EXERCISES ON THE PRONOUNS.

I fear him. Thou hast said it. We have caught them. They are now in our neighborhood. Will you visit them with us ? He proceeded to ask me, whether I had turned upon him in this debate from the consciousness that I should find an overmatch if I ventured on a contest with his friend from Missouri. Their progress was now comparatively easy. Such was the beautiful vision which broke on the eyes of the conquerors. Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself: God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are. A short time since, and he, who is the occasion of our sorrows, was the ornament of his country.

Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. Ye grand inventions of ancient bards, ye gay creations of modern fancy, ye bright visions, ye fervid and impassioned thoughts, serve ye all for no better purpose than the pastime of an idle hour? Philosophy, Daniel, is of two kinds: that which relates to conduct, and that which relates to knowledge. The first teaches us to value all things at their real worth: it teaches us our duty to our neighbor and ourselves. I had now brought my state of life to be much more comfortable in itself than it was at first.

All our discontents about what we want, appeared to me to spring from the want of thankfulness for what we have. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve. Whoever has paid attention to the manners of the present day, must have perceived a remarkable innovation in the use of moral terms. Let him that standeth, take heed lest he fall. Whoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Why even of yourselves, judge ye not what is right? They themselves told me the fact. Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat.

5. THE VERB.

A verb is a word which describes the state or condition of a noun or pronoun in relation to time.

OBS. 1. Did my work enter into the details of grammar, this definition would specify a noun or pronoun in the nominative case.

OBS. 2. A verb may describe the state or condition of two or more nouns or pronouns at the same time; and two or more verbs may describe the condition of the same noun or pronoun.

OBS. 3. The definition does not apply to the infinitive mood, or what is generally so called. This I have ventured, in view of reasons which seem to me satisfactory, to class with participles. (See Participles.)

Two things are affirmed in the definition :

1. That the verb describes the state or condition of a noun or pronoun; as, The house is large, The man walked, I stand, They run, We strike, They are struck; i. e. The house is in a state or condition of simple existence, The man was in the condition of one walking, I in the condition of one standing, They of running, We of striking, They of being struck.

2. That the verb describes the state or condition of a noun or pronoun in relation to time; as, The house is, i. e. now at the present moment; The man walked, i. e. some time since ; I will stand, i. e. at some future time; We were struck, i. e. some time since, &c., &c.

GENERAL NOTE ON THE VERB.-The usual definitions of the verb are extremely defective. "A verb," says one, "is a word which signifies to be, to do, or to suffer:" a definition which excludes all neuter verbs except that of existence, assigns to suffer a meaning it never has, and expresses no relation either to the subject of the sentence or to time. "A verb," says another, "denotes being, action, or passion:" a definition which is exposed to the same objection, besides using the term passion in a sense still more incomprehensible to a learner than that of suffer in the preceding definition. "A verb," says yet another, "is a word which signifies to be, to act, or to be acted upon." This again excludes neuter verbs, expresses no relation to subject or time, and uses terms in a vague or contradictory sense. Thus I love and I strike, according to the definition, equally denote action. The term action, as descriptive of the word strike, is intelligible: as descriptive of the word love, if used in the same sense, it is not. Again, according to the same definition, I am struck and I am loved equally denote being acted upon. As before, the words acted upon, as descriptive of the first, may be understood: they are used in their received sense. But am I acted upon, in this meaning of the word action, when I am loved, unconscious as I am of any influence exerted upon me, of any sensation, any effect produced? The question is decisive; for a definition which employs words in a manner so vague and contradictory must be fatally defective. I have, therefore, ventured, with some diffidence, to propose another: not altogether unexceptionable perhaps, but one which at least employs terms in their received sense, and describes intelligibly the principal characteristics of the word defined.

EXERCISES ON THE VERB

Birds fly. David slew Goliah. Columbus discovered America. Christ was crucified. Men who love virtue, will practise it. These privileges constitute our happiness. He may pursue whatever study suits him best. I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers have also come. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day have I been in the deep. Whoever loves instruction, loves knowledge; but he that hates reproof, is brutish. If he will not hear his best friend, who shall be sent ? If you were here you would find some who, you would say, passed their time very agreeably. When this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

Much money has been expended. Of him to whom much is given, much will be required. The planetary system, boundless space, and the immense ocean, affect the mind with sensations of astonishment. When they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. But I say unto you, love your enemies; bless them that curse you; do good to them that hate you; and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

6. THE PARTICIPLE.

The participle is a word derived from a verb, which partici pates in the properties of the verb, and of other parts of speech.

It comprehends two species; which, for the want of more significant names, I shall call the first and second participle.

I. THE FIRST PARTICIPLE.

The first participle has five varieties:

1. One formed by adding ing to the naked verb; as loving from the verb love.

2. One generally formed by adding d or ed to the naked verb; as loved from the verb love; but to this there are numerous exceptions; as seen, worn, from the verbs see, wear.

3. One formed by adding to the second variety the first of the verb be; as being loved.

4. One formed by adding to the second variety the first of the verb have; as having loved.

5. One formed by adding to the second variety the fourth of the verb be; as having been loved.

The first participle is used as a verb, a noun and verb at the same time, an adjective and a preposition.

OBS. I believe all the varieties are used as verbs; all except the second, as nouns; the first and second only, as adjectives; while the first only, is used as a preposition.

1. When used as a verb.

The different varieties, when used as verbs, are .nerely substitutes, employed for the sake of brevity or variety, for other forms of the verb; and when so employed, express their time.

c. g.

1st Variety. I see yonder a man running; i. e. who runs or is running. There was seen a great way off a herd of swine feeding; i. e. which were feeding.

2d. Variety. Seen at a distance, it looks like fire; i. e. when it is seen. Seen at a distance, it looked, &c. ; i. e. when it was seen. Seen at a distance, it will look, &c.; i. e. when it shall be seen, if it should be seen. Once done, it may be done again; i. e. when it shall have been done once, it may be done again.

3d. Variety. Being observed, he walks away; i. e. as, since or because he is observed, he walks away. Being frightened, he fled; i. e. as, since or because he was frightened, he fled. Being hung, he will trouble society no more; that is, when he shall have been hung, he will trouble society no more.

4th. Variety. Having overcome all opposition, he proceeds; i. e. as he has overcome all opposition, he proceeds. Having overcome, &c., he was yet unable to proceed; i. e. though he had overcome, &c., he was yet unable to proceed. Having overcome, &c., he will proceed; i. e. when he shall have overcome, he will proceed.

5th. Variety. Having been ruined by speculation, he removes to the west; i. e. as, since or because he was ruined, so or therefore he removes, &c. Having been ruined, &c., he removed, &c.; i. e. as, since or because he had been ruined, he removed. Having been ruined, he will remove; i. e when he shall have been, or if he should be ruined, he will remove.

2. When used as a noun.

The varieties of the first participle, used as nouns, either express no time, or express it as substitutes for other forms of speech in which the finite verb is introduced; e. g. The triumphing of the wicked is short. Seeing is believing. Assured of being remunerated, he hesitated no longer. Of his

having slept, no one entertains a doubt. Of his having been imprisoned, they said nothing.

OBS. Though used as a noun by good writers, this participle is, very seldom, elegantly so used; and such a use, we believe, should always he avoided when the same idea can be expressed by a noun or verb; as The triumph of the wicked. Assured of remuneration. That he slept. Of his imprisonment.

3. When used as a noun and verb at the same time.

In this case the participle is followed by a noun or pronoun depending on it, while itself depends on a noun, preposition, or verb; as, By studying the scriptures, he became wise. 4. When used as an adjective.

As an adjective this participle expresses no relation to time: it differs in no respect from other adjectives, except in derivation; as, A lying rogue. A crying evil. A learned man. devoted Christian. An elevated position.

5. When used as a preposition.

A

This is not often the case, and when it is, the participle has lost every characteristic of the verb; as, Touching this matter. Respecting that affair. Concerning that.

GENERAL NOTE ON THE FIRST PARTICIPLE.-When the varieties of the first participle have the properties of verbs, they are used indifferently to form a close, compact, or loose connection. (See close, compact, and loose sentences, pp. 71--77.)

1. Close. E. g. There was seen a great way off a herd of swine, feeding; i. e. which were feeding.

2. Compact. E.g. Foreseeing the consequences which would flow from the passage of the bill, he strenuously opposed it; i. e. When foreseeing, or when he foresaw, &c,, then he opposed, &c. Held in the highest esteem by his countrymen, he could command their suffrages at any time for any office; i. e. as, since or because he was held, &c., therefore he could command, &c.

3. Loose. E. g. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: knowing that Christ being raised from the dead, dieth no more; i. e. for we know, &c. Now the Spirit saith expressly that in the latter times. some shall depart from the faith: speaking lies in hypocrisy ; having their consciences seared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry; and commanding to abstain from meats which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving; i. e. shall speak, shall have, shali forbid, shall command. He immediately took his leave having been taught to regard the wishes of his fa ther as equivalent to a command; i. e. for he had been taught.