Cautions.

1. The article should be omitted before abstract nouns, the names of sciences, and nouns denoting material or substance, when used in a general sense; as, "Love is the fulfilling of the law," "Mathematics is the science of quantity," "Coal is abun dant in Pennsylvania."

2. The article should be omitted before a common noun used in its most extended sense; as, "Man is mortal," "Toads are reptiles."

3. The article should be omitted before a noun denoting a mere title or name used as a word; as, "The ruler was called governor," ""His title was duke."

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4. The definite article should be inserted before each of the particulars included in a class; as, Nouns have three cases-the nominative, the possessive, and the objective."

5. The article should be used before a common noun when it is used to denote an individual object; as, "The rose is a beautiful flower."

6. The article should be placed before an adjective used as a "The brave deserve the fair."

noun; as,

7. The article is used before few and little to denote some. Thus, "A few persons were present," "I have a little money."

8. The article is omitted before few and little when none, not many, or not much is meant. Thus, "Few shall part where many meet," "Little was said on either side."

9. The article is used before each of two nouns when compared if they refer to separate persons or things. Thus, "The nightingale is a more beautiful songster than the thrush."

10. The article is omitted before the second of two nouns compared if both refer to the same person or thing. Thus, "Webster was a more celebrated orator than statesman."

11. When several nouns have different constructions or express direct contrast, or if it is desired to emphasize or give prominence to each noun, the article is placed before each. Thus, "The horse and the rider both were killed," "The street,

but not the number, was given," "Now, that I own a pig and a cow, everybody bids me good-morrow.”

12. When several adjectives in succession limit the same noun the article is placed before the first only; as, "A black and white cat," meaning one cat.

13. When several adjectives in succession limit a noun meaning several objects of the same name, the article is placed before each. Thus, "A black, a roan, and a bay horse" means three horses of different colors.

14. The definite article is used before the epithets honorable and reverend when they occur in a sentence; as, "An oration was delivered by the Honorable Rufus Choate," "The sermon of the Reverend Doctor Smith was eloquent.”

Exercise.

Correct the following sentences:

Model.-He is a wise and a true man.

The sentence is incorrect, because the adjectives wise and true refer to the same noun, man, meaning but one man; the article should therefore be omitted before true, according to Rule IX., Caution 12.

1. Goldsmith the poet and the novelist died in 1774. 2. A horse is a noble animal. 3. A red, a white, and a blue flag is our national emblem. 4. A large and small house occupy the lot. 5. A few have the pleasure of associating with such an one. 6. The Schuylkill and Delaware rivers unite at Philadelphia. 7. Avoid the talking too much of your neighbors. 8. E has a long and short sound. 9. A lion shall eat straw like an ox. 10. Solomon was a wise and a good king. 11. The grammar is a useful study. 12. The lectures of Honorable Mr. Choate were eloquent. 13. Nouns have two numbers, the singular and plural. 14. Let us make a memoranda of it. 15. A horse and a buggy stand before the house. 16. Neither the poor nor rich are completely happy. 17. What sort of an animal is a ferret? 18. The black and the white cow was killed.

19. This caused an universal consternation throughout the colonies -Burke.

20. For the oak, the pine, and the ash were names of whole classes of objects.-Blair.

21. The first qualification required is a genius.-Pope.

22. He is indeed more of an antiquary than a historian.—Craik. 23. To the antiquary and artist these columns are a source of inex. haustible observations and designs.—Byron.

Exercise.

Analyze the following sentences, and parse the articles and adjectives: Spring hangs her infant blossoms on the trees,

1.

Rocked in the cradle of the western breeze.-Cowper.

2. With the talents of an angel a man may be a fool.-Young. 3. The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.-Bible.

4. The hand is almost valueless at one end of the arm unless there is a brain at the other end.-Horace Mann.

5. The will of the many and their interests must very often differ. --Burke.

6. How brilliant and mirthful the light of her eye,

Like a star glancing out from the blue of the sky !— Whittier.

Pronominal Adjectives.

RULE X. (Special).—A pronominal adjective modifies the noun which it limits.

Remarks.

1. A pronominal adjective may be parsed as an adjective when the noun which it limits is expressed, and as a pronoun when the noun is understood. Thus, "These (adj.) goods are better than those" (pro.).

2. All limits nouns in the singular denoting quantity, and nouns in the plural denoting number; as, “All the wheat was sold," "All birds are bipeds."

3. Each, every, either, and neither require nouns, pronouns, and verbs connected with them to be in the third person singular; as, "Every man, woman, and child was saved.”

4. Every is sometimes used to limit a noun and a numeral

SYNTAX-PRONOMINAL ADJECTIVES.

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adjective taken together; as, "Every ten days," "Every hundred dollars."

5. None means no one, but it is used to represent nouns in either the singular or the plural; as, "We looked for a house, but we found none," "The ship sank, and none were left to tell of the disaster."

6. Some is sometimes placed before nouns to make the assertion less definite; as, "This occurred some ten years ago."

7. Many is often followed by a, the two limiting a noun in the singular; as, "Many a day I sat and listened." The two words may be parsed as a complex adjective.

Cautions.

1. When objects are spoken of, this and these refer to what is near, and that and those to what is distant; as, "This valley is fertile, but those mountain-sides seem to be barren."

2. When objects are contrasted, this and these refer to the last mentioned, and that and those to the first mentioned; as,

Farewell, my friends! farewell, my foes!

My peace with these, my love with those.-Burns.

3. The pronoun them should not be used instead of the adjective those. Thus, we should say, Those books, Those papers, instead of Them books, Them papers.

4. Each other applies to two objects, and one another to more than two. Thus, "Righteousness and peace have kissed each other," "The soldiers followed one another."

5. Either and neither refer to one of two objects only. Thus, "Either of the two books will answer, though neither is perfect.”

6. Any or any one, and none, may be used when reference is made to one of more than two objects. Thus, "Any one of the four is competent," "None of the three seems to think himself guilty."

Note. With reference to the last three cautions it may be remarked that while the best usage takes note of the cautions, some standard writers disregard the fourth, and apply each other also to more than two

objects, though the propriety of this usage is doubtful. The distinc tion is an important one, and it should be observed.

7. Either means one or the other of two; each means both or all taken separately. Thus, "Either James or John will come," "Each of the five was guilty."

Exercise.

Correct the following sentences:

Model. Neither of the six came.

The sentence is incorrect, because neither, which refers to one of two, is here used to refer to one of six. None or no one should be substituted for neither, according to Rule X., Caution 6.

1. These kind of roses are very fragrant. 2. Teachers like to see their pupils polite to each other. 3. What have you done with them books? 4. Neither of the three could be convinced by the others. 5. On either side of the river stands a row of trees. 6. Such sentiments as them should never be entertained by any one.

7.

Memory and forecast just returns engage—

This pointing back to youth, that on to age.--Pope.

8. They are these kind of gods which Horace mentions.—Addison. 9. Jack and Peg called one another nicknames.-Swift.

10. Verse and prose run into one another like light and shade.— Blair.

11. These sort of fellows are very numerous.-Spectator.

12.

For beast and bird;

These to their grassy couch, those to their nests, repair.—Milton.

Exercise.

Analyze the following sentences, and parse all the adjectives:

1.

This only grant me, that my means may lie

Too low for envy, for contempt too high.—Cowley.

2. They shall every man turn to his own people, and flee every one into his own land.-Bible.

3.

All actual heroes are essential men,

And all men possible heroes.—Mrs. Browning.