Tree

...

is the gram. sub., and bent the gram. attri.

Tall and graceful. . are adjectives, &c., and qualify tree; Rule VII: 'Adjectives qualify, &c.' (Analyze and parse as usual.)

2. To err, is human; to forgive, divine.

Two sentences: In the 1st, to err, is the subj., nom. to is; is human is the gram. and gen. attri.; human is an adjective, &c., qualifies to err, Rule VII, Rem. 2. In the 2d, to forgive is the subject, and is divine the ́attribute; divine is an adjective, qualifying to forgive, Rule VII, Rem. 2.

3. He was a wonderful old man.

Wonderful is an adjective, &c., qualifying old man, &c., Rule VII, Rem. 3. 4. The great and the good lie in the grave with the vile and the humble. (Rem. 1.)

5. Two poor old dames, as I have known, will often live in one small cottage. (Rem. 3.)

6. The attraction of the prairie consists in its extent, its rich carpet of fresh verdure and beautiful flowers, its smooth, undulating surface, and its graceful groves.

7. When little Margaret awoke, pale, languid, unable to turn herself on her lowly bed, a happy group were watching the first faint smile that broke over her intelligent features.

8. To be called proud, is a misfortune; to be proud, is a sin. (Rem. 6.)

9. His ambition was excited, and by this means he was saved from his danger. (Rem. 13, Note.)

10. He was wise, industrious, and ardent, and by these means he gained influence. (Rem. 13, Note.)

11. Life and death are essentials of humanity; that may intro-
duce us to suffering; this, to a home of happiness.
12. Come, while the blossoms of thy years are brightest,
Thou youthful wanderer in a flowery maze;
Come, while the restless heart is bounding lightest,
And joy's pure sunbeams tremble in thy ways:
Come, while sweet thoughts, like summer buds unfolding,
Waken rich feelings in the careless breast,

While yet thy hand the ephemeral wreath is holding,
Come, and secure interminable rest.

13. Merry were the glee of the harp-strings and their dancing feet so small,

But, oh! the sound of their talking was merrier far than all.

The 4th Ex. is a complex sentence; the 5th compound, two simple; the 6th simple; the 7th compound, three simple; when the conj. adv., uniting the first two, and that the rel. pro., the last two. The 8th contains two simple sentences, united by and, understood. The 11th contains three simple sentences in the last, may introduce us is understood.

The 12th Ex. contains a case independent with its modifications, and ten simple sentences; four of them are, Come (you).'

6

The 13th Ex. contains one complex, and two simple sentences: the last, 'than all was merry.'

ERRORS TO BE AVOIDED.

ERROR 1.-Avoid the use of the plural after adjectives requiring the singular, (See Rem. 10,) such as each, every, either, neither, &c.; as,

Each of them have spoken for themselves. (has spoken for himself.)
ERROR 2.-Avoid the use of adverbs for adjectives; as,
They arrived safely. (safe.)

NOTE. When a noun or pronoun is to be qualified, an adjective must generally be used; when an adjective, verb, or adverb is to be qualified, an adverb is generally required. See Art. 47.

ERROR 3.-Avoid using the pronoun them for the adjective those; as,

Bring me them books. (those books.)

ERROR 4.-Avoid using this here and that there for this and that; as,

This here, or this ere house. (this house.)

That there book. (that book.)

ERROR 5.-Avoid the improper use or omission of the adjective a; as,

for, 'He gained few friends.'
for, 'He gained a few friends.'

'He gained a few friends,' 'He gained few friends,' 'A large blue and yellow flag,' for, 'A large blue, and a large yellow flag.'

NOTE. A large blue and yellow flag,' is one flag, partly blue and partly yellow: 'A large blue, and a large yellow flag,' are two flags, one blue, the other yellow.

ERROR 6. Avoid the use of double comparatives; as,

He is the most noblest of men. (most noble.)

QUESTIONS.-What error is to be avoided after each, every, &e.? What concerning adverbs? How can we determine which ought to be used? What is said of the pronoun them? What is said of this here? What of the adjective 'a' (Err. 5.) Which kind of comparatives should be avoided?

ERROR 7. Avoid the improper use of the comparative or superlative; as,

Eve was the fairest of her daughters. (fairer than any of her daughters.) Solomon was wiser than any man. (the wisest of men.)

ERROR 8.-Avoid using in the comparative or superlative degree adjectives which do not admit of comparison; as,

The chiefest man. (chief.) Supremest contempt. (supreme.) Discriminate between such words and those whose comparison is authorized; as, correct, good, honest, &c. (Page 59, Rem. 4.)

EXERCISE 125.

Correct the errors, analyze, and parse.

1. Bring me them books.

2. Them are my marbles.

3. This here slate is his, and that there is mine.

4. Neither of my brothers have returned.

5. Neither of us are satisfied with the result.

6. Each of them, in their turn, have performed their duty.

7. By discussing each point in their order, we shall understand the subject.

8. Every leaf, every drop of water, show themselves full of life. 9. They returned safely from the expedition.

10. They dug the well deeply.

11. The most humble men often rise to the chiefest places.

12. It is more easier to build two chimneys than to maintain one. 13. The most Highest has created us for his glory.

14. After the most straitest sect I lived a Pharisee.

15. The party encountered the most total loss.

16. Gravitation is a most universal law.

17. Pitt was more eloquent than any English orator. 18. Elizabeth was more powerful than any queen.

19. He was censured for a little attention to his business.

20. So great a fault called for little severity.

21. His obstinacy was so inexcusable that he found a few friends. 22. His penitence was so deep, that few persons were in his favor. 23. A black and white man were present.

24. A large and small house were in front of the garden

QUESTIONS. What is said of the improper use of the comparative or superlative? What is the error concerning adjectives not admitting comparison? From what kind of words should such be distinguished? Recite Exercises 125, 126.

25. He is a much better writer than a reader.

26. Religion elevates man, irreligion degrades him; that bends the mind to earth, this raises it to Heaven.

27. He was gifted both in music and poetry; by that his thoughts came glowing from the heart, and in this he wafted them to Heaven.

28. Every ten year the same thing occurs. 29. These kind of persons are very tedious. 30. Those sort of men should be avoided.

31. Those kind of insects are very injurious.

32. He was idle, and by these means suffered. (Rem. 13, Note.) 33. He was industrious and honest, and by this means prospered.

EXERCISE 126.

Form two or more sentences under each head, analyze, and parse.

I love, Thou lovest, He loves. (See page 62, Art. 150.)

Here, love is 1st person, sing. num., to agree with its nominative I; lovest is 2d per., sing. num., to agree with its nominative thou, and loves is 3d per., sing. num., to agree with its nominative he.

REMARKS.

REMARK 1.—Every verb, unless it is in the infinitive or participial mode, must have a nominative. In the imperative this is you, or ye, onthou, and is generally understood; as,

Come (you or thou.)

REMARK 2. The nominative may be an infinitive, a phrase, or a sentence, used as a noun, and then the verb is 3d per. sing.; as, To die, is the lot of man. To fear no eye, is the privilege of innocence. How far it is right to face temptation, is doubtful. (Page 23, Art. 64.)

REMARK 3.-1. A verb which has for its nominatives two or more nouns taken together, must be in the plural; as,

Mary and George go to school. (not goes to school.)

--2. If the nominatives in the singular mean the same person or thing, the verb is singular; as,

A kind husband and an affectionate father has departed. (not have departed.)

REMARK 4.—If the nominatives in the singular are considered separately with reference to the verb, the verb must be in the singular; as,

Neither Mary nor George goes to school. (not go to school.)

Every man and every woman was taken captive. (not were taken.) No subject and no ruler lives in safety. (not live.)

The butler, and not the baker, was beheaded. (not were beheaded.) (See page 176, Rem. 3.)

REMARK 5.-If the nominatives requiring a plural verb are of different persons, the verb must agree with the second in preference to the third, and with the first in preference to either of the others. (See Rule VI, Rem. 4.)

REMARK 6.-If the nominatives requiring a singular verb are of different persons, the verb must agree with that which is nearest to it; as,

Neither George nor I have received it.

Neither you nor George has received it.

REMARK 7.-A collective noun may be nominative to a singular or plural verb, according to the sense; as,

The committee was discharged. The committee were unanimous. (See page 176, Rem. 5.).

REMARK 8.- Nominative absolute.—When a noun and a participle are taken together without grammatical dependence

QUESTIONS.—What is Rule VIII? Explain the examples. Rem. 1st. What is generally understood in the imperative? What is meant by the word understood? What may the nominative be, besides a noun or pronoun? What is said of two or more nouns taken together? What, if they mean the same person or thing? What, if they are considered separately? What are the rules, if the nominatives are of different persons? (Remarks 5 and 6.) What is the rule when the nominative is a collective noun ? What, for the nominative absolute ?