OF CONJUNCTIONS.

96. CONJUNCTIONS join sentences together, and shew the manner of their dependence upon each other; as, Peter, John and James run.

Which may be resolved in three sentences, viz. Peter runs, John runs, James runs.

The principal conjunctions are, again, albeit, also, although, and, as, because, both, but, either, else, except, for, however, if, indeed, lest, moreover, neither, nevertheless, nor, notwithstanding, or, save, seeing, since, so, than, that, therefore, though, whereas, wherefore, whether."

97. Of conjunctions some are copulative, and some are disjunctive.

98.A conjunction copulative continues the same sense; as and, also.

99. A disjunctive conjunction expresses an opposition of meaning; as but, although, unless.

OF PREPOSITIONS.

100. A PREPOSITION is used to shew the relation of words to each other; as he went from Baltimore through Wilmington to Philadelphia.

Most prepositions are contained in the following catalogue.

Above, about, after, against, amidst, around, at, before, behind, below, beneath, beside, between, betwixt, beyond, by, down, for, from, in, into, nigh, on, over, of, through, throughout, to, towards, under, underneath, unto, up, upon, with, within, without.

The word a seems to be a preposition, perhaps a contraction of on, in such phrases as, I went a fishing. Prepositions are often prefixed to verbs in composition, as to overtake. There are also certain particles

of this nature, which are combined with verbs, but have no separate existence in our language; as be, mis, &c. in the words befal, misapply, &c. Prepositions are frequently subjoined to verbs, in which case they assume the nature of the adverb, and considerably affect the meaning of the verb; as to give over, to make out.

OF INTERJECTIONS.

101. An INTERJECTION is a word expressing a sudden emotion of the mind; as alas, O, fie.

EXERCISE FOURTH,

CONTAINING ALL THE PARTS OF SPEECH.

40 65 15 52 18 78

96-7 101 40 65

I see the old man coming, but alas! he moves 94 96-8 65 65 100 52 slowly, and appears to be in great distress.

78

18

15 21 65 94 18 100 The Lord is constantly bestowing favours upon 40 96 101 94. 52 18 100 18 65 40 us, but oh! how few returns of gratitude do we 65 100 40

make to him!

Time glides swiftly away, and soon, alas! very soon shall we be found no more upon the face of this earth. A generous mind is unwilling to give pain to either

man or beast.

Think, O man, of thy follies, and the humiliations to which vice ever leads its unhappy votaries!

Hark! how sweetly the woodlark sings, while gentle zephyrs, playing in the boughs, invite us to walk abroad, and taste the freshness of the morning.

D

SYNTAX may be considered with respect to CONCORD GOVERNMENT, and POSITION.

103. Concord is when words are required to be in the same number, case, gender or person.

104. Government is when one word causes another to be in some case or form.

105. Position is the proper arrangement of words.

RULES OF CONCORD.

106. The verb agrees with its subject in number and person.

EXAMPLE. I learn. Thou improvest. He reads. We perceive. Ye understand. They write. The rose withers. The birds fly. I grieved. Thou laughedst. Peter wept. We danced. Ye played. They sang.

Examples of this nature may, at first view, appear trifling and unnecessary; but perhaps experience will shew them to be of use. In the Latin language, it is common to exemplify particular rules, before we

proceed to resolve long and complicated sentences. And I am persuaded the same method will be equally advantageous to the English scholar. Exercises of false construction will be attended with singular benefit.

107. Two or more subjects of the singular number, with a copulative conjunction between them, require a verb plural.

England and Scotland are separated by the Tweed. Pope, Addison and Swift were cotemporary. Knowledge and virtue are preferable to riches.

108. Different subjects connected by a disjunctive conjunction, require a singular verb;

As, Temerity or diffidence is alike unfavourable to success.

Sometimes the verb is used in the singular number after several subjects, connected with a copulative conjunction, being supposed to have a separate reference to each of them. This is more especially the case, when the subjects are nearly allied to each other in signification; as Trade and Commerce is productive of many advantages. Harmony and love is to be preferred before discord and hatred.

109. A noun of multitude may be joined either to the singular or plural number of a verb.

The people rejoice. This people is stiff-necked. The congress are assembled. The army is disbanded.

It is proper, however, to consider whether the noun Convey unity or plurality of idea. The following sentences are faulty in this respect: "And restores to this island that tranquillity and repose to which they had been strangers." "What reason have the church of Rome to talk of Modesty in this case." Island and church are not collective nouns,

Lowth.

Consistency also requires that we do not use the singular and plural promiscuously, as applied to the same subject, but adhere to that form which we prefer. Thus we are not to say, The Congress are assem bled, it will soon be dissolved.

110. A verb, preceded by two or more nouns or pronouns of different persons or numbers, disjunctively connected, must agree with the last of them.

I or thou art to blame. You or I am in fault. Nei ther the ink nor the pens were there. Neither the pens nor the ink was there. Neither she nor they learn any thing

It is best however, where the numbers are different, to place the plural nearest the verb.

111. Sometimes an infinitive mode, and some times a clause of a sentence becomes the subject of the verb.

To err is human to forgive is divine. To mourn without measure is folly, not to mourn at all, is insensibility.

112, An infinitive mode, or a clause of a sentence. may become the antecedent of a relative.

We are required to fear God and keep his commandments, which is the whole duty of man.

113. A clause of a sentence may stand for the substantive to an adjective.

The happiness of my life depends on my being connected with your family.