RULE 21. The class of words or part of speech to which a word belongs, depends often on its application; as, Calm was the day, and the scene, delightful. We may expect a calm after a storm. To prevent passion, is easier than to calm it. Better is a little with con-. tent, than a great deal with anxiety. The gay and dissolute think little of the miseries which are stealing softly after them. A little attention will rectify some errors. Though he is out of danger, he is still afraid. He laboured to still the tumult. Still waters are com monly deepest. Damp air is unwholesome. Guilt often casts a damp over our sprightliest hours. Soft bodies damp the sound much more than hard ones. Though she is rich and fair, yet she is not amiable. They are young, and must suspend their judgment yet a while. Many persons are better than we suppose them to be. The few and the many have their prepossessions. Few days pass without some clouds. Much money is corrupting. Think much and speak little. He has seen much of the world, and been much caressed. His years are more than hers, but he has not more knowledge. The more we are blessed, the more grateful we should be. The desire of getting more is rarely satisfied. He has equal knowledge, but inferior judgment. She is his inferior in sense, but his equal in prudence. RULE 22. Do, have, and be, are principal verbs when used by themselves, but auxiliaries when connected with oiker verbs; as, He does all in his power to gain esteem. He did his utmost to please his friend. We must do nothing that will sully our reputation. She has a strong claim to our respect. They had not the slightest intention to wound our feelings. The man who has no sense of religion, is little to be trusted. He who does the most good, has the most pleasure. They were not in the most prosperous circumstances, when we last saw them. He does not write so well as he reads. We did not stay with him more than a month. True wisdom does not inspire pride. The butler did not remember Jo seph. Did he send the book, as he was desired? Do they make much progress in their studies? Have they ascertained the person who gave the information? They had not determined what course to take. We are surprised at the news. RULE 23. An infinitive, a participle, or a member of a sentence, which may be called a substantive phrase, is often the nominative to a verb, or the objective after a transitive verb or preposition; as, 1. Nominative. To study hard, is the best way to improve. To endure misfortune with resignation, is the characteristic of a great mind. To advise the ignorant, relieve the needy and comfort the distressed, are duties incumbent on all. John's being from home occasioned the delay. His having neglected opportunities of improvement, was the cause of his disgrace. The implanting of right principles in the breast of the young, is important both to themselves and to society. To assist a friend in such circumstances, was a duty. 2. Objective. He that knows how to do good, and does it not, is without excuse. He will regret his having neglected opportunities of improvement, when it may be too late. He declared that nothing could give him greater pleasure. Of making many books there is no end. OBS. 1. When a substantive phrase is governed by a verb or preposition, this regimen does not affect the case of individual nouns or pronouns in that phrase, but leaves them subject to the influence of other words within the phrase itself. OBS. 2. In sentences of this kind, the infinitive mood or participle is often used for the name of the action, or state, or affection expressed by the verb; as, "to profess (professing) regard, and to act (acting) differently, marks a base mind." Here it is to be observed that the infinitive and participle are really abstract nouns perfectly indefinite in their application, there being no particular subject to which the action may be referred. If the infinitive or participle of the verb to be, or of a passive verb of naming, &c. (§ 61, R. 1), is used in this way without a definite subject, the substantive which follows it as a predicate receives the same indefinite character: it is nei ther the subject of a verb, nor is under the regimen of any word; thus, "His be ing an expert dancer, does not entitle him to our regard." This will be allowed to be a correct English sentence, complete in itself, and requiring nothing to be supplied. The phrase being an expert dancer," is the subject of the verb "does entitle;" but the word" dancer" in that phrase is neither the subject of any verb, nor is governed by any word in the sentence. Of this kind are all such expressions as the following: "It is an honor to be the author of such a work.'. To be virtuous is to be happy." "To be surety for a stranger is dangerous.' Not to know what happened before you were born, is to be always a child." "The atrocious crime of being a young man, I shall neither attempt to palliate or deny" (Pitt). He was not sure of its being I." "Its being he, needs taze im difference in your determination. In such examples, whether the phrase be in the nominative or objective case, 1. e. whether it be the subject of a verb, or the object of a transitive verb or pre. position, the word following the infinitive or participle as a predicate, is properly the predicate-nominative. Al' 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," assures 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 Gram mar, 583-24, with references. The following also are examples. 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 trans posed; 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, A transient calm the happy scenes bestow When first thy sire to send on earth 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. PROMÍSCUOUS EXERCISES IN PARSING. The world was made by a Supreme Being. He who made it, now preserves and governs it. Nothing hap pens 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 plu mage 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 ter rify 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 mav 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 |