Si 11gular.

Perfect, To have been.

Plural.

I. I love.
J. We love.
2. Thou lovest.
·(loves. 2. Ye or you love. ·
' 3. He, she, or it loveth or 3. They love.

Plural.

were.
1. If we were.
2. If thou wert.
2. If ye or you were.
S. If he were.
3. If they wern.
The remaining tenses of t11is mode ai:e: in general, similar
to the correspondent teases of the indicative mode.
1.

PRESENT TENSE.

Plural.

I. If WO be.
2. If ye or you bo.

Ie

A Regular Active Verb is conjugated in the following manner :

PRESENT TENSE.

1. If I be.
2. If thou be.

Perfect Participle.

I favored. ,
Favored.
I loved.
Loved.
QUESTJONs.-1. When are verbs active callecl regular!
favor a regular verb 1 Why 1 ·
·

Subjunctive Mode.
Sitl{!Ular.

Imper/eel.

I favor.
I love.

D!PERFECT TENSE.

Plural.

Singular.

We loved.
2. Ye or you loved.
3. They loved.

l. I loved.
2. Thou lovedet.
. 3. He loved.

1.

PERFECT TENS&.
1

I. l have loved. '
, 2, Thou hnst loved. ·

8. He

Plural.

Si711fular.

bath or hns loved.

1. We have loved.
2. Ye or you have loved.

3. They have loved.

4

'

.

38

PLUPERFECT TENSE.

Singular.

PLUPERFECT TENSE.

Plural.

1. I had loved.
2. Thou hadst loved.
3. He bad loved.

1. We had loved.
2. Ye or you bad loved.

3. They bad loved.

FIRST FUTURE TENSE.

Singular.

Plural.

I . I shall or will love.
2. Thou shalt or wilt love.
3. He shall or will love.

39

ETYMOLOGY.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR •

1. We shall or will love.
2. Ye or you shall or will love.
3. They shall or will love.

Singular.

Plural.

I might, could, would, or 1. We might, could, would, or
should have loved.
should have loved.
2. Thou mightst, couldst, 2. Ye or you might, could,
wouldst, or shouldst
would, or should have
loved.
.
·
have loved.
3. H e might, could, would, 3. They might, could, would,
or should have loved.
or should have loved.

Subjunctive Mode.

SECOND FUTURE TENSE.

Singular.

1. .l shall have loved.

, 2. 'l'hou wilt have loved.
3. He will have loved.

I: We shall have loved.
2. Ye or you shall have loved ·
3. They will have hived.

Imperative Mode.
Singu{ar.

Plural.

2. Love thou, or do thou
love.

1. If I love.

Singular.

Plural.

I. We mav or can love.
2. Ye or you may or can love.
3. They may or can love.

Infinitive Mode.
Perfect, To have loved.
P AllTIOIPLES.

Present, Loving.
Perfect, Loved.
Compound P erfect, Having loved.
PASSIVE.

IMPERFECT TENSE.

Singular.

Plural.

I. If we love.

2. If tJ1ou love.
2. If ye or you love.
3. If he love.
3. If they love.
The remaining tenses of this mode are, in genera~ similar
to the correspondent tenses of the indicative modo.
.

Present, To love.

PRESENT TENSE.

1. I may or can love.
2. Thou mayst or canst love.
3. He may or ean love.

Sing ular.

2. Love ye or you, or do ye
love.

Potential Mode.

Plflral.

1. I might, could, would, or

1. We might, could, would, or ·
should love.
should love.
2. Thou mightst, couldst, 2. Ye or you might, could,
would, or should love.
. wouldst, or shouldst love.
3. He might, could, would, 3. They might, could, would,
or should love.
·
or should love. • ··
PERFECT TENSE.

" ydlngular.

PRESENT TENSE.

Plural.

Plural.

1. I may or can havo loved. 1. We may or can have loved.
2. Tboumaystorcansthave 2. Ye orl.ou may or can have ,
loved
love .
·
8. He may or can have loved. S. They may or can have loved. ·

Verbs passive are called regular, (1) when they
form their perfect participle by the addition of d, or
ed, to the verb ; as, from the verb To love, is formed
the passive, I am loved, I was loved, I shall be
loved, &c.
A P assive Verb is conjugated {2) by adding the
perfect participle to the auxiliary to be, -through all
its changes of number, person, mode, and tense, in
the following mann_er.
QuESTIONs.-1. When is a verb passive called regular f
2. How is the passive verb conjugated I

40

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

Imperative Mode:

TO BE LOVED.

Plural.

Singular.

Indicative Mode.

2.• Be thou loved, or do thou
be loved.

l'RESENT TENSE.

Singular.

41

ETYMOLOGY.

2. Be ye or you loved, or do
ye be loved.·
·

Plttral.

1. I am loved.

Potential Mod.e.

1. We are loved.

2. Thou art loved.
3. He is loved.

2. Ye or you are loved.
3. They are loved.

PRESENT TENSE.

Plural.

Sin.g1dar.

I. we may

IMI'ERFECT TENSE.

Singular

,

1. I was loved.
2. TI1ou wast loved.
3. H e was loved.

Plural.

1. We were loved.

2. Ye or you were loved.
3. They were loved.

IMPERFECT TENSE.

Plural.

Singular.

l. I might, could, would, or

l'ERFECT TENSE.

"

Sing1dar.

Plural.

I. I have been loved'.
1. We have been loved.
2. Thou hast been loved.
2. Ye or you have been lovecL
3. He hath or has been 3. They have been loved.
loved.

or

can be loved.
2. Thou mayst or c.anst be 2. Ye or you may OT can be
loved.
loved.
3. Ile may 01· ean be loved. 3. They may or can be loved.
1. I may or can be loved.

1. W c might, could, would,

ff1"

should be loved.
should be loved.
2. Thou mightst, couldst, 2. Ye or you might, could,
would, or should be
wouldst, or ehouldst be
loved.
loved.
3. Ile might, could, would, 3. They might, could, would,
or should be loved.
or should be loved.

l'LUl'ERFECT TENSE.

Singular.

Plural.

1. I had been loved. ·

2. Thou hadst been loved.
3. He had been loved.

I. We had been loved.

2. Ye or you had been loved.
3. They had been loved.

FIRST FUTURE TENSE.

Singular.

Fz.ural.

I. I shall or will be l?ved.

,

.

Singular.

BE~ .. FUTURE TENSE.
'·...../

I. I shall have been loved.

Plural.

I. l may or can have been

1. We may or can have been

loved.
2. TI1ou mayst or canst have
been loved.
l!. He may or ean have been
loved.

z..Ye

loved.
or you may or can
have been loved.
3. They may or can have been
· loved.

I. W c shall or will be loved.

2. TI1ou shalt or wilt be 2. Ye or you shall or will bo
loved.
loved.
3. He shall or "~~~ed. 3. They shall or will be loved.
.

PERFEOT TENSE.

Singular.

Plm·al.

I. We shall have been loved.

2. Thou wilt have been 2. Ye or you will have been
loved.
loved.
·
·
3. lie will have been loved. 3. They will have been loved..

l'LUPEllFECT TENSE.

Plural.

Singtdm-.

might, could, would,
or should have been
should have been loved.
loved.
2. Thou mightst, couldst, 2. Ye or .you might, could, .
would, · 01· should .have
wouldst, oi· shouldst
been loved.
have been loved.
3. He might, conld, woulcl, 3. TI1ey might, could, would,
· or should have been
or should have been
loved.
loved.

l. I might, could, would,

OT

I. We

4*

42

3. (5) Such as have the imperfect tense and per. feet participle different; as,

Subjunctive Mode.
FRESENT TENSE.

Singular.

Plltral.

1. If I be loved.
2. If thou be loved.
3. If he be loved.

1. If we be loved.
2. If ye or you be loved.
8. If they be loved.
IMPERFECT TENSE.

Si11g1dar.

Plural,

1. If I were loved.
2. If thou wert loved.
3. If he were loved.

1. If we were loved.
2. If ye or you were loved.
3. If they were loved.
The remaining tenses of tJ1is mode nre, in genernl, similru"
to the correspondent tenses of the indicative mode.

Infinitive Mode.
Present, To be loved.

Perfect, To have been loved.
PARTICIPLF.S.

Present, Deing loved.
Perfect, Been loved~
Cornpo111ul perfect, Having been loved.
IRREG ULAR VERBS.

~rr~gular Verbs are (1) those which do not form
their 1mp~rfect tense and their perfect participle by
the add1t10n of d or ed to the verb ; as,
Prcsenl.

Imperfect.

I begin.
I know.

I began.
I knew.

Pcrf. or Pass. Parl.

Degun.
Known.

Irregular verbs are of (2) var10us sorts : .
1. (3) Such as have the present and imperfect
tenses and perfect participle the same; as,
Pruent.
Cost

Put

Perfect Participle.

t

cost
put.

2· (4) • ~uch as hav ~ t,'l imperfect tense and perfect part1c1ple the same; -J, ·
Present.

Imperfect.

Abide
Sell

abode
sold

43

ETYMOLOGY.

ENGLISH GRAlllllTAR.

Perfect Participle.

abode
sold.

Pre.sent.

Imperfect.

Perfu,t Participle.

Arise
arose
arisen
blew
blown.
Blow
QuESTJONs.-1. What nre Irregular Verbs I What kind
of a verb is be.g in? Why I What kind is love? (See p.
37.) Why I Know? Why I 2. How many sorts of irregular verbs I 3. Describe the first sort. 4. 'l'he second. 6.
'!'he third. Repeat the preseut, the imperfect, and the per·
feet tenses, present, and compound perfect participles, of the
following verbs.

The following list of the irregular verbs will be
found both comprehensive and accurate:
Present.

Imperfect.

Abide
Am
Arise
Awake
Bear, to
bring
forth
Benr, to
carry

abode
was
nrose
awoke
}

Pcrf. Part. Pres. Part.

R.

bare

t bore
f

bearing

borne

bearing

"

borne

5beaten l
1 beat f beating

"

beaten

beat

Begin
Bead
Bereave
Beseech
Biel
Bind

began
bent
bereft n.
besought
bade
bound

Bleed
Blow
Break
Breed
Bring
Build
Burst'
Buy
Cast

born

born

Beat

Bite

Comp. Pcrf.

abode
abiding having abode
been
being
" been
arisen
arisen
nrising
u"
a waked
nwnked awaking

begun
beginning
bent
bendio~
bereft n. bereavmg
besought beseeching
bid
bidden
bound
binding
j bitten l b"tin
bit
1bit
f I g
bled
bleeding
bled
blown
blowing
blew
broken' breaking
broke
bred
breeding
bred
brought brought bringifig
built
building
built
burst
bursting
burst
bought buying
bo.ught
cast
casting
cast

" ' begun
" • bent
" bereft a.
" besought
bid
" bound
bitten

"
"
"
"

bled
blown
broke
bred
brought
built
burst
bought
cast

I

44
Pre.Jent.

Imperfect.

Catch
Chide

caught n. caught n. catching
chid
{ chidden } 111.din
g
chid
c
choosinochose
chosen

Per/. Par~. Pres. Part.

Comp. Per[.

having caught n.

" " ·I
Choose

c,0~1 11~~1

to stick, REGULAR
•
0
adltere
.
Cleave, clove, or cleft
to .split cleft
} clove } clea vmg
Cling
clw1g
clung
clin"'ing
Clothe
clothed clad n. clothing
Come
came
come
cominoo
Crow
crew n. crowed cro~
Creep
crept
crept
creeping
Cut
cut
cut
cutting
Dare, to}
.
t1enture durst
dared
danng
D?al ·
dealt
dealt n. dealing
Dig
cl~g n.
dug n.
digging
Do
did
clone
doing
drawn
Draw
drew
drawi.t1"'
0
Dr!ve
drove
driven
driving
Drink
drank
drunk
drinking
Dwell
dwelt n. dwelt n. dwelling
Eat
cat, or ate eaten
eating
Fall
fell
fallen
fa]Jin.,.
Feed
fed
fed
fecdu;'g
felt
felt
feeling
F?el
F~ght
fought
fought
fighting
Fmd
found
fow1d
finding
fled
fleeing
Fl?e
fled
Flmg
flung
flung
flinging
Fly
flew
flO\Vn
flying
Forsake forsook
forsaken forsaking
Freeze froze
frozen
freezing
G~t
g?t
got
~tung ,
G~ld
g.ilt n.
gil,t n.
·~
G~d
gtrt "·
g~t R.
git~
&lvim
giving -...)
Give
gave
Go
· went
gone
going
Gr~ve
graved
graven graving
Gnnd
ground
ground grinding
Grow
grew
grown
growing
· Have
had
had
having

45

ETYMOLOGY.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

"
"

chidden
chosen

" , cleft
" clung
" clad n.

"
"
"

"
"
"

"

"
"

"
"

"

"
"
"

"
"
"

"
"
"

"
"

.."
"

"
"

"
"
"
"

come
crowed
crept
cut

dared
dealt n.
dugn.
done
drawn
driven
drunk
dwelt n.
eaten
fallen
fed
felt
fought
found
fled
flung
flown
forsaken
frozen
got
gilt n.
girt R .
given
gone
graven
grounci
grown
had

Present.

l nipcrfcct.

Per/. Part. Pres. Part.

Comp. Per/.

hung n. hanging having hung n .. •
heard
hearing
" heard ·
hewn n. hewing
'" hewn n.
{hidden
hidden
"
}
hiding
hid
Hide
hid
hit
hitting
hit
"
hit
Hit
holding
" held
held
held
Hold
keeping
" kept
kept
kept
Keep
knitting
kmt R.
" kmtn.
kmt n.
Knit
knowing
" known
known
knew
Know
lading
laden
" laden
laded
Lade
laying
laid
" laid
laid
Lay
leading
led
" led
led
Lead
leaving
left
",; left
left
Leave
lending
lent
lent
Lenci
... lent
let
letting
let
let
Let
lying
~ie, to }lay
lain
" lain
lie down
n.
laden n. loading
Load
loaded
" laden
losing
lost
" lost
lost
Lose
makiug
made
made
" made
Mako
met
meeting
" met
met
Meet
mown n. mowing
" mownn.
mowed
Mow
paying
paid
paid
" paid
Pay
putting
put
" .put
put
·Put
rending
read
read
" read
Read
rnncling
rent
" rent
Reud
rent ridding
rid
rid
" rid
Rid
{
r?cle,
or
}
ridin
'
rode
" rode
Ride
ndden
g
rung
ringing
Ring {rung
} r~ng ·
rang
rising
risen
" risen
rose
Rise
riven
riven · riving
rived
Rive
running
" run
run
ran
Run
sawn n. sawing
" sawn a.
sawed
Saw
saying
said
said
" said
Say
seeing
seen
" seen
saw
See
seeking
sought
" sou3ht
Seek
sou3ht
selling
sold
sol
" sol
Sell
sent
sending
sent
" ·set
sent
Send
setting
set
set
" shaken
Set
shaken shaking
shook
"
Shake

Hang
Hear
Hew

hung ii.
heard
hewed

..
..

46
Present.

Shape
Shave
Shear
Shed
Shine
Show
Shoe
Shoot
Shrink
Shred
Shut

,,

Sing
Sit
Slay
Sleep
Slide
Sling
Slink
Slit

i,
'

I

I··

.I
1·

I

...

Cl '

(,

I

I'' 1 .
!

~t

Smite
Sow
Speak
Speed
Spend
Spill
Spin
Spread
Spring
St.mid
Steal
Stick
Sting
Stride
Strike
Strin"'

Striv~

Swear
Sweat
Swell

Perf. Part. Pres. Part.
Comp p f.
shaped { shaped }
.
. er •
shapen shapmg having shaped
shaved
shaven R. sliaving
shaven n.
sheared shorn
shearing .
" · shorn
shed
shed
sheddin
shed
"
shone R. shone R. shining g
" shone R.
showed shown
showing
" shown
shod
shod
shoeing
" shod
sh oomg
t'
shot
shot
shot
shrunk
shrunk shrinking
shrunk.
shred
sl.u·ed
shredding
shred
shuttinoo
shut
shut
shut
{sung
}
n
sang
sung
singing
sung
·sat
sat
sitting ·
sat
slew ·
slain
slaying
slain
slept
sler
slee,Ping
slept •
sli
slidden sliding
slidden ·
slllilg
slung
slinging
slutig
slunk
slunk
slinking
slunk
slit R. { slit, or } slitting
slit
slitted
smote
smitten smiting
smitten
sowed
SOWnR. sowmg
sown n.
spoke
spoken speaking
spoken
sped
sped
speeding
sped
spent
spent
spending
spent
spilt R.
spilt R. spilling
spilt R.
spun
spun
spinning
spun
spread
spread
spreading
spread
{ sprung
sprnng } sprung
sprung
stood
stood
stood
stole
stolen
stolen
stuck
stuc
stuck
stung
stung
stung
strode } stridden
.,,/
strid
stridden
struck
stricken striking
stricken
strung
strung
stringing
strung
strove
striven striving
striven
swore
sworn
swear.ing
sworn
sweat ii. sweat R. sweatmg
sweat n.
swelled swollen n. swelling
swollen n.

i

Imperfect .

47

E1'YMOLOGY

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.
Present.

Swim

Imperfect.

Perf. Part. Pres. Part.

Comp. Perf.

swimming having
{swam }swum
swum
swinging
swung
swung
taking
taken
took
"
tearing
tom
tore
telling
told
told
thought thought thinking
throve R. thriven thriving
thrown throwing.
threw
thrusting
thrust
thrust
trodden treacling
trod
"
waxen R. waxing
waxed
wearing
worn
wore
weaving
woven
wove
wept
w~eping
wept
wmnmg
won
won
wound winding
wom1d
"
wringing
wrung
wrung
"
written writing
wrote

swum
swung ,
taken
torn
told
thought
thriven
thrown
thrust
trodden .
waxen a.
worn
woven
wept
WOil
wound
wrung
written

Swing
Take
Tear
Tell
Think'
Thrive
Throw
Thrust
Tread
Wax
Wear
Weave
Weep
Win
Wind
Wring
Write
The verbs which (') a.re conjugated regularly, as well as
irregularly, are marked with an R. Those preterits and participles, which are fu-"t mentioned in the list, seem to be tho
most eligible.
'fhe number of verbs now used in the English language is
about 4,300; 4,123 re~u1'\r, and 17'1 irregular. The number .
of English words is said to be about, 35,000.
QUESTION.-1. What is said of those verbs marked R 1
DEFECTIVE VERBS.

Defective Verbs are (1) those which are used only
in some of their modes and tenses ; us, am, was,
been; can, could; may, might; _shall, should; will,
would, &c.
QUESTION.-

1.

What are Defective Verbs!

Verbs to be conjugated.
Conjugate the following verbs in the indicative mode, present tense ; beat, gain, read, cat, walk, desire, interpose. ·
Conjugate the following verbs in the potential mode, imperfect tense ; fear, hope, dream, fly, consent, improve, con- .
trovert.
Conjugate the' following verbs in the subjunctive mode,

48

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

perfect famse ; drive, prepare, sfarve, omit, indulge, demonstrate.
Conjugate the following verbs in the imperative mode
believe, depart, invent, give, abolish, contrive.
Write the following verbs in the infinitive mode, present
and perfect tenses ; grow, decrease, Ii ve, prosper, separate, .
incommode.
,
Write the present, perfect, and compound participles of
the following verbs ; confess, disturb, please, know, begin, sit,
set, eat, lie.
Conjugate the following verbs in the i1idicative mode, present and perfect tenses of the passive voice; honor, abase,
amuse, slight, enlighten, displease, envelop, bereave.
·
Co1tjug:rte the following verbs in the indicative mode, pluperfect and first future tenses ; fly, contrive, know, devise,
choose, come, sec, go, eat, grow, bring, forsake.
Write the following verbs in the present and pluperfect
tenses of the potential and subjunctive modes ; know, shake,
heat, keep, give, blow, bestow, beseech.
·
Write the following verbs in the indicative mode, imperfect
and seeond future tenses of the passive voice; slay, draw,
crown, throw, defeat, grind, hear, divert.
·
Write the following verbs in the second and third persollS
singular of all .the tenses in the indicative and subjunctive
modes; approve, condemn, mourn, freeze, know, arise, drive,
blow, investigate.
Form the following verbs in the infinitive and imperative
modes, with their participles, all in the passive voice ; embrace, draw, defeat, smite.
·
· ·
EXERCISES IN PARSING.
Pronoun, Ve-rb, Noun, &c.-continued.
QUESTIONS.-What part of speech is - - - i
VERB. Why I (see p. 11.) Active," Passive, or Neuter i
Why I (see p. 27.) Repeat the~sent and the imperfect
tenses, the perfect, present, and ~7Jfli~ ' •"Pd perfect participles.- Is it Regular, Irregular, or DCi-.. ~.;jl I (see p. 3'7.)
Why 1 Repeat this person, in all the ten.cs of this mode,
till you find it. In what Mode, Tense, Person, and Number
is it found 1
Hope animates us.
· It can be enlarged. ·
He will have determined.
To have been admired availed
We shall have agreecl
him little.
Do you instruct him.
Ileing reviled, we bless.

ETYMOLOGY.

49

Prepare your lessons.
Ridiculed, persecuted, deHe lives respected.
spiscd, he maintained his
Hiiving resigned his office,
principles.
he reti red.
Having been deserted, he beThey ·nre discouragecl
came discouraged.
He was condemned.
You may discover them.
We have. been rewardecl
He might convince us.
She had been admired.
It would be caressed.
Virtue will be rewarded.
I may have been deceived.
Let him be animated.
To live well is honorable.
To have conquered himself, Who q m preserve himself I
Whom have we served 1
was his highest praise.
They honor us.
Such is our condition:
All have a talent to lillprove.
They searched the rooms.
Repeat the preceding exercises, and parse them according
to the following
.
SPECD!EN.

Hope animates us.
Animates is a regular tr:msitive verb, indicative mode,
present tense, tbird person, singular number.

ADVERB.

An Anvmrn is (I) a part of speech joined to a
verb, an adjective, or, so~etime~, to another adverb,
(2) to express some quality or circumstance respecting it ; as, He reads well; A truly good man ; He
writes very correctly.
Some adverbs are compared thus;. (3) Soon,
sooner soonest · often, oftener, oftenest.
.
.
Th~se ending in ly, are compared (4) by more and
most; as, Wisely, more wisely, most wisely.
.
The phrases, in fine, in vain, at least, .at most,_ ~~.,
are used adverbially, and called adverbial pllrases.
Adverbs, though very numerous, may be reduced to certain classes:Of number · as once, twice, thrice, &c.
Of order; ~s, first, secondly, thirdly, fourUtly, fifthly, lastly,
finally, &c.
Of r-lace; as, here, th er~, wher_e, else~here, an;rwh_ere, somewhere, nowhere, herem, wlnther, luther, tluthei, np~ard,

5

50

ENGLISH GRAMMAU.

·downward, forward, backward, whence, hence, thence,
whithersoever, die.
Of time :Of time present; as, now, to-day, &c.
Of time l;wst; as, already, before, lately, yesterday, lieretofore, hitherto, long since, long ago, &c.
Of time to come; as, to-morrow, not yet, hereafter, henceforth, henceforward, by and by, instantly;· presently, immediately, strnightway, &c.
Of time indefinite; as, oft, often, oft.times, oftentimes, sometime, soon, seldom, daily, weekly, monthly, always, ·when,

ETYMOLOGY.

we are wisely and happily
directed.
How· sweetly the bir(ls sing.
Why art thou so h~edless i
Wheri will they arnve 1
Where. shall we stop I
Mentally and bodily,. we aro
curiously and wonderfully
formed.
SPEOIMEN.

Thirdly, and lastly, I shall
conclude.
This plant is found here and
elsewhere.
Only · to-day is_ properly
ours.
From virtue to vice, the
progress is gradual.

I have seen him once, perhaps twice.

ever, never, again, &c.

Of quantity; as, much, little, sufficiently, how much, how
great, enough, abundantly, Jn:~
Of manner or quality; as, wisely, foolishly, justly, unjustly,
quickly, slowly, &c. Adverbs of quality are the most
numerous kind; and they are generally formed by adding
the termination ly to an adjective or participle, or changing le into ly; as, bad, badly; cheerful, cheerfully ;. able,
ably ; admirable, admirably.
·
Of doubt; as, perhaps, peradventure, possibly, perchance.
Of a,{firmation; as, verily, truly, undoubtedly, doubtless,
certainly, yea, ye surely, indeed, really, &c.
Of negation; as, y, no, not, by no means, not at all, in no
wise, &c.
Of interrogati ; as, how, why, wherefore, whether, &c.
Of compari '; as, more, most, better, best, worse, worst,
less, leas , rery, almost, little, alike, &c.
QuESTIONs.-1. What is an Adverb 1 What adverb in
your first example 1 To what is "'it joined 1 2. For what
purpose 1 What in the second example 1 What two in the
third 1 3. - How is soon compared 1 4. How are those compared which · end in ly? Repeafthe adverbs of Number.
Orcler. Place. Time present. Time past. Time to come.
Time indefinite. Quantity. .Manner or Quality. Doubt.
.Affirmation. Negation. Interrogation. Oompa~ison.
EXERCISES IN P AB.SING.
Adverb, &:c.
· QuESTIONs.-W11at part of speech is ---1
ADVERB. Of what class i
I have seen him once, per- We often resolve, but seldom
haps twice.
perform.
'

Once is an adverb of number.
Perhaps is an adverb of doubt.
PREPOSITION.

serve (1) to connect words with one
i . and to show the relation between them.
t
ano
.k.
Theyier'
are for the most part se t (') b e.fore ynouns
and ronouns ; as, He went frorn London to or. '.
She ~s above disguise ; They are supported by m
· dustry.
.
·
The followmg is a list of the principal prepositions:
PREPOSITIONS

off
above
at
below
near
on or upon
between
up
among
beneath
down
after
by
over
b r e
about
with
under
. from
e1or
against
in
tlrrough
beyond
behind
.
NS -l. For what do Prepositions serv.e .1 2. _Where
Q
UESTIO• ·
t rt set I ·what Prepos1t1ons m :i:-our
are they for 1th~ m;:tJ;~n what do they show the relation i
first examp e
·
tl
ed I Wh••· in the
Before what parts of speeGh are . iey p 1ac .
"""
second example 1 The t11ird 1 Repeat tlie list.

Of
to
for

into
within
without

EXERCISES IN PARSING.
Prepositions, &:c.
QUESTIONS.-What part of speech is - ' - - I
PREPOSITION. Why I (see P· 11.)
.
We in vain look for a path
By dilig_ence and frugality
between virtue and vice.
we arnve at competence.

52

He lives within his income.
The house was sold at a
great price, and above its
value.
She came down stairs slowly, but went briskly up
again.
Some things make for him,
. others against him.

Of his talents much might
be said ; concerning his integrity, nothing.
Dy this imprudence, he was
plunged into new difficulties.
We are often below our
wishes, and above our deserts.

CONJUNCTION.

A CONJUNCTION is (') a part of speech that is
chiefly used to connect sentences; so as, out of two
or more sentences, to make but one. (2) It sometimes 'connects only words.
Conjunctions are p~·
cipally divided (3) into two
sorts, the COPULATIVE d DISJUNCTfVE.
The Conjunction Cop "<ttive serves (4) to connect
or continue a sentence, b P,xpressing an addition, a
supposition, or cause, &c. ».•J'• He and his brother
reside in London; I will go if he will accompany
me ; You are happy because you are good.
The Conjunction Disjunctive serves (5) not only
to connect and continue the sentence, but also to express opposition of meaning in different degrees .; as,
Though he was frequently reproved, yet he 'did not
reform ; They came with her, but went away without her.
'fhe following is a list of the principal conjunctions:
The Copulative. '· (') And, that, both, for, therefore, if, then,
since, because, wherefore.
The D isjunctive. (') But, then, thou~h, either, or, as, unless,
neither, nor, lest, yet, notwithstanding.
QuESTIONs.-1. What is a Conjunction 1 2. Does it always connect sentences 1 3. How are they divided 1 4.
For what does the conjunction copulative serve 1 What
conj unction in your first example 1 Does it connect words,
or sentences 1 What does it express I What does the

53

ETYMOJ,OGY.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

con"tinction express in the second exa~ple 1. '~:~n:
• tbeJ third 1 5. For what does the conJunct10l -Wh t
.
1 What conjunction iu your first examp e 1
a
~~v~,~e~~~ond 1 In which example is t~e greatesi ~~gr ~:
opposition expressed~ . 6. l;tepeat the list.of Copu a ive o
junctions. 7. The D1sJlmctive.

0

EXERCISES IN p ARSING.

Go11junction, &:c.
.
QUESTIONS.-What part of speech IB

'

---

1

CONJUNCTION. Why! (see p.12.) What kind! Wl1yi
If our desires are moderate,
our wants will be few.
Neither prosperity, nor . ad'
versity, has inlproved him.
H e is a.~ old as Ins classmate,
but not so learned.
Charles is esteemed, because
he is both discreet and benevolent.
He retires to rest soon, that
I~ may rise early.
She will transgress, unless she
be admonished.
He can acquire no virtue, m~­
less he make some sacrifices.
Let him that standeth take
heed lest he fall. ·
If thou wert his superior, thou
shouldst not have boasted.
If he has promised, he should
act accordingly.

we ought to be thau~ful,
for we have received
much. ·
Though he is often advised,
yet he docs not reform.
Reproof either softens or
hardens its object.
His father and mother and
uncle reside at Rome. .
we must be temperate, if
we would be healthy.
If he were encouraged, lie
would nmetHl.
Though he con~emn me, I
will respect hnn.
. ,
Their talents are more brilliant than useful.
Notwiths_tandit~g his poverty, he 1s a wIBe and worthy person.
H e will be detected, though
he deny th? fact.

~NTERJECTIONB

INTERJECTION.

or ExcLAMATIONs. are (1) wo:ds
d to ex ress some sudden pass10n or em.ot1on
~;~hes Je~lr ; as, Oh I I have alienated ~y fnend;
Alas I fear for life; 0, virtue ! how ailllable thou
art!

f

5*

54

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

The fol!owmg are some of the Interjections. · O !
pish ! heigh ! lo ! behold ! ah ! tush ! fie ! hush I
hail!
QuF.sTIONs.-1. What are Interjections or Exclamations I
:Whi~h ~re the interjections in the examples I . Repeat the
mterJect1ons that follow.

EXERCISES IN PARSING.
lnte?jection.v, &:c.
part of speech is - - - I
INTERJECTION. Why I (seep. 108.)
0, peace I how desirable art Hail I simplicity, source of
thou I
genuine joy.
I have been often occupied, Behold I how pleasant it is for
?reth.ren to dwell together
alas I with trifles.
Id be
m umty.
Strange I that we s
so infatuated.. . .
W ekome again I my long-lost
Oh I the humiliations ·•'l
fnend.
Hark I how sweetly the wood- ·
which vice r~duces us.
Ah I the diilus10ns of hope . ..../ lark. sings I _
.
QUESTIONS.-What

f'

I

.

~

A few Instances of the same iVords constituting several of the
Parts of Speedi.
Calm was the day, and the Still waters are commonly
scene delightful.
deepest.
We may expect a calm af- Damp air is unwholesome.
ter a storm.
Guilt often casts a damp over
To prevent passion is easier
our sprightliest hours.
than to calm it.
Soft bod ies damp the sound
Better is a little with conmuch more than hard ones.
tent than a great deal Though she is rich and fair,
with anxiety.
yet she is not amiable.
The gay and dissolute think They are yet young, and must
little of the miseries
suspend their judgment yet
which are stealing softly
awhile.
after them.
Many 'persons arc better than
A little attention will rectify
we suppose them to be.
smne e rrors.
· The · few and the many have
Though he is out of danger,
their prepossessions.
'
he is still afraid.
Few days pass without some
He labored to still the tuclouds.
mult.
Much money is corrupting.

l

I

ETYMOLOGY.

Think much, and speak litr
tic.
He has seen much of the
world , and been much
caressed.
His years are more than
hers, but he has not more
knowledge.
'fhe more we are blessed,
the more grateful we
should be.
'l'he desire of getting more
is rarely satisfied.
He has eq uni know ledge,
but infenor judgment..
She is his inferior in sense,
but his equal in prudence.
We must make a like space
between the lines.
Every being loves its like.
We are too apt to like per~cious company.

55

Behave yourselves lik~-:nien.
He may go or stay, as he
likes.
They strive to learn.
He goes to and fro.
To his wisdom we O\Ve our
privilege.
.
The proportion is ten to one.
He served them with his utr
most ability.
When we do our utmost, no
more is required.
I will submit, for submission
brings peace.
It is for our health to be temperate.
0 I for better tim!ls.
I have a regard for him.
He is esteemed, both on his
own account, and on that of
his parents.
Both of them deserve praise.

Promiscuous Exercises in Etymological Parsing

In yom whole behavior, be humble and obliging.
Virtue is the universal charm.
True politeness has its seat in the heart.
We should endeavor to please, rather than to shine and
dazzle.
Opportunities occur daily for strnngthening, in ourselves,
the habits of virtue.
Compassion prompts us to relieve the wants of others.
A good mind is unwilling to give pain to either man or
beast.
Pe!lvishness and passion often produce, from trifles, the
most serious mischiefa.
Discontent often nourishes passions equally malignant in
the cottage and in the palace. .
.
A great proportion of human evils is created by ourselves.
A passion for revenge has always been considered as the
mark of a little and mean mind.
If greatness flatters our vanity, it multiplies our dangers.
To our own failings we are commonly blind.

56

ENGJ,ISH

GRAMMAR.

The friendships of young persons are often founded on
ca.rricious likings. In your youthful amusement, let no un- '
farrncss be found.
Engrave on your minds this sacred rule:
"Do unto others as you wish that they should do unto you."
Truth and candor possess a powerful charm ; they bespeak
·
universal favor.
.After the first depart1rre from sincerity, it is seld<lm in our
power to stop: one artifice generally leads on to another.
'l'emper the vivacity of youth with a proper mixture of
serious thought.
The spirit of true religion is social, kind, and cheerful.
Let no compliance with the intelrate mirth of others
ever betray you into profane sallies.
In preparing for another world, w
ust not negleQ_t the
·\
duties of this life.
The manner in which we employ "1r present time may
decide our future happiness or misery ·.
Happiness does not grow up of it.s vn accord: it is the
fruit of long cultivation, and the acquisition of labor and care.
OF

DERIVATION.

Words are derived from one another (1) in variou.'l
ways, viz.
1. (9) Substantives are derived from verbs ; as,
from to love, comes lover.

2. (3) Verbs are derived from substantives, adjectives, and sometimes from adverbs; as, from salt,
comes to salt; from warm, comes to warm; from
forward, comes to forward.

I.

3. (4) Adjectives are derived from substantives;
as, from health, comes healthy.
4. (') Substantives are derived from adjectives;
as, from white, comes whiteness.
5. (6 ) Adverbs are derived from adjectives; as,
from base, comes basely.

SYNTAX.

57

How are words derived from one another I
2. Describe the first way. 3. The second. 4. The third.
6. Fow-th. 6. Fifth.
QUESTIONs.-1.

SYN'l'AX.
THE third part of Grammar is SYNTAX, which
treats of (1) the agreement and construction of words
in a sentence.
A sentence is (2) an assemblage of words, forming a -complete sense.
Sentences are of (3) two kinds, Simple and Compound.
. .
.
A simple sentence has m 1t (4) but one subject,
and one finite verb ; as, Life is short.
A compound sen:tence contains (5) two or more
simple sentences, joined. to~ether by one o~ more
connective words ; as, Life 1s short, and art is long.
A phrase is (6) two or more words rightly put
together, making sometimes part of a sentence, and
sometimes a whole sentence.
The principal parts of a simple sentence are, (~
the subject, the attribute, and the object. ·
The subject is (8) the thing chiefly spoken of; ~he
attribute is (9) the thing or action affirmed, or demed
of it; and the object is (1°) the thing affe~ted by
such action.
·
The nominative denotes the subject, and usually
goes before the verb or attribute ; and the word or
phrase denoting the ~bject ~ollows the verb; .as, A
wise man governs his passions. Here man 1s the
subject ; governs, the attribute, or thing affirmed ;
·
and passions, the object.
Syntax principally consists of two parts, ( 11 ) Con- .
cord and Government.

58

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

[RULE I.

Concord is (' 2) the agreement which one word
bas with another, in gender, number, case, or person.
Government is (' 3) that power which one part of
speech has over anolher, in directing its mode, tense,
or case.
QuESTIONs.-1. Of what · es Syntax trent 1 2. What IS
a Sentence 1 3. How many · <ls I 4. What has a Simple
sentence in it 1 Which word enotes the subj ect, in the example I · .Which the Verb 1 • What docs a Compound
sentence contain I What tw1. · pie sentences form the
compound in tJ1e example! '.,,y what are tJ1ey connected 1
6. What is a Phrase I 7. What are the principal girts of a
simple sentence 1 8. What is ilie Subject I 9. l'he Attribute 1 10. The Object I Which is the subj ect, which the
attribute, and which ilic object, in the example i 11. Of
what does Syntax prinCipally .consist 1 12. What is Concord 1 13. What is Government 1
·
HULE I.

A verb must agree with its nominative case in
number and person; as, I learn; Thou art improved; The birds sing.
QuESTIONs.-Of wbat number and person is learn? A.
First person si~gular number. Q. Why 1 A. Because its
nominative I is of the first person, singular number, and the
rule says, "A verb must' agree," &c. What number is art
improved! W11y 1 Sing? Why 1
Sr.ECIMEN OF P ARSTNG.

Hope animates us.
Animates is a regular transitive verb, indicative mode,
present tense, third person, singular number, agreeing with
its nominative, hope; agreeably to the rule which says, "A
verb must agree," &c.
Exercises in Parsing.
The contented mind spreads case and cheerfulness around'
it.

RllLE

1.J

SYNTAX.

59

The school of experience teaches many useful lessons.
In the path of life arc many thorns, as well as flowers.
.Thou shouldst do justice·to all men, cv~n . to enemies.

False Syntax to be corrected.
Fifty pounds of wheat contains fortl pounds of flow-:~
What avails the best . sentiments, 1f persons do not live
•
SWll\bly tu thClll,
Thou should love iliy neighbor 11.8 sincerely as iliou lovest
'
iliyself.
. N om l.-TI1e infinitive mode, or part of a sentence, is
sometimes put as the nominati1'e case to the verb; as, To
play is pleasant; 1'o be good is to be happy.
QuESTIONS.-ls the infinitive mode, or a part of a sentence,
put as the nominative case in tJie first example 1 What, in
the next example I
SrEOJMEN OF PARSING.

To play is pleasant ..
To play is a verb in the infinitive mode, and put us ilie
nominative case to the verb is ; agreeably to the note which
says, "The infinitive mode or part of a sentence," &c.
Exercises in Parsing.
To will is present with me, but how to perform that which
is good, I find not. To err is human, to forgive divine. To
countenance persons who are guilty of bad actions, is scarcely one remove from actually committing iliem.
False Syntax to be corrected.
'l'o do unto all men as we would that they, in similar cir-

* The following example, together with the questions un·
der each rule, will give tJic scholar an idea of the manner in
which he is to make the corrections :
"Fifty pounds of wheat cont.-iins forty pounds of flour."
Q. Is this sentence correct 1 A. No. Q. Wherein is it incorrect 1 A. Contains is of the wrong number. Q. Parse
it. A. It is a regular active verb, indicative mode, present
tense, third person, singular number, but .~hould b~ plural;
that is, contain, in order to agree with its nommative
pounds; agreeably to the rule which says, " A 'verb must
agree," &c.

I

60

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

[nuLE

r.

cumstances, should do unto us, constitute the great principle
of virtue. To live soberly, righteously, and piously, are required of all men. To be of a pure and bumble mind, to
exercise benevolence towards others, to cultivate piety towards God, is the sure means of becoming virtuous and
happy.
NOTE 2.- Every verb, except in the infinitive mode, or
the participle, ought to have a nominative case, either expressed or implied; as, .Awake ; arise; that is, A wake ye;
arise ye.
QuESTION.-Is the nominative caso expressed or implied, in
these examples I
SPECIMEN

Remember

OF

p ARSING.

t~
· sist the distressed.

Remember is a regular . b active, imperative mode, second person, singular nnmbE
nd agrees with its nominative
case, tlioit, implied; agree y to the note which says,
" Every verb," &c.
_,,)
.
Exercises in Pai·sing.
Boast not of to-morrow. Know thou thyself; presume
not God to scan Blow, winds, crack your cheeks.
False Syntax to be corrected.
If the pril'ileges to which he has an undoubted right, and
he has long er~oyed, should now be wrested from him, would
be flagrant injustice. These curiosities we have imported
from China, and arc similar to those which were some tirne
ago brought from Africa.
·
NoTE 3.-Every nominative case, except the case absolute,
and when an address is made to a person or thing, should
belong to some verb, either expressed or implied; ns, Who
wrote this book 1 James, that is, James wrote it. To whom
thus .Adam; that is, spoke.
QuESTIONs.-What nominative cases in your examples I
Do they belong to verbs expressed or implied 1
SrECIMEN

OF

PARSING.

Who wrote that book ? Jam es.
James is a proper noun, of the third p erson, singular
nwnber, nominative case, an<l belongs to wrote, implied;

RULE

I.l

SYNTAX.

agreeably to the note which says, "Every nominative
case," &c.
Exercises in Parsing.
- Who built that ship I Mr. Hewer. Who inbabi~ that
house I We. How many persona were present I Six ladies; and four gentlemen.

False Syntax to be corrected.
Two substantives, when they come toget~er, and do. i;ot
signify the same thing, the former must be m the. gemtrve
case. Virtue, however it may be neglected for a time, men
arc so constituted, as ultimately to acknowledge and respect
··
genuine merit.
.
.
NOTE 4 - When the nominative case has no personal tense ·
of a verb. but is pitt before a participle, independently on
the r est br the sentence, it is called the case absolute ; ,as,
Shame being lost, all virtu~ "'.as lost; The lessons havmg'
·
been recited, the boy was disrrussed.
QUESTIONS.-What nominative cases in your examples
which have no personal tense of a verb I Before what pa.rticiples are they put 1
SPECIMEN

OF

p ARSING.

Shame, being lost, all ~irtue was lost.
Shame is a common noun, of the third person, singular
number, nm\ nominative case a~sol~te; ag~~eably to the
note which says, " When the nommatrve case, &c.
Exercises in Parsing.
Proclamation having been made, all the people ass~m­
bled. There being but few persons present, the meeting
was adjourned.
False Syntax to be corrected.
Him destroyed, or won to wh~t may wo~k his utter loss.
,
Whose gray top shall tremble, him descending.
RULE.

When an address is made, the noun or pronoun addressed
is put in the nominative case independeut; as, It must be
so, Plato ; thou r eason est well ; A wake, my St. John ; Hear,
oh I heavens, and give ear, oh! earth.

6

62

ENGLISH GUAMMAR.

SPECIMEN

OF

LRULE

u.

p ARSING.

It must be so, Plato ; thou reasonest well.
Plato is a proper noun, of the second person, singular
number, and nominative case independent, agreeably to tho
rule which says, "When an address is made,'' &c.
RULE II.

.. Two or more nouns, &c. in the singular number,
J?med together by one or more copulative conjunctions, must have verbs, nouns, and pronouns agreeing with them · the plural number; as, Socrates
and Plato wer wise; they ·were the most eminent
philosophers of eece ; ·The sun that rolls over our
heads, the food I at we receive, the rest that we
enjoy, daily admor.
us of a superior and superintending Power.
QUESTIONS.- What number is were l Why would it not
be proper ~o .use was, instead of were 1 · A . .Because was is
singular, and the two nouns, Socrates and Plato, are joined
together by the copulative conjunction and; and the rule
says, "Two or more nouns," &c. What number is they 1
Why not he, instead of they ? What number is admonish!
Why not admonishes, instead of admonish 1
SrEOIMEN OF PARSING.

Peace and joy are virtue's crown.
_ Are is. an irregular verb neuter, indicative mode, present
ten~e, tlurd person, plura~ number, agreeing with its nomi1\ative cases peaee and ;oy; agreeably to t\Je rule which
.
says, "Two or more nouns," &c. .
Exercises in Parsing
Vanity and presumption ruin many a promising youth.
Food, clothing, and credit, are the rewards of industry.
He and William live together in great harmony.
False Syntax to be corrected.
Idle_ness and ig~?rnnce i~ the parent of many vices.
Patience and diligence, like fmth, removes mountains:
What _signifies the counsel and care of preceptors .when
youtl1 think they have no need of assistance 1

RULE III.)

SYNTAX.

63

NorE.-In many complex ·sentences, it is difficult for
learners to determine whether one or more of the clauses
are to be considered as the nominative case; and, consequently, whether the verb is in the singular or plural number. The following are correct examples of b6tl1 numbers ;
as, The ship, with all her furniture, "'.as destroyed;. The
prince, as well as the people, was prruseworthy ; Virtue, .
honor, nay, even self-interest, conspire to recommend the
measure; Nothing delights me so much ns the works of
nature.
QuESTIONs.-ls one or more of the clauses, in the first
exmn~>le, considered as the nominative C.'Ule to the verb I
·How lS it in the second I the third I the fourth I
False Syntax to be corrected.
Good order in our affairs, not mean savings, produce
great profits. That great senator, in concert with several
other eminent persons, were the projectors of the revolution.
RULE III.

The conjunction disjunctive has an effect contrary to· that of the conjunction copulative; for as
the verb, noun or pronoun is referred to the preceding terms taken separately, it must be in the
singular number ; as, Ignorance 'or negligence has
caused this mistake ; John, James or Joseph intends
to accompany me; There is in many minds neither
•knowledge nor understanding.
QUESTIONS.- What number is has ? Why not have? A.
Because have is plural, and the verb is referred to the preceding terms, i,qnorance and negligence, taken separately;
and the rule says, "The conjunction disjunctive,'' &c. What
.number is intends? Why not intend l What number is is?
Why not are 1
·
SPECIMEN

OF

p ARSIN<l.

Wisdom or folly governs us.
Governs is a regular verb active, indicative mode, present
tense, and the third person, singular number, agreeing with
·. its nominative case wisdmn or folly; agreeably to the rule
·which says, "The conjunction disjunctive," &c.

64

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

[RULE

ry.

.RULE

Exercises in Parsing.
No nge, nor condition, is exempt from troubl e.
·wcalth, or virtue, or any valuable acquisition, is not attainable by .idle wishes.
Neither birth nor fortune is a substitute for virtue.

.

.

NOTE.-When singular pronouns,.or a noun and pronoun,
of different persons, are disjunctively connected, the verb
must agree wit that person which is placed nearest to it;
lame ; Thou or I am in fault ; I, or thou,
as, I or tlio"u art
or he is the author · ; George or I am the person.

SYNTAX.

65

their chief good ; The council were divided in
tliefr sentiments ..

·; as

QuESTIONs.-What number is was! Why not were? A.
Because were is plural, and the noun meeting conveys unity
of i<lea; and the rule says," A nouri of multitude," &c. What
number is fa? Why · not are? What number is is in the
' next example i Why not are? What number is do? · Why
not does ? What number is they? Why not it? Pursue 1
Why not pursues? Their? Why not its? W ere! Why
not was? Their? Why not its?
'

False Syntax to be corrected.

Man's happiness or misery are, in a great measure, pul
into his own hands.
J\Ian is not such a machine as a clock or a watch, which
move merely as they are moved.
Speaking impatiently. to ·servants, or any thing that be·
trays inattention or ill-humor, are certainly criminal.

v.]

-

False Syntax to be corrected.

'The British Parliament are composed of King, Lords, and
Commons.
A great number do not always argue strength.
The council was not unanimous, and separated without
·coming to any determination.

QUESTIONS.-What p.
uns of different persons in your
first example i Of what erson is each I With which does
RULE V.
the verb agree I Why I . What persons in the next example i With which does the verb agree i Why I What ~ 1 Pronouns must always agree with their antecenoun and pronoun in the last example I With which does
dents, or the nouns for which they st.and, in gender
the verb agree I
and number; as, This is the friend whom I love ;
False Syntax to be corrected.
·That is the vice which I hate ; The king and · the
Either _thou or I art greatly mistak~n in our judgment 00 ~ •. queen had. put on their :obe~; The moon appears,
this subject. I or thou am the person who must undertako
and she shmes, but the hght IS not her own.
the busmess proposed.
The relative is of the same person as .the antece, dent, and the verb agrees with it accordingly; as,
RUJ,E IV.
Thou who lovest wisdom ; I who,_ speak from ex1JeA noun of multitude, or signifying many, may rience.
have a verb or pronoun agreeing with it, either of
QUESTIONS.-Why not which instead of whom ? A. Bethe singular or plural number; yet not without re- 1· cause which is neuter gender, and the antecedent, friend,
gard to the import of the word, as conveying unity ·is either masculine or feminine ; and the rule says, "Pronouns must always agree," &c. Why not who instea<l of
or plurality of idea; as, The mcetin~ was large;
The IJ.a rliament is dissolved ; The nat1011 is power- l which? Why not h&r or his instead of their? Why not
he or the,>1 instead of she? Why not his or th ei-r instead of
ful; My people do not consider; they have . not .' her? Why not whom instead of 10/1.0? Why noL loves
known me; 'l'hc multitude eagerly pursue pleasure 1 instead of lovest? What person is who, in the second ex·
6*

'6 6

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

[RULE V.

RULE

ample I How do you know it I Why not speaks instead of

p ARSING.

The man is happy who lives virtuously.
Who is a 'relative pronoun, which has for its antecedent
man, with which it agrees in gender and number; agreeably .

to the rule which says, "Pronouns must agree,'' &c.

1

False Syntax to be corrected.

Tb which seek Wisdom will certainly find her.
I do t think that any person should incur censure for
being te. r of their reputation.
Thou, ''
has been a witness of the fact, can give an ,

'

PART 1.-Every relative must have an antecedent to
which it refers, either expressed or implied; as, Who is fatal .
to others,- is so to himself; that is, the man who is fatal w
others.
QUESTIONS.-What relative in the example I
To what .
antecedent does it refer 1 Is it, expressed, or implied I
PART 2.- Wliat is very frequently the representative of
two cases ; one the obj?cti~c after the verb or preposition,
and the other 'the nommabve to a subsequent verb; ns, I
•
heard what was said ; He related what was seen.
· QuEsTJON.-What two cases arc represented by what.in
the examples I
.
NoTE 1.-Personal Pronouns, being used to supply the
place of the ' noun, are not employed in the same part of a
sentence as the noun which they represent; for it would be ·
improper to say, The king he is just; I saw her the queen;
The men they were there.
Ji'alse Syntax to be corrected.

NoTE 2.-Tiie pronouns whicluioever, whosoever, and the
like, are elegantly divided by the interpasition of the corre·
.sponding substantives or adjectives; thus, On which side
soever the king cast his eye.
,

Howsoever beautiful they appear, they have no real merit.
On wh.ichsoever side they are contemplated, they appear to
advantage.
'

The man who is faithfully attached to religion, may be
relied on with confidence.
'
.
The vices which we should especially avoid are those
which most easily beset us.
·

Tbe cares of this world they ofLen choke the growth

67

False Syntax to be corrected.

Exercises in Parsing.

=~~

SYNTAX.

of virtue. Disappointments and afilictions, however •
greeable, they often improve us.

speak?
SPEOIMEN OF

v.)

NoTE 3.-Many persons are apt, in conversation, to put the
objective case of the personal pronouns in the place of these
and those; as, Give me them books; instead of those books.
It is better to say, They that, or they who, sow in tears,
sometimes reap in joy; than to say, Those who, &c.
False Syntax to be corrected.

Which of them two persons has most distinguished himself I None more impatiently suffer injuries than those that
are most forward in doing them.
·
NOTE .4 .-Tiie word what is sometimes improperly used for
that; as, They will never believe but what I have been en·
tirely lo blame. 'l'he word somewhat, in the following sen·
tence, is improperly used ; These prutlshments seem to have
been exercised in somewhat an arbitrary manner; that is, in
a manner which is, i.n some respects, arbitrary.
False Syntax to be corrected.

He would not be persuaded but what I was greatly in
fault. These commendat.ions of his cl1ildren appear to have
been made in somewhat fill injudicious manner.
, NOTE 5.-Tirn personal pronoun is .improperly applied to
children and to animals; thus we say, It 1s a lovely child;
That fowl which nature has taught to. dip the wing in
water.
False Syntax to be corrected.

The child whom we have just seen is wholesomely fed.
He is like a beast of prey, who destroys without pity.

68

SYNTAX.

ENGLISH GRAllIMAR.

' 69

NarE 6.-There should be no ambiguity in the use of the ' The persons, who conscience and •vh-tue support, may
pronoun relative ; as, when we say, 'l'he disciples of Christ •,. mrile at the caprices of fortune.
whom we imitate. Is Ghrist or disciples the antecedent I
' From the character of those who you associate with, your
·
'
·
, • own will be estimated.
False Syntax to be corrected.
r
•
The king dismissed his minister without any inquiry, who 'l · NoTE 1.-)Vhen both the ai_itecedent and the rel.ativ:e
had never before committed so unjust an action. There are l beco.me _nommati..ves, each to different verbs, the relative IS
millions of people in the empire of China whose support is -.1 nommat1ve ,to. the .former, and. the. antecedent to the latter
derived ahnost entirely from rice.
. verb; .as, !rue phd?sophy, which is the ornament of our i;ia.
.. .
.
lure! consists ~ore m the love of our dut~•-, and the practice
~o~E 7.-The mte1Jections. 0 I OhJ and Ah I reqmre the of,v1rtue, than m great talents and exteilSlve knowledge.
objective case of a pronoun m ·the first person after them; '
·
·
as, 0 me I Oh me I Ah me 1·but the nominative case in the
QuESTIONs.-Which is the antecedent . in your' example I
second person ; as, 0 thou persecutor I Oh ye hypocrites I To what is it the nom.fuative 1 Which is the relative I To·
0 thou, who dwell~st, die.
what is it the nominative I
QuESTIONs.-What cases are the pronouns in the first ex· l NoTE 2.-Pronouns are sometimes made to precede the
ample ? Why I ·What in the second 1 Wl1y I ·What case' lhings which they represent; as, If a man dechtres in auis the pronoun in the next example I Why I What in the ' lumn, when he is eating them, or in spring, when there are
'. wne, that he loves grapes, die. But this is a construction
next.1 Why i
False Syntax to be corrected.
. iery seldom allowable. .
Ah I unhappy thee, who art deaf to the . calls of duty I
QUESTIONS.-What are the pronouns which precede the
Oh I happy we, surrounded with so many blessings I
lhings they represent in the example I To, what do they
refer I
RULE VI.

•

'l'he r elative is the nomi1~ativc case to the verb, '
when no nominative comes between it and the verb,
'fl
,
h
·
.
•.,.
as, ie master U(1W taug t us ; The trees which are
planted.
I
When a nominative comes between the relative
·b h . l ·
·
~
~11 d• t h e VCI , t C IC at1ve IS governed by SO me Word (•
m 1t.s own member of the sentence ; as, He who
preserves m e, to whom I owe my being, whose I am, ;
a nd whom I serve, is eternal.
,

.
False Syntax to be corrected. .
.
It is not to be expec~cd, that they, whom, m early lif~,
have been dark and deceitful, should afterwards become fair
md ingenuous . . That is' the student, who I gave the book
lo, and whom, I am persuaded, deserves it.
.
' ·N
· Th
t · · th .
·
•· OTE 3.- e noun or pronoun con ammg e answer must
be in the same case as that which contains the question; as,
JVhose books are these I They are John's. Who gave them
lo him I . We. Of whom did .you buy them I Of a bookrelier; him who !iv.es at the Bible and Cro,~n. .

QuEsTIONs.~Which word is the verb in the first example I
QuESTIONs.-What case is John's h1 the example i Wh,r
Wl1ich is the nominative? Why i Which is the verb in f mould it be so I What case is we? Why I What case IB
Ll1e next example 1 Which is the nominative? Why I Show '·• lim~ Why I
where a nominative comes between il1e relative and the verb ',
' 'False Syntax ·10 be corrected.
in the last example.
·· '
,
. . Of whom were the articfes boµght I Of a mercer; he who
1
Jialse Syntrrx to be corrected.
resides · near the mansion-house. Was any person besides ,
· If he will not hear his best friend whom shall be sent: to !he mercer present I Yes, bOth' him and his clerk. Who
admonish him 1
·
' .
· ; · " , was the money paid to I 'l'o the mercer li.nd his clerk. ·

70

ENGLISii GRAMMAR.

[RULE VII,

RULE VII.

RULE VIII.]

SYNTAX.

' QUESTIONS.-What acijective, and what adjective pronouns

When the relative is preceded by two nominatives in your examples I To what do they belong I Why should '
not say, These book I this books f ~J.'hese sortf that
of different persons, the relative and verb may agree you
'
·
1orts? Other road I another roads 1 •
in person with either, according to the sense ; as, I
SPEODIEN OF p ARSING.
am the man wlw comrnand you ; or, I am the man
wlio commands you. . .
'
' {
A better world.
QUESTIONS.- Which word is the relative in the first exam·
pie I By what two nominatives is it preceded I Of what
person is each 1 With which do U1e relative and verb agree I
With which do they agree in U1e next example 1
SPECIMEN OF

p ARSING.

I am the man who commands you.
Who is a relative pronoun, which has for itS antecedent
man, with which it agrees in person; agreeably to the rule
wl~u1 says, "When the relative is preceded," &c.

Better is an adjective, in fue comparative degree, and belongs to the noun world; agreeably to fue rule which says,
"Every adjective," &c.
' '
'Exercises in Pa'l"sing.
That sort of pleasure weakens and debases the mind.
Even in fuese times, there are many persons who, from
disinterested motives, are solicitous to promote fue happiness
of others.
False Syntax to be corrected.. ,

'l'hese kind of indulgences soften nnd injure the mind. ·
Instead of improving yourselves, you have been playing this
Exercises in Parsi11g.
two hours. '!'hose sort of favors did real injury, under the
,
'J u art the man who has improved his privileges, and · appearance of kindness.
wht vill reap the 1eward.
•
ExCEl"l'ION.-An adjective pronoun in the plural number, .
J 1 the person who owns the fault committed, and who will sometimes J.lroperly associate wifu a singular noun; as,
dis ns to conceal it by falsehood.
our desire, your mtention, their resignation.
QuESTIONs.- What are the adjective pronouns in the ex
False Syntax to be corrected.
ample 1 Of what number I With what substantives nre
Thou art the friend that hast often relieved me, and fuat. they associated 1 Of what number are fuese. subs~ntives I
has not deserted me now in the time of peculiar need. I ·
ADJECTIVE PRONOUNS.
p erceive that thou art a pupil who possesses bright part!,
NOTE 1.-The phrases tliis means nnd that means should
but who hast cultivated fuem but little.
·· !
be used only when iliey refer to what is singular; these
means and those means when they respect plurals ; as, He
RULE VIII.
lived temperately, and by _this .means . preserved his ~ealil1;
'!.'he
scholars were attentive, mdustr1ous, nnd obedient to
Every adjective, and every adjective pronoun, be·
longs to a substantive, expressed or understood; as,. their tutors, and by tlie&e means acquired knowledge. ·
QuESTIONs.-Why ' use this means in fue first example 1·
He is a good as well as a wise man; Ftw are happy '\
Why these means in the second I
·'

that is, persons; This is a pleasant walk ; that i;,
False Syntax to be corrected.
. This walk is, &c.
.
Adjective pronouns must agree, in number, with · Charles was extravagant, and by these means beeame poor
their substantives~ as, This book, these books; That , and despic~ble. · lndust.ry' is the mean of obt~ining ·C?mpe- '
rency. · This person embraced every opporturuty to·dispfay '
sort, tliose sorts; Another road, other roads.
·. - ''7 his
talents ; and by these means rendered himself. ridiculous i 1

72

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

[RULE

NO'l'E 2.-That Hi used in reference to the former of two
persons or things, and this in reference to the latter; as, Self·
love, which is the spring of action in the soul, is ruled by,
reason ; but for that, lhan would be inactive ; and but for
this, he would be active to no end.
·
QuESTIONs.-To what does that refer in the example I To
what does this refer I
.
False Syntax to be corrected.

Religion raises men above themselves ; irreligion sinks
them beneath the brutes ; that binds them down to a poor, •
pitiable speck of perishable earth ; this opens for them a
prospect to the skies.
NoTE 3.-TI1e distributive adjective pronouns, each, every,
either, agree with the nouns, pronouns, and verbs of the singular number only, except the plural nouns convey a collective idea; as, TI1e king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat, the king
of Judah, sat each on his throne ; Every tree is known by its
fruit ; Either of the two is eligible:
·
OBS.-Eac signifies both of them, taken collectively or·
separately; her properly signifies only the one or the other
.
of them, disj ctively.
alse Syntax to be corrected.

Each of the in their turn, receive the benefits to which
they are entitl.
Whatever he undertakes, either his pride
or his folly disgust us.
.
•
ADJEOTIVES.
NoTE 4.-Part 1. Adjectives are sometinies improperly
applied as adverbs ; as, Indifferent honest; excellent well; :
miserable poor ; instead of, Indifferently honest; excellently .
well; miserably poor. ·
.
!
Adverbs are likewise improperly used as ndjectiv~s; as,
The tutor addressed him in terms rather warm, but suitably
to his offence ; ·They were seen wandering about solitarily
and distressed ; instead of suitable and soWary.
· •
Fallie Synta.x to be corrected.

SYNTAX.

vm ..

73

PART 2.-The adjective pronoun such is often misapplied;
as, He was such an extrn vagant young man, that he spent
his whole patrimony in a few years. It should be, •o extravagant a young man.

False Syntax to be coructed.

Such an amiable disposition will secure universal esteem.
Such distinguished virtues seldom occur.
NOTE 5.-Double comparatives and superlatives should
be avoid ed ; such as, A worser conduct; A more serener
temper ; The most strictest sect.
False Syntax to be corrected.

'Tis more easier to build two chimneys than to maintain
one. The tongue is like a race-horse, which runs the faster,
the lesser weight it carries. The Most Highest hath created
us for his glory and our happiness.
NoTE 6.-Adjectives that have in themselves a superla
tive signification, do not properly ndmit of the comparative
or superlative form; such as, chief, extreme, perfect, right,
universal, supreme, J:c.
Specimen of Correction.

Virtue confers the supremest dignity on man, and should
be his chiefest desire.
QuESTIONA.-ls this sentence correct I A. No. Q . Wherein is it in~orrect I A. Supremest has the superlative form,
•t, added; whereas supreme has, in itself, a superlative sig·
nification.
False Syntax to be corrected.

His work is perfect, his brother's more perfect, and his
father's the most perfect of all. He gave the fullest and
most sincere proof of the truest frie11d ship.
NOTE 7.-In some cases adjectives should not be separated
from their substantives, even by words which modify their
meaning, and make but one sense with them; aA, A larga
enough number nearly; it should be, A number lar,q1
enough.
False Syntax to be corrected.

She reads proper, writes very neat, and composes very
He spoke in a distinct enough manner, to be heard by the
accurate. · He ·.was extreme prodigal, and his property JB
whole assembly. Thomas is equipped with a new pair of
now near exhausted. They generally succeQded; for they
gloves ; he is a servant of an old 1·ich man. '
·,, .
lived conformable to the rules of prudence.
7

'

74

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

[RULE IX,

RULE IX.

The article a or an agrees with nouns in the singular number only, individually or collectively; as, '
A Christian, an infidel, a score, a thousand.
'l'he definite article the may agree with nouns in
the singular or plural number ; as, The garden, the
houses, the stars.
The articles are often properly omitted ; when
used, they should be justly applied, according to
their distinct nature ; as, Gold is corrupting ; Tho
sea is green ; A lion is bold.
QuESTJON.-Why is it not as proper to say, A Christia1u,
an i1!fidels, as to say, The Christians, the i1!fidels?
8PECDl1'N OF

p ARSING.

An ang:el.
An is nn indefinite article, and agrees with the noun
angel; agres
ly to the rule which says, "The article a or
an agrees,"

RULE

x.]

SYNTAX.

75

False Syntax to be corrected.
He !ms been much censured fo~ conducting himself with
a little attention to his business. So bold a breach of order
called for little severity in ptmishing the offender.
RULE X.

One substantive governs another, signifying a different thing, in the possessive or genitive case; as,
My father's house; .Man's happiness; Virtue's reward.
QuESTJONs.- Which words arc in the possessive case in the
examples 1 By what s11bstantives are they governed 1 Why I

False Syntax to be corrected.
'rhy ancestors virtue is not thine. Thy fath ers offense
will not condemn thee. A mans manners frequently influence his fortune.
The following rule is thought preferable to the above :The posseBsive case is governed by the noun which it possesses; as, JJfan's happiness; Virt11e's rewnrd.
QuEsnoNs.-What does JJfan possess 1 By what is it
governed 1 Why 1 Virtue's?
SPECIMEN O~' PARSING.

Eurcises in Parsing.

The restless,
contented person is not a good friend, a :
good neighbor, or a good subject.
"
'l'he young, the healthy, and the prosperous, should noi
presume on their advan~'tges.
False Sy.'itax to be corrected.

'l'he fire, the air, the earth, and the water, are four elements of the philosophers. We are placed here under a trial '
of our virtue. The profligate mnn IS seldom or never found
to be the good husband, the good father, or the beneficeni ;
neighbor.
N OTE.-A nice distinction of the sense is sometimes made
by the use or omissron of the article a. If I say, He behaved
with a little reverence, my meaning is positive; if I say, He
behaved with little reverence, my meaning is negative.

11fan's happiness.
lifa.n's is a common noun, the third person, singular number, possessive case, and is governed by happiness, the noun
which it possesses; agreeably .to the rule which says, "The
possessive case," &c.
'
Exercises in Parsing.

Of man's first disobedience ·, . . sing, heavenly muse.
Oh ! happiness, our being's end and aim.
Peace and joy are virtue's crown.
Goodness brings its own reward.
I must get my lesson.
We must improve our time.
This composition is hi.1.
William has left his book.
QuF.STJON.-ls his a simple possessive, or a compound
possessive pronoun ·1

.

ENGL.TSll GllAMMAR.

[rr ur,E x.

!LLusrnATIO~.-The

difference between simple and compound prono1ms may be seen in the following sentences;
ls it her or !tis honor that is tarnished I It is not hers, but
his.
NoTE.-IV11en two or more nouns, or a noun and pronou n, come together, and signify the same thing, they are
iaitl to be 1~ Ar1•os1TION, and agree in case ; as, Paul the
Apostle; George, King of Great Britain, Elector of Hano'·cr, &c.
QuF-5T1oxs.-What two nouns come together, signifying
the same thing, in the first example 1 What three in the
. 6CCOnd 1
SPECIMEN OF PARSING.

The Emperor, Marcus Aurelius, was a wise and
virtuous prince.
~Ararcus Aurelius is a proper noun, of the third person,
singular number, nnd nominative case, and is put in npposi·
tion with the substantive Emperor; agreeably t-0 the note
which says, "When two or more nouns," &c.

Parsi~

Exercises in
·
Arden, the general, a brave man, w. defeated.
lllaria rej ected Valerius, the man w m she had rejected
before . .
He never forgot his wi fe, an example
every virtue, her
whom nil regarded with admiration.
False Syntax lo be corrected.
They slew V arus, he that was mentioned before. They
slew Varus, who was him that I mentioned before.
NOTE 1.-When several nouns come together in the pos~css i 1·e case, t he apostrophe, with s, is mrncxcd to the h st,
and understood of the rest ; as John ancl Eliza's book ; This
was my father, 111other, and uncle's advice.
But if any words inte~venc, or different things are meant.,
the sign of the possessive should be annexed to each; as,
They are John's as well as EUza's books; JITebster'.' and
Price's spelling-books.
False Syntax to be corrected.
It wa• the men's, women's, and children's lot to suffer
great calamities. Peter's, J ohn's, and Andrew's occupation
was that of fi shermen. This measure gained the king, as
well as the people's approbatioIL

RULE

x.J

SYNTAX:.

77

Norn 2.-l'art l . In poetry, the addjtional sis frequP.ntl;r
omitted, but the apostrophe retained; as, The wrath of Palens' son. The following- examples in prose urc erroneous:
Jfoses' minister; Phinc/1as' wife ; Festus came into Ji'eli:t/
room. It should have been, Moses's, P1'ine1'as's, Felix's.
QuF.snoNs.-Why is the additional a omitted in Pelcus' t.
Why is it not as properly omitted in Moses', Phinehas', and.
Jt'el·i x'?
Part 2.-Dut when cases occur which would give too
much of the hissing souncl, or increase the .difficulty of pronunciation the omission of the apostropluc s takes pince,
even in p~os.c; as, For righteousness' sake; for conscienci
sake.
Qu1:sT10N.-Why would you omit sounding the apostropluO'
a in righteousness' sake, and conscience' sake 1
.
False Syntax to be corrected.
Arni he cast himself down at Jesus feet. Moses rod was
turned into a serpent. For Herodias sake, his brotlier Philips wife. ]f ye suffer for righteousness's sake, happy am
ye. You should be subj ect for conscience's sake.

NoTE 3.-When terms signifying a name and an offico
nre connected, that which denotes the name of. persons
should be possessive; as, I left the parcel at 8m.ith'.~, tho
bookseller.
QuESTIONs.-Which word denotes the name of a person,
in the cx:i.mple 1 Which denotes the name of :m office !.
Which is put in the possessive case i
False Syntax to be corrected.
I botwht
the knives at Johnson's, the cutler's. This pal0
ace had hccn the Grand Sultan's, Mahomet's. I will uot for
D;wid's, thy father's sake.

Non: 4.-The English genitive, or possessive case, ha9.
often an unpleasant sound, so that we daily make ~~ore ~so
of tl w p:irt1clc of. to express lhe same relation. J hus, mslcad ol saying, The army's name, the Commons' vote, tho
Lords' house, we say, The name of the army, the vote of tho
Commons, the house of Lords.
QuESTI0:-1.-Why is the name of the army better than t~•
army's name?

7*

78

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

[RULE XI.

False Syntax to ba corrected.

'l'he world's government is not left to chance. It was
nec~ssary to have both the llhysician's and the surgeon's
advice.

.Nm·E 5.-ln some cas?~ we use both the possessive termmatwn and the prcpos1tion of; as, It is a chscovery of Sir
Isaac Newton's. 'l'he word ,genius or property , &c. may be
understood a.t the end of such phrases, and the noun or pronoun, s1gmfymg the possessor, 1s governed, in the possessive
case, by the noun signifying the thing possessed.
False Syntax to be corrected.

These pictures of the king were sent to hi~ from Italy.
That is the eldest son of the king of England's.
.NoTE 6.-:-'.Vhen an entire clause of a sentence, beginning
with a part1c1ple of the present tense, is used as one name
or to express one idea or circumstance, the noun on which it
depends may be put in the possessive case, and be governed
by that clause. Thus we say, What is the re on of this
p~ rson'.s dis!nissing his servant so hastily I Jus
·
What, 1s the rnason of this person's hasty dismi
·servant I
False Syntax to be corrected.

. Wlmt can be t!1e cause of the parliament neg cting so
1mport:mt a bu~m ess I Mucl1 dcpen.ds on this n~le being
observed. '111e tune of W 1llmm mnkm.,. the expenment at
length arrived.
"
RULE XI.

Transitive verbs govern the objective case; as,
~ruth ennobles ltei·; She comforts me; They support us; Virtue rewards lier follower s.
QuESTIO:<s.-Which is the transitive verb in each example I
What does each govern I Why l
SPECIMEN OF PARSING

Hope animates us.
Us is. a Jlersonal pronoun of the first person, plural munber, objective case, nnd governed by the transitive verb

RULE XI.]

SYNTAX.

79

animates; agreeably to the rnle which says, "Trnnsiliva

verbs," &c.
Exercises in Pai·sing.

Wisdom and virtue ennoble us. Vice and folly debase us.
'Whom can we so justly love as them who lmvc endeavored to make us wise and happy I
. When a person has nothing to do, he is almost always
t.empted to do wrong.
We need not urge Charles to do good: he loves to do it.
False Syntax to be corrected.

Who have I reason · to love so much as this friend of my
youth I The man who he raised from obscurity is dead
He and they we know, but who art thou 1
NoTE 1.-Part of a sentence, ns well as a noun or pronoun, may be said to be in the objective case, or to be put
objectively, and governed by the transitive verb; ns, We
sometimes sec vi?'tue in distress ; but we should consider
/tow gi·eat will be her ultimate reward.

Sentences or phrases under this circumstance may be
termed objective sentences, or phrases.
QUESTIONS.-What obj ective phrase in the first example I
Dy what active verb is 1t governed 1 Docs the next example contain an objective phra.~e, or sentence 1 Dy what is it
governed 1
. SPECIMEN OF PARSING.

But we should consider how great will be her ultimate reward.
How great will be he1· 11ltimate rcwarcl is an objective sentence, and governed by the trnnsitive verb consic/~r; ngreeably to the note whid1 says, "l'nrt of n sentence," &c.
E xercise.• in Parsi11g.

Can you tell how fnuch the land cost I
We saw religion abandoned, and persecuted; but 'va
could not see how many vices would be introduced.
Non: 2.-Somc verbs appear to govern two words in the
obj ective case; as, The Author of my being formed 111e man,
and made me nccount.able to him. Th ey desired me to
call them bretftl',~<. Htl seems to have made him 10/i.at he
was.

BO

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

[RULE XI.

RULE

Xll.1

QuF-STIONs.-In the first example, what two words in the
·objective case I By what verb arc they governed I ·what
two in the next I By what governed I
SrECIMEN

OF

PARSING.

They desired me to call them brethren.
Th em and brethren arc two words, each in the third person, plural number, objective case, and governed by the
irans1tive verb call; agreeably to the note which says,
~Some verbs appear," &c.
Exercises in Parsing.
The king created him duke.
'l'he voice of the nation declared him a traitor.
False Syntax to be corrected.
'l11ey who opulence has made proud, and who luxury 11
corrupted, cannot relish the simple pleasures of nature. Yo·
have reason to dread hi_s wrath, which on_e day will destro '
ye both. He and they we know, but who are you I
!

NoTE 3.-Neuter verbs of motion and change are varied~
like the active, and admit of the passive form, retn ining still \
the neuter signification ; as, I am come ; I was gone ; I am
grown; I am fallen. The following examples should have
11n active, and not a passive form; We are infinitely swe1·ved ;
the whole obligation was also ceascil; the number was now
amounted, &c.
False Syntax to be corrected.
If such maxims and such prnctices prevnil, what hns bel:Ome of decency and virtue! I have come according to tho
time proposed; but I have fallen upon an evil hour. He
wns entered into the connection, before the consequences wero
considered.
NOTE 4.-Part 1. Intransitive and neuter verbs may have
the same case after them as that which next precedes them;
ns, I am he whom they converted; I believe it to have been
them; Jie desired to be their king; She walks a queen.
Qu]:STJOKs.- ·what pronoun is next after a neuter verb,
In the first example 1 In 'vhat case is it I What intransitive
verb in the last example I What case l1as it before it, :md
what after it I

81

BYN'l'AX.
81'ECIME" OF' PARSIXO.

He desired to be their king.
]{iug is a common noun, of the third person, singular number, ancl 11on1i11ative case after the neuter verb I? be~ because
Ti e, the case which next precedes it, is in the ~l~tnumttve case;
ngret•ably to the note which says," Intrans1ttve and neuter

verbs," &c.

.

Pi\ltT 2.-Passive verbs which signify naming, nnd others
of a sim ilar natme, ha,·e the same case before and after
them ; as, J!e was called Cwsar; Sit• was named Penelope;
JJ0111e1· is styled the prince of the poets; James wits created
duke.
QuEs-r1o"s.- ·what noun is put after a verb of naming, in
the first example 1 Jn what case is it 1 Why i In what
case is in·ince, iu the third exmnple ! Why i
Fa/.~e S!fnlax to be corrcctecl
Well may yon be nfrai<l ; it i~ hin~· in~leed : I would act
the same part, if I w~re hi.m, ?r 111 l11s s1tuat1;Jn. If it wa• '
not him, who do you nnagmc it to h111·c been I

Non: 5.-The n11xilinry verb /~I g01'Cl'11S the ohj ec~ive
case; ns, Let him beware i Le t u.'> Jt1dge correctly; .L et lucm.
not presume; Let George stuuy his IL•sson.

Fa/ sc S!J11 I a.i· lo be co1Tcclc<l.
WhateYCr others <lo, ld thou mul I net wisely.
and we unite to oppose this growing e1·il.

Let thou

JWLF: XII .

One ve rb o·oyerns anolhcr that follows it, or <lepends upon it, in the infinitirn mocle; as, Cease to
do eYil; Learn to do well; W e 8houkl be prepared
to i·ender an account of our aclions.
'fhc word to, though generally used. bcforn the
latter n~ rh, is sometime~ properly omitted ; as, I
heard him say it ; instead of; tu say it.

"'

QuESTJ0'8.-Whnt is the h'.fi11ilii•' 111ocle in each example I
Dy what g01·e1'11etl ·1 Why l

...-

... .

~

82

ENGLISH GRAMMAit.

[nuLE Xll

. The follo wing Rule, with the VERB inserted, is thought to
include all. !!tat ~-elates to t!te government of the iiijinitivt
mode, and in plainer tenns than the original rule :-

. RuLE.-The. infinitive mode is governed by (verbs) ad'e<>
t1ves! substantives, and participles; ns, He is eager to leirn .
S!1e is wo~thy to be loved; They have a desire to improve'.
Endeavoring to persuade.
'
QuE~TIONs.-By what part of speech is the infinitive gov~rned, m .the first example 1 By what in the second i What
m the third i In the last i

SPEOIMEN OF PARSING.

She is worthy to be loved.
To be loved is a passive verb, in the infinitive mode and
go":erned by the adjective worthy; agreeably to the' rule
wluch says, "The iutinitive mode is governed," &c.
bxecrcises in Parsing.
Cease to do evil.
Learn to do well.
They have a desire to do ri.,ht.
~!~e is. endeavoring to pcrsu~dc.
'I JS wise to talk with our past hours.

PART 1.-'.l'he info1itivc sometimes follows the word as·
thus, An object so !ugh as to be invisible · A question so obscw-e as to perplex the underst.'lnding. '
PAaT. 2.-The infiniti~e occasionally follows than, after a

com~anson ; as, He desued nothing more than to know his

own uuperfcctious.

PA~T 3.- The infmitiYe mode is often made absolute, or
used mdepeudently on the rest of the sentence su ) I in
the place of the conjunction that, with the poteu'tiall ~~de~
ns, 'l'o confess the truth I was in fault· that is that I 111 '
confess, &c.
'
'
'
ay

PART 4.-Tbe verbs bid, dare, need, make see hear feel
and nJso let, not used ns an auxiliary and a few ~thers 'have'
in the act~ve form, tlie infinitiv~ af~r them witho11 t tl;c ~ig~
t~ befor~ it; as, I ba.dc b1m .do 1t; Ye dare not do it; I saw
him do it; I beard hun say 1t; Thou lettest him go.

RULE

xm.]

SYNTAX .

83

QuESTJON.-What verbs arc used in the infinitive mode
without' the sign to ?
False Syntax to be corrected.

It is better live ou a little, t.han ontlive a great deal. You
ought not walk too hastily. I wish him not wrestle with his
happiness. I need not to solicit him to do a kind action. I
have seen some young persons to conduct themselves very
discreetly.
RULE XIII.

In the use of words and phrases which, in point
of time, relate to each other, a due regard to that
relation should be observed. Instead of saying, The
Lor¥iath given, and the Lord hath taken away;
we sl uld say, The Lord gave, and the Lord hath
take . away. Instead of, I remember the family more
thar wenty years ; it should be, I have remembered
the · mily more than twenty years.

~sTJON.-ln the example, why use gave i11Stead of hath

given 1

False Syntax to ,be corrected.

The next new year's day, I shall be at school three yenrs.
From the little conversation I had with him, be appeared to
have been a man of letters. It would have given me grent
satisfaction to relieve him from that distressed situation.
RULE XIV.

Participles have the same government as the verbs
have from which they are derived; as, I am weary
with hearing him ; She is instructing us; The tutor
is admonishing Charles.
QuESTIONs.-Which is the pai·ticiple in the first example!
From what is it derived! What does it govern 1 Why I
A. Because the verb !tear would govern the objective case
him; and the rule says, "Partici ples have the same government," &c. Which is the participle in the next example 1
What does it govern 1 Why i Which, in the next I What
does it govern 1 Why I
·

,. .-

-----·

84

~~NGl.ISII

GRAMMAR.

[RULE XIV.

RULE

xv.]

SYNTAX.

Sl'ECIMEN m· PAnsrno.
Sl'ECrnEN OF

Speaking truth.
~
:J'rut11 is a common noun, t.hird person, singulm lumber,
. ' :peakin the object.ive case, and governed by the partiet··
ing; agreeably t? the rule which says, " Participl ," &c.

Exercises in Parsing.
·
Having early disgraced himself, he became me n and dispirited.
Knowing him to be my superior, I cheerfully submitted.
False Syntax to be corrected.

Esteeming thcirselves wise, they became fools. Suspecting 11ot only ye, but they al$o, I was studious t.o avoid all
intercourse. From having exposed hisself too freely in different climates, he entirely lost his health.
PART 1. A participial or verbal noun, whether simple or
compound, may be either in the nominative or o~jcctive case,
and may have a verb and adjective referring to it ; as, Readi'llg is useful ; lie mentioned a bo.~'s having been corrected for
his faults; Tltc boy's having been corrected, is shameful to
him.
QuESTIONs.-'Vlmt kind of noun docs the first example
contain! In what case is it 1 What kind does the second
coat:1i11 1 In what case 1 The third 1 What case 1
Sl'ECIM EN OF PARSING.

_'fhe boy's having been corrected, is shameful to him.
17ie having been corrected h a participial noun, nnd in tho
nominative case to i.•; agreeab ly to the rule which says,
"A participial or verbal noun," &c.

PAnt• 2.-A part.icipial noun , governed by n preposition,
or used as a nominative, may govern the o~jcctive case; as,
J ohn wa• sent t.o prepare the way b!t preacltin,9 1·epentancc,
and by instructin_q the people; },faking books is his employment; Her amusement is drawing maps.
QuESTIONs.....:.Js the participial noun, in the first example,
govemcd by a preposition, or used as a nominative 1 How
is it in the next example 1 How in the last 1

85

PARSJNO.

Making books is his employment.
Books is a common noun, third person, plural nnmber, objective case, and governed by the participial. noun making,
which is nominative to is; agreeably to the rule which says,
"A participial noun ," &c.

PAa1· 3.-'I'he active participle is frequently used without
an obvious reference to any noun or pronoun; as, Generally
speaking, his conduct is very honorable ; Granting this tn be
true, &c. In such instances, a pronoun is to be w1dcrstood.
N oTE I.-When the article a, an, or the, precedes the participle, it becomes a substantive, and must have the preposition of after it; as, By the observing of the rules, you may
avoid mistakes ; This was a betraying of the trust; It is an
overvaluing of ourscl ves.
False Syntax to be corrected.

By observing of truth, you will command esteem, as well as
secure peace. A person may be great or rich by ch:mce;
but he cannot be wise or good, without the taking pains for
it. Nothing could have made her so unhappy, as the marrying a. man who possessed such principles.
NOTE 2.- Wh<'n the pronoun precedes the participial noun,
U1e pre posit.ion of should follow it ; · as, Much depends on
their observing of the rule, as error will be the consequence
of their neglecting of it.
False Synta.x to be corrected.

There will be no dat1ger of their spoiling their faces, or of
their gain ing converts. For his avoiding that precipice, he
is indebted to his friend's care.
RULE XV.

Adverbs, .though they have no government of
case, tense, &c., require an ap propriate situation in
the sentence, viz. for the most part before adjectives,
after verbs active or neuter, and frequently between
8

86

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

[RULE XV.

' .the auxiliary and the verb ; ' as, He made a very sensible discourse ; he spoke unujJectedly and furcibly,
nnd was attentively heard by the whole assembly.
QuESTJONs.-Wlmt adverb in the first example I Where
is it placed I What in the other examples I Where are
they placed I
SPECIMEN OF

PAUSING.

'They are certain! y lost.
Certainly is an adverb of affirmat.ion, and is placed between the auxiliary arc aud the verb lost ; agreeably to the
rule which says," Adverbs, though they have," &c.
Exercises in Parsin[J.

We should always prepare for the worst, and hope for the
best.
A young man, so benevolent and virtuou~, promises to be
fl very useful member of society.
·When our virtuous fri ends die, they arc not lost forever ;
they are only gone before us to a happier world.
False Syntax io be corrected.

RUL8

xvr.J

SYNTAX.

87

PAnT 2.-The adverbs here, f!t ere, and where, arc often
improperly applied to verbs signifying motion, instead of
k it her, thither, whither; as, He ca me here hastily; '1 hey
rode there with speed ; IVlierc are you going I They should
b", He came hitlur .: They rode thither; vVh.itltcr arc you
going!
False Syntax to be corrected.
He drew up a petition, where lie too freely represented
his own merits. His follies had reduced him to a situatiorr
where he had much to fear, and nothing to hope. It is re·
ported, that the prince will come here lo-morrow. George is
active; he walked there in less than an hour. Where nro
yon all going in such haste I Whither have they been since
they left the city 1
NoTv..-'l'ho instruction cont.nincd in r nrt 2 of the foregoing note is
fHBL becoming obsoJcte.
RU LE XVI.

Two negatives, in English, destroy one another,
or arc equival ent to an atlinnative; as, J.Yor did they
not perceive him ; that is, they did perceive him:
His lang uage, though inelegant, is not ungrammatical; that is, it is g rammatical.

He was pleasing not often, because he was vain. \Yilli:un
nobly acted, though he was unsucce,sful. \Ve may happily
live, though our possessions are small.

QuEsTJONs.- What negatives in t.he first example I To
what nre they equivnlent I Express it aflinnativcly. 'Vlmt
negatives in t.hc nex t example I To what arc ·tJ1ey equivalent I Express it aflinnatively.

NoTE 1.-Part 1. The adverb never generally precedes
the verb; ns, I never was there ; He never comes at a
proper time.
PART 2.-Evcr is sometimes improperly used for never; M,
I seldom or ever sec him: it shou ld be, I seldom or neve·r, &c.

False Syntax to be corrected.
Ile honest, nor take no shape nor semblance of disguise.
There cannot be nothing more insignificant than vanity. Tho
measure is so exceptionable, that we cannot by no means
permit it..

False Syntax to be corrected.

They could not persuade him, though they were neYer so
cloqnenL If some persom' opportunities were never so favorable, they would be loo indolen t to improve them.
Non: 2.-Part 1. The adverb of pince 1oliere is often improperly used instead of the pronoun relative and n preposition ; as, They form ed n protestation, where they rep eated all
tl1eir claims ; that is, in which they repeated, &c.

ItULE XVU.

Prepositions govern the objective case ; ag, I have
heard a good character of her; From him that is
needy, turn not awny ; A word to the wise is sufficient for them; We may be good and happy wit/tout riches.
QUEST IONS.- What preposition in the first example l What
docs it govern l Why I What in the next I What docs it

88

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

RULE XVII.]

_ [IlUI.E XVII

govern 1 Why 1 In the next 1 What does it govern I Why
'l'he next 1 Whnt docs it govern I Why 1
S1·ECIMEN

Industry is n common noun, of tlie third person, singular
number, objective case, and governed by the preposition by;
agreeably to the rule which says, "Prepositions govern," &c.
Exercises in Parsi119.
From whom was that information received 1
To whom do that house, and those fine gardens, belong I
False Synta:r to be corrected..
·we arc all accountable creatures, each for hisself. Docs
that boy know who he speaks to 1 Who <loes he offer such
language to i It was not he that they were so angry with.
RULE.

Notms expressing time, space, direction, distance, value, or
dimension, arc commonly attended by an ellipsis, and governed by a preposition understood ; as, I sat an hom ; He
went a voyage ; They went that way; She rode a mile ;
Wisdom is worth a mine of gold ; He laid a floor ten fee t
square; that is, clitring an hour ; on a voyage ; in that way;
over or tkrou9 li the distance of a mile; worthy of; over the
dimension of ten feet square.
SrECIMEN m·

89

PAm' 2.-The prcpositio!'s to, for, nnd f1·01n, are ·often
understood, chiefly before the p1:onouns; as, Give me the
book; Get me some paper; that is, to me, for me; Wo
is me; He was banished England ; that is, to me, from
England.

OF PARSING.

'l'hcy are supported by industry.

SYNTAX.

I

Non: 1.-Thc prcJ?osition is often ungracefully separated
from the relative wluch it governs ; as, W!tom will you give
it to! instead of 'l'o whom will you give it 1,
• False Syntax to be corrected.
To have no one whom we heartily wish well to, and whom
we are warmly concerned for, is a dcplornble state. He is
o. friend whom I am highly indebted to.

NoTE 2.-Different relations, and dilforcnt senses, must be
expressed by different prepositions, though in conjunction
with the same verb or adjective; thus we say, To converse
with n person, upon a subject, in a house, &c.
False Syntax to be corrected.
'Ve urc often disappointed of things, which, before possession, promised much enj oyment.. I have frequei:itly de.sired
their company, but have always lutherto been clisappomtcd
in that plensurn.

NoTE 3.- An accurate and appropriate use of the prepositions is of great importance :-

PARSING.

She rode a mile.
.Jf ile is a common nonn, of the third person, singular llUlllber, objective case, and governed by the preposition of, by
supplymg t he ellipsis, through t!te distance of; ngreeably to
the rule which says, "Nouns expressing," &c.
Exercises in Parsing.
Ye have forgotten me days without number.
All the days of my appointed time will I wait.
H e was banished his cotm!.ry.
I went a journey.
PART 1.-I'articiplcs arc frequently used as prepositions;
as, excepti119, respecting, tourh.ing, concerning, according; as,
They were all in fault e:rcept or except·i ng him.

FmsT- With respect to tl1e preposition OF; as, He is resolved of going to. the Persian co.urt; on ~oing, d'c.; .The
rain hath been falling of a long tm:e ; falling a long tune ;
He went out of an cvcmng ; nn even mg.
SEco~n-Wi th respect. to tJ1e prepositions TO and ~-on; as,
You have bestowed your favors to tJ1e most deservmg per·
sons; upon the most deserving, &c. ; He accused the mmistcrs for betraying the Dutch; of having Let.rayed, &c.

Tnmo-Wit.h respect to the prepositions WlTH, oN, mid
UPON; ns, Reconciling himself with. the king; to the king; It
is a use that perhaps I should not have thought on; tl1nugltt
of; !°'- gre.at quanti_ty may b~ tal_<ct~ from the heap, without
makmg any alternhon upon it; m 1t.

8*

!JO

ENGLISH GRAMMAR .

[RULE XVIII.

Fouttrn-With respect to the prepositions FttOM INTO
OUT, AT, &c.; AR, They should br informed i:i BOID~
parts of !us character; about or concerning, &c.

AFTER., Il l ' ,.

False Syntax to be cotrectal.
She finds n. difficulty of fixing her mind. There was no
"'.nter, and he died for thirst. 1 have no oc{:asion of his services.. This is a principle in unison to our nature. Their
house is situated to the northeast side of the road. He was
accused wit!1 hav~ug ac!etl unfairly. Their conduct was
agreeable with their profession. ·
·
NoTE 4.-Pa.rt l. The preposition to is used before nouns
of place, when they follow verbs and participles of motion ·
as, l went to Loudon ; I am going to town.
'

.z.-J:i is set be~ore countries, cities, an<l lnrge towns;

l'AllT
ns, H e lives

in

France,

in

London, in Birmingham.

RULE

xrx.]

SYNTAX.

91

SrECIMF.N OF P AllSING.

If he go the voyage and prosper.
Prosper is a rcgnlm· neuter verb, of the subjunctive mode,
and present teuse, third person, singular number, and is connected, by lhe conjunction a11d, to the verb go; agreeably to
the rule which says, "Conjunctions. connect," &c.
Exercises in Parsing.
H e and I commenced our studies at the same time.
If we contend about trifles, and violently maintain our
·opinion, we shall gain but few friends.
False Syntax to be corrcdcd.
l\Iy brother and him nre tolerable grammarians. Did he
not tell thee his fault, and entreated thee to forgive him I
Professing regard, and to act differently, marks a base mind.

P.<nT 3.-At is generally used after !.he verb to be; as, I
ha:"e be e1~ at Loi~don.; and before villages, single houses, and
citws, wluch .nre m thstant countries; as, lie lives a( Hackney ; He resides at Montpelier.

NoTE.- Conjunct.ions nre, indeed, frequently made to connect different modes and tenses of verbs ; but, in these instanceR, I.he nominati1•e, generally, if not always, is repcateti;
as, He lives temperately, and lie should l·i11c temperately.

False Synta.x to be corrected.
I have been to J~n~ on , a fter having resided a year at
~ranee ; anti I now. hve m l~lington. They have jnst lauded
m Hu!~, anti arc gorng for Liverpool. They intend to reside
some tune at Ireland.

False Syntax to be corrected.
Rank may confer influence, but will not necessarily produce virtue. H e does not want courage, but is tiefective in
sensibility. H e might have been happy, anti is now fully
convinced of it.

RULE XVIII.

HULE XIX.

Conjunctions and commas connect like words, the
same modes and tenses of verbs, and cases of nouns
and ~ronouns ; as, ~andor is to be approved and
practised i If thou s~n cerely desire, and earnestly
p nrsue Vutue, .she will ass uredly be found by thee,
and prove a. nch reward ; The master taught lter
and me to wnte; lle and site were school-fellows.

Some conjunctions require the indicative, some
the subjunctive mode, after them. It is a general
rule, that, when something contingent or doubtful
is implied, the subj unctive ought to be used ; as, If
I were to write, he would not regard it ; He will not
be pardoned, unless be repent.
Conjunctions that are of a positive and absolute
nature, require the indicative mode ; as, As virtue
advances, so vice recedes; He is healthy, beca1~se he
is temperate.

QuESTIONs.-Of what mode nnd tense is prar.ti.~ed? Why I
Pursue? Why 1 Prove? Why I In what case is me!
Why! Ile? Why1

- 92

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

(R ULE XIX.

QuESTIONS.-Of what mode is were? Why 1 R e ent2
W11y I .Advances? Why 1 R ecedes? Why i Js? 'W1iy ·,

False Syntax to be corrected.
TI10ugh he urges me yet more earnestly, I shall not comply, unless he adl'ances more forcible reasons. She disapproved the measure'. because it were very improper. Though
the fact be extraordmary, it certainly did happen.
NOTE l.-TI1e particle as, when it is connected wit.Ji the
pronoun such, has th e force of a relative pronoun · as Let
such as presmne to advise others, look well to tl;eir' own
conduct.
SPEClllIEN OF p ARSING.

Let such as presume to advise others, look well to
their own conduct.
.As is n relath•e pronoun, referring to such for its antecedent, of tl1e third person, plural number, and nominative
case. to presume; agreeably to the note which says· "Tho
particle as, when," d:c.
'
Exercises in Parsin[J.
Sucl.1 m en as know their iuterest will avoid the place.
H e i.s r epresented to be such a character as is but seldom
seen.
In such company as I found there, I should delight to
remain.
~OTE. 2.- Some . conjunctions have their correspondin"'
conjunctions belong mg to them, so t.hat, in the subsequ ent
member of tl1e sentence, fue fatter answers to the former ·,
· as,
I. Tnouon, YET, NEVEitTHELEss ; as, Though he was rich
yet for our sakes he became poor.
.
'
2. WHETUER-OI<; as, IVhetli.cr he will go or not I cannot tell.
'
3. EtTIIER--OR ; as, I will either send it, or brir;ig it myself.
4. NE1;11ER-NOR; as, Neither thou 11or I nm able to
compose 1t.
. 6. As:-As ; expressing a comparison of. equality ; as She
IS as amiable as her sister.
'
6. As-so; expressing a comparison of cqunlit.y · ns Aa
ti1e stars, so shall thy seed be.
' '

RULE

xx.]

SYNTAX.

93

7. As-so; expressing a comparison of quality ; as, A~
the one 1.lieth, so dieth the other.
8. So-As; with a verb expressing a comparison of equality; as, '.l'o see thy glory, so as w e have seen it in thy sanctuary.
9. So-As ; with a negative and an adjective expressing
a comparison of quantity; as, Pompey was not so great a
man as Cesar.
10. So-THAT; expressing a consequence; as, H e was so
fatigued, that he could not move.
.
False Syntax to be corrected.
Neither the cold or the fervid, but characters uniformly
warm, are formed •for friendship. Th ey are both praiseworthy, and one is equally deserving as the other. He is not
as diligent and learned as his brother. Neither despise or
oppose 1vhat thou dost not understand. The house is not as
commodious as we expected it would be. 'l'he dog in the
' manger would neither eat the hay himself, or suffer the ox
to eat it.
RULE xx.
·When the qualities of different things arc compared, the latter noun or pronoun is not governed
by the conjunction than or as, but is nominative to
a verb, or is governed by a verb or preposition, expressed or understood; as, 'fhou art wiser than I;
that is, tlwn I am ; 'l'hey loved him more than me ;
that is, more than they loved me ; The sentin;i.ent is
well expressed by Plato, but much better by Solomon than him ; that is, than by him.

QuESTIONs.- What are compared in tl1e first example 1 In
what case is the latter pronoun ? 'Vhat verb is und erstood,
to which it is nominative 1 What are compared in 1he next
example 1 In what case is the latter pronoun? By what jg
it governed I By what is him governed in the next example I
SPECll\IEN OF PARSING.

A good name is better than wealth.
Wealth is a common noun, third persm;, sing nlar number,
and nom ina.tivc case to i", und er,tood; ngreeubly to the rule
which says, " When the qualities," &c.

94

ENGLI SH GRAMMAR.

[n uLE XXI.

Exercises in Parsing.
~:10se persons are abundantly more oppressed than we.
JOugh I a~ not so good a scholar as he i ~, I am, perhaps

no t Iess attentive than he to my studies.

'

False Syntax to be corrected

'l'he business was much better execut ed by his brother than
he. They nrc much greater gainers t.han me by this unexpc~terl event. They know h.ow to write as well as him . but
he is n much better grnmmanan than them Thou art ' J
. cl cath. S.ho suffers
.
' a mnc
g reate
..
• r Ioser tl ian me by I11s
hourly
morel
Lh.rn me. 'Vl10 betrayed her compamon 1 Not me. Who
reve nl ~ d the secr~ts he ought to have concealed 1 Not him
There is but one m fault, an<l tlmt is me.
·

RUL E XXH.]

SYNTAX.

95

Fa/,se Syntax to be corrected.
These counsels were. the dictates of virtue, and the dictates of true honor. ·we must guard ngainst too great severity or facility of manners. By these happy labors, they who
sow and reap will rejoice together.
NoTE.-The noun is frequently omitted in the following
manner : The laws of God and man; tlrnt is, 'l'he laws of Go<l
nn<l the laws of man. Emphasis renders the ellipsis of tho
noun improper.
False Syntax to be corrected.

Avarice ancl cunning may acquire an estate; but avarice
nn<l cunning cannot. gain fn cn<ls. The anxious man is tho
votary of riches ; the negligent, of pleasure.
RULE XXII.

ltULE XXI.

To :woi~ clisai;p·ecable repetitions, ancl to cxpre.ss. our 1cleas m a. few. word s, an ellipsis, or
om1ss1on of some words, 1s frcqu cnlly aclmittecl
Ins~cad of saying, He was a. learned man, he w~
a ~vi s ? man, and he was a good ma.n ; we use tbe
elhps1s, and say, H e was a learned, wise, and good
man.

When the omi~sion of words would obscure the
~entc nc~, weaken its force, or be attended with an
1mpropncty, th ey must be expressed. In the sent ence, \Ve are a.pt to love who love us, the word
them ?houltl be suppliccl: A beautiful fi eltl nntl
trees, 1s no.t J?ropcr !ang uage, because, if we supply the. clhps1s, 1t Wiil read, A beautiful field and
a beaut1fnl. trc.cs. In this case it is better to use
another ad1cct1ve; as, A beautiful fieltl antl fine
trees .
. QuEsTroxs.- Why is man om itted 1 What i• this omiss10<ln of '""" cnlled I Why not om it t!tc111 in the example
un er the other pmt of the rn lc 1

All tl1c parts of a sentence should correspond to
each other ; a regular and dependent constru ction
throughout shoultl be carefully preserved. The followin rr sentence is therefore inaccurate; He was
more belovetl, but not so much admired as Cinthio.
Mo1·e requires than after it, which is nowhere found
in the sentence. It should be, He was more beloved
than Cinthio, but not so much admirctl.
False Syntax to be corrected.
He is more bold an<l active, but not so wi se and stud ious
as his companion. Neither has he, nor any other persons,
su•pcded so much dissimulation. Severn! alterations and
additions have been made to the work.

Uu

ENGLISU GRAJ\IllfAR.

l'ROSOlJY.

PROSODY.

'Prosody consists of two parts : the former teaches
the true pronunciation of words, comprising AC CENT,
QUANTITY, EMPHASIS, PAUSE, and TONE, and the latter the laws of VERSIFICATION.

"

97

word, or words; on which we design to lay particular stress, a nd to show how it affects the rest of the
sentence. Sometimes the emphatic wor~s must be
distinguished by a particular tone of V(/Ice, as well
as by a greater stress.
PAUSES.

ACCENT.
Accent is the laying of a peculiar stress of the
voice on a certain letter or syllable in a word, that
it may be bct.ter·heard than th e rest, or disting uished
from th em ; as, in the word ·presume., the stress of
the voice must be on the letter u, in the second syllable, s·ume, which takes the accent.
QUANTITY.
The quantity of a syllable is th at time which is
occupied in pronouncing it. It is considered as
long or short.
A vowel or syllable is long wh en the accent is
?n the vow?!;_ which occasions it to be slowly j oined,
111 pron un ciat10n, to the following letter; as, fall,
bale, rnood, ltouse., feature.
.
A syllable is short when the accent is on the con~o_nant; which occasions the vowel to be quickly
.JOmed to the succeeding letter; as, ant', bon'net,
hun'ge1-.
A long syllable requires double th e time of a
short one in pronouncing it ; thus, mate and note
should be pronounced as slowly again as mat and
not.
EMPHAS IS.

Ily emphasis 1s meant a stronger an d full er
sound of voice, by which we disting uish some

' P auses, or rests, in speaking or reading, are a
total cessation of the voice, during a perceptible, and,
in many cases, a measurable space of time.
I

TONES.

Tones are different both from emphasis and pauses;
consisting in the modulatio? of the voice, ~he notes
or variations of sound, which we employ m the expression of our sentiments~
VERSIFICATION.
V ersifi cation is the arrangement of~ certain nmi;iber and variety of syllables, accordmg to cert.am
laws.
Rhyme is the correspondence of the last sound of
one verse to the last sound or syllable of another.
9

98

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

PUNC'l' U ATION.
PuNCTUATION is the art of dividing a written
composition into sentences, or parts of sentences,
by points or stops, for the purpose of marking tho
different pauses, which the sense and an accurate
pronunciation require.
QuESTION.-What is punctuation 1 ·
COMMA.

The Comma usually separates those parts of a
sentence, which, though very closely conpected in
sense and construction, require, a pause between
them.
QuESTION.-What does the comma usually separate I
RuLE r.- lVith respect to a simple sentence, the SC"veral
words of which it cons·ists have so mar a relation to eac/i
other, tliat, in genC"Tal, no points are req11isitc, except a full
stop at tlte end o/ it; as, " The fear of the Lord is the begin
ning of wisdom.' "Every part of matter swarms with living
creatures."
QuEsTION.-W11y is no pause requisite in these examples,
except at the end!

A simple smtence, ltowever, when it is a long one, and the
nominative case is aecompanied with inseparable adjuncts,
may admit of a pause immediately before the ve'Fb; as, "The
good taste of the present "{(e, bas not allowed us to neglect
the cultivation of the English language ;" "To be totally indifferent to praise or censnre, is a real defect in character."
QUESTIONS.-Why is a pause inserted before the verb has,
in the first example 1 Which word is the nominative case 1
By what inseparable adjuncts is it accompanied I Why a
pause before the verl> is, in the next example I
RuLE II. - lVhen the connection of the different parts of a
simple sentence is interrupted by an impe~fect phrase, a
comma is usually introduced before the beginni11g, and al
the end of this phrase; as, "I remember, with gratitude, his

PUNCTUATION.

99

goodness to me ;" " His work is, in many re.peels, very im·
perfect. It is, thrtrcjore, not much approved.'' B ut, when
these interruptions are slight and unimportant, the comma
is bettC"T omitted; as, "Flattery is certainly pernicious ;"
"There is surely a plensnre in beneficence.''
QuEsTIONs.-By what imperfect phrases are the different
parts of the sentences, constituting the examples, interrupted 1
Where are the pauses placed 1 Why is the comma omitted
in the last two examples 1
In the generality of compound sentences, there is frequent
occasion for commas ; as wiU appear from the following view
of the different occasions to which they arc adapted.
RULE nr.- 1Vhen two or more nouns occur in the samt
con.struction, they are parted b.11 a comma; as, " Reason, virtue, answer one great aim;" "The husband, wife, and chil·
dren, suffered extremely;"* "They took away tl1eir furniture,
clothes, and stock in trade ;" "He is alternately supported
by his father, his uncle, and his elder brother."
QuESTJONs.-In the examples, what two nouns occur in the
same construction I What do you Ullderstand by the same
construction 1
From this rule thC"Te is mostly an exception, with re[lard
lo two nouns closely connected by a co11junction; as, "V rrtue
and vice form a strong contrast to each other;" "Libertines
call religion bigotry or superstition ;" "There is a natnral
difference between merit and demerit, virtue and vice, wiiidom and folly.''
QuESTION.-Why arc there no commas in these examples!
But, if the parts connected are not short, a comma may
be insei·ted, though the conjunction is expressed; as, "Romances may be said to be miserable rhapsodies, or dangerous incentives to evil;" "Intemperance destroys the strength
of our boclies, and the vigor of our minds."
QuESTION.-As the conjunction is expressed in these sentences, why is tlie comma inserted 1

· * As a considerable pause in pronunciation is necessary
between the last noun and the verb, n comma should be inserted to denote it. But as no pause is allowable between
the last adjective and the noun, under Rule IV., the comma
is there properly omitted.

100

RULE iv.-Two 01· more mljcctiiles, bclo11gi119 to the samt
wbstantive, arc likl'1nisc srparatcd by commas; ns, "Plain,
honest truth, wants no artificial covering;" "David was a
bravo, wise, and pious 1nan ;" 11 A woman, gentle, sensible,
wcll-cdncated, and religious;" "The most innocent pl easures
arc the sweetest, t.he most rational, the most affecting, and
the tnost lastiug."

QuEsnoKs.-What adjectives in the exa mples 1 ·why arc
they separated by commas 1 To what substantive do they
belong!
But two mljcctivcs, immediately connected by a c01\j11nction,
m·e not separated by a comma; as, " True worth is modest
a11d retired;" "Truth is fair and nrtless, simple and sincere,
uniform and consistent;" " We must be wise or foolish; there
is no medium."

QUESTION.-Why arc not the a<ljectives in these examples
6eparnted by commas 1
Hurn v.- 'Jlwo 01· mo-re verbs, having th e ,,ame nominative
case, and immediately followi119 one another, are also separated by commas; as, "Vi1tuc supports in a<lvcn;i ty, moderates in prosperity;" " In a letter, we may advise, exhort,
comfort, request, and <liscuss."
QuESTIO:<s.-What Yerbs in the examples 1 Why arc
they separated by a comma 1 What is their nominative
case 1

1ivo verbs immcrliatcl11 connected b!i a COl(i•mdion, art
an r:rcept-ion to the above rt<lc; as, " The study of natural
history expan<ls and elevates the mind ;" " Whether we eat
or drink, labor or sleep, we should be moderate."
Qm:sno~.-Why arc not the verbs in these examples
separated by a comma 1

Two or 11101·c particizilcs are w/Uect to a similar rnle, a11<l
txccplion; as, "A man, fearing, serving, an.d loving his
Creator;" "He was happy in bl!ing loved, esteemed, and
rc"pected ;" "Uy being admired a1ul. flattered, we are often
corrupted."
QuF.s'flo~.-Why nrc the participles separated in the first
example, and not m the last l

101

PUNCTUATION.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

Ru1.E v1.-Two or more adverbs, immediately S1tccredi11g
one another, must be separated by commas; us, " \V c are
fearfully, wonderfully framed;" "Success generally depends
on acting ~rudently, steadily, and vigorously, in whut we
w1dertake.

QuESTIONs.-What adverbs in the examples 1 Wl1y are
they separated by commas 1
But when two adverbs are joined by a coi\jttnction, they are
not parted by a comma ; as, " Some men sin deliberate!y and
presumptuously;" "There is no middle state; we must live
virtuously or viciously."
_QuESTION.- Why are the adverbs, in these examples, no\
separated by a comma I
RuLF; v11.- Wh en participles are followed by somethill.IJ
that depends on them, they are generally separated from the
rest of the sentence by a co111111a; as, "The king, approving
the plan, put it in execution;" "His talents,formcdjor great
enterprise.<, could not fail of rendering him conspicuous ;''
" All mankind compose one family, assembled under the eye
of one common Father.''
QuF'5TIONs.-Whnt participles in the examples 1 Why are
they separated by a comma 1 Ily what arc they followed
that dcpen<ls on them I

RllLE vm. - lVhen a co11junction is divided b.'f a phrase, or.
sentence, from the verb to which it bclo119s, such intervening
phrau has usually a co111ma at eacJ. extremity ; as, " They
set out early, and, before the close of the day, arrived at tho
destined pince."
QuEsTIONR.-What conjunction in the example 1 'l'o what
doc8 it helong 1 Ily what intervening phrase is it divided 1
ltULE ix.-Exprcs,,ions in a direct address are separated
fJ'om the rest
the sentence b!f commas; as, ".iJ(y
give
me thy heart ;' "I am obliged to you, my fri ends, for your
many favors."
Q1JESTION._:What expressions in a direct address occur in
U1e examples 1

o/

'°'"

H .\J LE N.-T!i e ca"e absolnte, and the ;11,finitive mode abscr
lute, are separated by commas from the bod,11 of the sentence ;·
as, "His father dying, he sncceeded to the estate;" "At

9*

102

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

PUNCTUATION.

103

length, their ministry perfonncd, and rnce well run, they le.rt
the world in pence;" "To confess the truth, I WM much m
fault."
QuESTION.-Point out the case absolute, and the infinitive
mode absolute, in the examples.

The same rule a11d' restriction must be applied when two or
more nouns refer to the same preposition ; as, "He was composed both under the threatening, and at the approach, of ll.
cruel and lingering death ;" "He was not only the king, but
the father of his people."

RULE xr.-Nouns in apposition, that i.,, nouns added to
other nomis in the same case, by way of explication or illustration, when accompanied wtih adjuncts, are set ~u· by com·
mas; as, "Paul, the apostle oft.he Gentiles, was eminent. for
his zeal and knowledge;" "The butterfly, child of the sum·
mer, flutters in the sun."
QuESnoNs.-What nouns in apposition in your examples I
By what adjuncts are they accompanied 1

QuESTIONs.-Why are threatening and approach distinguished by commas I Why is the comma omitted after.of/
Rm.E x1v.-A remarkable expression, or a short observa·
lion, somewhat in the, manner of a quotation, ma!J be properl!J
marked with a comma; as, "It hurts n man's pride to say,
I do not know;" "Plutarch calls lying, the vice of slaves."

But, if such nouns are single, or onl!J form a pl'Opcr name,
they are not divided; as, "Paul t.he apostle;" "The Emperor
Antoninus wrote an excellent book."
QuEsnoN.-Why are not the nouns separated in these ex·
amples1

RULE xv.- Relative pronouns are connective Mo1·ds, and
generally admit a comma before them; as, " He preaches sublimely, who lives a sober, righteous, and pious life;" "There
is no charm in the female sex, which can sn pp!y the pince of
virtue."

RuLE xu.-Simple members of sentences, connected by com·
paratives, are for the most part distinguisher:! by a comma;
as "As the hart panteth after the water-brooks, so cloth my
so~l pant after thee;" "Better is a dinner of herbs with love,
than a stalled ox and hatred therewith."
QUESTIONS.-What simple members of sentences in the examples 1 By what comparatives are they connected 1
RuLE xm.- lVhen word.• are placed in opposition to eac!.
other, or with some ma.rkcd variety, they require to be distin·
guished b!f a comma; as,
'~Tho'

deep, yet clear; tho' gentle, yet not dnll;
Strong, without rnge; without o'erflowing, fu~l."

."Good men, in this frail, imperfect state, are often found, not
only in union with, but in opposition to, t.11e views and .conduct of one another."
Sometimes, when the word with which the last preposition
agrees is single, it betfor to omit the comma bfj'ore it; as,
".Many states were in alliance with, and under the protection of Rome."
QuESTIONs.-What words are placed in opposition to each
other! What, with some marked variety 1 Why is the
comma omitted before Rome?

is

QuESTIONs.-Why is, I do not know, marked with a comma 1 Why, the vict of slaves?

QUESTIONS.- Why hM who a comma before it I
tohich?

Why hns

But when two members, or phrases, are closely connected by
a relative, resl1'aining the general notion of the antecedent
to a particular ,,en-1e, th e comma should be omitted; as,
"Self-denial is the sacrifice which virtue must make;" "A
man who is of n cletrncting spirit, will misconstrue the most
innocent words that can be put together." In the latter example, the assertion is not of "man in general," but of "a
man who is of a detracting spirit,'' and therefore they should
not be separated.

QuESTION.-Why is the comma mnitted after the pronouns
in these exam pies 1
Tlte fifteenth rule applies equall!J to casci in wltich the
relative is not expressed, lrnt 1'nderstood; M, "It was from
piety, warm and unaffected, that his morals derived strength;"
"This sentiment, habitual and strong, influenced his whole
conduct." In both of these examples, the relative and verb,
which was, arc understood.

QuEsTION.-W11y are the commas inserted after piety and
sentiment?

·I
I

104

105

ENGLISH GRJ).MMAR.

PUNCTUATION.

Ru1.E xvr.-A simple m<~nbc r of a sentence, coi:tai1~ed with·
in another, or following anothc~, must ?c distwgtttshcd by
the comma; as, "'l'o improve tune, wl11lst we are blessed
with hc.a lth will smooth the bed of sickness;" " V cry oft.en,
while we a;.e complaining of the vanity,_ and the evils of _hn,:
man life, we make that vanity, and we mcrcase those evils.

Ru1.E xvnr.- lVh.en acljuncts ot circnmsta.nces arc of im·
portance, and often when the nalural order of them is invert·
ed, tltC!/ 71lay be Mt of/ by eo111111as; as, ''Virtue must be
formed and supportecl, not by unfrequent nets, but by daily
anc.l repented exertions ;" " Vices, like shadows, towards the
evening of life, grow great nnc.l monstrous ;" "Our interests
are int.erwovcn by threads innumerable ;" "By threads in-

Qucsno:-<s.-ln the first example, is a simple member co~·
tained within another, or docs it follow another 1 How,, m
the next example I

If, however, the members succeeding each other arc very

elo.'icl!J connected, the com.m.a ~s unnc~essa~y; ns, Rcvclaw
tion tells us how we may attam happmcss.
QuESTION.-Why is the comma U!mccessary in this example I
lVh cn a vci·b in the infinitive mode follows its governing
verb with several words between them, tho se words should
9endrally have a comma at the end of thcin; as, " It ill be·
comes good and wise men, to oppose and degrade one
nnother."
QucsTIONs.-What verb in t.hc infinitive mode, in this ex·
ample 1 What is its governing word 1 What words between them 1

imm erable, our intPrcsts arc interwoven."
QuK~no:<s.- ·which example has adjuncts or circumstances
f importance 1 In which is the natw-al order inverted 1

11

S everal verbs in the infinitive mode, having ~ ~ommon dep endence, aad succeeding on.a a~wthcr, are also dwulcd by_ comma3 ; as, "'l'o relieve the md1gcnt, to comf~rt t~ie aftbcted,
to protect the innocent, to reward the dcscrvmg, IS a humane
and noble employ ment."
QuESTIONS.--IIow many verbs in the infinitive mode, succeeding one nnothrr, in the example I What do you under·
stand by their having a common dep endence I
.

H.uLE xvi!.- When the verb to be is followed by a verb in
the i1ifiniti.ve mode, which, by tran,<pos_iti.on, might be made
th.e no111inative case to it, the fonrwr is generally sc7>ar<!ted
fr om the latter verb by a comma; as, ."The .most obv10u~
remedv is, to withdraw from all assocrnt10ns with. bad men.;
"The first and most obvious remedy against the mfect10n, IS,
to withdraw from all associations with bad men."
QuEsTioNs.-What verb to be, in the examples I Ily what
verb, in the infinitive mode, is it full owed i How would yon
trans pose it I

llur.E xrx.- lVh.crc ·a verb is ttnderstood, a commd ma11
ftcn be properly introdacctl. 1'/tis is a general rule, wlticii
esidcs comprisin.!f some of the p1·ecedin.lf rules, will apply t~
nany cases not dctcnnincd by any ~f thcin; as, "From law
nses security; from security, curiosity ; from curiosit.y,
·now ledge." In this example, the verb "nrises" is under·
tood before "euriosit.y" and " knowledge;" at which words
considerable pause is necessary.

QuEsnoN.-Why is the comma introduced after sccurit.11

ml curiosity?

'

Rur.E xx.-The words 11ay; so, hence, again,ffrst, secondly,
ormcrly, now, lastlv, once more, above all, on the contra1·v, in
he next place, in ,•li.ort, and all other words and phras~s of
he same kind, must generally be separated from tbe conext by a comma; as, "H.emember thy best and first friend ·
ormerly, the supporter of thy infancy, and the guide of thy
h.ildhood ; now, the guardian of thy yo nth, and the hope of
hy coming years;" "He feared want; hence, he overvalued
ichcs ;" "This conduct may heal the difference; nay, it may
onstantly prevent any in future;" "Finally, I shall only re·
eat what has been often justly said;" "If the spring pnt
orth no blossoms, in summer there will be no beauty, and
n autumn, no fruit: so, if youth be trifled away without im·
r.ovement, riper years may be contemptible, and old age
iserable."

QuESno:-<.-What words, in the examples, are separated
om the context by commas 1
In many of t!tc f oregoing rule., and examples, great regard
ust be paid to the length of the clause,•, and the proportion
hich they bear to one anotiicr

---

106

ENGLISH GRAMMAR .
SEMICOLON.

When a longer pause than a comma is required,
and yet the sense is incomplete, a semicolon may
be used; as, "The wise man is happy when he
gains his own approbation ; the fool, when he gains
the applause of those about him."
QUESTION.- When would you use a semicolon l
COLON.

The colon is used to divide a sentence into two
or more parts, less connected than those which arc
separated by a semicolon ; but not so independent
as separate, distinct sentences.
NorE.-The use of the colon appears to be declining.
Many late writers avoid the use of it altogether. They
regard it as a point of indefinite character, taking the place,
sometimes of the semicolon, and sometimes of the period;
and, consequently, perplexing us with a distinction where
there i~ no difference.
PERIOD.

When a sentence is complete and independent,
and not connected in construction with the followin
sentence, it is marked with a pcripcl.
S ome sentences m·e independent of each other, both in th.ei
sense and construction ; as, " Fear God. Honor the king
Have charity towards all men." Others are independent onli
in their grammatical construction; as, "The Supreme Bein
changes not, either in his desire tu promote our happines
or in the plan of his administmtion. One light always shin
upon us from above. One clear and direct path is alway
pointed out to man."
The period should be used after every abbreviated word
.
as, "M. S. P. S. N. B. A. D. . 0 . S. N. S.," &c.

QuESTJON.- When would you use a period i

PARS I NG '!' ADLE.

107

PARSING TABLE.
Articles.
A -0r AN is the Indefinite Article.
'l'HE is the Definite Article.
--is a Noun, ·because it is a name, nnd because it makes
sense with the before it; as, the - -.
Common, because it can be appropriated to any of the
kind, and it begins with a small letter.
Proper, because it can be appropriated to an individual
only, and it begins with a capital letter.
1:3ingular Number, because it expresses but one, and it
makes sense with on.e, before it; as, one - - .
]>litral N1trnb11r, because it expresses more than one, and
it makes sense with two, before 1t ; as, two - -.
.JfasC'ltline Gender, because it expresses an object of the
male kind.
·
· .Feminine Gender, because it expresses an object of the
f emale kind.
·
·
Neuter Gender, because it expresses an object which is
neither masculine nor feminine.
Common Gender, because it may be considered either as
masculine or feminine.
m-e-n,
Nominative, m-a-n,
Singular. Possessive, m-a-n' &; s,* Plural. m-e-n' &; a.
{ Objective, m-a-n,
m-e-n,

l {

- - is a Pronoun, because it is used instead of a noun ---.
I is the first person,
} ~ 'i lVe is the first person, } .
'Phou is the second,
1:, Ye or you is the second,
He, she, or it is the third, ~ \ 'l'hey is the third,
A:
Nominative, { Nominative, Singular. Possessive, Plural. Possessive, · { Objective, Objective, ~
It is found in the - '- Person, - - Number, - - Gender,
- - Case.

l

- - is nn Adj ective, because it expresses the quality of
- - , and because it makes sense with the word thing after
it; as, - - thing; and it makes sense with another noun
after it ; ns, - -.
Pos. - - -,Com. - - -, Sup. - - It is found in the - -- Degree.
• i. t . Spell !be

noun in each case, telling where the apoatrophe comes. ·

For

.

~~--------

108

PARSING TABLE.

- - is R Verb, because it signifies to - - , an<l because it
makes sense with one of the following pronouns before it,
namely, I-, thou-, lte -, site-, we-, you-, or they--.
Transitive, because the Agent - - acts upon th~ Object
Intransitive, because the Agent - - does not act upon
an object.
Passive, because _there is something done to the N ominative - -.
Neuter, because neither active nor passive.
Present.- -, Imp.--, Perf. Part. - R egular, because the Imperfect Tense and Perfect Participle end in ed.
Irrevular, because the Imperfect Tense and the Perfect
Participle do not end in ed.
Present - - , Imp. - - , Perf. - - , Pluper. - -, First
Fut. - -, Sec. Fut. - -.
It is found in the - - Mode, - - Tense, - - Person,
- - Number.

- - - is nn A<lverb of - - [Of Number or Order, &c. as the class may be.*)
- - is a Preposition, because it connects the words - and - - , nnd shows the relation between them ; and it
makes sense with one of the following Pronouns after it,
namely, - me, - u~, - her, - him, - them.
the two

j

a

1

~:;hctiT' because !:l<l°~ts

f ---

sentences
and - Copulative, because, {
- is added to ·
or because,
- upon the supposition that - is the reason why or because,
Disjunctive, because - - , which precedes it, is in opposi
tion to--, which follows it.
- -·is an Interjection, because it expresses U1e passions
or emotions of thc speaker.
• The author thinks lhal tho Adverbs should be learned by classes.

Boe page 49.

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