SYNTAX.

THE third part of Grammar is sYNTAX, which treats of the agreement and construction of words in a sentence. A sentence is the verbal representation of the existence, or action, of some person, place, or thing.

Sentences are of two kinds, SIMPLE and COMPOUND. A simple sentence has in it but one subject, and one finite verb: as, Life is short.

There are three kinds of simple sentences: 1. Explicative; 2. Interrogative; and 3. Imperative.

An explicative sentence is used for explaining.

An interrogative sentence for inquiring.

An imperative sentence for commanding.

A compound sentence, contains two or more simple sentences, joined together by one or more connective words; as, Life is short, and art is long.

A phrase is two or more words rightly put together, making sometimes a part of a sentence, and sometimes a whole sentence.

The principal parts of a simple sentence are, the nominative, the attribute, and the object.

The nominative is the thing chiefly spoken of; the attribute is the thing or action affirmed, or denied of it; and the object is the thing affected by such action.

The nominative denotes the subject, and usually goes before the verb or attribute; and the word or phrase, denoting the object, follows the verb: as "a wise man governs his passions." Here, a wise man is the subject; governs the attribute, or the thing affirmed; and passions the object. Syntax principally consists of three parts, Concord, Government, and Position.

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

Government is that power which one word has over another, in directing its mood, tense, or case.

Position, relates to the disposition of words in a sentence.

Synthesis and analysis are terms of frequent use in many sciences; synthesis signifies putting together, and analysis taking apart. One begins where the other terminates, and they reciprocally explain each other; they may sometimes be employed with equal advantage in explaining the same thing. Thus the mechanism of a complicated machine may be shown by either method. Take, for instance, a watch, or an oration, and separate the different wheels, springs, and other articles, of which the watch is composed, or the words which compose the oration, and examine each individual piece during the operation, and you perform an act of analysis. But as soon as you put the watch or oration together, you immediately perform an operation called synthesis, or syntax. The combination of timber, boards, and plank, into a house, is syntax. The forming of any compound from simple articles, is syntax; of course, the regular formation of an oration or poem, from simple words, is emphatically syntax.

Now, in order to do this with ease, accuracy, and facility, you must first learn the rules of composition, or you will have nothing to guard you in the operation, but will be in the same situation as a man who should undertake to make some very compound medicine without knowing the ingredients of which it is composed; in short, although a very ignorant fellow might analyze a patent lever watch, or might separate the words composing Cicero's oration against Catiline; yet every one knows that he who formed either the watch or the oration, could not have done it without a knowledge of synthesis; consequently, all the rules of syntax must relate either to the government, agreement, or position of words, in a sentence.

Syntax, as before remarked, consisting of Concord, Government, and Position, the three following general rules will embrace all the principles.

GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF SYNTAX.

RULE L-Of Agreement.

Every article, adjective, adjective pronoun, and participle, belongs to some noun. All pronouns agree with their nouns, in gender and number. All verbs agree with their nominatives, in number and person. An adverb qualifies some verb, adjective, or other adverb. Two nouns, connected by a conjunction, will be in the same case; and two verbs, connected in like manner, will be in the same mood and tense.

RULE II.-Of Government.

Every active verb and preposition governs an objective case. The infinitive mood is governed by some verb, noun, pronoun, participle, or adjective. The positive case is governed by a noun. All nouns, of the second person, are in the nominative independent; and a noun placed before a participle, is in the case absolute.

RULE III.-Of Position and Transposition.

The nominative case must be placed first in a sentence; the verb, next to it; and the objective case, last; as, God' made man3. Prepositions precede the objects which they govern. Adjectives and adverbs must generally be placed next to the words which they qualify; and the relative must be placed next to its antecedent.

The more extensive development, explanation, and elucidation of these "General Rules," form all the "Special Rules" of Syntax in Grammar, as they are detailed in the different treatises on that science, as will appear from an examination of the following pages.

PART I.-AGREEMENT OF VERBS.

RULE I.

A VERB must agree with its nominative case in number and person; as, I am, thou art, he is; I love, thou lovest, he loves; the boy plays, the boys play.

NOTE 1.-When the nominative case ends in s, the sentence is always in the plural number, as, the boys play; and when the verb ends with this letter, it is singular : thus, if you remove the s from boys to play, and say, the boy plays, the sentence will be in the singular.

NOTE 2.-The nominative case may be either a single word, as, a horse runs, the ox eats, men war against nature, the tiger knows his kind: or,

NOTE 3. The nominative case may be a phrase or sentence, as, to destroy life is cruel; to worship any thing but God is idolatry.

EXERCISES.-1. Disappointments sinks the heart of man. This is not a correct expression, because the nominative case disappointments is in the plural number; and therefore the verb sinks should be sink, in the plural number, to agree with it. The sentence should read, Disappointments sink the heart of man.—In like manner correct the following sentences:

2. Fifty pounds of wheat contains forty pounds of flour. 3. A variety of pleasing objects charm the eye.

4. Nothing but vain and foolish pursuits delight some persons.

5. What avails her unexhausted store, and her blooming mountains.

6. To those rules of syntax are subjoined an extensive collection of sentences to exercise the judgment.

7. There is no men so dangerous in a government as the ambitious and unprincipled.

8. Great pains has been taken to reconcile the parties. 9. There was a hundred thousand men engaged.

RULE II.

Two or more nouns, pronouns, or substantive phrases, connected by and, must have a plural verb, noun, and pronoun; as,

Washington, Lafayette, Franklin, and Hamilton, were venerable sages of the revolution; but Warren and Montgomery suffered martyrdom in the cause of their country. He and myself are engaged in study. To be industrious, and honest are the means of becoming respectable. To be wise in our own eyes; to be wise in the eyes of others; and to be wise in the eyes of our Creator; are three things so very different, as rarely to coincide.

EXERCISES.-1. John, James, and Joseph, intends to leave town. This is not grammatical; the verb, intends, is here in the singular number, and is yet forced to agree with John, James, and Joseph, three singular nominatives, connected by and, which make at least a plural, and require a plural verb. John, James, and Joseph, intend to leave town, would be an expression in conformity to the second rule.-In like manner correct:

2. Patience and diligence, like faith, removes mountains. 3. Wisdom, virtue, and happiness, dwells with the golden mediocrity.

4. His politeness and good disposition was changed. 5. Luxurious living and high pleasure begets a languor and satiety that destroys all enjoyment.

6. Time and tide waits for no man.

7. Fine talents, a fair character, and a fortune, has been lost by that profligate young man.

8. The planetary system, boundless space, and the immense ocean, affects the mind with sensations of astonish

ment.

9. Their friendship and hatred is alike indifferent to me. 10. The censure and applause of the surrounding multitude passes by like the idle winds.

11. Idleness and ignorance is the parent of many vices. 12. In unity consists the welfare and security of every society.