SYNTAX:

OR,

THE MAKING OF SENTENCES

AND

EXPRESSING THESE GRAMMATICALLY.

Orthography taught how to spell,

Then etymology could tell

Το

parse each word with ease;.

Now that you've got nine parts of speech,

And know the uses too of each

Take this part, if you please.

We go to SYNTAX now for rules
To show us how to use those tools,
And shape our language right;
Some people do it smooth and well,
And can a graceful story tell,
Or charming letter write;

While others many blunders make,
Because they will not trouble take
To understand these rules.

I'm sure you would have no objections
If I should sometimes make corrections,
To sharpen up the tools?

RULE FIRST.

The verb with subject must agree
In person, number-this you'll see
While I explain to-day.

When subject is a pronoun, give
Each verb a personal nominative—
I, thou, he, we, you, they.

EXERCISE.

Correct the following errors.

Me walk to Ardrossan. does not understand me. Them are not hard at all.

Them sit too long. Him Us learn our lessons well. Me love my grandmamma. Them will not allow me to leave town.

Him pro

mised to send me his likeness; but him broke it. Thee art a little Quakeress. I know me am.

In GENDER too, avoid mistake,

O what a blunder you would make
you used she for he!

If

When subject's neither one nor other,
Then you require to use the neuter,
And say, it falls (that tree).

EXERCISE.

Correct the following errors.

Grandmamma told me her age; he was sixty.

The

tree was uprooted with the storm, and there she lies.