and truth constitute intellectual gold." The conjunction is sometimes understood; as, "Honor, justice, religion itself, were derided."

Note I. This rule has in the practice of writers some exceptions: "Nor were the young fellows so wholly lost to a sense of right, as pride and self-conceit has made them affect to be."-Rambler, No. 97. Here the verb, which is expressed after self-conceit, is considered as understood after pride. "Their safety and welfare is most concerned."-Spectator, No. 121. This was sometimes the case in Greek and Roman writers: "Mens enim et ratio, et consilium in sensibus est."-CICERO, De Sen., cap. xix. Forms of expression like these should not be encouraged in the English language, though they can be defended, in some instances, on the ground of their expressing only one complex idea.

Note II.-Two or more nouns connected by the conjunction and, expressed or understood, and modified by the distributives EACH, EVERY, or EITHER, may have a verb in the singular number: "Either sex and every age was engaged in the pursuits of industry."-GIBBON's Roman Empire, chap. x. "The judicial and every other power is accountable to the legislative."-PALEY'S Philosophy, vi., 8.

Note III.-Where comparison is expressed or implied, and not combination, the verb should be singular; thus, "Cæsar as well as Cicero was remarkable for eloquence." Even when and is used between two nouns, if a disuniting word is used with it, the verb should be in the singular number; as, "Good order, and not mean savings, produces honest profit."

Note IV.-When a verb comes in between its nominatives, it agrees with that which precedes it, and is understood as to the others; as, "John was present, and Henry, and Charles."

Note V. When two nouns connected by the conjunction and express but one subject, the verb should be in the singular number; as, "That great statesman and general is entitled to the gratitude of his country.'

Note VI.-When nominatives to the same verb are of different persons, the verb must be in the plural number, and must agree with the first person rather than the second, and with the second rather than the third: "My sister and I are daily employed in our respective occupa

tions."

EXERCISES UNDER RULE XXV.

RULE XXV.-a. Religion and virtue, our best support and highest honor, confers on the mind principles of noble independence. F. S. b. There is as much real religion and morality in this country as in any other. F. S.

c. Wisdom, virtue, happiness, dwells with the golden mediocrity. F. S.

Note I.-a. In that transaction their safety and welfare is most concerned. F. S.

b. The fragrant woodbine and the sweet-scented myrtle renders the air in this spot truly delicious. F. S.

Note II.-In the camp of Israel every man and every woman were numbered. F. S.

Note III.- -a. That superficial scholar and critic, like some renowned critics of our own, have furnished most decisive proofs that they knew not the characters of the Hebrew language. F. S.

b. Virtuous effort, and not depraved genius, win the prize. F. S. Forth in the pleasing spring

Note IV.

Thy beauty walks, thy tenderness and love.-THOMSON. C. S. Note V.-Coleridge, that distinguished philosopher and celebrated poet, are receiving the meed of praise. F. S.

Note VI.-You and the doctor thinks unfavorably of my case. F. S.

THE VERB.

§ 382. RULE XXVI.-When a verb has for its subject only ONE of two or more substantives singular, connected by the conjunctions or or nor, it is itself in the singular number; as, "Either John, or Peter, or James was at the Exchange yesterday, but neither John nor Peter is there to-day.'

Note I. When a verb has nominatives of different persons connected by the disjunctive conjunctions or or nor, it must agree with that which is nearest; as, "Neither you nor I am concerned."

Note II.-When a verb has a Singular and a Plural nominative connected by or or nor, it agrees with its nearest nominative; as, "The dice-box or his cups were his ruin.'

66

Note III.-In sentences where there is but one proposition, when two or more subjects of different persons are in apposition, the verb agrees with the FIRST of them; as, "I, your master, command you;" Your master, I, commands you.” The idea that comes first is the leading idea, and controls the construction of the verb.

EXERCISES UNDER RULE XXVI.

RULE XXVI.-a. There are many faults in spelling which neither analogy nor pronunciation justify. F. S.

b. When sickness, infirmity, or reverse of fortune affect us, the sincerity of friendship is proved. F. S.

Note I.-I or thou am the person who must undertake the business proposed. F. S.

Note II.-a. For the consequences of this transaction he or they is responsible. F. S.

b. The cares of this life, or the deceitfulness of riches, has choked the seeds of virtue in many a promising mind. F. S.

Note III.-Your father, Ï, loves you; I, your father, love you. C. S.

THE VERB.

§383. RULE XXVII.-When a verb has for its subject a COLLECTIVE noun, it can be either in the Singu

lar or the Plural number; as, "The council is or are unanimous ;""The company was or were collected;" "A part of the exports consists or consist of raw silk.

Note I.-When the collective noun indicates unity, a Singular verb should be used; when it indicates plurality, a Plural verb should be used. In general, modern practice inclines to the use of a plural verb, especially when persons and not things are signified by the collective noun; as, "The clergy began to withdraw themselves from the temporal courts."-BLACKSTONE. "The chorus prepare resistance at his first approach; the chorus sings of the battle."-JOHNSON's Life of Milton.

When a collective noun is preceded by a definitive which clearly limits the sense of the word to the idea of unity, it requires a verb and a pronoun to agree with it in the singular number; as, "A company of troops was raised;" "This people has become a great nation.'

EXERCISES UNDER RULE XXVII.

RULE XXVII.- -ɑ. An army was led through the wilderness against him. C. S.

b. After the battle the army were scattered through the provinces. C. S.

c. The committee has at length brought in a report. C. S.

d. The committee were divided in their opinions. C. S.

Note I.-a. The court, after long delays, have passed sentence on the criminal. F. S.

b. A herd of cattle peacefully grazing afford a pleasing sight. F. S. c. That assembly thus convened were numerous. F. S.

COLLOCATION.

§ 384. The Subject or Nominative usually precedes the verb in declaratory phrases; as, "God created the world."

Exception 1. The nominative often follows an intransitive verb; for as such a verb has no object after it, that position of the nominative creates no ambiguity: "Above it stood the Seraphim.”

Exc. 2. The nominative may follow the verb when the verb is preceded by here, there, hence, thence, then, thus, yet, so, nor, neither, such, the same, herein, therein, wherein, and perhaps other words; as, "Here are five men;""There was a man sent from God."

Exc. 3. The nominative may follow the verb in the expression of commands, requests, wishes; as, "Long live the king.”

Exc. 4. The nominative may follow the verb when an emphatical adjective introduces the sentence; as, "Great is the Lord, glorious are his works, and happy is the man who serves him."

Exc. 5. In certain phrases which are conditional or hypothetical, the sign of the condition may be omitted, and the nominative placed after the auxiliary; as, "Did he but know my anxiety."

Exc. 6. The nominative may follow the verb when the words whose,

as,

his, their, her, mine, your, &c., precede the verb with a governing word; "Out of whose modifications have been made most complex modes." Exc. 7. In interrogative sentences the nominative follows the verb when alone, or the first auxiliary; as, "Believest thou?" "Will he con

sent ?"

Exc. 8. When an infinitive mode or a sentence is the nominative case to the verb, it generally follows the verb, the pronoun it standing as its representative before the verb; as, "It is difficult to climb the hill of science."

Exc. 9. In poetry, the subject often follows the verb; as,

§ 385. RULE XXVIII.-Transitive verbs govern the objective case; as, "God created the world," "We honor him."

Transitive verbs are sometimes called objective verbs, because they require an object after them to complete their meaning.

Intransitive verbs are sometimes called subjective verbs, because their meaning is complete in themselves without any complementary object. Note I.-Transitive verbs in some instances require a dative object in addition to the principal or accusative object; as, "I give the book to you." Such verbs are Traditive, and are generally in English expressed by the preposition to or for.

Note II.-Transitive verbs in some instances require a Factitive object in addition to the accusative object; as, They made Napoleon an emperor;" "He thinks himself a gentleman;" "They crowned him a poet."

Note III.-Transitive verbs admit of a sentence, a clause, or a number of words as their object; as, "He is not alarmed so far as to consider how much nearer he approaches his end;" "Mark you his absolute shall?"

Note IV.-Some Transitive verbs govern TWO NOUNS in the objective case when in the active form, and one when in the passive; as, "They asked him a question;" "They taught him logic;" "They were asked a question." See § 360.

Note V.-Some Transitive verbs stand without their complementary ojective case after them; as, "He reads;" "He writes;" for "He reads books;" "He writes letters."

Note VI.-Transitive verbs are improperly used as Intransitive verbs; as, "I must premise with three circumstances" for "I must premise three circumstances;" "let us consider of the works of art" for "let us consider the works of art."

Note VII.-Intransitive verbs are sometimes improperly used as Transitive verbs; as, "If force this arm succeed;" "He repented him of his design."

Note VIII. Certain Intransitive verbs are followed by nouns kindred to them in origin or signification; as, "To sleep the sleep of death."

Here the noun only repeats the idea expressed by the verb, and thus renders it emphatic. The Factitive relation is here indicated.

Nearly allied to this idiom is that of using after verbs Transitive or Intransitive certain nouns which are not the objects of the verb, nor of precisely the same sense; as, "The lump of gold weighs two ounces;" The cloth measures three yards." Some verbs of this sort are followed by two objects: "The hat cost him five dollars."

Note IX.-There are some verbs which may be used Transitively or Intransitively; as, "I shall do the business;" "I shall do as I promised."

The Objective after a verb in the active voice becomes the Nominative before the verb in the passive voice. The nominative before the verb in the active voice is joined to the passive verb by the preposition by: "Cæsar conquered Pompey at Pharsalia;" "Pompey was conquered by Cæsar at Pharsalia."

Note X.-Idiomatic expressions sometimes occur, in which the active form of the transitive verb is used in a sense nearly allied to the passive; as, "The goods sell rapidly;" "the cloth tears;" "the ground plows well."

COLLOCATION.

§ 386. The verb precedes the word which it governs. Sometimes the verb comes after the objective case; as, "She with extended arms his aid implores," "Whom ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you." Whom and which always precede the verb. A noun with whatever, whatsoever, or whichsoever preceding it, is placed before the governing verb; as, "Whatsoever positive ideas we have."

EXERCISES UNDER RULE XXVIII.

GOVERNMENT OF VERBS.

RULE XXVIII.-a. The man who he raised from obscurity is dead. F. S.

b. We never know the true value of friends. While they live we are too sensitive of their faults; when we have lost them we only see their virtues. C. S.

c. Few persons exert their ability to the utmost to do all the good that lies in their power. C. S.

Note I. With some paper, I gave him a pen. C. S.

Note II.-And they endeavored to take him by force to make him a king. C. S.

Note III.-If he escapes being banished by others, I fear he will banish himself.

Note IV. The king denied him admission to the court. C. S. Note V. He writes frequently for Blackwood's Magazine. C. S. Note VI.-Those that think to ingratiate with him by calumniating me, are mistaken. F. S.