The Grammar of English Grammars Part 145

"A metaphor is nothing else but a short comparison."--_Adam's Gram._, p.

243; _Gould's_, 236. "There being no other dictator here but use."-- _Campbell's Rhet._, p. 167. "This Construction is no otherwise known in English but by supplying the first or second Person Plural."--_Buchanan's Syntax_, p. xi. "Cyaxares was no sooner in the throne, but he was engaged in a terrible war."--_Rollin's Hist._, ii, 62. "Those cla.s.sics contain little else but histories of murders."--_Am. Museum_, v, 526. "Ye shall not worship any other except G.o.d."--_Sale's Koran_, p. 15. "Their relation, therefore, is not otherwise to be ascertained but by their place."-- _Campbell's Rhet._, p. 260. "For he no sooner accosted her, but he gained his point."--_Burder's Hist._, i, 6. "And all the modern writers on this subject have done little else but translate them."--_Blair's Rhet._, p.

336. "One who had no other aim, but to talk copiously and plausibly."-- _Ib._, p. 317. "We can refer it to no other cause but the structure of the eye."--_Ib._, p. 46. "No more is required but singly an act of vision."-- _Kames, El. of Crit._, i, 171. "We find no more in its composition, but the particulars now mentioned."--_ Ib._, i, 48. "He pretends not to say, that it hath any other effect but to raise surprise."--_Ib._, ii, 61. "No sooner was the princess dead, but he freed himself."--_Johnson's Sketch of Morin_.

"_Ought_ is an imperfect verb, for it has no other modification besides this one."--_Priestley's Gram._, p. 113. "The verb is palpably nothing else but the tie."--_Neef's Sketch_, p. 66. "Does he mean that theism is capable of nothing else except being opposed to polytheism or atheism?"--_Blair's Rhet._, p. 104. "Is it meant that theism is capable of nothing else besides being opposed to polytheism, or atheism?"--_Murray's Gram._, 8vo, p. 307.

"There is no other method of teaching that of which any one is ignorant, but by means of something already known"--DR. JOHNSON: _Murray's Gram._, i, 163; _Ingersoll's_, 214. "O fairest flower, no sooner blown but blasted!"-- _Milton's Poems_, p, 132. "Architecture and gardening cannot otherwise entertain the mind, but by raising certain agreeable emotions or feelings."--_Kames, El. of Crit._, ii, 318. "Or, rather, they are nothing else but nouns."--_British Gram._, p. 95.

"As if religion were intended For nothing else but to be mended."--_Hudibras_, p. 11.

UNDER NOTE V.--RELATIVES EXCLUDE CONJUNCTIONS.

"To prepare the Jews for the reception of a prophet mightier than him, and whose shoes he was not worthy to bear."--_Murray's Gram._, 8vo, p. 214.

"Has this word which represents an action an object after it, and on which it terminates?"--_Osborn's Key_, p. 3. "The stores of literature lie before him, and from which he may collect, for use, many lessons of wisdom."-- _Knapp's Lectures_, p. 31. "Many and various great advantages of this Grammar, and which are wanting in others, might be enumerated."-- _Greenleaf's Gram._, p. 6. "About the time of Solon, the Athenian legislator, the custom is said to have been introduced, and which still prevails, of writing in lines from left to right."--_Jamieson's Rhet._, p.

19. "The fundamental rule of the construction of sentences, and into which all others might be resolved, undoubtedly is, to communicate, in the clearest and most natural order, the ideas which we mean to transfuse into the minds of others."--_Blair's Rhet._, p. 120; _Jamieson's_, 102. "He left a son of a singular character, and who behaved so ill that he was put in prison."--_Murray's Key_, 8vo, p. 221. "He discovered some qualities in the youth, of a disagreeable nature, and which to him were wholly unaccountable."--_Ib._, p. 213. "An emphatical pause is made, after something has been said of peculiar moment, and on which we want ['desire'

_M_.] to fix the hearer's attention."--_Blair's Rhet._, p. 331; _Murray's Gram._, 8vo, p. 248. "But we have duplicates of each, agreeing in movement, though differing in measure, and which make different impressions on the ear."--_Murray's Gram._, 8vo, p. 259.

UNDER NOTE VI.--OF THE WORD THAT.

"It will greatly facilitate the labours of the teacher, at the same time that it will relieve the pupil of many difficulties."--_Frost's El. of E.

Gram._, p. 4. "At the same time that the pupil is engaged in the exercises just mentioned, it will be a proper time to study the whole Grammar in course."--_Bullions, Prin. of E. Gram._, Revised Ed., p. viii. "On the same ground that a participle and auxiliary are allowed to form a tense."--BEATTIE: _Murray's Gram._, 8vo, p. 76. "On the same ground that the voices, moods, and tenses, are admitted into the English tongue."--_Ib._, p. 101. "The five examples last mentioned, are corrected on the same principle that the preceding examples are corrected."--_Ib._, p. 186; _Ingersoll's Gram._, 254. "The brazen age began at the death of Trajan, and lasted till the time that Rome was taken by the Goths."--_Gould's Lat. Gram._, p. 277. "The introduction to the Duodecimo Edition, is retained in this volume, for the same reason that the original introduction to the Grammar, is retained in the first volume."--_Murray's Gram._, 8vo, Vol. ii, p. iv. "The verb must also be of the same person that the nominative case is."--_Ingersoll's Gram._, p. 16. "The adjective p.r.o.noun _their_, is plural for the same reason that _who_ is."--_Ib._, p.

84. "The Sabellians could not justly be called Patripa.s.sians, in the same sense that the Noetians were so called."--_Religious World_, Vol. ii, p.

122. "This is one reason that we pa.s.s over such smooth language, without suspecting that it contains little or no meaning."--_Murray's Gram._, 8vo, p. 298. "The first place that both armies came in sight of each other was on the opposite banks of the river Apsus."--_Goldsmith's Rome_, p. 118. "At the very time that the author gave him the first book for his perusal."--_Campbell's Rhetoric, Preface_, p. iv. "Peter will sup at the time that Paul will dine."--_Fosd.i.c.k's De Sacy_, p. 81. "Peter will be supping at the time that Paul will enter."--_Ibid._ "These, at the same time that they may serve as models to those who may wish to imitate them, will give me an opportunity to cast more light upon the principles of this book."--_Ib._, p. 115.

"Time was, like thee, they life possest, And time shall be, that thou shalt rest."

--PARNELL; _Mur. Seq._, p. 241.

UNDER NOTE VII.--OF THE CORRESPONDENTS.

"Our manners should neither be gross, nor excessively refined."--_Merchant's Gram._, p. 11. "A neuter verb expresses neither action or pa.s.sion, but being, or a state of being."--_O. B. Peirce's Gram._, p. 342. "The old books are neither _English_ grammars, or _grammars_, in any sense of the English Language."--_Ib._, p. 378. "The author is apprehensive that his work is not yet as accurate and as much simplified as it may be."--_Kirkham's Gram._, p. 7. "The writer could not treat some topicks as extensively as was desirable."--_Ib._, p. 10. "Which would be a matter of such nicety, as no degree of human wisdom could regulate."--_Murray's Gram._, i, 26. "No undertaking is so great or difficult which he cannot direct."--_Duncan's Cic._, p. 126. "It is a good which neither depends on the will of others, nor on the affluence of external fortune."--_Harris's Hermes_, 299; _Murray's Gram._, i, 289. "Not only his estate, his reputation too has suffered by his misconduct."--_Murray's Gram._, i, 150; _Ingersoll's_, 238. "Neither do they extend as far as might be imagined at first view."--_Blair's Rhet._, p. 350. "There is no language so poor, but it hath two or three past tenses."--_Ib._, p. 82. "As far as this system is founded in truth, language appears to be not altogether arbitrary in its origin."--_Ib._, p.

56. "I have not that command of these convulsions as is necessary."--_Spect._, No. 474. "Conversation with such who know no arts which polish life."--_Ib._, No. 480. "And which can be neither very lively or very forcible."--_Jamieson's Rhet._, p. 78. "To that degree as to give proper names to rivers."--_Dr. Murray's Hist of Lang._, i, 327. "In the utter overthrow of such who hate to be reformed."--_Barclay's Works_, i, 443. "But still so much of it is retained, as greatly injures the uniformity of the whole."--_Priestley's Gram., Pref._, p. vii. "Some of them have gone to that height of extravagance, as to a.s.sert," &c.--_Ib._, p. 91. "A teacher is confined--not more than a merchant, and probably not as much."--_Abbott's Teacher_, p. 27. "It shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come."--_Matt._, xii, 32.

"Which no body presumes, or is so sanguine to hope."--_Swift, Drap. Let._ v. "For the torrent of the voice, left neither time or power in the organs, to shape the words properly."--_Sheridan's Elocution_, p. 118. "That he may neither unnecessarily waste his voice by throwing out too much, or diminish his power by using too little."--_Ib._, p. 123. "I have retained only such which appear most agreeable to the measures of a.n.a.logy."--_Littleton's Dict., Pref._ "He is both a prudent and industrious man."--_Day's Gram._, p. 70. "Conjunctions either connect words or sentences."--_Ib._, pp. 81 and 101.

"Such silly girls who love to chat and play, Deserve no care, their time is thrown away."--_Tobitt's Gram._, p. 20.

"Vice is a monster of so frightful mien, As to be hated needs but to be seen."--POPE: _Mur. Gram._, ii, 17.

"Justice must punish the rebellious deed: Yet punish so, as pity shall exceed."--DRYDEN: _in Joh. Dict._

UNDER NOTE VIII.--IMPROPER ELLIPSES.

"_That, whose_, and _as_ relate to either persons or things."--_Sanborn's Gram._, p. 93. "_Which_ and _what_, as adjectives, relate either to persons or things."--_Ib._, p. 70. "Whether of a public or private nature."-- _Adam's Rhet._, i, 43. "Which are included both among the public and private wrongs."--_Ib._, i, 308. "I might extract both from the old and new testament numberless examples of induction."--_Ib._, ii, 66. "Many verbs are used both in an active and neuter signification."--_Lowth's Gram._, p.

30; _Alger's_, 26; _Guy's_, 21; _Murray's_, 60. "Its influence is likely to be considerable, both on the morals, and taste of a nation."--_Blair's Rhet._, p. 373. "The subject afforded a variety of scenes, both of the awful and tender kind."--_Ib._, p. 439. "Restlessness of mind disqualifies us, both for the enjoyment of peace, and the performance of our duty."--_Murray's Key_, ii, 166; _Ingersoll's Gram._, p. 10. "Adjective p.r.o.nouns are of a mixed nature, partic.i.p.ating the properties both of p.r.o.nouns and adjectives."--_Murray's Gram._, i, 55; _Merchant's_, 43; _Flint's_, 22. "Adjective p.r.o.nouns have the nature both of the adjective and the p.r.o.noun."--_Frost's El. of Gram._, p. 15. "p.r.o.nominal adjectives are a kind of compound part of speech, partaking the nature both of p.r.o.nouns and adjectives."--_Nutting's Gram._, p. 36. "Nouns are used either in the singular or plural number."--_Blair's Gram._, p. 11. "The question is not, whether the nominative or accusative ought to follow the particles _than_ and _as_; but, whether these particles are, in such particular cases, to be regarded as conjunctions or prepositions."--_Campbell's Rhet._, p. 204. "In English many verbs are used both as transitives and intransitives."--_Churchill's Gram._, p. 83. "He sendeth rain both on the just and unjust."--_Guy's Gram._, p. 56. "A foot consists either of two or three syllables."--_Blair's Gram._, p. 118. "Because they partic.i.p.ate the nature both of adverbs and conjunctions."--_Murray's Gram._, i, 116.

"Surely, Romans, what I am now about to say, ought neither to be omitted nor pa.s.s without notice."--_Duncan's Cicero_, p. 196. "Their language frequently amounts, not only to bad sense, but _non_-sense."--_Kirkham's Gram._, p. 14. "Hence arises the necessity of a social state to man both for the unfolding, and exerting of his n.o.bler faculties."--_Sheridan's Elocution_, p. 147. "Whether the subject be of the real or feigned kind."--_Blair's Rhet._, p. 454. "Not only was liberty entirely extinguished, but arbitrary power felt in its heaviest and most oppressive weight."--_Ib._, p. 249. "This rule is applicable also both to verbal Critics and Grammarians."--_Hiley's Gram._, p. 144. "Both the rules and exceptions of a language must have obtained the sanction of good usage."--_Ib._, p. 143.

CHAPTER X.--PREPOSITIONS.

The syntax of Prepositions consists, not solely or mainly in their power of governing the objective case, (though this alone is the scope which most grammarians have given it,) but in their adaptation to the other terms between which they express certain relations, such as appear by the sense of the words uttered.

RULE XXIII.--PREPOSITIONS.

Prepositions show the relations of words, and of the things or thoughts expressed by them: as; "He came _from_ Rome _to_ Paris, _in_ the company _of_ many eminent men, and pa.s.sed _with_ them _through_ many cities"--_a.n.a.lectic Magazine_.

"Ah! who can tell the triumphs _of_ the mind, _By_ truth illumin'd, and _by_ taste refin'd?"--_Rogers_.

EXCEPTION FIRST.

The preposition _to_, before an abstract infinitive, and at the head of a phrase which is made the subject of a verb, has no proper antecedent term of relation; as, "_To_ learn to die, is the great business of life."--_Dillwyn_. "Nevertheless, _to_ abide in the flesh, is more needful for you."--ST. PAUL: _Phil._, i, 24. "_To_ be reduced to poverty, is a great affliction."

"Too much _to_ know, is, to know nought but fame; And every G.o.dfather can give a name."--_Shakspeare_.

EXCEPTION SECOND.

The preposition _for_, when it introduces its object before an infinitive, and the whole phrase is made the subject of a verb, has properly no antecedent term of relation; as, "_For_ us to learn to die, is the great business of life."--"Nevertheless, _for_ me to abide in the flesh, is more needful for you."--"_For_ an old man to be reduced to poverty is a very great affliction."

"_For_ man to tell how human life began, Is hard; for who himself beginning knew?"--_Milton_.

OBSERVATIONS ON RULE XXIII.

OBS. 1.--In parsing any ordinary preposition, the learner should name the _two terms_ of the relation, and apply the foregoing rule, after the manner prescribed in Praxis 12th of this work. The principle is simple and etymological, being implied in the very definition of a preposition, yet not the less necessary to be given as a rule of syntax. Among tolerable writers, the prepositions exhibit more errors than any other equal number of words. This is probably owing to the careless manner in which they are usually slurred over in parsing. But the pa.r.s.ers, in general, have at least this excuse, that their text-books have taught them no better; they therefore call the preposition _a preposition_, and leave its use and meaning unexplained.

OBS. 2.--If the learner be at any loss to discover the true terms of relation, let him ask and answer _two questions_: first, with the interrogative _what_ before the preposition, to find the antecedent; and then, with the same p.r.o.noun after the preposition, to find the subsequent term. These questions answered according to the sense, will always give the true terms. For example: "They dashed that rapid torrent through."--_Scott_. Ques. _What_ through? Ans. "_Dashed through_." Ques.

Through _what?_ Ans. "_Through that torrent_." For the meaning is--"They dashed through that rapid torrent." If one term is perfectly obvious, (as it almost always is,) find the other in this way; as, "Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge."--_Psal._, xix, 2.

Ques. _What_ unto day? Ans. "_Uttereth unto day_." Ques. _What_ unto night?

Ans. "_Showeth unto night_" For the meaning is--"Day uttereth speech unto day, and night showeth knowledge unto night." To pa.r.s.e rightly, is, to understand rightly; and what is well expressed, it is a shame to misunderstand or misinterpret. But sometimes the position of the two nouns is such, that it may require some reflection to find either; as,

"Or that choice plant, so grateful to the nose, Which _in_ I know not what far country grows."--_Churchill_, p. 18.

OBS. 3.--When a preposition _begins_ or _ends_ a sentence or clause, the terms of relation, if both are given, are transposed; as, "To a studious _man_, action is a relief."--_Burgh_. That is, "Action is a relief _to_ a studious man." "_Science_ they [the ladies] do not _pretend_ TO."--_Id._ That is, "They do not pretend _to_ science." "Until I have done that _which_ I _have spoken_ to thee OF."--_Gen._, xxviii, 15. The word governed by the preposition is always the subsequent term of the relation, however it may be placed; and if this be a relative p.r.o.noun, the transposition is permanent. The preposition, however, may be put before any relative, except _that_ and _as_; and this is commonly thought to be its most appropriate place: as, "Until I have done that _of which_ I have spoken to thee," Of the placing of it last, Lowth says, "This is an idiom _which_ our language is strongly inclined _to_;" Murray and others, "This is an idiom _to which_ our language is strongly inclined:" while they all add, "it prevails in common conversation, and suits very well with the familiar style in writing; but the placing of the preposition before the relative, is more graceful, as well as more perspicuous, and agrees much better with the solemn and elevated style."--_Lowth's Gram._, p. 95; _Murray's_, 8vo, p.

200; _Fisk's_, 141; _R. C. Smiths_, 167; _Ingersoll's_, 227; _Churchill's_.

150.

OBS. 4.--The terms of relation between which a preposition may be used, are very various. The _former_ or _antecedent_ term may be a noun, an adjective, a p.r.o.noun, a verb, a participle, or an adverb: and, in some instances, we find not only one preposition put before an other, but even a conjunction or an interjection used on this side; as, "_Because_ OF offences."--"_Alas_ FOR him!"--The _latter_ or _subsequent_ term, which is the word governed by the preposition, may be a noun, a p.r.o.noun, a p.r.o.nominal adjective, an infinitive verb, or an imperfect or preperfect participle: and, in some instances, prepositions appear to govern adverbs, or even whole phrases. See the observations in the tenth chapter of Etymology.

OBS. 5.--Both terms of the relation are usually expressed; though either of them may, in some instances, be left out, the other being given: as, (1.) THE FORMER--"All shall know me, [_reckoning_] FROM the least to the greatest."--_Heb._, viii, 11. [_I say_] "IN a word, it would entirely defeat the purpose."--_Blair_. "When I speak of reputation, I mean not only [_reputation_] IN regard to knowledge, but [_reputation_] IN regard to the talent of communicating knowledge."--_Campbell's Rhet._, p. 163; _Murray's Gram._, i, 360. (2.) THE LATTER--"Opinions and ceremonies [_which_] they would die FOR."--_Locke_. "IN [_those_] who obtain defence, or [_in those_]

who defend."--_Pope_. "Others are more modest than [_what_] this comes TO."--_Collier's Antoninus_, p. 66.

OBS. 6.--The only proper exceptions to the foregoing rule, are those which are inserted above, unless the abstract infinitive used as a predicate is also to be excepted; as, "In both, to reason right, is _to_ submit."--_Pope_. But here most if not all grammarians would say, the verb "_is_" is the antecedent term, or what their syntax takes to govern the infinitive. The relation, however, is not such as when we say, "He _is to submit_;" that is, "He _must submit_, or _ought to submit_;" but, perhaps, to insist on a different mode of parsing the more separable infinitive or its preposition, would be a needless refinement. Yet some regard ought to be paid to the different relations which the infinitive may bear to this finite verb. For want of a due estimate of this difference, the following sentence is, I think, very faulty: "The great business of this life _is to prepare_, and _qualify us_, for the enjoyment of a better."--_Murray's Gram._, Vol. i, p. 373. If the author meant to tell what our great business in this life is, he should rather have said: "The great business of this life is, to prepare and qualify _ourselves_ for the enjoyment of a better."

OBS. 7.--In relation to the infinitive, Dr. Adam remarks, that, "_To_ in English is often taken _absolutely_; as, _To_ confess the truth; _To_ proceed; _To_ conclude."--_Latin and Eng. Gram._, p. 182. But the a.s.sertion is not entirely true; nor are his examples appropriate; for what he and many other grammarians call the _infinitive absolute_, evidently depends on something _understood_; and the preposition is, surely, in no instance independent of what follows it, and is therefore never entirely absolute.

Prepositions are not to be supposed to have no antecedent term, merely because they stand at the head of a phrase or sentence which is made the subject of a verb; for the phrase or sentence itself often contains that term, as in the following example: "_In_ what way mind acts upon matter, is unknown." Here _in_ shows the relation between _acts_ and _way_; because the expression suggests, that mind _acts_ IN _some way_ upon matter.