The Grammar of English Grammars Part 168

"To maintain a steady course amid all the adversities of life marks a great mind."--_Day's District School Gram._, p. 84. "To love our Maker supremely and our neighbor as ourselves comprehends the whole moral law."--_Ibid._ "To be afraid to do wrong is true courage."--_Ib._, p. 85. "A great fortune in the hands of a fool is a great misfortune."--_Bullions, Practical Lessons_, p. 89. "That he should make such a remark is indeed strange."--_Farnum, Practical Gram._, p. 30. "To walk in the fields and groves is delightful."--_Id., ib._ "That he committed the fault is most certain."--_Id., ib._ "Names common to all things of the same sort or cla.s.s are called _Common nouns_; as, _man, woman, day_."--_Bullions, Pract.

Les._, p. 12. "That it is our duty to be pious _admits_ not of any doubt."--_Id., E. Gram._, p. 118. "To endure misfortune with resignation is the characteristic of a great mind,"--_Id., ib._, p. 81. "The a.s.sisting of a friend in such circ.u.mstances was certainly a duty."--_Id., ib._, 81.

"That a life of virtue is the safest is certain."--_Hallock's Gram._, p.

169. "A collective noun denoting the idea of unity should be represented by a p.r.o.noun of the singular number."--_Ib._, p. 167.

UNDER RULE II.--OF SIMPLE MEMBERS.

"When the sun had arisen the enemy retreated."--_Day's District School Gram._, p. 85.

[FORMULE.--Not proper, because no comma here separates the two simple members which compose the sentence. But, according to Rule 2d, "The simple members of a compound sentence, whether successive or involved, elliptical or complete, are generally divided by the comma." Therefore, a comma should be inserted after _arisen_; thus, "When the sun had arisen, the enemy retreated."]

"If he _become_ rich he may be less industrious."--_Bullions, E. Gram._, p.

118. "The more I study grammar the better I like it."--_Id., ib._, p. 127.

"There is much truth in the old adage that fire is a better servant than master."--_Id., ib._, p. 128. "The verb _do_, when used as an auxiliary gives force or emphasis to the expression."--_Day's Gram._, p. 39.

"Whatsoever it is inc.u.mbent upon a man to do it is surely expedient to do well."--_J. Q. Adams's Rhetoric_, Vol. i, p. 46. "The soul which our philosophy divides into various capacities, is still one essence."--_Channing, on Self-Culture_, p. 15. "Put the following words in the plural and give the rule for forming it."--_Bullions, Practical Lessons_, p. 19. "We will do it if you wish."--_Id., ib._, p. 29. "He who does well will be rewarded."--_Id., ib._, 29. "That which is always true is expressed in the present tense."--_Id., ib._, p. 119. "An observation which is always true must be expressed in the present tense."--_Id., Prin. of E.

Gram._, p. 123. "That part of orthography which treats of combining letters to form syllables and words is called SPELLING."--_Day's Gram._, p. 8. "A noun can never be of the first person except it is in apposition with a p.r.o.noun of that person."--_Ib._, p. 14. "When two or more singular nouns or p.r.o.nouns refer to the same object they require a singular verb and p.r.o.noun."--_Ib._, p. 80. "James has gone but he will return in a few days."--_Ib._, 89. "A p.r.o.noun should have the same person, number, and gender as the noun for which it stands."--_Ib._, 89 and 80. "Though he is out of danger he is still afraid."--_Bullions, E. Gram._, p. 80. "She is his inferior in sense but his equal in prudence."--_Ib._, p. 81. "The man who has no sense of religion is little to be trusted."--_Ib._, 81. "He who does the most good has the most pleasure."--_Ib._, 81. "They were not in the most prosperous circ.u.mstances when we last saw them."--_Ib._, 81. "If the day continue pleasant I shall return."--_Felton's Gram._, 1st Ed., p.

22; Ster. Ed., 24. "The days that are past are gone for ever."--_Ib._, pp.

89 and 92. "As many as are friendly to the cause will sustain it."--_Ib._, 89 and 92. "Such as desire aid will receive it."--_Ib._, 89 and 92. "Who gave you that book which you prize so much?"--_Bullions, Pract. Lessons_, p. 32. "He who made it now preserves and governs it."--_Bullions, E.

Gram._, p. 83.

"Shall he alone, whom rational we call, Be pleased with nothing if not blessed with all?"

--_Felton's Gram._, p. 126.

UNDER THE EXCEPTIONS CONCERNING SIMPLE MEMBERS.

"Newcastle is the town, in which Akenside was born."--_Bucke's Cla.s.sical Gram._, p. 54.

[FORMULE.--Not proper, because a needless comma here separates the restrictive relative _which_ from its antecedent _town_. But, according to Exception 1st to Rule 2d, "When a relative immediately follows its antecedent, and is taken in a restrictive sense, the comma should not be introduced before it." Therefore, this comma Should be omitted; thus, "Newcastle is the town in which Akenside was born."]

"The remorse, which issues in reformation, is true repentance."--_Campbell's Philos. of Rhet._, p. 255. "Men, who are intemperate, are destructive members of community."--_Alexander's Gram._, p. 93. "An active-transitive verb expresses an action, which extends to an object."--_Felton's Gram._, pp. 16 and 22. "They, to whom much is given, will have much to answer for."--_Murray's Key_, 8vo, p. 188. "The prospect, which we have, is charming."--_Cooper's Pl. and Pr. Gram._, p. 143. "He is the person, who informed me of the matter."--_Ib._, p. 134; _Cooper's Murray_, 120. "These are the trees, that produce no fruit."--_Ib._, 134; and 120. "This is the book, which treats of the subject."--_Ib._, 134; and 120. "The proposal was such, as pleased me."--_Cooper, Pl. and Pr. Gram._, p. 134. "Those, that sow in tears, shall reap in joy."--_Id., ib._, pp. 118 and 124; and _Cooper's Murray_, p. 141. "The pen, with which I write, makes too large a mark."--_Ingersoll's Gram._, p. 71. "Modesty makes large amends for the pain, it gives the persons, who labour under it, by the prejudice, it affords every worthy person in their favour."--_Ib._, p. 80. "Irony is a figure, whereby we plainly intend something very different from what our words express."--_Bucke's Gram._, p. 108. "Catachresis is a figure, whereby an improper word is used instead of a proper one."--_Ib._, p. 109. "The man, whom you met at the party, is a Frenchman."--_Frost's Practical Gram._, p. 155.

UNDER RULE III.--OF MORE THAN TWO WORDS.

"John, James and Thomas are here: that is, John _and_ James, &c."--_Cooper's Plain and Practical Grammar_, p.

153.

[FORMULE.--Not proper, because no comma is here used after _James_, or after _Thomas_, or again after _John_, in the latter clause; the three nouns being supposed to be in the same construction, and all of them nominatives to the verb _are_. But, according to Rule 3d for the Comma, "When more than two words or terms are connected in the same construction, or in a joint dependence on some other term, by conjunctions expressed or understood, the comma should be inserted after every one of them but the last; and, if they are nominatives before a verb, the comma should follow the last also." Therefore, the comma should be inserted after each; thus, "John, James, and Thomas, are here: that is, John, _and_ James, and Thomas, are here."][463]

"Adverbs modify verbs adjectives and other adverbs."--_Bullions, E. Gram._, p. 97. "To Nouns belong Person, Gender, Number and Case."--_Id., Practical Lessons_, p. 12. "Wheat, corn, rye, and oats are extensively cultivated."--_Id., ib._, p. 13. "In many, the definitions, rules and leading facts are prolix, inaccurate and confused."--_Finch's Report on Gram._, p. 3. "Most people consider it mysterious, difficult and useless."--_Ib._, p. 3. "His father and mother, and uncle reside at Rome."--_Farnum's Gram._, p. 11. "The relative p.r.o.nouns are _who, which_ and _that_."--_Bullions, Practical Lessons_, p. 29. "_That_ is sometimes a demonstrative, sometimes a relative and sometimes a conjunction."--_Id., ib._, p. 33. "Our reputation, virtue, and happiness greatly depend on the choice of our companions."--_Day's Gram._, p. 92. "The spirit of true religion is social, kind and cheerful."--_Felton's Gram._, p. 81. "_Do, be, have_ and _will_ are sometimes princ.i.p.al verbs."--_Ib._, p. 26. "John and Thomas and Peter reside at Oxford."--_Webster, Philos. Gram._, p. 142; _Improved Gram._, p. 96. "The most innocent pleasures are the most rational, the most delightful and the most durable."--_Id., ib._, pp. 215 and 151. "Love, joy, peace and blessedness are reserved for the good."--_Id., ib._, 215 and 151. "The husband, wife and children, suffered extremely."--_Murray's Gram._, 4th Am. Ed., 8vo, p. 269. "The husband, wife, and children suffer extremely."--_Sanborn's a.n.a.lytical Gram._, p.

268. "He, you, and I have our parts a.s.signed us."--_Ibid._

"He moaned, lamented, tugged and tried, Repented, promised, wept and sighed."--_Felton's Gr._, p. 108.

UNDER RULE IV.--OF ONLY TWO WORDS.

"Disappointments derange, and overcome, vulgar minds."--_Murray's Exercises_, p. 15.

[FORMULE.--Not proper, because the two verbs here connected by _and_, are needlessly separated from each other, and from their object following. But, according to Rule 4th, "When only two words or terms are connected by a conjunction, they should not be separated by the comma." Therefore, these two commas should be omitted; thus, "Disappointments derange and overcome vulgar minds."]

"The hive of a city, or kingdom, is in the best condition, when there is the least noise or buzz in it."--_Murray's Key_, 8vo, p. 171. "When a direct address is made, the noun, or p.r.o.noun, is in the nominative case independent."--_Ingersoll's Gram._, p. 88. "The verbs _love_ and _teach_, make _loved_, and _taught_, in the imperfect and participle."--_Ib._, p.

97. "Neither poverty, nor riches were injurious to him."--_Cooper's Pl. and Pr. Gram._, p. 133. "Thou, or I am in fault."--_Wright's Gram._, p. 136. "A verb is a word that expresses action, or being."--_Day's District School Gram._, pp. 11 and 61. "The Objective Case denotes the object of a verb, or a preposition."--_Ib._, pp. 17 and 19. "Verbs of the second conjugation may be either transitive, or intransitive."--_Ib._, p. 41. "Verbs of the fourth conjugation may be either transitive, or intransitive."--_Ib._, 41. "If a verb does not form its past indicative by adding _d_, or _ed_ to the indicative present, it is said to be _irregular_."--_Ib._, 41. "The young lady is studying rhetoric, and logic."--_Cooper's Pl. and Pr. Gram._, p.

143. "He writes, and speaks the language very correctly."--_Ib._, p. 148.

"Man's happiness, or misery, is, in a great measure, put into his own hands."--_Murray's Key_, 8vo, p. 183. "This accident, or characteristic of nouns, is called their _Gender_."--_Bullions, E. Gram._, 1843, p. 195.

"Grant that the powerful still the weak controul; Be Man the Wit, and Tyrant of the whole."

--POPE: _Brit. Poets_, vi, 375.

UNDER EXCEPTION I.--TWO WORDS WITH ADJUNCTS.

"Franklin is justly considered the ornament of the new world and the pride of modern philosophy."--_Day's District School Gram._, p. 88.

[FORMULE.--Not proper, because the words _ornament_ and _pride_, each of which has adjuncts, are here connected by _and_ without a comma before it.

But, according to Exception 1st to Rule 4th, "When the two words connected have several adjuncts, or when one of them has an adjunct that relates not to both, the comma is inserted." Therefore, a comma should be set before _and_; thus, "Franklin is justly considered the ornament of the New World, and the pride of modern philosophy."]

"Levity and attachment to worldly pleasures, destroy the sense of grat.i.tude to him."--_Murray's Key_, 8vo, p.

183. "In the following Exercise, point out the adjectives and the substantives which they qualify."--_Bullions, Practical Lessons_, p. 100.

"When a noun or p.r.o.noun is used to explain or give emphasis to a preceding noun or p.r.o.noun."--_Day's Gram._, p. 87. "Superior talents and _briliancy_ of intellect do not always const.i.tute a great man."--_Ib._, p. 92. "A word that makes sense after an _article_ or the phrase _speak of_, is a noun."--_Bullions, Practical Lessons_, p. 12. "All feet used in poetry, are reducible to eight kinds; four of two syllables and four of three."--_Hiley's Gram._, p. 123. "He would not do it himself nor let me do it."--_Bullions, E. Gram._, p. 113.[464] "The old writers give examples of the subjunctive mode and give other modes to explain what is meant by the words in the subjunctive."--_O. B. Peirce's Gram._, p. 352.

UNDER EXCEPTION II.--TWO TERMS CONTRASTED.

"We often commend as well as censure imprudently."--_Murray's Key_, 8vo, p.

214. "It is as truly a violation of the right of property, to take little as to take much; to purloin a book, or a penknife, as to steal money; to steal fruit as to steal a horse; to defraud the revenue as to rob my neighbour; to overcharge the public as to overcharge my brother; to cheat the postoffice as to cheat my friend."--_Wayland's Moral Science_, 1st Edition, p. 254. "The cla.s.sification of verbs has been and still is a vexed question."--_Bullions, E. Grammar_, Revised Edition, p. 200. "Names applied only to individuals of a sort or cla.s.s and not common to all, are called _Proper Nouns_."--_Id., Practical Lessons_, p. 12. "A hero would desire to be loved as well as to be reverenced."--_Day's Gram._, p. 108. "Death or some worse misfortune now divides them."--_Cooper's Pl. and Pr. Gram._, p.

133. "Alexander replied, 'The world will not permit two suns nor two sovereigns.'"--_Goldsmith's Greece_, Vol. ii, p. 113.

"From nature's chain, whatever link you strike, Tenth or ten thousandth, breaks the chain alike."

--_Felton's Gram._, p. 131.

UNDER EXCEPTION III.--ALTERNATIVE OF WORDS.

"_Metre_ or _Measure_ is the number of poetical feet which a verse contains."--_Hiley's Gram._, p. 123. "The _Caesura_ or _division_, is the pause which takes place in a verse, and which divides it into two parts."--_Ib._, 123. "It is six feet or one fathom deep."--_Bullions, E.

Gram._, p. 113. "A BRACE is used in poetry at the end of a triplet or three lines which rhyme together."--_Felton's Gram._, p. 142. "There are four princ.i.p.al kinds of English verse or poetical feet."--_Ib._, p. 143. "The period or full stop denotes the end of a complete sentence."--_Sanborn's a.n.a.lytical Gram._, p. 271. "The scholar is to receive as many _jetons_ or counters as there are words in the sentence."--_St. Quentin's Gram._, p.

16. "_That_ [thing] or _the thing which_ purifies, fortifies also the heart."--_Peirce's Gram._, p. 74. "_That thing_ or _the thing which_ would induce a laxity in public or private morals, or indifference to guilt and wretchedness, should be regarded as the deadly Sirocco."--_Ib._, 74. "What is elliptically _what thing_ or _that thing which_."--_Sanborn's Gram._, p.

99. "_Demonstrate_ means _show_ or _point out precisely_."--_Ib._, p. 139.

"_The_ man or _that_ man, who endures to the end, shall be saved."--_Hiley's Gram._, p. 73. UNDER EXCEPTION IV.--A SECOND COMMA.

"Reason, pa.s.sion answer one great end."--_Bullions's E. Gram._, p. 152; _Hiley's_, p. 112. "Reason, virtue answer one great aim."--_Cooper's Pl.

and Pract. Gram._, p. 194; _Butler's_, 204. "Every good gift, and every perfect gift is from above."--_Felton's Gram._, p. 90. "Every plant, and every tree produces others after its kind."--_Day's Gram._, p. 91. "James, and not John was paid for his services."--_Ib._, 91. "The single dagger, or obelisk [Dagger] is the second."--_Ib._, p. 113. "It was I, not he that did it."--_St. Quentin's Gram._, p. 152. "Each aunt, (and) each cousin hath her speculation."--_Sanborn's Gram._, p. 139. "'I shall see you _when_ you come,' is equivalent to 'I shall see you _then_, or _at that time_ when you come.'"--_Butler's Pract. Gram._, p. 121.

"Let wealth, let honour wait the wedded dame, August her deed, and sacred be her fame."--_Pope_, p. 334.

UNDER RULE V.--OF WORDS IN PAIRS.