mighty weak. That apple is awful sour. can't find no paper. write no more. I don't need no help. I Does he never drink nothing? I can not see to [Remark 11.] We must not expect to find study agreeable always. We should not be overcome by present events totally. We always should prefer our duty to our pleasure. They seemed to be nearly dressed alike. He made rather a short stay. The floor has thoroughly been swept. Every one that boasts of riches is not rich. All that glitters is not gold. The floor has been not washed. He can be certainly elected. He can triumphantly be elected. Wanted a young man to take care of some horses of a religious turn of mind. The following verses were written by a young man who has long lain in the grave for his own amusement. At that time I wished some one would hang me a hundred times. A public dinner was given to the inhabitants of roast-beef and plum-pudding. He rode to town and drove twelve cows on horseback. She washed the plates with her old clothes and the tears in her eyes. [With her old clothes on her and the tears in her eyes, she washed the plates.] The beaux of that day used the abominable art of painting their faces, as well as the women.-I. Disraeli. These "shrieks" as they have been called [exclamation-points], have been scattered up and down the page by compositors without any mercy.-Dean Alford. [Have been, without any mercy, scattered up and down the page.] We do not admit that a man only is an artist, and nothing else.Taine's Eng. Lit. An article should only be used once before a complex description of one and the same object.-Mason's Eng. Gram. The grotesque characters, who are only introduced to fill up and to excite laughter.-Taine's Eng. Lit. The infinitive mood and the participles of this verb are only used when it has the stronger of its two senses.Mason's Eng. Gram. [Remark 12.] He is not enough busy. You are too impassioned, and not enough inquisitive.-Taine's Eng. Lit. [Remark 13.] They are accustomed to carefully study their lessons. He does not like to often do it. RULE XIII. Conjunctions connect propositions or similar parts of propo sitions. Remarks.-1. For illustrations and explanations see the etymology of conjunctions, pp. 138, 139, 140. What is the rule for conjunctions? 2. With both...and, either...or, and neither...nor the parts connected should, as nearly as possible, correspond in form; as, "A position assailed with equal fury by all who were zealous either for the new or for the old opinions."-Macaulay. Here "for the old opinions" corresponds to " for the new [opinions]." For either the new or the old opinions" would also preserve the correspondence. But "either for the new or the old opinions" destroys the correspondence. 3. Or and nor are sometimes used by poets for either and neither; as, "Or by the lazy Scheldt or wandering Po."-Goldsmith. "I received nor rhyme nor reason."Spenser. 4. It is sometimes the case that a word or a collection of words common to two connected passages is expressed only once; as, "This has always been, and it always will be admired." Here admired is common to has been and will be (has been admired, will be admired). But "This always has, and always will be admired" is not correct, because be admired is not common to the connected expressions (has be admired). "I always have, and always will endeavor to bring pleasure with me."-Scott. Endeavor does not belong to the first of the connected expressions. "I always have endeavored, and always will endeavor to bring pleasure with me." Here "to bring pleasure with me" is common to the two expressions. "Florence is more beloved, but not so much admired as Margaret" should be "Florence is more beloved than Margaret, but not so much admired [as Margaret]." 5. After a negative which of the two conjunctions or and nor should be used to connect? Grammarians have differed much about this matter; some, as Priestley and Murray, saying that "or or nor may, either of them, be used with nearly equal propriety." Nor should be used after neither or nor. The following sentence is incorrect: "It is neither acid or alkaline, it neither supports combustion or burns."— Wells's Chemistry. After negatives in general the speaker's choice will naturally be determined by the way in which the connected things present themselves to his mind. If they present themselves together, as if they were parts of one thing to be denied, he will naturally regard the negative as modifying the whole expression, and he will connect the parts by or; as, "Rome was not built in a day or destroyed in a day." Here the influence of not is felt through the whole expression. But if the second of the connected things presents itself as an addition to the first, the speaker will naturally use nor; as, "Rome was not built in a day, nor destroyed in a day." Here not modifies only the first part, and that which is added as a kind of second thought requires a negative. "Do not think that they have any mysterious goodness nor occult sublimity "-Ruskin. Nor is incorrect. What we are not to think is that they have any mysterious goodness or occult sublimity. 6. But as a conjunction generally connects propositions; as, "I go, but I return;""He spoke to the mob, but I could not hear him.' 7. Nothing but conjunctions should be regarded as conjunctions.* Not only and but also are by some classified as "correlative conjunctions." This classification is one of the most remarkable productions of what may be called the huddling system. Not, only, and also are adverbs, each having a complete signification of its own; but the classification mentioned makes each of What is said concerning the parts connected by both...and, either...or, and neither...nor? What are sometimes used for either and neither? What is the impropriety in "It is neither acid or alkaline"? After negatives in general which of the conjunctions or and nor should be used? What does but connect? Explain "This always has been and al- What only should be regarded as con ways will be admired." junctions? For for this reason, in addition, etc., see Remark 8, p. 141. For in as much as, as well as, etc., see Remark 9, p. 141. For yet, also, still, etc., see Remark 10, p. 141. Than connects, but it connects as a conjunctive adverb. (See Remark 17, p. 135.) Properly speaking, that is never a conjunction. Its office is described by calling it the article of the noun-proposition. (See foot-note, p. 196.) "That he is idle is true." Here that can not be said to connect; it serves merely to introduce the noun-proposition, and this is its office whether the noun-proposition is used as subject, as object, as predicate-nominative, as noun in the nominative absolute, or as noun in apposition. (See "Noun-propositions," p. 160.) An adjunct-proposition introduced by it is a noun-proposition, the implied preposition giving the proposition its adjunct character; as, "We eat [for] that we may live." That is sometimes used as an adverb; as, "Now that (when) all women of condition are well educated we hear no more of these apprehensions."-Coleridge EXERCISES. 1. Point out the connections and the things connected: The dog in the manger would neither eat hay himself nor suffer the ox to eat it. John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine. Though he became poor, he remained honest. A wise son maketh a glad father, but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother. I will take it, in as much as it is the best you can offer. She sings as well as plays. I forgive you, unnatural though you are. He has a high character both for ability and for integrity. 2. Correct the errors: [Remark 2.] I neither requested Jane nor Mary to go. Either you saw him or did not see him. Almost every noble quality owns Temperance either for its parent or its nurse. [Remark 4.] Such works always have, and always will be read. He is more bold and active, but not so wise and studious as his companion. This preface may serve for almost any book that has, or ever shall be published. The intentions of these philosophers might and probably were good. [Remark 5.] He did not think the minutes lagged too slow nor flew too fast. The water is neither cold or hot. I have neither paper, pen, or ink. He is without an outburst of emotion nor an accent of originality.-Taine's History of English Literature. these words nothing but an ingredient in a kind of grammatical pot-pourri. "He only preached this doctrine; he did not practice it." Only, adverb modifying preached. "He not only (merely) preached this doctrine, but he also practiced it." Only, adverb modifying preached; not, adverb modifying only; but, conjunction; also, adverb modifying practiced. "He did not only preach," etc. Here not modifies did, and only modifies the infinitive preach. *"She sings as well as she plays." By the omission of the subject of the second verb a different meaning is given to the adverb well-" she sings as truly as she plays." RULE XIV. Interjections have no grammatical connection with other words. Remark.-Ah and O (oh) are sometimes used with the objective me; as, "Ah me!" "O me!" But it is not the interjection that causes me to be in the objective; for the objective me may be used without the interjection; as, "Me miserable! which way shall I fly infinite wrath?"-Milton. Me in such passages is an independent objective. For such constructions as "O that I were as in months past!" "O for a closer walk with God!" in which the interjection is used as what may be called a proproposition, see Remark 4, p. 142. EXERCISES. O sweet angel! Alas! he has left us! O for a spark of Allan's glee! O! what a rapturous cry! MISCELLANEOUS REMARKS. 1. The compound personal pronoun myself is often improperly used for the simple pronoun I; as, “Jane and myself went" instead of "Jane and I went." Those who use myself in this way think that by avoiding the use of I they avoid egotism; but egotism consists in improperly thrusting one's self forward, not in the words employed. When it is proper for a person to speak of himself at all it is proper for him to use the honest I. Always say what you mean; if you mean I, say I. To avoid the unemphatic I by using the emphatic myself is much like avoiding a shower by jumping into the river. 2. Some say that in a descriptive relative proposition that should always be used, not who or which; as, "The boy that studies will learn." But it is equally correct to say, "The boy who studies will learn." The possessive whose and the objective whom are used in such propositions, and there is no valid objection to the use of the nominative. 3. When a relative proposition is used to convey an additional idea who or which, not that, must be used; as, "He came to the town Cirta, which he immediately besieged." Here the relative proposition is employed, not to describe the town, but to express an additional idea, which being equivalent to and it (and he immediately besieged it). 4. That is used in preference to who or which in the following cases: (a) After adjectives in the superlative degree; as, Charles XII. was one of the greatest madmen that the world ever saw." (b) After same, very, and all; as, "He is the same man that I saw before;" "He is the very boy that did the mischief;" "It was all that he could do." (c) After who; as, "Who that knows him would say this?" (d) When the relative refers to both persons and things; as, "The men and cities that he saw." "He is a man that 5. That should not be interchanged with who or which; as, is ready to make promises and who never performs them." Who should be that, or that should be who. What is the rule for interjections? In "Ah me!" what is me? What is said of the expression "Jane and myself"? Is it correct to say "The boy who studies"? What relative must be used when the proposition is to convey an additional idea? What is said of interchanging that with who or which? 6. In modern speech thou and you belong to different styles, and they should not be interchanged; as, But the rose was awake all night for your sake, Knowing your promise to me; The lilies and roses were all awake; They sighed for the dawn and thee.-Tennyson. Here thee is manifestly lugged in merely because it rhymes with me. 7. A relative proposition intended to modify the subject should not be placed after a noun in the predicate, if this position would produce ambiguity or the appearance of ambiguity; as, "He should not attempt to teach a boy that is not fond of learning." "I am the man who command you "' should be "I who command you am the man." In "I am the man who commands you" the relative proposition modifies man. "Then men frowned at stage-plays who smiled at massacres." Here the position causes no ambiguity. 8. Than whom is an anomalous expression, which may have had its origin in an incorrect translation of the Latin ablative quo. 9. General truths, real or alleged, are expressed by the present tense, no matter what may be the tense of the verb with which the proposition is connected; as, "He believed that there is but one god." This principle is often violated; as, "The missionary endeavored to inculcate the truth that there was but one god."-Reade. "I had never known before how short life really was."-Dickens. "We then fell into a discussion whether there is any beauty independent of utility. The General maintained that there was not; Dr. Johnson maintained that there was.”—Boswell. 10. Such passages as the following contain still greater errors; because, though the verbs in the principal propositions are past in form, they are present in sense: "What is the law? I wish I knew what the law really was."-Scott. "It might be supposed at first sight that this way of speaking was indefensible."-Dean Alford. "I should say there was a strong connection between the Scottish temperament and humor."-Dean Ramsay. 11. When a speaker uses the present tense in relating what is past he is supposed to do so merely because the events seem to be passing before him. (See Remark 3, p. 76.) It is inconsistent to use the past tense in connection with such a present; as, "The officer rushes upon him and struck him with his sword." The following passage is faulty: But now secure the painted vessel glides, The sunbeams trembling on the floating tides; And softened sounds along the waters die; Belinda smiled, and all the world was gay.-Pope. 12. The past tense is sometimes improperly used for might, should, or would, with the infinitive; as, "King John, feeling that in any case, whatever was done afterward, it would be a satisfaction to his mind to have those handsome eyes burnt out." Should be or might be, not was. (See Remark 12, p. 77.) 13. Should we say "To-morrow is Wednesday" or "To-morrow will be Wednesday?" As we wish to express an abstract truth rather than a future event, the What is said of interchanging thou and | What of such expressions as "The officer you? What caution about the position of relative propositions? What is said of than whom? What is said of such expressions as "I had never known before how short life really was"? rushes upon him and struck him with his sword"? How is the past tense sometimes improperly used? Should we say "To-morrow is Wednesday" or "To-morrow will be Wednesday"? |