154. DEFINITIONS.

1. Syntax treats of the construction of sentences.

2. A Sentence is an assemblage of words making complete sense.

Ex.-Birds fly. Man is mortal. "The great throat of the chimney laughed." "When the farmer came down in the morning, he declared that his watch had gained half an hour in the night."

3. A Proposition is a thought expressed in words. Ex. The weather is pleasant. The boy seems frightened. Rem. The term sentence is applied to any assemblage of words so arranged as to make complete sense; proposition, to the thought which those words express.

4. Propositions are either Principal or Subordinate.

5. A Principal Proposition is one which makes complete sense when standing alone.

6. A Subordinate Proposition is one which does not make complete sense when standing alone, but which must be connected with another proposition.

Ex.—“The man that does no good, does harm." Here "the man does harm" is the principal proposition, for it makes complete sense when standing alone: "that does no good" is a subordinate proposition, for it does not make complete sense when standing alone.

7. A Phrase is an assemblage of words forming a single expression, but not making complete sense.

Ex. Till lately; in haste; since then; year by year; little by little; to see; to have seen; to be seen.

8. A Discourse is a series of sentences on the same subject, arranged in logical order.

9. A Paragraph is a series of sentences on the same branch of a subject.

10. An Element is one of the component parts of a

sentence.

11. Analysis is the separation of a sentence into its elements.

12. Synthesis is the construction of sentences from words.

SENTENCES.

155. CLASSIFICATION WITH RESPECT TO USE.

1. With respect to use, sentences are divided into four classes: Declarative, Interrogative, Imperative, and Exclamatory.

2. A Declarative Sentence is one used to affirm or deny something.

Ex.-Fishes swim. Fishes do not walk.

Rem.-Direct Discourse is telling what somebody thinks or says, by using his own words; as, "Our teacher said, 'Be frank, honest, and truthful.''

Indirect Discourse is giving the substance of what somebody thinks or says, but not using his own words; as, "Our teacher said, that we should be frank, honest, and truthful."

3. An Interrogative Sentence is one used to ask a question.

Ex. Are you angry? Where does that man live?

Rem. A Direct Question is one which can be answered by yes or no; as, 'Has the money been paid?"

An Indirect Question is one which can not be answered by yes or no; as, "Who paid the money?"

4. An Imperative Sentence is one used to express a command or an entreaty.

Ex. Bring me that book. Do not strike me.

5. An Exclamatory Sentence is one used in exclamations, or in the expression of strong emotion.

Ex. Oh, how glad I am to see you!

156. EXERCISES.

Tell to which class each of the following sentences belongs:
Model." The dews bring their jewels."

This is a declarative sentence; it is used to affirm something.

1. The days are calm. 2. How many quarts are there in a gallon? 3. The winds bring perfumes. 4. Study diligently. 5. He waved his arm. 6. And the fellow calls himself a painter! 7. He deserved punishment rather than pity.

8. O, how careless you are! 9. What was the Rubicon? 10. How brightly the sun shines! 11. Alas for the man who has not learned to work! 12. Bring forth the prisoner now. 13. I had a dream which was not all a dream.-Byron. 14. A plague of all cowards, still say I.-Shakespeare.

15. Attend to the duties I have assigned you. 16. Many fell by thy arm: they were consumed in the flame of thy wrath. 17. When shall it be morn in the grave, to bid the slumberer awake? 18. The Commons, faithful to their system, remained in a wise and masterly inactivity.—Mackintosh.

157. CLASSIFICATION WITH RESPECT TO FORM.

1. With respect to form, sentences are divided into three classes: Simple, Complex, and Compound.

2. A Simple Sentence consists of a single proposition. Ex.-Flowers bloom. Who is he? Tread lightly. How glad I

am!

3. A Complex Sentence is one some element of which contains a subject and a predicate.

H. G.-13.

Ex.-Flowers bloom when spring returns. He who is diligent shall be rewarded. I hear that you have sold your farm, and that you are going to California.

Rem. The propositions in complex sentences are called Clauses. They are named and numbered according to the order of their subordination.

Ex.—“I believe that he is honest." In this sentence, “I believe” is the principal clause, and "that he is honest" is the subordinate.

4. A Compound Sentence consists of two or more simple or complex sentences, joined by coördinate conjunctions.

Ex.-Spring comes, and the flowers bloom. "I go, but I return." "Though Truth is fearless and absolute, yet she is meek and modest."

Rem. I.—The simple or complex sentences, of which compound sentences are composed, are called Members. They are numbered according to their place in the sentence.

Ex.—“Every man desires to live long; but no man would be old." In this sentence, "every man desires to live long" is the first member, and "no man would be old" is the second.

Rem. 2.—The clauses of complex sentences are connected by relative pronouns, conjunctions, and conjunctive adverbs. The members of compound sentences are connected by conjunctions.

Rem. 3. The connectives are sometimes omitted; as, "I thought [that] he was absent;" "Talent is power, [but] tact is skill."

Rem. 4. A sentence whose members are complex, is a com pound-complex sentence.

158. MODELS FOR CLASSIFICATION.

I. "The nights are tranquil."

This is a sentence; it is an assemblage of words making complete sense: declarative; it is used to affirm something: simple; it consists of a single proposition.

II. "Shall I return the book which you lent me?"

This is a sentence; interrogative; it is used to ask a question: complex; it is composed of a principal and a subordinate proposition: "Shall I return the book" is the principal proposition, and "which you lent me," the subordinate, limiting "book." Which" is the connective.

III. "She counseled him, that when he arose in the morning, he should beat them without mercy."-Bunyan.

This is a sentence; declarative; complex; "She counseled him" is the principal proposition; "that he should beat them without mercy" the first subordinate, modifying “counseled"; and "when he arose in the morning," the second subordinate, modifying "beat." "That" and "when" are connectives.

IV. “Pope had perhaps the judgment of Dryden; but Dryden certainly wanted the diligence of Pope."-Johnson.

This is a sentence; declarative; compound; it is composed of two propositions, joined by a coördinate connective: "Pope had perhaps the judgment of Dryden" is the first member, and "Dryden certainly wanted the diligence of Pope" is the second. "But" is the connective.

159. EXERCISES.

1. Thy feet are fetterless. 2. Level spread the lake before him. 3. He waved his broad felt hat for silence. 4. A soldier of the Legion lay dying in Algiers. 5. It sank from sight before it set. Whittier. 6. Ye softening dews, ye tender showers, descend! 7. None will flatter the poor. 8. Ye are the things that tower. 9. The house was wrapped in flames.

10. Hope and fear are the bane of human life. 11. The village all declared how much he knew.-Goldsmith. 12. He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul. 13. Is it for thee the lark ascends and sings? 14. How dreadful is this place, for God is here! 15. He dares not touch a hair of Catiline. 16. What can compensate for the loss of character? 17. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

18. Time slept on flowers, and lent his glass to Hope. 19. All were sealed with the seal which is never to be broken