combat deepens on, ye brave!" Here rush or press is understood before on.

Note XII. The same form of the verb, whether simple, progressive, or emphatic, should be preserved throughout the sentence; as, "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away;" "That man loves his friends and hates his enemies;" "He was writing and he is writing;" "He did love and he does love."

EXERCISES IN THE SYNTAX OF THE VERB.

RULE XXIV.—a. A bee among the flowers of spring is one of the most cheerful objects that can be looked upon. C. S.

b. The Normans, under which general term is comprehended the Danes, Norwegians, and Swedes, were accustomed to rapine and slaughter.

F. S.

c. Thinks I to myself, He will know better when he is older. F. S.

d. What signifies good opinions, unless they are attended by good conduct? F. S.

Note I.-a.

Moneys is your suit.
What shonld I say to you? F. S.

b. In the wilderness locusts were his meat.

C. S.

Note II.-a. As to his person, he is all head and shoulders. C. S.

b. In Federal money a dime is ten cents. C. S.

Note III. The Pleasures of the Imagination, by Akenside, is a highly philosophical poem. C. S.

Note IV.- -a. I came to see you because I knew you was my old master's friend. F. S.

b. I recollect you was his advocate in that important trial. F. S.

Note V.-a. Early to bed and early to rise,

Makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. C. S.

b. Read, read, rang through the air morning, noon, and night, like the muezzins' call to prayer from the tops of their gilded minarets.-Nuces Philosophicæ, p. 484. C. S.

c. That warm climates should accelerate the growth of the human body, and shorten its duration, is very reasonable to believe. C. S.

d. "I can not do it" never accomplished any thing; "I will try" has wrought wonders.-HAWES.

e. For a lady to conduct herself in this manner is disgraceful.

C. S.

Note VI. Methinks already I your tears survey. C. S.

Note VII.-There have been that have delivered themselves from their ills by their good fortune or their virtue. F. S. Note VIII.-There needed a new dispensation of religion for the moral reform of society. C. S.

Note IX. The expense amounted to, say five dollars. C. S. Note X.-He felt himself addicted to philosophical speculations with more ardor than consisted well with the duties of a Roman and a senator.

C. S.

Note XI.-a. Charge, Chester, charge! on, Stanley, on! C. S.

b.

Once more unto the breach, my friends, once more,

Or close the wall up with our English dead. C. S.

Note XII. He was writing, and he does now write. F. S.

THE VERB.

§ 507. RULE XXV.—When a verb has TWO OR MORE SUBJECTS in the singular number, joined by the copulative and, it must agree with them in the plural number; as, "Reason and truth constitute intellectual gold." Instead of saying reason constitutes intellectual gold, truth constitutes intellectual gold, the two propositions are united in one compound sentence. The conjunction is sometimes understood; as, "Honor, justice, religion itself, were derided."

Note I.-This rule has in the practice of writers some exceptions: "Nor were the young fellows so wholly lost to a sense of right, as pride and self-conceit has made them affect to be."Rambler, No. 97. Here the verb, which is expressed after selfconceit, is considered as understood after pride. Their safety and welfare is most concerned."- Spectator, No. 121. This was sometimes the case in Greek and Roman writers: "Mens enim et ratio, et consilium in senibus est."-CICERO, De Sen., cap. xix. Forms of expression like these should not be encouraged in the English language, though they can be defended, in some instances, on the ground of their expressing only one com plex idea.

Note II. Two or more nouns connected by the conjunction and, expressed or understood, and modified by the distributives EACH, EVERY, OF EITHER, may have a verb in the singular number: "Either sex and every age was engaged in the pursuits of industry."-GIBBON'S Roman Empire, chap. x. "The judicial and every other power is accountable to the legislative." -PALEY'S Philosophy, vi., 8.

Note III.-Where comparison is expressed or implied, and not combination, the verb should be singular; thus, "Cæsar as well as Cicero was remarkable for eloquence." Even when and is used between two nouns, if a disuniting word is used with it, the verb should be in the singular number; as, "Good order, and not mean savings, produces honest profit."

Note IV. When a verb comes in between its nominatives, it agrees with that which precedes it, and is understood as to the others; as, "John was present, and Henry, and Charles."

Note V.-When two nouns connected by the conjunction and express but one subject, the verb should be in the singular number; as, "That great statesman and general is entitled to the gratitude of his country."

Note VI.-When nominatives to the same verb are of different persons, the verb must be in the plural number, and must agree with the first person rather than the second, and with the second rather than the third: "My sister and I are daily employed in our respective occupations."

EXERCISES UNDER RULE XXV.

RULE XXV.-a. Religion and virtue, our best support and highest honor, confers on the mind principles of noble independence. F. S.

b. There is as much real religion and morality in this country as in any other. F. S.

c. Wisdom, virtue, happiness, dwells with the golden mediocrity. F. S.

Note I.-a. In that transaction their safety and welfare is most concerned. F. S.

b. The fragrant woodbine and the sweet-scented myrtle ren ders the air in this spot truly delicious. F. S.

Note II. In the camp of Israel every man and every woman were numbered.

F. S.

Note III-a. That superficial scholar and critic, like some renowned critics of our own, have furnished most decisive proofs that they knew not the characters of the Hebrew language. F. S. b. Virtuous effort, and not depraved genius, win the prize. F.S. Note IV. Forth in the pleasing spring

Thy beauty walks, thy tenderness and love.-THOMSON. C.S. Note V.-Coleridge, that distinguished philosopher and celebrated poet, are receiving the meed of praise. F. S. Note VI.-You and the doctor thinks unfavorably of my case. F. S.

THE VERB.

§ 508. RULE XXVI.-When a verb has for its subject only ONE of two or more substantives singular, connected by the conjunctions or or nor, it is itself in the singular number; as, "Either John, or Peter, or James was at the Exchange yesterday, but neither John nor Peter is there to-day."

Note I. When a verb has nominatives of different persons connected by the disjunctive conjunctions or or nor, it must agree with that which is nearest; as, "Neither you nor I am

concerned."

Note II.-When a verb has a Singular and a Plural nominative connected by or or nor, it agrees with its nearest nominative; as, "The dice-box or his cups were his ruin."

Note III.-In sentences where there is but one proposition, when two or more subjects of different persons are in apposition, the verb agrees with the FIRST of them; as, "I, your master, command you;" "Your master, I, commands you." The idea that comes first is the leading idea, and controls the construction of the verb.

EXERCISES UNDER RULE XXVI.

RULE XXVI.-a. There are many faults in spelling neither analogy nor pronunciation justify. F. S.

which

b. When sickness, infirmity, or reverse of fortune affect us,

the sincerity of friendship is proved. F. S.

Note I.-I or thou am the person who must undertake the business proposed. F. S.

Note II.-a. For the consequences of this transaction he or they is responsible. F. S.

b. The cares of this life, or the deceitfulness of riches, has choked the seeds of virtue in many a promising mind. F. S. Note III. Your father, I, loves you; I, your father, love you. C. S.

THE VERB.

§ 509. RULE XXVII.-When a verb has for its subject a COLLECTIVE noun, it can agree with it either in the Singular or the Plural number; as, "The council is or are unanimous ;" "The company was or were collected;" "A part of the exports consists or consist of raw silk."

Note I. When the collective noun indicates unity, a Singular verb should be used; when it indicates plurality, a Plural verb should be used. In general, modern practice inclines to the use of a plural verb, especially when persons and not things are signified by the collective noun; as, "The clergy began to withdraw themselves from the temporal courts."-BLACKSTONE. "The chorus prepare resistance at his first approach; the chorus sings of the battle."-JOHNSON's Life of Milton.

Note II. The most common mistakes in the application of this rule occur in the use of sort and kind, with a plural pronoun; as, "These sort are good;" "those kind are bad;" for this sort, that kind.

When a collective noun is preceded by a definitive which clearly limits the sense of the word to the idea of unity, it requires a verb and a pronoun to agree with it in the singular number; as, "A company of troops was raised;" "This people has become a great nation."

EXERCISES UNDER RULE XXVII.

RULE XXVII.-a. An army was led through the wilderness against him. C. S.

b. After the battle the army were scattered through the provinces. C. S.

c. The committee has at length brought in a report. C. S. d. The committee were divided in their opinions. C. S. Note I.-a. The court, after long delays, have passed sentence on the criminal. F. S.

b. A herd of cattle peacefully grazing afford a pleasing sight.

T C