In such examples, whether the phrase be in the nominative or objective case, i. e. whether it be the subject of a verb, or the object of a transitive verb or preposition, the word following the infinitive or participle as a predicate, is properly the predicate-nominative. All such phrases are only abridged propositions in which the affirmation is dropped, and the fact is assumed; thus, "He is a judge," asserts a fact. "His being a judge," or, to be a judge," assumes it. In all these examples the word judge is the predicate-nominative. In parsing such phrases, the words may be taken separately, or the whole phrase may be parsed as one word (§ 61, Rem. 2). See also Analytical and Practical Grammar, 583-24, with references. The following also are examples.

66

He had the honour of being a director for life. By being a diligent student, he soon acquired eminence in his profession. Many benefits result to men from being wise and temperate (men).

RULE 24. The pronoun it often refers to persons (§ 15, Obs. 5), or to an infinitive or clause coming after; as,

It is John that is to blame. It was I that wrote the letter. It is the duty of all to improve. It is the business of every man to prepare for death. It was reserved for Newton to discover the law of gravitation. It is easy to form good resolutions, but difficult to put them in practice. It is incumbent on the young to love and honour their parents.

RULE 25. Words, especially in poetry, are often much transposed; as,

Great is Diana of the Ephesians. On yourself depend for aid. Happy the man who puts his trust in his maker. Of night the gloom was dark and dense.

Or where the gorgeous east, with richest hand,
Showers on her kings barbaric, pearls and gold.

No hive hast thou of hoarded sweets.

A transient calm the happy scenes bestow.

When first thy sire to send on earth
Virtue, his darling child, designed.

On flattering appearances put no reliance.

He with viny crown advancing,

First to the lively pipe his hand addressed.

Grieved though thou art, forbear the rash design.

Not half so dreadful rises to the sight

Orion's dog, the year when Autumn weighs.

§ 41. PROMISCUOUS EXERCISES IN PARSING.

The world was made by a Supreme Being. He who made it, now preserves and governs it. Nothing happens without his permission. He sees all our actions, and hears all our words. The thoughts of the heart are known to him. In him we live, he gave us life, and without him we can not breathe. Wherever we are, God is with us. When we sit in the house, God is there; and when we walk by the way, he is at our right hand. He is a spirit, and fills heaven and earth with his presence.

Demosthenes, who was born at Athens, was a very famous orator. He acquired the art of speaking by great labor and study. By nature he had not a good voice, and could not rightly pronounce some words. That he might learn to speak distinctly, he put small round pebbles in his mouth while he spoke, in order to cure his defect. He used to shut himself up in his chamber, and to study a whole month together. He often went to the shore, and pronounced his orations to the waves, that he might be better able to endure the noise and clamor of the people. He made many orations both on private and public occasions; but he used his eloquence chiefly against Philip, king of Macedon, and, in several orations, he stirred up the Athenians to make war against him.

The mimic thrush, or mocking bird, is about the size of a blackbird, but somewhat more slender. The plumage is grey, but paler on the under parts than above.

This capricious little mimic seems to have a singular pleasure in archly leading other birds astray. He is said at one time to allure the smaller birds with the call of their mates; and when these come near, to terrify them with the scream of the eagle. There is scarcely a bird of the forest, that is not at some time deceived by his call.

NOTE. For additional exercises in parsing, any simple correct writer may be used.

PART THIRD.

§ 43. SYNTAX.

254. SYNTAX is that part of Grammar which treats of the proper arrangement and connection of words in a sentence.

255. A sentence is such an assemblage of words as makes complete sense; as, Man is mortal.

256. A phrase is two or more words rightly put together, but not making complete sense; as, In truth; to be plain with you. 257. Sentences are of two kinds, Simple and Compound.

258. A Simple sentence has but one subject and one finite verb; i. e. a verb not in the infinitive or participles; as, Life is short.

259. A Compound sentence contains two or more simple sentences combined; as, Life, which is short, should be well employed. 260. Every simple sentence consists of two parts, the subject and the predicate.

261. The subject is that of which something is affirmed; as, Snow is white: John reads.

262. The predicate is that which is affirmed of the subject; as, Snow is white: John reads.

263. The predicate properly consists of two parts—the attribute affirmed of the subject, and the copula by which the affirmation is made. Thus in the first example, is white is the predicate, of which white is the attribute, and is the copula.

264. The attribute and copula are generally expressed by one word, which in that case must always be a verb, as in the second example; John reads = John is reading. Hence,

265. The predicate may be a noun or pronoun, an adjective, a preposition with its case, or an adverb; also an infinitive, or clause of a sentence as an attribute, together with the copula by which it is connected with, and affirmed of the subject; or it may be a verb, which includes in itself both attribute and copula.

266. Both subject and predicate may each be attended by other words called adjuncts, which serve to modify or restrict the meaning of the word with which they stand connected; as, An

inordinate desire of ad..iration often produces a contemptible levity of deportment."

267. The subject without an adjunct is called the Grammatical subject; with its adjunct, it is called the Logical subject.

268. The predicate without an adjunct is called the Grammatical predicate; with its adjunct, it is called the Logical predicate. 269. When a compound sentence is so framed that the meaning is suspended till the whole be finished, it is called a Period.

270. § 44. GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF SYNTAX.

1. In every sentence there must be a verb and a nominative [or subject], expressed or understood.

2. Every article, adjective, adjective pronoun, or participle, must have a substantive expressed or understood. 3. Every subject-nominative has its own verb expressed or understood.

4. Every verb [except in the infinitive and participles] has its own nominative expressed or understood.

5. Every possessive case is governed by a substantive [50], denoting the thing possessed.

6. Every objective case is governed by a transitive verb in the active voice, or preposition [Exc., See 307]. 7. The infinitive mood is governed by a verb, an adjective or substantive [For Exc. See § 67].

§ 45. PARTS OF SYNTAX.

271. The Rules of Syntax may all be included under three heads, Concord, Government, and Position.

272. Concord is the agreement which one word has with another in gender, number, case, or person.

273. Government is that power which one word has in directing the mood, tense or case of another word. 274. Position means the place which a word occupies in a sentence.

275. In the English language, which has but few inflections the meaning of a sentence depends much on its arrangement.

276. § 46. RULE I. A Verb must agree with its nominative in number and person; as, Thou readest, He reads, We read.

277. Rem. 1. The nominative to a verb is known by putting the question Who? or What? with the verb. The answer to the question will be the nominative; as, "I read." Who reads? Ans. I.

278. Rem 2. Under this rule the General Principles § 44, 3, 4, must be carefully observed. For, as follows, as concerns, as appears, &c. See § 86, 3

EXERCISES.

I loves reading. A soft answer turn away wrath. We is but of yesterday, and knows nothing. The days of man is but as grass. Thou sees how little has been done. He need not proceed in such haste. He dare not act otherwise. Fifty pounds of wheat contains forty pounds of flour. A variety of pleasing objects charm the eye. So much both of ability and merit are seldom found. Nothing but vain and foolish pursuits delight some persons. A judicious arrangement of studies facilitate improvement. A few pangs of conscience now and then interrupts his pleasure, and whispers to him that he once had better thoughts. There was more impostors than one. What signifies good opinions, when our practice is bad? To these precepts are subjoined a copious selection of rules and maxims.

In vain our flocks and fields increase our store,

When our abundance make us wish for more.

The number of our days are with thee. There remains two points to be considered. There is in fact no impersonal verbs in any language. I have considered what have been said on both sides. Great pains has been taken to make this work as useful as possible. In piety and virtue consist the happiness of man.

In order to exercise the judgment of the pupil, as well as to show that he understands he rule, he may be required to assign a reason for the changes made in correcting the exercises under this and the following rules. If well versed in parsing this may be done without loss of time, even in a large class, by directing him to state the reason always, without waiting to be asked for it. Thus in the preceding exercises, "Loves" should be "love," because "I" is the 1st pers. sing. "Turn" should be "turns," because "answer" is the 3d pers. sing. &c.