the subsequent of the second understood. Thus, "He was more, beloved, but not so much admired, as Cynthio," is not correct, because we can not say, "He was more beloved as Cynthio." It should be, "He was more beloved than Cynthio, but not so much admired.”

969. The principle of this rule applies to the appropriate selection of words, as well as to their construction. Thus, "This doctrine is founded and consistent with the truth," should be, "founded upon and consistent with," etc.

EXERCISES TO BE CORRECTED.

In the following sentences, point out the conjunctions, the words or sentences connected by them-see whether they correspond, according to the rules, and if not, correct, and give a reason for the change.

(955) He reads and wrote well.—Anger glances into the breast of a wise man, but will rest only in the bosom of fools.-If he under-. stand the subject, and attends to it, he can scarcely fail of success.— Enjoying health, and to live in peace, are great blessings.—Be more anxious to acquire knowledge than about showing it.

You and me are great friends.-This is a small matter between you and I.-My father and him are very intimate. He is taller than me; but I am older than him.

(956) He reads and writeth well.-He reads and does write well.— He reads and is writing well.—-Does he not read and writes well?— Earth hath her solitudes, and so has life.

(958) He can neither read nor can write.-I will come and will see you, and will tell you the whole story.

(960) Can these persons consent to such a proposal, and will consent to it?-How distinguished for talents he is, and how useful might be!—He could command his temper, though would not.

(962) I do not deny but he has merit.-They were afraid lest you would be offended.-We were apprehensive lest some accident had happened to him.—We can not deny but what he was ill-treated.

(963, 1) It is neither cold or hot.-It is so clear as I need not explain it. The relations are so uncertain, as that they require much examination.-The one is equally deserving as the other.-I must be so candid to own that I have been mistaken.-He was as angry as he could not speak.-Though he slay me, so will I trust in him.-He must go himself, or send a servant.-There is no condition so secure as can not admit of change.-He is not so eminent and as much esteemed as he thinks himself to be.

(963, 2) He has little more of the scholar besides the name.-Be ready to succor such persons who need thy assistance.-They had no sooner risen but they applied themselves to their studies.—These savage people seemed to have no other element but war.—He gained nothing further by his speech but only to be commended for his eloquence. This is none other but the gate of Paradise.

(967) I always have, and I always shall be of this opinion.-He is bolder, but not so wise as his companion. Sincerity is as valuable, and even more so than knowledge.-Will it be urged that these books are as old or even older than tradition ?—This book is preferable and cheaper than the other.

Prepositions.

970. RULE XX.—A preposition shows the relation between the subsequent of its phrase and the word which the phrase limits; as, "The book lies ON the table."-"The fear of the LORD is the beginning OF wisdom."- "I am confident of success."

971. Whatever word is limited or described by the prepositional phrase as a whole, is the antecedent term of the relation. The principal substantive in the objective case is the subsequent term.

Interjections.

972. RULE XXI.-Interjections have no grammatical connection with the other words in a sentence (556).

973. After interjections, pronouns of the first person are com monly in the objective case; those of the second, in the nominative; as, Ah me!"-"O thou!"

In neither of these, however, does the case depend on the interjection. The objective generally depends upon a word understood; thus, "Ah [pity] me!"-" Ah [what will become of] me!" nominative is commonly the nominative independent (773).

The

General Rule of Syntax.

974. In every sentence, the words employed, and the order in which they are arranged, should be such as clearly and properly to express the idea intended; and at the same time, all the parts of the sentence should correspond, and a regular and dependent construction be preserved throughout.

975. Among the evils to be guarded against, under this general rule, for which no very specific rule can be given, are the following :1. The use of words which do not correctly convey the idea

intended, or which convey another with equal propriety. 2. The arrangement of words and clauses in such a way that their relation to other words and clauses is doubtful or obscure. 3. The separating of adjuncts (541) from their principals, and placing them so that they may be joined to words to which they do not belong (832).

4. The separating of relative clauses improperly from their antecedents (755, 759).

5. Using injudiciously, or too frequently, the third personal or possessive pronoun, especially in indirect discourse (1129).

EXERCISES.

The following sentences are not grammatically incorrect, but from some of the causes mentioned above, are obscure, inelegant, ambiguous, or unintelligible. Point out the error, correct it, and give a reason.

The son said to his father that he had sinned against heaven.-A ́ farmer went to a lawyer, and told him that his bull had gored his ox.-The Greeks, fearing to be surrounded on all sides, wheeled about, and halted with the river on their backs.-Nor was Philip wanting to corrupt Demosthenes, as he had most of the leading men of Greece.-Parmenio had served, with great fidelity, Philip the father of Alexander, as well as himself, for whom he first opened the way into Asia.—Belisarius was general of all the forces under Justinian the First, a man of rare valor.-Lysias promised his father never to abandon his friends.-Carthage was demolished to the ground, so

that we are unable to say where it stood. at this day.-Thus ended the war with Antiochus, twelve years after the second Punic war, and two after it had been begun.-Claudius was canonized among the gods, who scarcely deserved the name of a man.

976. Another class of improprieties arises from the improper omission of words, by which the grammatical construction of & sentence is broken up. As a general rule, the fewer the words by which we express our ideas, the better, provided the meaning is clearly brought out. This may often be done without using all the words necessary to the full grammatical form of a sentence; and hence, as the tendency always is to abbreviate speech, such words as can be spared, according to the usage of the language, are properly omitted. This omission is called

Ellipsis (1044, 1).

Respecting the use of this figure, nothing more definite can be laid down than what is contained in the following

Special Rules.

977. RULE 1.—An ellipsis, or omission of words, is admissible when they can be supplied by the mind with such certainty and readiness as not to obscure the sense. Thus,

Instead of saying, “He was a learned man, and he was a wise man, and he was a good man," we may say, "He was a learned, wise, and good man."

978. According to common usage, an ellipsis of the different parts of speech is allowed in the following cases, viz. :—

1. Noun and Pronoun.-When two or more things are asserted of the same subject, the noun or pronoun is expressed before the first verb, and omitted before the rest. Also, when the same noun or pronoun is the object of several verbs, it is omitted after all except the last; as, "I love, fear, and respect him," instead of, "I love him, I fear him, and I respect him."

2. A noun is frequently omitted after the comparative degree; as, "I will pull down my barns, and build greater [barns]."

the noun

3. When two or more adjectives qualify the same noun, is omitted after all except the last; as, "A great, wise, and good man," for "A great man, a wise man, and a good man.”

4. Adjective and Article.-When an adjective qualifies two or more nouns, it is omitted before all except the first only; as, "Good qualities and actions."—" Happy boys and girls.”—“ He is an honest, learned, and well-bred man," for "an honest, a learned, and a wellbred man."

5. Verbs.-A verb is often omitted after its subject, preceded by the comparative degree; as, “He is wiser than I [am].”—“I am younger than he [is].”

6. When several clauses come together, having the same predicate verb, the verb is often expressed in the first, and omitted in the rest; as, "The Italians have imitated the Latins; the English, the Italians ; and the Americans, the English." Sometimes it is omitted in the first, and expressed in the last; as, "Not only men, but nations, imitate one another."

7. The verb to be, with its subject, in dependent clauses, is often omitted after the connectives, if, though, yet, when, etc.; as, 'Study, if [it is] neglected, becomes irksome."-" Though [he was] poor, he was honest" (965).

8. In poetry, verbs which express address or answer, are often omitted; as, "To him the prince [replied]." Also, when the words connected readily indicate what the verb must be, if expressed; as, "I'll hence to London."-" I'll in.”—“ Away, old man!"-Slaks. "Up, up, Glenarkin !"-W. Scott.

9. The verb is often omitted in the second clause of a sentence after the auxiliary, when the same verb is used in the first clause; as, "You have read, but I have not [read]." Also, verbs connected in the same voice, mood, and tense, having the auxiliary with the first, omit it with the rest; as, "He will be loved and respected for his virtues."

10. Adverb.-When an adverb modifies more words than one, it is placed only with the last; as, "He spoke and acted gracefully."

11. Preposition.—When the same preposition connects two or more subsequent terms of a relation with one antecedent term, is it usually omitted before all except the first; as, Over the hills and valleys.”—“ Through the woods and wilds."

12. Conjunction.-When several words and clauses come together in the same construction, the conjunction is sometimes omitted entirely, sometimes between each pair, and sometimes before all