автордың кітабын онлайн тегін оқу English Grammar and Composition for Public Schools
ENGLISH GRAMMAR
AND
COMPOSITION
FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
BY
G. H. ARMSTRONG, M.A., B.Pæd.,
Principal Borden St. School, Toronto.
TORONTO:
The Hunter, Rose Co., Limited, Temple Building.
Entered according to Act of Parliament of Canada in the year one thousand nine hundred and one, by G. H. Armstrong, M.A., B.Pæd., in the office of the Minister of Agriculture.
PREFACE.
It is not considered necessary to offer an apology for the publication of a work on English grammar and composition for the Public Schools of Ontario.
The plan of the work is inductive and practical, and the author has endeavored to make the book a useful one for the purposes of teaching. Every principle is presented through the observation of examples of good English.
The study of grammar aids the student to master his mother-tongue, but its chief function is to secure mental discipline. For the development of the intellectual powers, the capable teacher, well furnished with rational methods, will find this study superior to all others. It is a study in recognizing similarities, in distinguishing differences, in making abstractions, in forming generalizations. The object of Parts I.-IV. of this book is to contribute something to the science of elementary English grammar.
Part V. treats of composition. The usual exercises in completing half-built sentences, in straightening out wrecks of sentences, in combining simple sentences into complex sentences, in expanding phrases into clauses, etc., will not be found therein. They have done quite enough towards fostering stupidity in our schools. The art of expression is acquired through steady practice, therefore pupils should write compositions not once a week, but during part of every period, about things which they understand. They should be taught good form in expression, and trained to correct their own exercises.
This part of the work, though brief, will be found suggestive. Teachers and pupils have not been deprived of the pleasure and profit of an independent examination of the construction of the prose selections.
This little volume owes something to several English grammars, and the debt is hereby acknowledged.
G. H. ARMSTRONG.
Table of Contents
Part First.—Sentences & Classes of Words
Lessons I—XII
Part Second.—Classes & Inflections of Parts of Speech
Lessons XIII—LV
Part Third.—Syntax
Lessons LVI—LXI
Part Fourth.—Analysis of Sentences
Lessons LXII—LXIV
Part Fifth.—Composition
Lessons LXV—LXXV
Abbreviations IndexENGLISH GRAMMAR
PART FIRST.
LESSON I.
THE SENTENCE.
Is there a complete thought expressed in each of the following groups of words?—
1.
The maple leaf is an emblem of Canada.
2.
Honor thy father and thy mother.
3.
Who gathered these beautiful flowers?
4.
How sweetly the birds sing in spring!
A group of words that expresses a complete thought is called a sentence.
Which of the foregoing sentences declares something, which expresses a command, which asks a question, and which expresses a sudden feeling?
A sentence that asserts or declares something is called a declarative sentence.
A sentence that expresses a command or request is called an imperative sentence.
A sentence that asks a question is called an interrogative sentence.
A sentence that expresses a sudden or strong feeling is called an exclamatory sentence.
EXERCISE I.
State the use or office of each of the following sentences, and tell the kind of sentence:—
1.
The sun rises in the East.
2.
Every door opens to a smile.
3.
Keep thy heart with all diligence.
4.
Who is the author of that book?
5.
How tenderly a mother cares for her child!
6.
Every morn is the world made new.
7.
Sharpen this pencil for me.
8.
What bright uniforms the soldiers wear!
9.
The plowman homeward plods his weary way.
10.
How many lines have you written?
EXERCISE II.
1.
Write four declarative sentences.
2.
Write four imperative sentences.
3.
Write three interrogative sentences.
4.
Write
two exclamatory sentences.
LESSON II.
THE SUBJECT AND THE PREDICATE.
Name the thing which is spoken of in each of the following sentences, and what is said about it:—
1.
Gold is a precious metal.
2.
Flowers grow in the fields.
3.
The sailor’s home is on the sea.
4.
The flag of England floats above the citadel.
The part of a sentence that expresses the thing spoken of is called the subject.
The part of a sentence that expresses what is said about the subject is called the predicate.
The subject of a declarative sentence is generally placed before the predicate, but it is sometimes placed after the predicate; as,
Sweet was the sound of the evening bell.
Over the swift rapids went the boat.
EXERCISE I.
Name the subject and the predicate of each of the following sentences:—
1.
The city of Ottawa is the capital of Canada.
2.
Three wives sat up in the lighthouse tower.
3.
All the children were gathering flowers.
4.
Our friends have arrived in the city.
5.
Home they brought her warrior dead.
6.
John Cabot discovered Canada in 1497.
7.
All along the banks were the skeletons of canoes.
8.
Through this forest ran a beautiful river.
9.
Colder and louder blew the wind.
10.
Down sunk the bell with a gurgling sound.
The subject of an imperative sentence is thou, ye or you. It is seldom expressed; as,
Listen to the singing of the birds.
Carry these books for me.
Praise
yethe Lord.
EXERCISE II.
Name the subject and the predicate and state the kind of sentence of each of the following:—
1.
Who hath not lost a friend?
2.
Gather up the fragments.
3.
Here comes the train!
4.
Why did you take away my book?
5.
The shades of night were falling fast.
6.
How lightly she trips along!
7.
In one corner of the room stood my grandfather’s clock.
8.
Send this note to the post.
9.
How strange our old home looks!
10.
At the dawn of day he ascended the hill.
EXERCISE III.
1. Write four examples of an assertive sentence and name the subject and the predicate of each sentence.
2. Write four examples of an imperative sentence and name the subject and the predicate of each sentence.
3. Write four examples of an interrogative sentence and name the subject and the predicate of each sentence.
4. Write four examples of an exclamatory sentence and name the subject and the predicate of each sentence.
LESSON III.
NOUNS.
State the words that are used as names in the following sentences:—
1.
The shoes worn by the soldiers were made in England.
2.
Near this tree is the grave of a pioneer.
3.
Chaucer is the father of English poetry.
4.
Love had he found in huts where poor men lie.
A word used as a name is called a noun.
EXERCISE I.
Name the nouns in the following sentences:—
1.
There are seven provinces in Canada.
2.
Then the fly lit his lamp of fire.
3.
The bloom of that fair face is wasted.
4.
The boy stood on the burning deck.
5.
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
6.
He goes on Sunday to the church
And sits among his boys.
7.
I hear in the chamber above me
The patter of little feet,
The sound of a door that is opened,
And voices soft and sweet.
8.
A violet by a mossy stone,
Half hidden from the eye!
Fair as a star, when only one
Is shining in the sky.
EXERCISE II.
Write sentences containing—
1.
The name of a place.
2.
The name of a person.
3.
The name of a tree.
4.
The name of a metal.
5.
The name of an article of food.
6.
The name of an animal.
7.
The name of a quality.
8.
The name of an action.
LESSON IV.
PRONOUNS.
Name the nouns for which the words printed in italics are used in the following sentences:—
1.
The teacher went home when
hefinished the lesson.
2.
The mother kissed
herboy when
shereceived
him.
3.
A baby was sleeping,
Itsmother was weeping
For
herhusband was far on the wild raging sea.
A word used for a noun is called a pronoun.
By the use of the pronoun, a person or thing is referred to without naming it, and the too frequent repetition of the same noun is avoided.
EXERCISE I.
Select the pronouns in the following sentences, and state the noun for which each is used:—
1.
Men find plants where they least expect them.
2.
The parents returned home when they found their child.
3.
The king took the hand of his friend and pressed it to his heart.
4.
A boy who is always grumbling will lose the friends that he has, and will not make many new ones.
5.
The ball lies where you left it.
6.
The boy’s father was anxious to send him to college, and therefore he studied the Latin grammar till he could bear it no longer.
7.
Not a soldier discharged his farewell shot
O’er the grave where our hero we buried.
8.
As John and Charles were walking by the river, they both fell into it.
9.
Tell me what brings you, gentle youth, to Rome;
To make myself a scholar, sir, I come.
10.
Then the maiden clasped her hands and prayed
That savèd she might be;
And she thought of Him who stilled the wave
On the Lake of Galilee.
EXERCISE II.
1. Write a sentence containing a pronoun used for the speaker.
2. Write a sentence containing a pronoun used for the names of the speaker and others.
3. Write a sentence containing a pronoun used for the name of a person spoken to.
4. Write a sentence containing a pronoun used for the name of a person spoken of.
5. Write a sentence containing a pronoun used for the names of two or more persons spoken of.
6. Write a sentence containing a pronoun used for the name of a thing that has been previously spoken of.
LESSON V.
ADJECTIVES.
Select the words in the following sentences that are used to describe or point out the things named by the nouns:—
1.
A tall man gave me this book.
2.
That little boy has a kind sister.
3.
I bought two sweet oranges.
4.
These grassy fields are owned by a rich man.
The word tall describes this particular man. The word this points out the particular book that is meant. Such words modify the nouns with which they are used.
A word used to modify a noun or pronoun is called an adjective.
EXERCISE I.
Name the adjectives in the following sentences, and state the use of each:—
1.
I found a rusty knife with a silver handle.
2.
Wise ministers and brave warriors flourished during Elizabeth’s reign.
3.
The sick girl was watched by a skilful nurse.
4.
Otters are much prized for their soft, glossy black fur.
5.
I lingered near the hallowed seat with listening ear.
6.
His withered cheek and tresses gray,
Seemed to have known a better day.
7.
Her aged hand on his strong young arm
She placed; and so, without hurt or harm
He guided the trembling feet along,
Proud that his own were firm and strong.
8.
His hair is crisp, and black, and long,
His face is like the tan;
His brow is wet with honest sweat,
He earns whate’er he can,
And looks the whole world in the face,
For he owes not any man.
Model.—The adjectives in the first sentence are a, rusty, a and silver. A points out or indicates the species of the thing knife. Rusty describes the thing knife.
EXERCISE II.
Write sentences containing adjectives used to show:—
1.
What quality of thing is spoken of.
2.
How many things are spoken of.
3.
Which thing is referred to.
LESSON VI.
VERBS.
Select the words in the following sentences that tell or assert something of the thing spoken of:—
1.
Boys play.
2.
The sun shines.
3.
The snow melts.
4.
Mountains are high.
A word that is used to make an assertion is called a verb.
Note.—The word verb is derived from the Latin word verbum, meaning a word, and this part of speech is so called because it is the word, the most important word in every sentence. There can be no sentence without a verb.
EXERCISE I.
Name the verbs in the following sentences, and state what each tells or asserts:—
1.
The girls gathered some water-lilies.
2.
That house was built last century.
3.
He slept for three hours.
4.
The gardener fell from a high tree.
5.
The coachman struck the horse, and it kicked him.
6.
King Edward I. nearly conquered Scotland.
7.
She must weep or she will die.
8.
And still they rowed amidst the roar
Of waters fast prevailing:
Lord Ullin reached that fatal shore,
His wrath was changed to wailing.
EXERCISE II.
Write sentences containing each of the following words used as subjects, and underline the verbs:—
Plants, rivers, paper, gold, pen, fish, birds, stars, flowers, money.
LESSON VII.
ADVERBS.
Name the words in the following sentences that modify the verbs, that show how, when or where actions were performed:—
1.
The girls recited well.
2.
The teacher often read a story.
3.
I left my pencil there.
A word that is used to modify the meaning of a verb is called an adverb.
An adverb may also modify the meaning of an adjective, as, He is very quiet.
An adverb may also modify the meaning of another adverb; as, She writes more rapidly than you.
An adverb is a word that is used to modify the meaning of a verb, an adjective or another adverb.
EXERCISE I.
State the adverbs in the following sentences, and name the word which each modifies:—
1.
Here let us sit and talk of former times.
2.
I never saw so clear a sky.
3.
How proudly they strode along!
4.
Now let me die in peace.
5.
The grass is too damp yet.
6.
The face of the country suddenly changed.
7.
The next night it came again.
8.
The storm came on before its time;
She wandered up and down,
And many a hill did Lucy climb,
But never reached the town.
EXERCISE II.
1. Write four sentences each containing an adverb modifying a verb.
2. Write two sentences each containing an adverb modifying an adjective.
3. Write two sentences each containing an adverb modifying an adverb.
LESSON VIII.
PREPOSITIONS.
Name the words in the following sentences that express the relation of a noun or pronoun to some other word:—
1.
We withdrew from the room.
2.
The boys ran through the hall.
3.
This box is made of paper.
4.
I went to school with him.
A word that is used to express the relation of a noun or pronoun to some other word in the sentence is called a preposition.
The noun or pronoun which the preposition connects in sense with some other word in the sentence, is called its object; as, The men are in the field.
EXERCISE I.
Select the prepositions, and state the words between which each shows a relation:—
1.
He threw the ball over the fence.
2.
An old man fell into a pond.
3.
A stranger came within our gates.
4.
From many lands comes the cry for help.
5.
The boat went under the water.
6.
This letter was written by my sister.
7.
At noon I went home.
8.
I chatter over stony ways,
In little sharps and trebles.
I bubble into eddying bays,
I babble on the pebbles.
EXERCISE II.
1. Write three sentences each containing a preposition expressing a relation between a noun and a verb. Underline the object.
2. Write three sentences each containing a preposition expressing a relation between two nouns. Underline the object of the preposition.
3. Write three sentences each containing a preposition expressing a relation between a noun and an adjective.
LESSON IX.
CONJUNCTIONS.
Name the words that connect sentences, or words or phrases, used in the same way in the following sentences:—
1.
The sun shone out brightly and the mist cleared away.
2.
You may go, but I must remain here.
3.
Cold and damp was the maiden’s grave.
4.
The grass grows in the valley and on the mountain side.
Note.—A phrase is a group of related words without a verb.
A word that connects sentences, or words, or phrases, used in the same way in a sentence, is called a conjunction.
EXERCISE I.
Select the conjunctions in the following sentences, and tell what each connects:—
1.
I went to school, but my brother did not.
2.
My books are in my bag, or I have lost them.
3.
The boys ran away because they were afraid.
4.
Though I fail, I shall attempt to do it.
5.
He was a king, yet he was not happy.
6.
The rich and the poor meet together.
7.
Iron is more useful than gold.
8.
They had full warning, so that they are without excuse.
9.
I am sure that he did it.
10.
The morning came, the chaise was brought,
But yet was not allowed
To drive up to the door lest all
Should say that she was proud.
EXERCISE II.
1. Write a sentence containing a conjunction connecting two sentences.
2. Write a sentence containing a conjunction connecting two phrases.
3. Write a sentence containing a conjunction connecting two adverbs.
4. Write a sentence containing a conjunction connecting two nouns.
LESSON X.
INTERJECTIONS.
Name the words in the following sentences that express sudden or strong feeling:—
1.
Hurrah! the work is done.
2.
Alas! we were too late.
3.
Hush! she is sleeping now.
4.
Bravo! he has reached the boat.
A word used to express some sudden or strong feeling is called an interjection.
An interjection is not related to any word in the sentence.
Interjections express a variety of feelings, such as joy, sorrow, surprise, pain, contempt and strong desire.
EXERCISE I.
Select the interjections in the following sentences, and state the feeling expressed by each:—
1.
Oh! my tooth is aching again.
2.
Alas! he heeded not my warning.
3.
Hark! what means that distant cry?
4.
Pshaw! it is nothing but the wind.
5.
Hurrah! for England’s Queen.
6.
Ho! breakers on the weather bow.
7.
But O! eternity’s too short
To utter all Thy praise.
8.
Hold! if ’twas wrong, the wrong is mine.
EXERCISE II.
Write six sentences, each containing an interjection.
Underline the interjections.
LESSON XI.
We have now learned all the different classes of words in our language and the name of each class.
Since each class performs a certain office or part in the sentence, the different classes are called parts of speech.
EXERCISE.
State the office of each word in the following sentences, and tell what part of speech it is:—
1.
A rolling stone gathers no moss.
2.
I live for those who love me.
3.
The man walked across the bridge.
4.
The cherries on this tree are ripe.
5.
I bring fresh showers for the thirsting flowers.
6.
This boy lost his kite in a tree.
7.
The village master taught his little school.
8.
Slowly and sadly we laid him down.
9.
Crash! a terrific cry broke from three hundred hearts.
10.
I never was on the dull, tame shore,
But I loved the great sea more and more.
LESSON XII.
The part of speech or grammatical value of words is always determined by their use or function in the sentence.
EXERCISE I.
State the use or function of the italicized words in the following sentences, and tell the part of speech of each word:—
1.
We have a quire of
paper.
2.
Our friends
papertheir walls every year.
3.
He put his hat in a
paperbox.
4.
It is a
fineday.
5.
Magistrates
finethose who break the laws.
6.
The penalty is a
fineof twenty dollars.
7.
I know
thatstory.
8.
He has the book
thatI require.
9.
We know
thathe is just.
10.
The word
thatis sometimes used to connect sentences.
11.
Give him the
ironpail.
12.
The girls
ironthe clothes in the morning.
13.
He has a piece of
iron.
EXERCISE II.
Show that the following words may have different grammatical values:—
in,
water,
ring,
pin,
cover.
round,
this,
lock,
cork,
silver.
Model:—
Come
in. An adverb.
My hat is
inthe room. A preposition.
The word
inwas omitted. A noun.
Note.—The foregoing example is printed in italics. Pupils will underline their examples.
PART SECOND.
CLASSES AND INFLECTIONS OF THE PARTS
OF SPEECH.
LESSON XIII.
CLASSES OF NOUNS.
Select in the following sentences the nouns that are names of particular persons or things, and the nouns that are names of all the members of a class of persons or things:—
1.
These little girls live with their parents in Toronto.
2.
Mary and Harold are going to visit their friends.
3.
On a little mound, Napoleon
Stood on our storming day.—
Browning.A name of a particular or individual person or thing is called a proper noun; as, Mary, Saturday, Lake Ontario.
Proper nouns begin with capital letters.
A name that applies to all the members of a class of persons or things is called a common noun; as, girl, desk, river.
EXERCISE.
1. Write five sentences, each containing a proper noun, and underline the example in each sentence.
2. Write five sentences, each containing a common noun, and underline the example in each sentence.
II. CONCRETE AND ABSTRACT.
Select in the following sentences the nouns that are names of objects which have a real and separate existence outside of the mind, and those which are names of things that have no real existence and are only thought of in the mind:—
1.
Contentment is better than gold.
2.
Virtue is its own reward.
3.
Truth crushed to earth, shall rise again,—
The eternal years of God are hers.—
Bryant.A noun that is the name of an object which has a real and separate existence outside of the mind, is called a concrete noun; as, gold, water.
A noun that is the name of something which has not a real and separate existence outside of the mind, is called an abstract noun; as, truth, justice.
EXERCISE.
1. Write five sentences each containing a concrete noun, and underline the example in each sentence.
2. Write five sentences each containing an abstract noun, and underline the example in each sentence.
Note.—All nouns may be classified into (1) proper and common, (2) concrete and abstract, hence the two preceding classifications are perfect. The classifications which follow are imperfect, since they do not include all nouns.
III. COLLECTIVE NOUNS.
Name the nouns in the following sentences that denote a collection of objects:—
1.
His family live in England.
2.
The army advanced during the night.
3.
The verdict is given by a jury.
4.
A committee of six was appointed by the members.
A noun of the singular form that stands for a collection or number of things is called a collective noun; as, He owns a herd of cattle.
EXERCISE.
Write five sentences each containing a collective noun, and underline the example in each sentence.
IV. VERBAL NOUNS.
Select the nouns ending in ing that are derived from verbs and have lost all verbal function in the following sentences:—
1.
That is good ploughing.
2.
His writing is very legible.
3.
The singing was admired by all.
A noun ending in ing that is derived from a verb and has lost all verbal function, is called a verbal noun; as, There is good sleighing now.
EXERCISE.
Write five sentences each containing a verbal noun, and underline the example in each sentence.
LESSON XIV.
V. GENDER-NOUNS.
Which of the following words denote males, and which denote females?
boy,
man,
uncle,
hero,
emperor,
girl,
woman,
aunt,
heroine,
empress.
Sex is one of the two divisions of animals, male and female.
The distinction of sex is called gender.
A noun that denotes a male is of the masculine gender; as, father.
A noun that denotes a female is of the feminine gender; as, mother.
Some nouns are either masculine or feminine gender; as, friend, neighbor.
Nouns that denote things neither male nor female, have no gender; as, book, tree.
Gender is distinguished by different words; as,—
Masculine. Feminine.gentleman,
lady,
husband,
wife,
king,
queen,
monk,
nun,
nephew,
niece,
sir,
madam,
son,
daughter,
uncle,
aunt,
bachelor,
maid or spinster,
drake,
duck,
hart,
roe,
ram,
ewe,
stag,
hind,
buck,
doe,
earl,
countess,
wizard,
witch.
Gender is distinguished by different endings; as,—
Masculine. Feminine.heir,
heiress,
baron,
baroness,
count,
countess,
prince,
princess,
negro,
negress,
actor,
actress,
Jew,
Jewess,
lion,
lioness,
governor,
governess,
abbot,
abbess,
victor,
victress,
marquis,
marchioness,
peer,
peeress,
host,
hostess,
duke,
duchess,
master,
mistress,
deacon,
deaconess,
poet,
poetess,
executor,
executrix,
hero,
heroine,
czar,
czarina,
sultan,
sultana,
infante,
infanta,
widower,
widow,
bridegroom,
bride,
fox,
vixen.
Gender is sometimes distinguished by prefixing words; as,—
Masculine. Feminine.man-servant,
maid-servant,
cock-sparrow,
hen-sparrow,
he-goat,
she-goat.
EXERCISE.
Select the gender-nouns in the following sentences, and give the gender of each:—
1.
Mary and her friend went for a sail on the lake.
2.
The hero of this story is a young boy.
3.
Great authors are seldom seen by the people.
4.
Tell my mother that her other sons shall comfort her old age.
5.
He fled with his wife and child.
6.
My sister went home with her aunt.
7.
Both a prince and a poet were there.
8.
Little Effie shall go with me to-morrow to the green,
And you’ll be there, too, mother, to see me made the Queen:
For the shepherd lads on every side ’ill come from far away,
And I’m to be Queen of the May, mother, I’m to be Queen of the May.—
Tennyson.LESSON XV.
NUMBER.
Which form of the following words denotes one thing, and which more than one thing?—
pen,
slate,
church,
city,
tooth,
pens,
slates,
churches,
cities,
teeth.
The form of a word which names one thing is called singular, and the noun is said to be in the singular number. The form of a word which names more than one thing is called plural, and the noun is said to be in the plural number.
1. The plural is generally formed by adding s to the singular form; as pin, pins; book, books.
2. Some nouns form the plural by adding es to the singular form; as, match, matches; tax, taxes.
Note the following words:—fox, bush, glass, loss, hero, negro, cargo, echo, potato, tomato.
3. Nouns ending in y preceded by a vowel, form the plural by adding s to the singular form; as, day, days; valley, valleys.
Nouns ending in y preceded by a consonant, form the plural by changing the y into i and adding es; as, lily, lilies; copy, copies.
4. Some nouns ending in f or fe form the plural by changing f or fe to v and adding es; as, knife, knives.
Note the following:—wife, life, wolf, loaf, half, leaf, thief, shelf, calf, self.
5. A few nouns form the plural by adding en to the singular form; as, ox, oxen; child, children; brother, brethren.
6. Some nouns form the plural by changing the vowel of the singular; as, man, men; goose, geese.
7. Most nouns taken from foreign languages retain their foreign plurals:
Singular. Plural.radius,
radii.
beau,
beaux.
analysis,
analyses.
index,
indices.
axis,
axes.
basis,
bases.
seraph,
seraphim.
memorandum,
memoranda.
phenomenon,
phenomena.
crisis,
crises.
erratum,
errata.
stratum,
strata.
oasis,
oases.
cherub,
cherubim.
8. Some compound nouns make the principal word plural, and some make both words plural; as, son-in-law, sons-in-law; man-servant, men-servants.
EXERCISE.
Write the plural of the following nouns:—
1.
desk, woman, calf, foot, mouse, class.
2.
cargo, piano, sky, toy, crisis, potato.
3.
story, church, enemy, spoonful, chimney.
4.
lily, valley, mother-in-law, wolf, pencil.
5.
memorandum, sheaf, child, man-of-war.
LESSON XVI.
Note the following peculiarities:
1. Nouns used only in the plural:—
aborigines,
antipodes,
annals,
banns,
bellows,
breeches,
matins,
measles,
news,
nuptials,
oats,
pincers,
scissors,
shears,
tidings,
trousers,
vespers,
victuals.
2. Nouns that have the same form in both numbers:—
deer,
trout,
sheep,
heathen,
perch,
grouse,
salmon,
swine,
cannon,
pike.
3. Nouns with two plurals, differing in meaning:—
Singular. Plural. Plural.penny,
pennies (a number.)
pence (a sum.)
pea,
peas (a number.)
pease (a quantity.)
brother,
brothers (same family.)
brethren (same society.)
die,
dies (for stamping.)
dice (for gaming.)
cloth,
cloths (kinds of cloth.)
clothes (garments.)
index,
indexes (to a book.)
indices (in algebra.)
genius,
geniuses (men of talent.)
genii (spirits.)
4. Nouns with a different meaning in the plural:—
compass,
compasses,
iron,
irons,
good,
goods,
salt,
salts,
corn,
corns.
5. Nouns with two meanings in the plural:—
Singular. Plural. Plural.custom,
customs (habits.)
customs (revenue duties.)
letter,
letters (alphabet.)
letters (literature.)
number,
numbers (in counting.)
numbers (poetry.)
part,
parts (divisions.)
parts (abilities.)
LESSON XVII.
CASE.
Which of the italicized words in the following sentences is used as the subject of the sentence, which to denote ownership, and on which does the action expressed by the verb end?
1.
The
boyis here.
2.
The
boy’sbook is on the table.
3.
He sent the
boywith it.
The word upon which the action expressed by the verb ends is called the object of the verb.
Point out in the following sentence a noun used as the subject of the verb, a noun used to denote ownership, a noun used as the object of a verb, and a noun used as the object of a preposition:—
That girl’s father shot a bear in the forest.
The relation which a noun or pronoun bears to some other word in the sentence is called case.
A noun used as the subject of a verb is in the nominative case; as, The slate is broken. A noun used to denote ownership or possession is in the possessive case; as, Mary’s book is torn. A noun used as the object of a verb or a preposition is in the objective case; as, He left his pencil on the desk.
EXERCISE I.
Name the case of all the nouns and pronouns in the following sentences, and state the reason for the case of each:—
1.
I sailed a boat on the lake.
2.
This man’s hat was carried off by the wind.
3.
Eight horses drew the Queen’s carriage.
4.
On the deck stood the captain of the ship.
5.
Oft I had heard of Lucy Gray;
And, when I crossed the wild,
I chanced to see at break of day
The solitary child.—
Wordsworth.EXERCISE II.
1. Write four sentences each containing a noun in the nominative case, and underline examples.
2. Write four sentences each containing a noun in the possessive case, and underline examples.
3. Write four sentences each containing a noun in the objective case, and underline examples.
LESSON XVIII.
Point out the nouns in the possessive case in the following sentences, and state how the possessive is formed:—
1.
This is a girl’s hat.
2.
The girls’ yard is very clean.
3.
He found a woman’s shawl.
4.
The women’s waiting room is a large one.
The possessive case of a singular noun is always formed by adding ’s to the word.
The possessive case of a plural noun that ends in s is formed by adding the ’ (apostrophe) only; as boys, boys’.
The possessive case of a plural noun that does not end in s is formed by adding the ’s; as men, men’s.
EXERCISE.
Form the possessive case, singular and plural, of the following nouns:—
hat,
horse,
mother,
lady,
knife,
child,
servant,
grocer,
friend,
fox,
father-in-law,
country,
deer,
artist,
prince,
mouse.
Note.—Possession is sometimes expressed by the objective case with the preposition of; as, The eyes of children are bright, for children’s eyes are bright.
LESSON XIX.
State the case of the italicized nouns in the following sentences:—
1.
My
handsare cold.
2.
He is a
lawyer.
3.
Smith, the
grocer, has moved away.
4.
John, shut the door.
5.
The
stormhaving ceased, I went on.
A noun that is used as the subject of a sentence is said to be in the subject nominative case, or briefly in the nominative case; as, The sun shines brightly.
A noun that is used in the predicate with the verb to be to make a statement, is said to be in the predicate nominative case to the verb; as, This man is a poet.
Note.—The verb to be (am, is, are, was, were, shall be, will be, have been, had been, etc.,) expresses being, never action, and hence cannot take a grammatical object.
A noun that is added to another noun to explain it, is said to be in the appositive (apposition) nominative case; as Brown, the merchant, is here.
A noun that is used as the name of a person or thing addressed is said to be in the nominative of address; as I wish you long life, my friend.
A noun that has no relation to any word in the sentence is said to be in the nominative absolute; as, The game being over, I withdrew.
EXERCISE.
Select all the nominatives in the following sentences, and state the class to which each belongs:—
1.
Napoleon was a man of determination.
2.
My friend, the captain, is a citizen of Montreal.
3.
Good morning, Mr. Henry, will you come in?
4.
William the Norman, the enemy of Harold, crossed the Channel.
5.
The boat having disappeared, I turned my face homewards.
LESSON XX.
How many grammatical objects has each verb in the following sentences?—
1.
He taught me music.
2.
The tailor made him a coat.
3.
I asked them the way.
4.
He sent his sister a letter.
The object which represents that which is directly affected by the action of the verb, is called the direct object; as, This man taught me drawing.
The object which represents that which is less directly affected by the action of the verb, and a relation which may be expressed by the prepositions to or for, is called the indirect object; as, This man taught me drawing.
EXERCISE.
Select all the objects in the following sentences, and classify them into direct and indirect:—
1.
This girl brought me some flowers.
2.
The Queen gave him a present.
3.
I told him that story.
4.
My father bought me a horse.
5.
She sent my uncle a guinea.
LESSON XXI.
PARSING.
To parse a noun is to state the class to which it belongs, its gender, number, case, and its grammatical relation to other words in the sentence.
The changes in meaning and use which nouns undergo with or without a change in form, are called their inflections.
The inflections of the noun are number and case.
EXERCISE.
Parse all the nouns in the following sentences:—
1.
John lost his brother’s book on the street.
2.
The boys have bought a new boat.
3.
This little girl’s doll fell into the water.
4.
His son is an excellent writer.
5.
Mr. Wilson, the tailor, has a fine shop.
6.
James, take this book to your sister.
7.
My father gave that boy a beautiful pony.
8.
Our friends are fond of driving.
9.
Sympathy is the greatest power in the moral world.
10.
But the half of our heavy task was done,
When the clock struck the hour for retiring;
And we heard the distant and random gun,
That the foe was sullenly firing.—
Wolfe.Model.—John, a proper, concrete noun; masculine gender; singular number; nominative case, subject of lost.
Teacher’s, a common, concrete noun; masculine or feminine gender; singular number; possessive case, possessing book.
Book, a common, concrete noun; singular number; objective case, object of the verb lost.
Street, a common, concrete noun; singular number; objective case, object of the preposition on.
LESSON XXII.
PERSONAL PRONOUNS.
Name the pronouns in the following sentences, and state which denote the speaker, which the person spoken to, and which the person or thing spoken of:—
1.
He asked me to go with him.
2.
You will be sorry when you see it.
3.
I asked her to come with us.
A pronoun that shows by its form whether it denotes the speaker, the person spoken to, or the person spoken of, is called a personal pronoun.
A pronoun that denotes the speaker or any company of whom the speaker is one, is in the first person; as, I am here. We are going soon.
A pronoun that denotes a person spoken to, is in the second person; as, You look well.
A pronoun that denotes the person or thing spoken of, is in the third person; as, I found it.
THE DECLENSION OF THE PERSONAL PRONOUNS.
First Person. Singular. Plural.Nom.
Poss.
Obj.
Nom.
Poss.
Obj.
I,
mine, or my,
me.
we,
ours, or our,
us.
Second Person. Singular. Plural.Nom.
Poss.
Obj.
Nom.
Poss.
Obj.
thou,
thine, or thy,
thee.
you, or ye,
yours, or your,
you.
The second person singular is used now chiefly in prayer and poetry.
The second person plural is used now in common speech in addressing one person.
Third Person. Singular. Plural.Nom.
Poss.
Obj.
Nom.
Poss.
Obj.
Masc.
he,
his,
him.
they,
theirs, or their,
them.
Fem.
she,
hers, or her,
her.
they,
theirs, or their,
them.
Neut.
it,
its,
it.
they,
theirs, or their,
them.
EXERCISE.
Select the personal pronouns in the following sentences, state the person of each, and the noun to which each pronoun of the third person refers:—
1.
I visited my friend and helped him with his work.
2.
We bought some nuts and gave them to the children.
3.
This woman has lost her purse.
4.
I met two boys and they told me where to find you.
5.
I had a little daughter,
And she was given to me
To lead me gently backward
To the Heavenly Father’s knee.
That I by the force of nature,
Might in some dim wise divine
The depths of His infinite patience
To this wayward soul of mine.—
Lowell.Note.—The possessive forms my, thy, her, our, your and their are used with nouns, and the forms mine, thine, hers, ours, yours and theirs are used alone; as, That is my hat. That hat is mine.
LESSON XXIII.
DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS.
Name the pronouns in the following sentences that point out or call attention to anything:—
1.
This is a book, and that is a roll of paper.
2.
These are sheep, and those are goats.
Pronouns which point out or call attention to the objects for which they stand, are called demonstrative pronouns.
The demonstrative pronouns are this, and that with their plurals these, and those.
This and these are used to refer to something nearer; that and those to something farther off. You is sometimes a demonstrative pronoun; as, You are the winner. The personal pronoun of the third person is sometimes classed as a demonstrative pronoun, because it is said to point out or call attention to the object for which it stands.
It is sometimes demonstrative, and sometimes personal in its use.
Compare: I am sure he did it. I saw your brother and he is going to come to-morrow.
LESSON XXIV.
COMPOUND PERSONAL PRONOUNS.
Point out the pronouns in the following sentences, that are used to express emphasis, and those that are used as reflexives, that is, as objects denoting the same person or thing as the subject:—
1.
I myself wrote that letter.
2.
He himself gave the cane to me.
3.
We often injure ourselves.
4.
They praised themselves.
Pronouns that are used to express emphasis, and those that are used as reflexives, are called compound personal pronouns.
Compound personal pronouns are formed by adding self to the simple pronouns.
Singular. Plural.First Person.
myself,
ourselves,
Second Person.
{thyself,
{yourself,
yourselves,
{himself
Third Person.
{herself,
themselves.
{itself,
LESSON XXV.
RELATIVE PRONOUNS.
Select the pronouns that relate, or carry the mind back, to a noun going before, and join to that noun a modifying statement, in the following sentences:—
1.
My brother found the ball which he lost.
2.
I saw the man who made that wheel.
3.
Mary has the book that I bought.
A sentence that is part of a larger sentence is called a clause.
The clause that expresses the principal thought of a sentence is called the principal or independent clause; as, My brother found the ball which he lost.
The clause that depends on some other part of the sentence for its meaning is called a dependent or subordinate clause; as, My brother found the ball which he lost.
A word that relates to a preceding noun or pronoun, and connects a dependent clause with that noun or pronoun, is called a relative pronoun.
The word to which a pronoun relates is called its antecedent.
The relative pronouns are, who, which, that, what, as, and but.
1. Who is applied to persons; as, He knew the man who did it.
2. Which is applied to animals and to things without life; as This is the deer which he shot. I want the pen which you have.
3. That is applied to persons, to animals, and to things; as, This is the lady that was hurt. Here is the knife that I found.
4. What does not have its antecedent expressed; as, I know what [that which] you require.
5. When as is used as a relative it is generally preceded by such; as, We are such stuff as dreams are made on.
6. When but is used as a relative it has a negative force, equivalent to that not; as,
There is no fireside, howsoe’er defended,
But has one vacant chair.
Note.—Some relative clauses add another fact to the antecedent; as, He owns a farm, which he was given by his uncle.
Other relative clauses restrict the meaning of the antecedent; as, The boy that works succeeds.
Who and which are declined as follows:—
SINGULAR OR PLURAL.
Nom. Case
who,
which,
Poss. Case
whose,
whose,
Obj. Case
whom,
which.
COMPOUND RELATIVE PRONOUNS.
Pronouns that are formed by adding so, ever, and soever, to the simple pronouns, are called compound relative pronouns; as whoso, whichever, whatsoever.
EXERCISE I.
Name the relative pronouns, their antecedents, the clauses they connect, and the case of each:—
1.
I require the pencil that I lent you.
2.
Those who are down need fear no fall.
3.
He gave me what I desired.
4.
The men shot a bear which was roaming about.
5.
The long ranks on which I looked tramped steadily on.
6.
Let the mighty mounds
That overlook the rivers, or that rise
In the dim forest crowded with old oaks, answer.—
Bryant.EXERCISE II.
Classify the relatives in the following sentences into those that add new facts to their antecedents, and into those that restrict or limit their meaning:
1.
I live on the street which leads to the park.
2.
Those who live without a plan have never any leisure.
3.
A short distance from the house I discovered a box, which was made of iron.
4.
I met a policeman, who told me about the fire.
5.
We were the first that ever burst
Into that silent sea.—
Coleridge.6.
There, at the foot of yonder nodding birch,
That wreaths its old fantastic roots so high,
His listless length at noontide would he stretch,
And pore upon the brook that babbles by.—
Gray.LESSON XXVI.
INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS.
Point out the pronouns in the following sentences, that are used in asking questions:—
1.
Who did this?
2.
What are you going to do next?
3.
Which of the boys lost his knife?
A pronoun that is used in asking a question is called an interrogative pronoun; as, Who gave you the orange?
The interrogative pronouns are who, which, and what.
Who and which are declined like the relatives.
Who refers to persons; which refers to persons or to things; what refers to things.
Note.—Which differs from who in being selective; as, Which of the books is yours?
EXERCISE.
Select the interrogative pronouns in the following sentences, and give the case of each:—
1.
Who received the first prize in your class?
2.
Of what is this article composed?
3.
Which of the girls has the pencil?
4.
What are you going to do next?
5.
Whom did he send with the horse?
LESSON XXVII.
Point out the pronouns in the following sentences that do not stand for any particular persons or things:—
1.
Many went home before nine o’clock.
2.
Each has his work to do.
3.
All are here now.
Pronouns which do not stand for particular or definite persons or things, are called indefinite pronouns; as, Few believed him.
The principal words used as indefinite pronouns are all, any, other, another, both, some, such, few, many, one, none, each, either, neither, and words made by joining some, any, every and no to the words one, thing and body.
EXERCISE.
Select the indefinite pronouns in the following sentences, and give the case of each:—
1.
Some have gone home already.
2.
I knew both of the boys.
3.
He has not any to give to me.
4.
Everybody goes to the wharf in the evening.
5.
I told some one to bring it with him.
LESSON XXVIII.
PARSING.
To parse a pronoun is to state the class to which it belongs, its gender, person, number, case, and its grammatical relation to other words in the sentence.
Parse all the pronouns in the following sentences:—
1.
I have the knife which you gave me.
2.
He saw the letter that I wrote.
3.
Who told you they did it?
4.
Few shall meet where many part.—
Campbell.5.
He is the freeman whom the truth makes free.—
Cowper.6.
There’s a divinity that shapes our ends,
Rough-hew them as we will.—
Shakespeare.7.
I have seen him buy such bargains as would amaze one.—
Goldsmith.8.
Ye, therefore, who love mercy, teach your sons
To love it too.—
Cowper.9.
I dare do all that may become a man,
Who dares do more is none.—
Shakespeare.10.
Breathes there a man with soul so dead,
Who never to himself hath said,
This is my own, my native land.—
Scott.Model:—I have the knife which you gave me.
I, a personal pronoun; masculine or feminine gender; first person; singular number; nominative case, subject of have.
which, a relative pronoun; third person; singular number; objective case, direct object of the verb gave.
you, a personal pronoun; masculine or feminine gender; second person; singular or plural number; nominative case, subject of the verb gave.
me, a personal pronoun; masculine or feminine gender; first person; singular number; objective case, indirect object of the verb gave.
LESSON XXIX.
CLASSES OF ADJECTIVES.
ADJECTIVES OF QUALITY.
Point out the adjectives in the following sentences that express quality or kind in the objects named by the nouns with which they are used:—
1.
This is a sweet apple.
2.
I bought an oak table and a silver tray.
3.
These girls are happy.
Adjectives that express quality or kind in the objects named by the nouns with which they are used, are called qualifying adjectives; as, These kind girls took some fresh flowers to a sick woman.
Qualifying adjectives that are formed from proper nouns are called proper adjectives. They begin with capital letters; as, He gave her an English coin.
EXERCISE.
Select the qualifying adjectives in the following sentences, and state the nouns they qualify:—
1.
A wise man considers his words.
2.
Gentle, loving Nell was dead.
3.
Her sleep was beautiful and calm.
4.
Wonderful animals are to be seen in African forests.
5.
With a slow and noiseless footstep
Comes that messenger divine.—
Longfellow.6.
Like other dull men, the king was all his life suspicious of superior people.—
Thackeray.7.
O Caledonia! stern and wild,
Meet nurse for a poetic child!
Land of brown heath and shaggy wood,
Land of the mountain and the flood.—
Scott.LESSON XXX.
ADJECTIVES OF QUANTITY.
Point out the adjectives in the following sentences, that express the quantity or number of the objects named by the nouns with which they are used:—
1.
This man has little strength left.
2.
I wish you much success in your studies.
3.
There are three boys in the yard.
Adjectives that express the quantity or number of the objects named by the nouns with which they are used, are called quantifying adjectives; as, He won the second prize.
EXERCISE.
Select the quantifying adjectives in the following sentences, and state the noun each modifies:—
1.
William has twenty marbles.
2.
Much study is a weariness of the flesh.
3.
My brother has the third place in his class.
4.
This poor man has little coal for the winter.
LESSON XXXI.
PRONOMINAL ADJECTIVES.
Which of the italicized words are used as pronouns and which as adjectives?
1.
Thisbelongs to my brother.
2.
Thisbook belongs to my brother.
3.
Whichis your pen?
4.
Whichpencil will you have?
5.
Allare lying on the bank.
6.
Allmen are mortal.
7.
Mineare in the house.
8.
Myslate is broken.
Adjectives that are sometimes used as pronouns are called pronominal adjectives; as, These books are mine. All boys can learn.
There are five kinds of pronominal adjectives.
1. Possessive adjectives. These are the possessive forms of the personal pronouns used as adjectives. They are given in Lesson XXII., and are as follows:—my or mine, thy or thine, our or ours, your or yours, his, her or hers, its, their or theirs.
2. Interrogative adjectives. These are which and what when used with a noun to ask a question; as, Which poem will you recite? What wrong have you done?
3. Relative adjectives. These are the words which and what used relatively with a noun; as, I know which pen you prefer. I see what course you are taking.
4. Indefinite adjectives. These are the words which, when used without nouns, are indefinite pronouns; as, Few persons believe his story. [See Lesson XXVII.]
5. Demonstrative adjectives. These are this, these; that, those; yon, yonder, when used with nouns; as, That tree is very tall. Yon ship is coming nearer.
To the foregoing list of demonstrative adjectives we may add a, an, and the, since they are demonstrative in their nature, that is they are used to point out, but they have no pronominal use; as, The man is well again. An apple is on the table.
Note.—An is used before a word beginning with a vowel sound; as, An orange is yellow. An hour contains sixty minutes.
A is used before a word beginning with a consonant sound; as, A pencil is on the desk. Many a one has succeeded. (One begins with the consonant sound of w.)
EXERCISE.
Select the pronominal adjectives in the following sentences, give the kind of each and the word it modifies:—
1.
Which way did he go?
2.
That lady explained my lesson.
3.
Any other pen will do.
4.
I do not know what work he did.
5.
Their father bought them some fruit.
6.
Beneath those rugged elms, that yew-tree’s shade,
Where heaves the turf in many a mouldering heap,
Each in his narrow cell forever laid,
The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep.—
Gray.LESSON XXXII.
COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES.
In the following sentences what degree of quality do the different forms of the adjective large express?
1.
John has a large ball.
2.
I have a larger ball than John’s.
3.
James has the largest ball in the yard.
In sentence number 2, two balls are compared. In sentence number 3, three or more balls are compared. Hence the change of form of adjectives to express different degrees of quality is called comparison.
The form of the adjective, which merely expresses the quality, is called the positive degree; as, I have a small pen.
The form of the adjective that expresses a higher or lower degree of the quality, is called the comparative degree; as, Charles has a smaller pen than mine.
The form of the adjective that expresses the highest or the lowest degree of the quality, is called the superlative degree; as, The teacher has the smallest pen in the room.
Most adjectives of one syllable form the comparative by adding er to the simple form, and the superlative by adding est to the same form; as,
Positive. Comparative. Superlative.tall,
taller,
tallest.
fine,
finer,
finest.
Note.—If the simple form ends in e, one e is omitted in the comparison.
Most adjectives of more than one syllable are composed by prefixing more and most, or less and least to the simple form; as,
Positive. Comparative. Superlative.beautiful,
more beautiful,
most beautiful,
worthy,
less worthy,
least worthy.
The following adjectives of two syllables are often compared by adding er and est: happy, pleasant, common, noble, able, narrow.
The following adjectives are compared irregularly:—
Positive. Comparative. Superlative.good,
better,
best,
bad, evil, or ill,
worse,
worst,
little,
less,
least,
much or many,
more,
most,
far,
farther,
farthest,
(forth,)
further,
furthest or furthermost,
near,
nearer,
nearest or next,
late,
later,
latest or last,
fore,
former,
foremost or first,
old,
older or elder,
oldest or eldest.
EXERCISE I.
Name each adjective in the following sentences, state its degree, and give the word it modifies:—
1.
I never saw a brighter sky.
2.
It was a cruel and most unjust sentence.
3.
The shores of this lake are high and rocky.
4.
To-morrow’ll be the happiest time of all the glad New-year;
Of all the glad New-year, mother, the maddest, merriest day.—
Tennyson.5.
I sat and watched her many a day,
When her eyes grew dim and her locks were gray.—
Eliza Cook.6.
Small service is true service while it lasts;
Of friends, however humble, scorn not one.—
Wordsworth.7.
Look. She is sad to miss,
Morning and night
His—her dead father’s—kiss;
Tries to be bright,
Good to mamma, and sweet.
That is all. “Marguerite.”—
Dobson.EXERCISE II.
Compare the following adjectives:—
near,
bad,
happy,
wise,
plain,
first,
grateful,
numerous,
brief,
lofty,
rapid,
fortunate,
far,
cloudy,
handsome,
sincere,
hind,
dreary,
pale,
extraordinary.
LESSON XXXIII.
Parse all the adjectives in the following sentences:
1.
Wisdom is more precious than rubies.
2.
This is a wonderful scene.
3.
Let my little story answer this question.
4.
It was lazy, idle work, lying in the tent all day long.
5.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
6.
From a shoal of richest rubies
Breaks the morning clear and cold,
And the angel on the village spire,
Frost-touched, is bright as gold.—
Aldrich.7.
Every hour that fleets so slowly,
Has its task to do or bear;
Luminous the crown and holy,
When each gem is set with care.—
Adelaide Procter.Model. These kind girls brought me some flowers.
These, a pronominal adjective; demonstrative; modifying the noun girls.
kind, a qualifying adjective; positive degree; (kind, kinder, kindest), modifying the noun girls.
some, a pronominal adjective; indefinite; modifying the noun flowers.
LESSON XXXIV.
CLASSES OF VERBS.
Name the verbs in the following sentences that express an action or feeling that goes out from the agent or doer to something else, and the verbs that express an action or feeling that does not go out to anything, but remains with the doer:—
1.
James broke his pencil.
2.
This boy found a knife.
3.
Our girls like literature.
4.
The sun shines brightly.
5.
The birds fly into the trees.
6.
The pupils feel cold.
A verb that expresses an action or feeling that goes out from the agent or doer to something else, is called a transitive verb; as, He wrote a letter. We love our friends.
A verb that expresses being, a state, or an action or feeling that does not go out to anything, but remains with the doer, is called an intransitive verb; as, He is here. She sleeps now. The wind blows from the north. This man feels sick.
EXERCISE I.
Classify the verbs in the following sentences:—
1.
My brother sold his knife.
2.
The boys play ball in the yard.
3.
He ran across the street.
4.
This little girl cut her hand.
5.
That tree is very tall.
6.
The window was broken by a stone.
7.
Many birds build their nests in trees.
8.
He told them of the river whose mighty current gave
Its freshness for a hundred leagues to Ocean’s briny wave.—
McGee.9.
We carved not a line, and we raised not a stone,
But we left him alone in his glory.—
Charles Wolfe.10.
I see the wealthy miller yet,
His double chin, his portly size,
And who that knew him could forget,
The busy wrinkles round his eyes?—
Tennyson.EXERCISE II.
Note.—The same verb may be used either transitively or intransitively; as, I see the house. I see through this paper.
Some verbs have only an intransitive use because they do not express action; as, be, seem, appear, remain, become, etc.
1. Write sentences using the following words as transitive verbs:—
make,
paper,
water,
sharpen,
ran,
find,
paint,
reprove,
set,
study.
2. Write sentences using the following words as intransitive verbs:—
ran,
sit,
was,
walks,
read,
remain,
fall,
writes,
dreams,
move.
LESSON XXXV.
Point out each verb that is used by itself to make a complete statement, and each verb that is not used by itself to make a complete statement:—
1.
The boy sleeps.
2.
My task is done.
3.
This rose smells sweet.
4.
The girls are cold.
When a verb by itself makes a complete statement, it is called a verb of complete predication; as, Birds fly.
When a verb by itself does not make a complete statement, it is called a verb of incomplete predication; as, This man is a merchant.
EXERCISE.
Select the verbs of incomplete predication, and state the word or words that complete the predication:—
1.
This water is warm.
2.
He became a sailor.
3.
My brother studies in the evening.
4.
This man has been sick for a month.
5.
Some murmur when their sky is clear.—
French.6.
A soft answer turneth away wrath.—
Bible.7.
An idler is a watch that wants both hands.—
Cowper.8.
Sweet was the sound, when oft, at evening’s close,
Up yonder hill the village murmur rose.—
Goldsmith.LESSON XXXVI.
VOICE.
Is the same idea expressed by the sentences in each group?—
1.
{I cut the paper.
{The paper was cut by me.
2.
{John broke the window.
{The window was broken by John.
3.
{He caught a bird.
{A bird was caught by him.
With a certain form of the verb, its subject names the actor; with another form of the verb, the subject names the thing acted upon. This change in the form of the verb is called voice.
A transitive verb that represents the person or thing named by its subject as acting is said to be in the active voice; as, James struck the horse.
A transitive verb that represents the person or thing named by its subject as being acted upon is said to be in the passive voice; as, The horse was struck by James.
Note (a).—The object in the active voice becomes the subject in the passive voice, so that only transitive verbs can properly be used in the passive voice. There are, however, some exceptions to this principle. When an intransitive verb is followed by a phrase made up of a preposition and noun, the intransitive verb may often be used passively with the preposition as an adverbial adjunct; as, I despair of success. Success is despaired of by me. He shot at a bird. A bird was shot at by him.
Note (b).—The agent in the passive voice is indicated by the preposition by.
EXERCISE I.
Name the voice of each verb in the following sentences, and state the reason in each case:—
1.
He found his knife under the table.
2.
This curious bird was brought from Africa by a traveller.
3.
My friend has written two letters.
4.
This ring was given to me by my mother.
5.
The bird flew away into the bush.
6.
The old man was sick and hungry.
7.
Near the moulded arch he saw low, dark grottos within the cavern.
8.
These ample fields
Nourished their harvests, here their herds were fed,
Where haply by their stalls the bison lowed,
And bowed his manèd shoulder to the yoke.—
Bryant.EXERCISE II.
Change the voice of each transitive verb in the preceding lesson.
LESSON XXXVII.
MODE.
Point out in the following sentences a verb that states something as a fact, one that is used in asking a question, one that mentions something merely thought of, and one that expresses a command:—
1.
He knows his lesson to-day.
2.
Are you first in the class?
3.
I hope that he succeed.
4.
Put away your books.
The manner in which the verb presents the idea is called the mode of the verb.
A verb that is used to state something as a fact, to ask a question, or to express a condition relating to an actual state of things, is in the indicative mode; as, He reads well. Does he read well? If he was guilty, his punishment was too light.
A verb that is used to express something merely thought of is in the subjunctive mode; as, I wish that he go. If he were present I would speak to him. Thy kingdom come.
Note.—The verb in conditional sentences is in the subjunctive mode only when it expresses something merely thought of.
A verb that expresses a command or request is in the imperative mode; as, Come into the house. Open your book.
EXERCISE I.
Name the mode or mood of each verb, and give the reason in each case:—
1.
Home they brought her warrior dead.—
Tennyson.2.
What sought they thus afar?—
Hemans.3.
If my standard-bearer fall, press where ye see my white plume—
Macaulay.4.
Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not.—
Bible.5.
If fortune serve me I’ll requite this kindness.—
Shakespeare.6.
The meteor flag of England
Shall yet terrific burn,
Till danger’s troubled night depart,
And the star of peace return.—
Campbell.7.
Backward, flow backward, O tide of the years!
I am so weary of toil and of tears—
Toil without recompense—tears all in vain—
Take them, and give me my childhood again.—
E. A. Allen.EXERCISE II.
1. Write three sentences each containing an example of the indicative mode.
2. Write three sentences each containing an example of the subjunctive mode.
3. Write three sentences each containing an example of the imperative mode.
LESSON XXXVIII.
The preceding lesson treated of verbs that are limited by their subjects as to number and person; as, I am here. John is here. The boys are here. Hence these verbs are called finite verbs.
This lesson will treat of verbs that are not so limited; hence they are called infinitive verbs.
THE INFINITIVE.
Select from the following sentences forms of verbs that are used (1) as a noun, (2) as an adverb, and (3) as an adjective:—
1.
I like to sing.
2.
I came to see the ship.
3.
Have you any water to drink?
The form of the verb that does not make an assertion, and that is not limited as to person and number is called the infinitive.
The infinitive may be used as a noun; as, To forgive is divine.
The infinitive may be used as an adverb; as, I came to call you back.
The infinitive may be used as an adjective; as, He has no pen to write with.
The infinitive may be used as the complement of verbs of incomplete predication; as, He appeared to hesitate.
There are two infinitives, the simple infinitive with or without to, and the infinitive in ing; as, I like to row a boat. He may go. She is fond of writing letters.
The infinitive in ing is sometimes called a gerund.
The infinitive has a variety of uses. Its grammatical value in English is always determined by its function in the sentence.
Name the infinitives in the following sentences, tell the grammatical value of each, and state the reason:—
1.
To read well is an accomplishment.
2.
I am glad to hear it.
3.
This man has a house to rent.
4.
There is little hope of finding him.
5.
To hesitate is to fail.
6.
She was about to leave.
7.
Poverty is hard to bear.
8.
When the rain ceased to fall, the wind began to blow.
9.
I prefer to starve first.
10.
There Honor comes, a pilgrim gray,
To bless the turf that wraps their clay;
And Freedom shall a while repair,
To dwell a weeping hermit there.—
Collins.LESSON XXXIX.
THE PARTICIPLE.
Select the words in the following sentences that are used to modify nouns, and also imply action or being:—
1.
On came the boy running lightly.
2.
Hearing the noise, I went to the door.
3.
I have a book written in Old English.
A word that participates in the nature of the verb and the adjective is called a participle; as, Leaving the room, we walked into the garden. I found a treasure hidden in the ground.
A participle qualifies a noun or pronoun, like an adjective, and takes modifiers like a verb. A participle formed from a transitive verb takes an object.
A participle that is used to denote unfinished action is called a present or imperfect participle; as, Jumping the fence, I ran across the field.
A participle that is used to denote finished action is called a past or perfect participle; as, He gave me a pencil painted red.
EXERCISE I.
Classify the participles in the following sentences and tell what each modifies:—
1.
Onward they went, carrying death and ruin before them.—
Lever.2.
I heard my own mountain goats bleating aloft.—
Campbell.3.
The cuirassiers, repulsed, disordered, and broken, had retired beneath the protection of the artillery.—
Lever.4.
And, his chief beside,
Smiling, the boy fell dead.—
Browning.5.
Truth, crushed to earth, shall rise again;
The eternal years of God are hers.—
Bryant.6.
Toiling,—rejoicing,—sorrowing,
Onward, through life he goes.—
Longfellow.7.
Poor lone Hannah,
Sitting at the window binding shoes.
Faded, wrinkled,
Sitting, stitching, in a mournful muse.—
Lucy Larcom.EXERCISE II.
Determine the grammatical value of the italicized words in the following sentences, according to the use of each:—
1.
Walkingis good exercise.
2.
Seeingme
coming, he came to meet me.
3.
This
buildingcost one hundred thousand dollars.
4.
Every
bleachingbreeze chastens her purity.
5.
He gave up all hope of
recoveringhis health.
6.
The fields are covered with
growinggrain.
7.
A miser gives up all the pleasure of
doinggood.
8.
Kneelingdown, I kissed the little flower.
LESSON XL.
TENSE.
State the time of the action in each of the following sentences, and point out the different forms of the verb:—
1.
He writes a letter.
2.
He wrote a letter.
3.
He will write a letter.
The change which takes place in the verb to mark this change of time, is called tense.
There are three natural divisions of time—present, past, and future, so that there are three corresponding tenses—present, past, and future.
A verb that denotes an action in the present time is in the present tense; as, I speak.
A verb that denotes an action in the past time is in the past tense; as, I spoke.
A verb that denotes an action in the future time is in the future tense; as, I shall speak.
Besides these three simple tenses, there are three perfect tenses, which denote action as completed.
Point out a verb in the following sentences that denotes an action completed in present time, one that denotes an action completed in past time, and one that denotes an action completed in future time:—
1.
He has written a letter.
2.
He had written a letter.
3.
He will have written a letter.
A verb that denotes an action as completed at the present time is in the present perfect tense; as, I have spoken.
A verb that denotes an action as having been completed before a certain past time is in the past perfect or pluperfect tense; as, I had spoken before you came.
A verb that denotes an action to be completed before a certain future time is in the future perfect tense; as, I shall have spoken before he will arrive.
The present and the past tenses are indicated by the form of the verb itself. The other tenses are formed by the aid of other verbs, called auxiliary verbs.
TENSES OF THE INDICATIVE MODE.
Present.
I see.
Past.
I saw.
Future.
I shall see.
Present Perfect.
I have seen.
Past Perfect.
I had seen.
Future Perfect.
I shall have seen.
Note.—Shall is used in the first person, and will in the second and third persons to denote future action. Will is used in the first person, and shall in the second and third persons to denote determination.
EXERCISE.
Select the verbs, and state the tense of each:—
1.
The sailor twitched his shirt of blue,
And from within his bosom drew
The kerchief. She was wild.—
Alice Cary.2.
The Christian princes felt that the scene which they had
beheld weighed heavily on their spirits.—
Scott.3.
The boy stood on the burning deck,
Whence all but he had fled.—
Hemans.4.
The nurse sleeps sweetly, hired to watch the sick,
Whom sleeping, she disturbs.—
Cowper.5.
When kindness had his wants supplied,
And the old man was gratified,
Began to rise his minstrel pride.—
Scott.6.
He was a man, take him for all in all,
I shall not look upon his like again.—
Shakespeare.LESSON XLI.
PERSON AND NUMBER.
Point out the different forms of the verb that are used with the different subjects:—
Singular. Plural.First Person.
I write.
We write.
Second Person.
Thou writest.
You write.
Third Person.
He writes.
They write.
The different forms that a verb takes to agree with the person and number of its subject are called person and number forms.
Observe that there is no change in the action expressed by the verb; it has merely adapted itself to the person and number of its subject.
The third person singular has, in the present indicative, the ending s or es, and the old form eth; as, He walks; He goes; He dreameth.
The second person singular has the ending est or st in both the present and the past tenses; as, Thou lovest; Thou lovedst.
The first person singular and the plural forms for all the persons have no endings to mark person and number, with but one exception, the verb to be; as, I am; We are; I was; We were.
EXERCISE.
Write out the present tense forms, indicative mode, of the following verbs, using the personal pronouns for subjects:—
live,
find,
come,
teach,
talk,
go,
run,
play,
make,
do.
LESSON XLII.
CONJUGATIONS OF THE VERB.
Point out how the past tense and perfect participle of the following verbs are formed:—
Present. Past. Perfect Participle.wish,
wished,
wished.
love,
loved,
loved.
take,
took,
taken.
write,
wrote,
written.
A verb that forms its past tense and perfect participle by adding ed or d to the present tense form, is a verb of the weak or new conjugation; as, look, looked, looked.
A verb that forms its past tense by changing the vowel of the present, and its perfect participle by adding n or en to the present, is a verb of the strong or old conjugation; as, fall, fell, fallen.
Note.—Verbs of the old conjugation are called strong because they form their past tense within themselves. Verbs of the new conjugation are called weak because they form their past tense by the aid of an additional syllable.
Weak verbs are called verbs of the new conjugation because the method of forming the past tense by the addition of ed or d is of more recent origin than the method of the strong conjugation.
If we know the present tense form, the past, and the perfect participle of any verb, we can tell to which conjugation it belongs, and can give all its inflections of person, number, tense, and mode, therefore the present tense form, the past and the perfect participle, are called the principal parts of the verb. When we give all the inflections of a verb, or indicate them by the principal parts, we conjugate it.
LESSON XLIII.
IRREGULAR VERBS OF THE WEAK CONJUGATION.
We have learned that regular verbs of the weak conjugation form their past tense and perfect participle by adding ed or d to the present tense form.
Point out how the following verbs form their past tense and perfect participle:
Present. Past. Perfect Participle.mean,
meant,
meant.
sleep,
slept,
slept.
say,
said,
said.
cost,
cost,
cost.
In some verbs the ed or d of the past tense is sounded like t, and in many cases the spelling has changed to t. A few verbs shorten the vowel of the present; as, feel, felt, felt. Other verbs of this conjugation change the vowel before adding d; as, tell, told, told; and a number that end in t or d make no change; as, set, set, set.
A LIST OF THE IRREGULAR VERBS OF THE WEAK CONJUGATION.
Present. Past. Perf. Part.bend,
bent,
[1]bent.
bereave,
bereft,
[1]bereft.
beseech,
besought,
besought.
bleed,
bled,
bled.
breed,
bred,
bred.
bring,
brought,
brought.
build,
built,
[1]built.
burn,
burnt,
[1]burnt.
burst,
burst,
burst.
buy,
bought,
bought.
cast,
cast,
cast.
catch,
caught,
caught.
cleave
(adhere),
clave,
[1]cleaved.
clothe,
clad,
[1]clad.
cost,
cost,
cost.
creep,
crept,
crept.
cut,
cut,
cut.
dare,
durst,
[1]dared.
deal,
dealt,
dealt.
dream,
dreamt,
[1]dreamt.
dwell,
dwelt,
[1]dwelt.
feed,
fed,
fed.
feel,
felt,
felt.
flee,
fled,
fled.
gild,
gilt,
[1]gilt.
gird,
girt,
[1]girt.
have,
had,
had.
hear,
heard,
heard.
hit,
hit,
hit.
hurt,
hurt,
hurt.
keep,
kept,
kept.
kneel,
knelt,
knelt.
knit,
knit,
[1]knit.
lay,
laid,
laid.
lead,
led,
led.
lean,
leant,
[1]leant.
leap,
leapt,
[1]leapt.
learn,
learnt,
[1]learnt.
leave,
left,
left.
lend,
lent,
lent.
let,
let,
let.
light,
lit,
[1]lit.
lose,
lost,
lost.
make,
made,
made.
mean,
meant,
meant.
meet,
met,
met.
pay,
paid,
paid.
pen
(enclose),
pent,
[1]pent.
put,
put,
put.
quit,
quit,
[1]quit.
read,
read,
read.
rend,
rent,
rent.
rid,
rid,
rid.
say,
said,
said.
seek,
sought,
sought.
sell,
sold,
sold.
send,
sent,
sent.
set,
set,
set.
shed,
shed,
shed.
shoe,
shod,
shod.
shoot,
shot,
shot.
shut,
shut,
shut.
sleep,
slept,
slept.
smell,
smelt,
[1]smelt.
speed,
sped,
sped.
spell,
spelt,
[1]spelt.
spend,
spent,
spent.
spill,
spilt,
[1]spilt.
spit,
spit,
spit.
split,
split,
split.
spoil,
spoilt,
[1]spoilt.
spread,
spread,
spread.
sweat,
sweat,
sweat.
sweep,
swept,
swept.
teach,
taught,
taught.
tell,
told,
told.
think,
thought,
thought.
thrust,
thrust,
thrust.
weep,
wept,
wept.
wet,
wet,
[1]wet.
whet,
whet,
[1]whet.
work,
wrought,
[1]wrought.
Sometimes conjugated regularly.
[1]
Sometimes conjugated regularly.
bent,[1]
LESSON XLIV.
A LIST OF THE VERBS OF THE STRONG CONJUGATION.
We learned in Lesson XLII. that regular verbs of the strong conjugation form their past tense by changing the vowel of the present, and their perfect participle by adding en or n to the present.
Note.—Sometimes one of these characteristics is wanting; as, chide, chid, chidden; sit, sat, sat.
Present. Past. Perf. Part.write,
wrote,
written.
abide,
abode,
abode.
am,
was,
been.
arise,
arose,
arisen.
awake,
awoke,
[2]awaked.
bear,
{bore,
{borne.
{bare,
{born.
beat,
beat,
beaten.
begin,
began,
begun.
bid,
bade, bid,
bidden.
bind,
bound,
bound.
bite,
bit,
{bitten,
{bit.
blow,
blew,
blown.
break,
broke,
broken.
chide,
chid,
chidden.
choose,
chose,
chosen.
cleave,
(split),
clove,
cloven.
cling,
clung,
clung.
come,
came,
come.
crow,
crew,
[2]crowed.
dig,
dug
[2]dug.
do,
did,
done.
draw,
drew,
drawn.
drive,
drove,
driven.
drink,
drank,
drunk.
eat,
eat, ate,
eaten.
fall,
fell,
fallen.
fight,
fought,
fought.
find,
found,
found.
fling,
flung,
flung.
fly,
flew,
flown.
forget,
forgot,
{forgotten,
{forgot.
forsake,
forsook,
forsaken.
freeze,
froze,
frozen.
get,
got,
{gotten,
{got.
give,
gave,
given.
go,
went,
gone.
grind,
ground,
ground.
grow,
grew,
grown.
hang,
hung,
[2]hung.
[2]hide,
hid,
{hidden,
{hid.
hold,
held,
held.
know,
knew,
known.
lie,
lay,
lain.
mow,
mowed,
mown.
ride,
rode,
ridden.
ring,
rang,
rung.
rise,
rose,
risen.
run,
ran,
run.
see,
saw,
seen.
shake,
shook,
shaken.
shear,
sheared,
shorn.
[2]shine,
shone,
[2]shone.
[2]show,
showed,
shown.
[2]shrink,
shrank,
shrunk.
sing,
sang,
sung.
sink,
sank,
{sunk,
{sunken.
sit,
sat,
sat.
slay,
slew,
slain.
slide,
slid,
slidden.
sling,
slung,
slung.
slink,
slunk,
slunk.
slit,
slit,
slit.
smite,
smote,
smitten.
sow,
sowed,
sown.
[2]speak,
spoke,
spoken.
spin,
spun,
spun.
spring,
sprang,
sprung.
stand,
stood,
stood.
steal,
stole,
stolen.
stick,
stuck,
stuck.
sting,
stung,
stung.
stink,
stank,
stunk.
strew,
strewed,
{strewn,
[2]{strown.
stride,
strode,
stridden.
strike,
struck,
{struck,
{stricken.
string,
strung,
strung.
strive,
strove,
striven.
swear,
swore,
sworn.
swim,
swam,
swum.
swing,
swung,
swung.
take,
took,
taken.
tear,
tore,
torn.
thrive,
throve,
[2]thriven.
[2]throw,
threw,
thrown.
tread,
trod,
trodden.
wax,
waxed,
waxen.
[2]wear,
wore,
worn.
weave,
wove,
woven.
win,
won,
won.
wind,
wound,
wound.
wring,
wrung,
wrung.
write,
wrote,
written.
Also like the weak conjugation.
A LIST OF DEFECTIVE VERBS OF THE WEAK CONJUGATION.
Present. Past. Perf. Part.can,
could,
——
may,
might,
——
shall,
should,
——
will,
would,
——
must,
must,
——
ought,
ought,
——
LESSON XLV.
AUXILIARY VERBS.
We have learned in Lesson XL. that the verb has different forms of itself to express a difference between present and past time only, and when we wish to express that an act took place any other time, we use another verb to aid the principal verb.
State which of the italicized verbs in the following sentences is used independently, to express its own meaning, and which is used to aid another verb to express its meaning:—
1.
I
havea knife.
2.
I
havewritten the letter.
3.
He
wasa good student.
4.
He
wasfined for doing wrong.
A verb that is used to help to conjugate other verbs is called an auxiliary verb; as, We have found your book.
The auxiliary verbs that aid in distinguishing the time of an action are have, shall, will, do and be.
THE FORMS OF THE VERB HAVE.
PRESENT TENSE. PAST TENSE. PERFECT PART.have,
had,
had.
INDICATIVE MODE.
PRESENT TENSE. Singular. Plural.1. I have,
1. We have,
2. Thou hast,
2. You have,
3. He has.
3. They have.
PAST TENSE. Singular. Plural.1. I had,
1. We had,
2. Thou hadst,
2. You had,
3. He had.
3. They had.
SUBJUNCTIVE MODE.
PRESENT TENSE. Singular. Plural.1. (If) I have,
1. (If) we have,
2. (If) thou have,
2. (If) you have,
3. (If) he have.
3. (If) they have.
PAST TENSE. Singular. Plural.1. (If) I had,
1. (If) we had,
2. (If) thou had,
2. (If) you had,
3. (If) he had.
3. (If) they had.
IMPERATIVE MODE.
Singular. Plural.Have (thou).
Have (ye or you).
Infinitives. Participles.(To) have,
Imperfect—Having,
Having.
Perfect—Had.
Have is used as an auxiliary with the perfect participle of a verb, to form the perfect tenses; as,
Present Perfect—I have written.
Past Perfect—I had written.
Future Perfect—I shall have written.
Perfect Infinitives—(To) have written; having written.
Perfect Participle—Having written.
When have denotes possession it is an independent verb; as My friends have a canary.
EXERCISE.
In which of the following sentences is have an independent verb, and in which is it an auxiliary:—
1.
The wheelmen have their own road.
2.
I know that he has taken it.
3.
England had won the sources of the Nile!—
Baker.4.
Have then thy wish; he whistled shrill,
And he was answered from the hill.—
Scott.5.
I have obeyed my uncle until now.
And I have sinned, for it was all through me
That evil came on William at the first.—
Tennyson.6.
Have you the heart? When your head did but ache,
I knit my handkercher about your brows,
(The best I had, a princess wrought it me,)
And I did never ask it you again.—
Shakespeare.LESSON XLVI.
THE FORMS OF THE VERBS SHALL AND WILL.
SHALL.
PRESENT TENSE. Singular. Plural.1. I shall,
1. We shall,
2. Thou shalt,
2. You shall,
3. He shall.
3. They shall.
PAST TENSE. Singular. Plural.1. I should,
1. We should,
2. Thou shouldst,
2. You should,
3. He should.
3. They should.
WILL.
PRESENT TENSE. Singular. Plural.1. I will,
1. We will,
2. Thou wilt,
2. You will,
3. He will.
3. They will.
PAST TENSE. Singular. Plural.1. I would,
1. We would,
2. Thou wouldst,
2. You would,
3. He would.
3. They would.
The auxiliaries shall and will are used with the infinitive to form the future tense of a verb. To denote simple futurity shall is used in the first person, and will in the second and third persons; as, I shall go to-morrow; You will go again; He will go next year.
To make a promise or to denote determination, will is used in the first person, and shall in the second and third persons; as, I will get it for you; You shall not go; He shall do that work.
Should and would have the same uses as shall and will.
EXERCISE.
Tell how shall and will. are used in the following sentences:—
1.
The expectation of the wicked shall perish.—
Bible.2.
When ye come where I have stepped,
Ye will wonder why ye wept.—
E. Arnold.3.
Well, see to live; I will not touch thine eyes
For all the treasure that thine uncle owns.—
Shakespeare.4.
He that covereth his sins shall not prosper.—
Bible.5.
But in my time a father’s word was law,
And so it shall be now for me.—
Tennyson.
6.
If I talk to him, with his innocent prate
He will awake my mercy, which lies dead:
Therefore I will be sudden, and despatch.—
Shakespeare.
7.
The cock’s shrill clarion, or the echoing horn,
No more shall rouse them from their lowly bed.—
Gray.
8.
“If you are not the heiress born,
And I,” said he, “the lawful heir,
We too shall wed to-morrow morn,
And you shall still be Lady Clare.”—
Tennyson.
[2]
Also like the weak conjugation.
awoke,[2]
LESSON XLVII.
THE FORMS OF THE VERBS DO AND BE.
DO.
INDICATIVE MODE.
PRESENT TENSE. Singular. Plural.1. I do,
1. We do,
2. Thou doest
2. You do,
or dost,
3. He does.
3. They do.
PAST TENSE. Singular. Plural.1. I did,
1. We did,
2. Thou didst,
2. You did,
3. He did.
3. They did.
SUBJUNCTIVE MODE.
PRESENT TENSE. Singular. Plural.1. (If) I do,
1. (If) we do,
2. (If) thou do,
2. (If) you do,
3. (If) he do.
3. (If) they do.
PAST TENSE. Singular. Plural.1. (If) I did,
1. (If) we did,
2. (If) thou did,
2. (If) you did,
3. (If) he did.
3. (If) they did.
Imperative Mode. Infinitives. Participles.Do (thou or you).
(To) do.
Imperfect—Doing.
Doing.
Perfect—Done.
The present and past tenses of do are used as auxiliaries with the present infinitive, (1) to express emphasis; as, I do study every evening. (2) To express a denial; as, I did not do it. (3) To ask questions; as, Did you see him?
When do means to perform, it is an independent verb; as, He did his part.
EXERCISE.
Name the sentences in which do is used as an independent verb, and those in which it is used as an auxiliary, and explain the use of each auxiliary:—
1.
Do they not err that devise evil?—
Bible.2.
All their works they do to be seen of men.—
Bible.3.
Stone walls do not a prison make.—
Lovelace.4.
And for that offense
Immediately we do exile him hence.—
Shakespeare.5.
And everybody praised the Duke
Who this great fight did win.—
Southey.6.
The evil that men do lives after them.—
Shakespeare.7.
So little they rose, so little they fell,
They did not move the Inchcape Bell.—
Southey.8.
If I do so, it will be of more price,
Being spoke behind your back, than to your face.—
Shakespeare.BE.
INDICATIVE MODE.
PRESENT TENSE. Singular. Plural.1. I am,
1. We are,
2. Thou art,
2. You are,
3. He is.
3. They are.
PAST TENSE. Singular. Plural.1. I was,
1. We were,
2. Thou wast,
2. You were,
3. He was.
3. They were.
SUBJUNCTIVE MODE.
PRESENT TENSE. Singular. Plural.1. (If) I be,
1. (If) we be,
2. (If) thou be,
2. (If) you be,
3. (If) he be.
3. (If) they be
PAST TENSE. Singular. Plural.1. (If) I were,
1. (If) we were,
2. (If) thou wert,
2. (If) you were,
3. (If) he were.
3. (If) they were.
Imperative Mode. Infinitives. Participles.Be (thou or you).
(To) be.
Imperfect—Being.
Being.
Perfect—Been.
1. The verb to be is used as an auxiliary with the perfect participle of a transitive verb, to form the passive voice; as, I am hurt.
2. The verb to be is used as an auxiliary with the present participle of a verb, to form the progressive form; as, I am writing.
3. The verb to be, without the participle of another verb, is used to express (1) existence; as, Whatever is, is right. (2) To act as a copula (connecting word); as, Sugar is sweet. Whatever is, is right.
EXERCISE I.
State the use of the verb be in each of the following sentences:—
1.
“Alas,” said I, “man was made in vain!”—
Addison.2.
Brevity is the soul of wit.—
Shakespeare.3.
The waves were white, and red the morn,
In the noisy hour when I was born.—
Procter.4.
It was a summer evening,
Old Kaspar’s work was done,
And he before his cottage door
Was sitting in the sun.—
Southey.5.
It is my lady, O, it is my love!
O, that she knew she were!—
Shakespeare.6.
When the heart is right there is true patriotism.—
Berkeley.7.
True worth is in being, not seeming.—
A. Cary.8.
We are such stuff
As dreams are made on; and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.—
Shakespeare.EXERCISE II.
1. Write four examples of the verb be used as an independent verb.
2. Write four examples of the verb be used in making the progressive form.
3. Write four examples of the verb be used in forming the passive voice.
LESSON XLVIII.
OTHER AUXILIARY VERBS.
In the last three lessons we have studied the auxiliaries used in distinguishing the time of an action. We shall now study the auxiliaries can, may, must, ought, should and would, which enable us to express other distinctions.
CAN.
PRESENT TENSE. Singular. Plural.1. I can,
1. We can,
2. Thou canst,
2. You can,
3. He can.
3. They can.
PAST TENSE. Singular. Plural.1. I could,
1. We could,
2. Thou couldst,
2. You could,
3. He could.
3. They could.
Can is used to denote power or ability; as, I can sing. He could write very rapidly.
MAY.
PRESENT TENSE. Singular. Plural.1. I may,
1. We may,
2. Thou mayest,
2. You may,
3. He may.
3. They may.
PAST TENSE. Singular. Plural.1. I might,
1. We might,
2. Thou mightest,
2. You might,
3. He might.
3. They might.
May is used to denote permission, possibility, or a wish; as, You may leave the room. He might succeed again. May you be there too.
Could and might are used sometimes in a conditional sense; as, They might stay here if we could help them.
The phrases made by the auxiliaries may and can with the infinitive of a verb are sometimes called potential verb-phrases, because they express that an action is possible from the subject having power to perform it.
MUST and OUGHT.
Must has no other form. It is used to denote necessity or obligation; as, I must remain here.
Ought is the old past of the verb owe. It is used to denote duty or obligation; as, I ought to help him.
The phrases made by the auxiliaries must and ought, with the infinitive of a verb, are sometimes called obligative verb-phrases, because they imply obligation.
SHOULD and WOULD.
Should and would are the past tense forms of the auxiliaries shall and will.
Should and would are especially used with the infinitive of a verb to express a conditional statement; as, I should do so if I had the opportunity. He would come if I asked him.
Since the phrases formed by should and would with the infinitive of a verb imply a condition, they are called conditional verb-phrases.
1. Should and would are often used in expressing the condition itself; as, If he should be here, they would know it.
2. They have sometimes their more independent meanings of ought and be determined; as, I should go, I know. She would come, no matter what happened.
EXERCISE I.
State the use of the verbs may, can, must, ought, should and would in the following sentences:—
1.
For I can weather the roughest gale,
That ever wind did blow.—
Longfellow.2.
She must weep or she will die.—
Tennyson.3.
We ought to obey God.—
Bible.4.
And when he next doth ride abroad
May I be there to see!—
Cowper.5.
“Please, Brown,” he whispered, “may I wash my face and hands?”—
Hughes.6.
I would not for the wealth of all the town
Here in my home do him disparagement.—
Shakespeare.7.
For men may come and men may go,
But I go on forever.—
Tennyson.8.
If a storm should come and wake the deep,
What matter! I shall ride and sleep.—
Procter.9.
It may be that Death’s bright angel
Will speak in that chord again,
It may be that only in Heaven
I shall hear that grand Amen.—
Procter.EXERCISE II.
Write sentences containing the following verbs used correctly—can, may, must, ought, should, would. State the use in each case.
LESSON XLIX.
CONJUGATION TO DENOTE THE TIME OR TENSE OF AN ACTION OF THE VERB PRAISE.
ACTIVE VOICE.—INDICATIVE MODE.
PRESENT TENSE. Singular. Plural.1. I praise,
1. We praise,
2. Thou praisest,
2. You praise,
3. He praises.
3. They praise.
PRESENT PERFECT TENSE. Singular. Plural.1. I have praised,
1. We have praised,
2. Thou hast praised,
2. You have praised,
3. He has praised.
3. They have praised.
PAST TENSE. Singular. Plural.1. I praised,
1. We praised,
2. Thou praisedst,
2. You praised,
3. He praised.
3. They praised.
PAST PERFECT TENSE. Singular. Plural.1. I had praised,
1. We had praised,
2. Thou hadst praised,
2. You had praised,
3. He had praised.
3. They had praised.
FUTURE TENSE.(Denoting Future Action.)
Singular. Plural.1. I shall praise,
1. We shall praise,
2. Thou wilt praise,
2. You will praise,
3. He will praise.
3. They will praise.
FUTURE TENSE.(Denoting a Promise
or Determination.)
Singular. Plural.1. I will praise,
1. We will praise,
2. Thou shalt praise,
2. You shall praise,
3. He shall praise.
3. They shall praise.
FUTURE PERFECT TENSE.(Denoting Future Action.)
Singular. Plural.1. I shall have praised,
1. We shall have praised,
2. Thou wilt have praised,
2. You will have praised,
3. He will have praised.
3. They will have praised.
FUTURE PERFECT TENSE.(Denoting a Promise
or Determination.)
Singular. Plural.1. I will have praised,
1. We will have praised,
2. Thou shalt have praised,
2. You shall have praised,
3. He shall have praised.
3. They shall have praised.
SUBJUNCTIVE MODE.
PRESENT TENSE. Singular. Plural.1. (If) I praise,
1. (If) we praise,
2. (If) thou praise,
2. (If) you praise,
3. (If) he praise.
3. (If) they praise.
PAST TENSE. Singular. Plural.1. (If) I praised,
1. (If) we praised,
2. (If) thou praised,
2. (If) you praised,
3. (If) he praised.
3. (If) they praised.
IMPERATIVE MODE.
PRESENT TENSE. Singular. Plural.Praise (thou).
Praise (ye or you).
INFINITIVES. Present. Perfect.(To) praise,
(To) have praised,
Praising.
Having praised.
PARTICIPLES. Present or Imperfect. Present Perfect or Perfect.Praising.
Having praised.
PASSIVE VOICE.
The passive forms of a transitive verb are made by the aid of the auxiliary be.
INDICATIVE MODE.
PRESENT TENSE. Singular. Plural.1. I am praised,
1. We are praised,
2. Thou art praised,
2. You are praised,
3. He is praised.
3. They are praised.
PRESENT PERFECT TENSE. Singular. Plural.1. I have been praised,
1. We have been praised,
2. Thou hast been praised,
2. You have been praised,
3. He has been praised.
3. They have been praised.
PAST TENSE. Singular. Plural.1. I was praised,
1. We were praised,
2. Thou wast praised,
2. You were praised,
3. He was praised.
3. They were praised.
PAST PERFECT TENSE. Singular. Plural.1. I had been praised,
1. We had been praised,
2. Thou hadst been praised,
2. You had been praised,
3. He had been praised.
3. They had been praised.
FUTURE TENSE.(Denoting Future Action.)
Singular. Plural.1. I shall be praised,
1. We shall be praised,
2. Thou wilt be praised,
2. You will be praised,
3. He will be praised.
3. They will be praised.
FUTURE TENSE.(Denoting a Promise
or Determination.)
Singular. Plural.1. I will be praised, etc.
1. We will be praised, etc.
FUTURE PERFECT TENSE.(Denoting Future Action.)
Singular. Plural.1. I shall have been praised,
1. We shall have been praised,
etc.
etc.
FUTURE PERFECT TENSE.(Denoting a Promise
or Determination.)
Singular. Plural.1. I will have been praised,
1. We will have been praised,
etc.
etc.
SUBJUNCTIVE MODE.
PRESENT TENSE. Singular. Plural.1. (If) I be praised,
1. (If) we be praised,
2. (If) thou be praised,
2. (If) you be praised,
3. (If) he be praised.
3. (If) they be praised.
PAST TENSE. Singular. Plural.1. (If) I were praised,
1. (If) we were praised,
2. (If) thou were praised,
2. (If) you were praised,
3. (If) he were praised.
3. (If) they were praised.
IMPERATIVE MODE.
PRESENT TENSE.Be (thou) praised.
INFINITIVES. Present. Perfect.(To) be praised,
(To) have been praised,
Being praised.
Having been praised.
PARTICIPLES. Present or Imperfect. Perfect or Present Perfect.Being praised.
Praised or Having been praised.
PROGRESSIVE FORMS OF THE VERB PRAISE.
INDICATIVE MODE.
Present Tense. Present Perfect Tense.I am praising, etc.
I have been praising, etc.
Past Tense. Past Perfect Tense.I was praising, etc.
I had been praising, etc.
Future Tense. Future Perfect Tense.I shall be praising, etc.
I shall have been praising, etc.
SUBJUNCTIVE MODE.
Present Tense. Past Tense.(If) I be praising, etc.
(If) I were praising, etc.
IMPERATIVE MODE.
Present Tense.Be (thou) praising.
INFINITIVES.
Present. Perfect.(To) be praising.
(To) have been praising,
Having been praising.
PARTICIPLES.
Present or Imperfect. Perfect or Present Perfect.Praising.
Having been praising.
EXERCISE I.
Fully conjugate the verb freeze in both voices.
EXERCISE II.
Write out the progressive forms of the verb sing.
LESSON L.
PARSING OF VERBS.
To parse a verb is to state its class, its conjugation, its voice, its mode, its tense, its person, and number, and its subject.
Model.—The boys have broken the window.
Have broken, a verb, transitive; strong conjugation (break, broke, broken); active voice; indicative mode; present perfect tense, third person; plural number, agreeing with its subject boys.
Model.—If they help my friend I shall be glad.
Help, a verb, transitive; weak conjugation (help, helped, helped); active voice; subjunctive mode; present tense; third person; plural number, agreeing with its subject they.
Shall be, a verb, intransitive; strong conjugation (am, was, been); indicative mode; future tense; first person; singular number, agreeing with its subject I.
Model.—Being provided with tools, they planted a row of stakes within their palisade, to form a double fence.
Being provided, a present participle; passive form, modifying they.
Planted, a verb, transitive; weak conjugation (plant, planted, planted); active voice; indicative mode; past tense; third person; plural number, agreeing with its subject they.
To form, a present infinitive; active voice; used as an adverb to modify planted.
EXERCISE.
Parse the verbs, the infinitives, and the participles in the following sentences:—
1.
They are fond of building castles in the air.
2.
On he comes, running lightly, with his hands in his pockets.
3.
Searching the pile of corpses, the victors found four Frenchmen still breathing.—
Parkman.4.
The former target was now removed, and a fresh one of the same size placed in its room.—
Scott.5.
When summoned to surrender, he fired at one of the leading assailants, but was instantly overpowered.—
Warburton.6.
If terror were the object of its creation, nothing could be imagined more perfect than the devil-fish.—
Hugo.7.
Madeleine ordered a cannon to be fired, partly to deter the enemy from an assault, and partly to warn some of the soldiers, who were hunting at a distance.—
Parkman.8.
I am told that it is the custom to collect the sap and bring it to the house, where are built brick arches, over which the sap is evaporated in shallow pans.—
Warner.9.
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time.—
Longfellow.10.
It was the schooner Hesperus,
That sailed the wintry sea;
And the skipper had taken his little daughter,
To bear him company.—
Longfellow.LESSON LI.
CLASSES OF ADVERBS.
What does each adverb in the following sentences denote?—
1.
Soon the cavalry arrived.
2.
Our friends live here.
3.
He walked slowly into the house.
4.
We had a very pleasant outing.
5.
Certainly, I believe it.
Classes of Adverbs according to their meaning:—
1. Adverbs of time and succession; as, She seldom fails to call. We come next.
2. Adverbs of place and motion; as, John stood there for an hour. They are going back.
Note.—The word there is sometimes used merely to introduce a sentence, that the subject may follow the verb; as, There are two boys in the room. When it is used in this manner it is called an expletive.
3. Adverbs of manner and quality; as, You did it well. That man acts foolishly.
4. Adverbs of degree and measure; as, He is quite ill. She is a very industrious woman.
5. Model adverbs—those that express certainty or uncertainty; as, I shall surely come. You are probably right.
EXERCISE.
How is each adverb used in the following sentences?—
1.
This river flows rapidly.
2.
I know how he acted.
3.
Where is your father?
Classes of Adverbs according to their use:—
1. An adverb that simply modifies another word is called a simple adverb; as, Slowly and sadly we laid him down.
2. An adverb that not only modifies a word, but also connects the clause of which it forms a part with another clause, is called a conjunctive adverb; as, I shall go when he comes.
3. An adverb that is used to ask a question is called an interrogative adverb; as, Why did they take it away?
Note.—Some adverbs are compared like adjectives; as, Soon, sooner, soonest; swiftly, more swiftly, most swiftly.
LESSON LII.
PARSING OF ADVERBS.
To parse an adverb is to state the kind of adverb, its degree of comparison, if it has any, and what it modifies.
Model.—Now you may read it.
Now, an adverb of time, modifying the verb-phrase may read.
Model.—I know where you put it.
Where, a conjunctive adverb, showing place. It modifies put and connects the clause, [where] you put it with the clause, I know.
EXERCISE.
Parse the adverbs in the following sentences:—
1.
He could not ever rue his marrying me.—
Tennyson.2.
So those four abode within one house together.—
Tennyson.3.
The boys waited eagerly for further experiments on the doctor’s patience.—
Anstey.4.
Silently down from the mountain’s crown
The great procession swept.—
Mrs. Alexander.5.
How closely he twineth, how tight he clings
To his friend, the huge oak-tree!—
Dickens.6.
There was manhood’s brow serenely high,
And the fiery heart of youth.—
Hemans.7.
Aim straightly, fire steadily! spare me
A ball in the body which may
Deliver my heart here, and tear me
This badge of the Austrian away!—
Mrs. Browning.8.
Believe not each accusing tongue,
As most weak people do;
But still believe that story wrong
Which ought not to be true.—
Sheridan.9.
Again I looked at the snow-fall,
And thought of the leaden sky
That arched o’er our first great sorrow,
When that mound was heaped so high.—
Lowell.LESSON LIII.
PREPOSITIONS.
What do the prepositions in the following sentences connect, and what relations do they express?—
1.
I came during the night.
2.
He lives at home.
3.
Our friends came by train.
4.
The oar of the boat was broken.
Prepositions express a great variety of relations. The most common relations are as follows:—
1. Time; as, The scholars go home after school.
2. Place or direction; as, He sat upon a stone.
3. Agency or means; as, John cut his finger with a knife.
4. Possession; as, The call of the shepherd was heard by his flock.
5. Separation; as, James took the book from his brother.
6. Association; as, A man with an axe in his hand came in.
7. Opposition; as, He is against me.
8. Object; as, The love of pleasure destroys many a life.
9. Cause; as, They did it through ignorance.
Note.—There are many phrases which have the use of prepositions and are treated as such; as, We stood in front of the building. A woman came out of the house. He lived according to his light.
PARSING OF PREPOSITIONS.
Model.—I stood on the bridge at midnight.
On, a preposition, connecting the noun bridge with the verb stood, and showing the relation of place.
At, a preposition, connecting the noun midnight with the verb stood, and showing the relation of time.
EXERCISE.
Parse the prepositions in the following sentences:—
1.
The old man was killed by a falling tree.
2.
The perfume of the rose is sweet.
3.
A child fell into the river.
4.
My brother went instead of me.
5.
Without a moment’s hesitation, he and his men dashed at the height.
6.
Now see him mount once again
Upon his nimble steed,
Full slowly pacing o’er the stones,
With caution and good heed.—
Cowper.7.
Richard surveyed the Nubian in silence as he stood before him, his looks bent upon the ground, his arms folded on his bosom, with the appearance of a black marble statue of the most exquisite workmanship, waiting life from the touch of a Prometheus.—
Scott.8.
Beside yon straggling fence that skirts the way,
With blossomed furze unprofitably gay,
There, in his noisy mansion, skilled to rule,
The village master taught his little school.—
Goldsmith.LESSON LIV.
CLASSES OF CONJUNCTIONS.
Point out in the following examples conjunctions that connect sentences or parts of a sentence of equal rank, and those that connect sentences that are not of equal rank:—
1.
Men may come and men may go.
2.
I have a pen and a book.
3.
Henry remained but we went home.
4.
My father knew that I did it.
A conjunction that connects sentences or parts of a sentence of equal rank, is called a co-ordinating conjunction; as, The night is cold and clear. It was sold, but I did not want it. I know he came home, and took it away.
A conjunction that connects a dependent or subordinate clause to a principal clause, is called a subordinating conjunction; as, James said that he was sick. I cannot go unless he come.
Note.—Conjunctions used in pairs are called correlatives; as, both—and, either—or, neither—nor.
PARSING OF CONJUNCTIONS.
Model.—The teacher gave me a book, and I read it.
And, a co-ordinating conjunction, connecting the two principal clauses, The teacher gave me a book, and I read it.
Model.—The boy is strong but lazy.
But, a co-ordinating conjunction, connecting the adjectives strong and lazy.
Model.—His mother said that he might go.
That, a subordinating conjunction, connecting the subordinate clause, he might go, to the principal clause, his mother said.
EXERCISE I.
Parse the conjunctions in the following sentences:—
1.
He often looked at them,
And often thought, “I’ll make them man and wife.”—
Tennyson.2.
The natives of the island supposed that the ships had sailed out of the crystal firmament, or had descended from above on their ample wings.—
Irving.3.
Here lies his head upon the lap of earth,
A youth to fortune and to fame unknown.—
Gray.4.
By chance it happened that in Atri dwelt
A knight, with spur on heel and sword in belt.—
Longfellow.5.
With a sword or a hatchet in one hand and a knife in the other, they threw themselves against the throng of enemies, striking and stabbing with the fury of madmen, till the Iroquois fired volley after volley, and shot them down.—
Parkman.6.
Cheerily, then, my little man,
Live and laugh, as boyhood can!
Though the flinty slopes be hard,
Stubble-speared the new-mown sward,
Every morn shall lead thee through
Fresh baptisms of the dew.—
Whittier.EXERCISE II.
1. Write three sentences each containing a co-ordinating conjunction. Underline example.
2. Write three sentences each containing a subordinating conjunction. Underline example.
3. Write an example of correlative conjunctions. Underline them.
LESSON LV.
INTERJECTIONS.
As an interjection bears no grammatical relation to the other words of a sentence, its parsing consists in naming the parts of speech, and the feeling expressed.
Model.—Hurrah! we have won.
Hurrah, an interjection—expresses the feeling of joy.
EXERCISE.
Parse the interjections in the following sentences:—
1.
Ah! then and there was hurrying to and fro,
And gathering tears, and tremblings of distress.—
Byron.2.
News of battle! News of battle!
Hark! ’tis ringing down the street.—
Aytoun.3.
Oh! I’m thankful you are gone, Mary,
Where grief can’t reach you more!—
Lady Dufferin.4.
But, hush! hark! a deep sound strikes like a rising knell.—
Byron.5.
And, lo! from far, as on they pressed, there came a glittering band.—
Hemans.6.
“Alas,” said I, “man was made in vain!”—
Addison.7.
“Indeed!” said Uncle Tim, “pray, what do you make of the abstraction of a red cow?”—
Haliburton.8.
“Yet give one kiss to your mother dear!
Alas! my child, I sinned for thee.”
“O mother, mother, mother,” she said,
“So strange it seems to me.”—
Tennyson.9.
Ho! breakers on the weather bow,
And hissing white the sea;
Go, loose the topsail, mariner,
And set the helm a-lee.—
Swain.PART THIRD.
SYNTAX.
Syntax treats of the relations which words bear to one another in sentences, and of the order in which the words are arranged. The relation of a word in a sentence is called its construction.
Note.—Many of the leading principles of syntax have been illustrated already. We shall now study them and others in a systematic way.
LESSON LVI.
RELATIONS OF THE NOUN.
Examine the construction of the italicized nouns in the following sentences:—
1.
Treesgrow.
2.
This man is a
carpenter.
3.
Mr. Brown, the
merchant, has retired.
4.
Boys, close the doors.
5.
The
wheelbeing broken, I walked home.
6.
John lost his
knife.
7.
She lives in the
city.
8.
I bought the
boya hat.
9.
We visited our
mother’sgrave.
10.
He lived here ten
years.
11.
I was taught
musicby my mother.
12.
This boy ran a
raceyesterday.
13.
I told him to be a good
boy.
14.
The people chose him
ruler.
1. Subject nominative. The noun may be used as the subject of a verb; as, Boys play. The subject of a verb is in the nominative case.
2. Predicate nominative. A noun that is used to form a complete predicate, and refers to the same person or thing as the subject, is in the nominative case after the verb; as, John became king. A noun so used is called a predicate noun or predicate nominative. The verbs be, seem, become, appear, look are followed by a predicate nominative.
3. Apposition. A noun added to another noun to explain its meaning is said to be in apposition to the first noun; as,
Mr. Henry, our principal, is sick. (Nominative in apposition.)
We like your sister Mary. (Objective in apposition.)
4. Nominative of address. A noun that is used in addressing a person or thing, is in the nominative case of address; as, Man, thy years are few.
5. Nominative absolute. A noun that is not related to any other word in the sentence is in the nominative absolute case; as, The day being bright, I went for a drive.
6. Object of a verb. A noun or pronoun on which the action expressed by a verb ends, is called the grammatical object of the verb; as, I broke my pen.
7. Object of a preposition. A noun or pronoun which a preposition connects in sense to some other word in the sentence, is called the object of the preposition; as, He came from the country.
8. Indirect object. A noun or pronoun that is used to show to or for whom or what something is done, is called the indirect object; as, He gave me a watch. The word watch is the direct object of gave.
9. Possession. A noun that is used to denote ownership is in the possessive case; as, My friend’s hat is missing.
10. Adverbial object. A noun that is used like an adverb to express time, distance, weight, or value, is called an adverbial objective; as, He walked five miles. It is worth eight dollars.
11. Retained object. When an active verb, taking two objects, is changed into the passive voice, one object becomes the subject of the passive verb, but the other is retained as object; as, He was forgiven his offence.
12. Cognate object. When the objective has a similar or cognate meaning to that of the verb, it is called a cognate object; as, She sung us a song.
13. Predicate objective. When a noun is in the predicate relation to an objective subject, it is called a predicate objective; as, I know him to be an honest man.
14. An objective predicate. A noun that completes the meaning of a transitive verb and describes its object, is called an objective predicate; as, They elected him president. The verbs call, make, appoint, choose, elect, and those of like nature, take the objective predicate.
LESSON LVII.
RELATIONS OF THE PRONOUN.
What is the gender, person, and number of the italicized pronouns in the following sentences?—
1.
A little girl gave me
herbook.
2.
The sword has dropped from
itssheath.
3.
I saw the man of
whomyou speak.
4.
This is the woman
thatfound your purse.
A pronoun must agree in gender, number, and person with its antecedent.
Note.—1. The relative pronoun is not always expressed; as, I know the man (that) you admire so much.
2. The word it has sometimes an indefinite use without an antecedent; as, It rains. It will soon be dark. This is called the impersonal use.
3. The word it is sometimes used as a representative subject while the real subject follows the verb; as, It is certain that he did it. It is right to defend the truth.
The pronoun has the same case-relations as the noun.
EXERCISE.
Name the case and state the construction of each noun and pronoun in the following sentences:—
1.
I travelled with Smith, the grocer.
2.
We helped the lady who lost her purse.
3.
It is wrong to deceive.
4.
The wind having fallen, I mounted my wheel again.
5.
Mary broke out in praise to God, that helped
her in her widowhood.—
Tennyson.6.
Set the table, maiden Mabel,
And make the cabin warm:
Your little fisher lover
Is out there in the storm.—
Aldrich.7.
My dear one!—when thou wast alive with the rest,
I held thee the sweetest and loved thee the best.—
E. B. Browning.8.
But the Christian princes felt that the scene which they had beheld weighed heavily on their spirits, and although they assumed their seats at the banquet, yet it was with the silence of doubt and amazement.—
Scott.9.
By chance it happened that in Atri dwelt
A knight, with spur on heel and sword on belt,
Who loved to hunt the wild boar in the woods,
Who loved his falcons with their crimson hoods. —
Longfellow.10.
There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats;
For I am armed so strong in honesty,
That they pass by me as the idle wind,
Which I respect not.—
Shakespeare.LESSON LVIII.
RELATIONS OF ADJECTIVES.
Name the adjectives in the following sentences, that are used to modify nouns directly, and those that are used to modify nouns as part of the predication or assertion made about them:—
1.
She is a good girl.
2.
I have a soft pencil.
3.
He was ignorant of this fact.
4.
The water is cold.
1. An adjective that modifies a noun directly is said to be in the attributive relation; as, A grand tree is the stately oak.
2. An adjective that modifies a noun as part of the predication or assertion made about it, is called a predicate adjective; as, This apple is sweet. I am glad you succeeded.
3. An adjective that is joined to a noun in a loose and indirect way is said to be used in the appositive relation; as, All history, ancient or modern contributes towards my theory.
EXERCISE.
State the relation of each adjective in the following sentences:—
1.
A tremendous storm came on.
2.
My dear friend is ill.
3.
Young, and gay, she heeded not my warning.
4.
Full many a gem of purest ray serene,
The dark, unfathomed caves of ocean bear.—
Gray.5.
Along the crowded path they bore her now, pure as the newly-fallen snow that covered it.—
Dickens.6.
Sweet was the sound, when oft, at evening’s close,
Up yonder hill the village murmur rose.—
Goldsmith.7.
I met a little cottage girl;
She was eight years old, she said;
Her hair was thick with many a curl
That clustered round her head.—
Wordsworth.LESSON LIX.
RELATIONS OF THE VERB.
What person and number forms are the verbs in the following sentences, and why?—
1.
The sun shines brightly.
2.
The boys are in the garden.
3.
I know thou lovest me.
The verb agrees with its subject in person and number; as, The teacher has my pen.
Note.—In determining the number of the verb we must consider, not the form, but the meaning of the subject.
1. A collective noun requires a verb in the singular when it means the collection as a whole, and a verb in the plural when it means the separate individuals of which it is composed; as, The committee (as a whole) has decided it. The committee (as individuals) have decided it.
2. Two or more singular nouns connected by and take a verb in the plural; as, James and Mary are here. Music and drawing were taught during the term.
If two or more singular nouns connected by and are preceded by each, every, or no, the verb is in the singular, because they refer to things considered separately; as, Every man and woman was lost.
3. When two or more singular subjects are thought of as one thing, the verb is singular; as, Bread and butter is sufficient.
4. Two singular subjects connected by either—or, neither—nor take a verb in the singular, but if the subjects are plural, the verb is plural; as, Either a horse or a cow is in the field. Neither the boys nor the girls are here.
EXERCISE.
What is the person and number of the verbs in the following sentences, and give the reason in each case?—
1.
Wellington and Nelson were heroes.
2.
The audience was dismissed.
3.
Her health and strength has failed.
4.
Either a pen or a pencil is required.
5.
The lowing herd wind slowly o’er the lea.
6.
Each boy and girl is to have a medal.
7.
Neither cries nor tears avail anything.
8.
No man and no animal was seen.
9.
The secretary and treasurer is present.
10.
The secretary and the treasurer are present.
11.
The enormous expense of governments has provoked men to rebellion.
12.
From the ground
Comes up the laugh of children, the soft voice
Of maidens, and the sweet and solemn hymn
Of Sabbath worshippers.—
Bryant.LESSON LX.
RELATIONS OF ADVERBS.
Point out the use of the italicized adverbs in the following sentences:—
1.
She walks
rapidly.
2.
My brother is
quitesick.
3.
He acted
veryhonestly.
An adverb is used to qualify a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.
An adverb is sometimes used with the value of a predicate adjective; as, The sun is up. We were there.
An adverb may even qualify a preposition; as, He went far beyond his instructions. The thorn ran deep into his foot.
EXERCISE.
Give the construction of each adverb in the following sentences:—
1.
My sister is too sick to see you.
2.
We were treated very kindly.
3.
They acted more wisely than we.
4.
The moon went down behind the clouds.
5.
He jumped clear over the fence.
6.
I wind about, and in and out,
With here a blossom sailing,
And here and there a lusty trout,
And here and there a grayling.—
Tennyson.7.
I’ve lived since then, in calm and strife,
Full fifty summers a sailor’s life,
With wealth to spend, and power to range,
But never have sought, nor sighed for change.—
Procter.8.
Down came the storm, and smote amain
The vessel in its strength;
She shuddered and paused, like a frighted steed,
Then leaped her cable’s length.—
Longfellow.LESSON LXI.
THE ORDER OF WORDS.
Observe the order of the words in the following sentence:—
The woods tossed their giant branches against a stormy sky.
The logical order of the parts of a sentence is: 1. The subject (with its attributes); 2. The verb; 3. The object (with its attributes) or the complement; 4. The adverbial modifiers.
This order may be changed to secure greater emphasis, clearness or elegance.
A member of a sentence may be given prominence by taking it out of its logical position and placing it first. This causes the arrangement of the other members to be changed and the sentence thus acquires emphasis by the members being placed out of their ordinary positions.
1.
The verb may be placed first; as,
Flashedall their sabres bare.
2.
The object may be placed first; as,
KnowledgeI do not slight.
3.
The complement may be placed first; as,
Broadis the way that leadeth to destruction.
4.
The adverbial modifier may be placed first; as,
Still in thy right handcarry gentle peace.
The subject of the sentence may follow the verb:—
1. In interrogative sentences; as, Are you there?
2. In expressing a wish; as, May you succeed.
3. In imperative sentences; as, Seek ye not my face again.
4. In poetry; as,
Then off there flung in smiling joy,
And held himself erect
By just his horse’s mane, a boy.—Browning.
5. In subjunctive clauses without if; as, Had I your advantages I should improve them.
6. In introducing quotations; as, “Pardon!” said the Emperor.
7. In inversion for emphasis; as, Flashed all their sabres bare.
8. When the real subject is a clause, and the representative subject is it; as, It is well known that he received money.
The object may precede the verb that governs it:—
1. When it is an interrogative or relative pronoun; as, Whom did you see? I saw the man whom you want.
2. For emphasis; as, Honor and fame I seek not.
Attributes naturally precede the noun, but they may follow:—
1. When they consist of a phrase or clause; as, I love the song of birds. The book that I found is here.
2. When they consist of two or more adjectives; as, And fast through the midnight dark and drear, the vessel swept.
3. In poetry; as,
See how from far upon the eastern road
The star-led wizards haste with odors sweet!
The adjectives a, an and the always precede the noun. When the noun is qualified by another adjective, these adjectives generally precede it, but they stand between the following adjectives and the noun to which they refer:—
1.
Such; as, One cannot admire such
aman.
2.
Many; as, Many
apoor man’s son would have lain still.
3.
Both; as, Both
theboys came home.
4.
All; as, All
thegirls are in the room.
5.
What; as, What
atrial it was.
The relative is always the first word in its clause, but when it is governed by a preposition, the preposition generally precedes it; as, I found the knife which you lost. I know the person to whom you refer.
The adverbial modifier, when a phrase, generally follows the verb, or the object if the verb be transitive; as, James fell into the lake. He found an apple on the ground.
The adverbial modifier, when a single word, generally follows an intransitive verb, and either precedes a transitive verb, or follows its object; as, This river flows rapidly. He did his work well.
When there are a number of adverbial modifiers in a sentence, they should be distributed over the sentence; as, At the request of my father, I gladly left my studies, to accompany him.
An adverb may stand in any part of the sentence, but its meaning generally varies with its position, hence the adverb should be placed as near as possible to the word or words it modifies.
Observe the following example:—
He-
onlylost his book.
(No one else lost a book.)
He
only-lost his book.
(He did nothing else with it.)
He lost
onlyhis book.
(He lost nothing else.)
He lost his
onlybook.
(His single book.)
Certain adverbs and conjunctions are correlative (that is, having a mutual relation) to one another. Be careful to use the proper correlatives; as, He is esteemed not only for his accomplishments, but also for his piety.
The following is a list of correlatives:—
Adverbs. Conjunctions.not only,
but also,
not,
but, but only,
only,
not,
so,
that,
so,
as,
such,
that,
both,
and,
as, well, soon,
as,
neither,
nor,
either,
or.
The correlatives must be attached to the corresponding words and phrases; as, They gave me neither money nor shoes. I assisted only in the evening, not in the morning.
The preposition generally stands immediately before the word it governs; as, We live in Toronto.
1. When the noun has attributive adjectives, the preposition precedes the adjective; as, I walked through a beautiful park.
2. When the object of the preposition is a relative, the preposition sometimes stands at the end of the clause; as, My brother owns the building which he lives in, [in which he lives is preferable.]
3. In poetry the preposition often follows its object; as, The heavy night hung dark the hills and waters o’er.
4. When two verbs or adjectives in association are followed by different prepositions, the prepositions must be repeated after each; as, He found him a man whom he agreed with on a few subjects, and differed from on many; or, He found him a man with whom he agreed on a few subjects, from whom he differed on many.
PART FOURTH.
ANALYSIS OF SENTENCES.
LESSON LXII.
THE SIMPLE SENTENCE.
Model I.—Many brave soldiers lost their lives in that war.
Kind, a simple declarative sentence.
Subject, soldiers.
Adj. modifiers of subj., many, brave.
Predicate, lost.
Object, lives.
Adj. modifier of obj., their.
Adv. modifier of pred., in that war.
Model II.—Still in thy right hand carry gentle peace to silence envious tongues.
Kind, a simple imperative sentence.
Subject, [you.]
Predicate, carry.
Object, peace.
Adj. modifier of obj., gentle.
Adv. modifiers of pred., still, in thy right hand, to silence envious tongues.
Model III.—Having crossed the river, he ran into the adjoining wood.
Kind, a simple declarative sentence.
Subject, he.
Participial mod. of subj., having crossed the river.
Predicate, ran.
Adv. mod. of pred., into the adjoining wood.
Model IV.—My pupils like to write stories.
Kind, a simple declarative sentence.
Subject, pupils.
Adj. mod. of subj., my.
Predicate, like.
Object, to write stories.
Object of to write, stories.
Model V.—The scholars gave their teacher a beautiful present.
Kind, a simple declarative sentence.
Subject, scholars.
Adj. mod. of subj., the.
Predicate, gave.
Direct object, present.
Adj. modifiers of direct obj., a, beautiful.
Indirect object, teacher.
Adj. mod. of indirect obj., their.
Model VI.—It is wrong to slight your work.
Kind, a simple declarative sentence.
Real subject, to slight your work.
Representative subject, it.
Predicate, { Verb of incomplete predication, is.
{ Adj. complement of predicate, wrong.
Note.—When the predicate is completed by an adjunct describing the subject, the completing adjunct is called the complement.
EXERCISES FOR ANALYSIS.
1.
My father gave me a fine pony.
2.
At this moment the noise grew louder.
3.
There are eight girls in the class.
4.
Seek the company of the good.
5.
It is a sin to deceive anyone.
6.
How could he mark thee for the silent tomb!
7.
Crossing the field, I found a knife, rusty and broken.
8.
On an eminence above the sea paces a strong, rough Cornishman.
9.
On the eastern side of the Nile lies the temple of Karnak.
10.
For their lean country much disdain,
We English often show.
11.
Home they brought her warrior dead.—
Tennyson.12.
Bright-eyed beauty once was she.—
Lucy Larcom.13.
Do men gather figs from thorns?—
Bible.14.
The lowing herd winds slowly o’er the lea.—
Gray.15.
These are the gardens of the desert.—
Bryant.16.
Soon on the hill’s steep verge he stood.—
Scott.17.
The Indian knows his place of rest far in the cedar shade.—
Hemans.18.
Through all eternity, to Thee
A joyful song I’ll raise.—
Addison.19.
The uncertain vacillating temper common to all Indians now began to declare itself.—
Parkman.20.
The fine English cavalry then advanced to support their archers, and to attack the Scottish line.—
Scott.21.
So saying, from the ruined shrine he stept.—
Tennyson.22.
Yet Fortune was bending over him, just ready to let fall a burden of gold.—
Hawthorne.23.
On the first day of his fasting,
Through the leafy woods he wandered.—
Longfellow.24.
Raising his head, he looked the lustrous stranger in the face.—
Hawthorne.25.
At daybreak on the bleak sea-beach,
A fisherman stood aghast,
To see the form of a maiden fair
Lashed close to a drifting mast.—
Longfellow.26.
Well had the boding tremblers learned to trace
The day’s disasters in his morning face.—
Goldsmith.27.
All the livelong day, Oliver paced softly up and down the garden, raising his eyes every instant to the sick chamber, and shuddering to see the darkened window.—
Dickens.28.
By Nebo’s lonely mountain,
On this side Jordan’s wave,
In a vale in the land of Moab,
There lies a lonely grave.—
Mrs. Alexander.29.
Wolfe had discovered a narrow path winding up the side of the steep precipice from the river.—
Warburton.30.
Along the cool sequestered vale of life
They kept the noiseless tenor of their way.—
Gray.31.
The silent influence of Shakespeare’s poetry on millions of young hearts in England, in Germany, in all the world, shows the almost superhuman power of human genius.—
Müller.32.
Now see him mounted once again
Upon his nimble steed,
Full slowly pacing o’er the stones,
With caution and good heed.—
Cowper.33.
By comparing the words of these inscriptions with many others, the proper method of interpreting this peculiar language was ascertained.—
Ontario Reader.34.
Failing in this, they set themselves, after their custom on such occasions, to building a rude fort of their own in the neighboring forest.—
Parkman.35.
I heard a brooklet gushing
From its rocky fountain near,
Down into the valley rushing,
So fresh and wondrous clear.—
Longfellow.36.
Up from the meadows rich with corn,
Clear in the cool September morn,
The clustered spires of Frederick stand
Green-walled by the hills of Maryland.—
Whittier.37.
No nightingale did ever chant
So sweetly to reposing bands
Of Travellers in some shady haunt
Among Arabian sands.—
Wordsworth.38.
The French, blown and exhausted, inferior beside in weight both of man and horse, offered but a short resistance.—
Lever.39.
Looking, looking for the mark,
Down the others came,
Struggling through the snowdrifts stark,
Calling out his name.—
Lushington.40.
A voice so thrilling ne’er was heard
In spring-time from the Cuckoo bird,
Breaking the silence of the seas
Among the farthest Hebrides.—
Wordsworth.
