An English Grammar Part 90

II. RELATIVE AND ANTECEDENT.

[Sidenote: _The rule._]

414. The general rule is, that the relative p.r.o.noun agrees with its antecedent in person and number.

[Sidenote: _In what sense true._]

This cannot be true as to the form of the p.r.o.noun, as that does not vary for person or number. We say _I_, _you_, _he_, _they_, etc., _who_; _these_ or _that_ _which_, etc. However, the relative _carries over_ the agreement from the antecedent before to the verb following, so far as the verb has forms to show its agreement with a substantive.

For example, in the sentence, "He that writes to himself writes to an eternal public," _that_ is invariable as to person and number, but, because of its antecedent, it makes the verb third person singular.

Notice the agreement in the following sentences:--

There is not _one_ of the company, but _myself_, who rarely _speak_ at all, but _speaks_ of him as that sort, etc.--ADDISON.

O _Time!_ who _know'st_ a lenient hand to lay Softest on sorrow's wound.--BOWLES.

Let us be of good cheer, remembering that the misfortunes hardest to bear are _those_ which never _come._--LOWELL.

[Sidenote: _A disputed point._]

415. This prepares the way for the consideration of one of the vexed questions,--whether we should say, "one of the finest books that _has_ been published," or, "one of the finest books that _have_ been published."

[Sidenote: One of ... [_plural_] that who, _or_ which ... [_singular or plural_.]]

The pale realms of shade, where _each_ shall take _His_ chamber in the silent halls of death.

--BRYANT.

Both constructions are frequently found, the reason being a difference of opinion as to the antecedent. Some consider it to be _one_ [book]

_of the finest books_, with _one_ as the princ.i.p.al word, the true antecedent; others regard _books_ as the antecedent, and write the verb in the plural. The latter is rather more frequent, but the former has good authority.

The following quotations show both sides:--

[Sidenote: _Plural._]

He was one of the very few commanders who _appear_ to have shown equal skill in directing a campaign, in winning a battle, and in improving a victory.--LECKY.

He was one of the most distinguished scientists who _have_ ever lived.--J.T.MORSE, Jr., _Franklin._

It is one of those periods which _shine_ with an unnatural and delusive splendor.--MACAULAY.

A very little encouragement brought back one of those overflows which _make_ one more ashamed, etc.--HOLMES.

I am one of those who _believe_ that the real will never find an irremovable basis till it rests on the ideal.--LOWELL.

French literature of the eighteenth century, one of the most powerful agencies that _have_ ever existed.--M. ARNOLD.

What man's life is not overtaken by one or more of those tornadoes that _send_ us out of our course?--THACKERAY.

He is one of those that _deserve_ very well.--ADDISON.

[Sidenote: _Singular._]

The fiery youth ... struck down one of those who _was_ pressing hardest.--SCOTT.

He appeared to me one of the n.o.blest creatures that ever _was_, when he derided the shams of society.--HOWELLS.

A rare Roundabout performance,--one of the very best that _has_ ever appeared in this series.--THACKERAY.

Valancourt was the hero of one of the most famous romances which ever _was_ published in this country.--_Id._

It is one of the errors which _has_ been diligently propagated by designing writers.--IRVING.

"I am going to breakfast with one of these fellows who _is_ at the Piazza Hotel."--d.i.c.kENS.

The "Economy of the Animal Kingdom" is one of those books which _is_ an honor to the human race.--EMERSON.

Tom Puzzle is one of the most eminent immethodical disputants of any that _has_ fallen under my observation.--ADDISON.

The richly canopied monument of one of the most earnest souls that ever gave _itself_ to the arts.--RUSKIN.

III. OMISSION OF THE RELATIVE.

416. Although the omission of the relative is common when it would be the object of the verb or preposition _expressed_, there is an omission which is not frequently found in careful writers; that is, when the relative word is a p.r.o.noun, object of a preposition _understood_, or is equivalent to the conjunction _when_, _where_, _whence_, and such like: as, "He returned by the same route [by which]

he came;" "India is the place [in which, or where] he died." Notice these sentences:--

In the posture I lay, I could see nothing except the sky.--SWIFT.

This is he that should marshal us the way we were going.--EMERSON.

But I by backward steps would move; And, when this dust falls to the urn, In that same state I came, return.--VAUGHAN.

Welcome the hour my aged limbs Are laid with thee to rest.--BURNS.

The night was concluded in the manner we began the morning.--GOLDSMITH.

The same day I went aboard we set sail.--DEFOE.

The vulgar historian of a Cromwell fancies that he had determined on being Protector of England, at the time he was plowing the marsh lands of Cambridgeshire.--CARLYLE.

To pa.s.s under the canvas in the manner he had entered required time and attention.--SCOTT.

Exercise.--In the above sentences, insert the omitted conjunction or phrase, and see if the sentence is made clearer.