NOTE XI. Action, or state in regard to three or more, is expressed by among, amongst, amid, amidst; in regard to two, by between and betwixt; as,

31. Amid those forest shades, that proudly reared Their unshorn beauties toward the fav'ring skies, An axe rang sharply.

32. Betwixt me and thee let there be no strife.

NOTE XII. Action, or state continuing through a certain time, is exessed by during; continuing only a part of the time mentioned, by in, or within; as,—

33. The bells were rung during the whole time of the fire. 34. During yesterday ten vessels came into port, which is more than the number within the twenty days preceding that time; another is expected in the night, or at an early hour in the morning.

NOTE XIII. Sometimes a word, generally used as a Preposition, is improperly used with a verb which has no second object, either expressed or understood. These words are not Prepositions, because they have no subsequent terms; nor are they adverbs. Some grammarians propose to call them Prepositional Adverbs or Adverbial Prepositions. They should be called errors. Narrators should avoid the use of them, should shun them, in the construction of a sentence; while, the narratee should correct the sentence before analyzing it.

35. Such specimens as these are often met with. Error. 36. The copy was carefully read over. Error.

NOTE XIV. Whenever one of these "mean little words " is used at the end of a sentence, one error can, and three errors may be found; namely, the first, a logical; the second, a rhetorical; and the third, a grammatical error.

37. These conditions were insisted on.

This is illogical; on should show the relation between conditions and insisted. The attempt is made to use conditions as a subject, which can not be done, because it names neither an actor nor a receiver.

38. You saw him, whom I gave it to.

You saw him, to whom

gave it.

39. Who were provided for by this arrangement.

In this example, we find three kinds of errors. First. It is illogical. Who belongs to the act, and hence, can not be made a subject, without altering the statement.

Second. It is not rhetorical. The relator should precede who.

Third. It is ungrammatical.

hence, should be whom.

Who is the subsequent of for, and

Study carefully the following examples. They contain very common and yet very gross errors, and should be condemned as much for their awkwardness, as for being illogical.

40. "In the consideration of this subject, the fact must not be lost sight of."

41. "This course should be insisted on."

42. "Certain studies must be gone through with, before certain other studies are entered upon."

NOTE XV. A few instances occur, in which the second term of a comparison is put in the objective instead of the nominative case. In these cases, some grammarians call the connector, than, a Preposition, equivalent to except. For the correction of this error, see Adjectives and Adverbs, Comparative Degree.

43. Than whom, none higher sat. Than he, none higher sat. None sat higher than he sat.

The use of whom instead of who must be regarded as a poetic license, or grammatical error, made for the sake of euphony.

44. Temperance and exercise preserve the health, both of the body and the mind.

NOTE XVI. When a Connective is followed by a contracted clause, care must be taken not to obscure the sense by omitting a preposition which should be expressed; thus, ex., 44, should be, and of the mind.

45. The team passed through the yard and the garden. The team passed through the yard and through the garden.

46. Over the river and over the lake, over the tall grass and over the brake, away we hie in our cloud-swept car.

NOTE XVII. A Preposition must not be used between a first ob ject noun and its verb; since, the relation of a first object noun to its

verb must be shown either by the meaning of the noun, or by its posi tion, or by both of these means.

47. While I was reading of it over I discovered my mistake. While I was reading it I discovered my mistake.

48. He was fond of reading of the history of the war. 49. Should a school building be surrounded with a fence? 50. The place was over beyond Jordan. The place was

beyond Jordan.

NOTE XVIII. A Connective must not be used in the place of the Preposition, to, as the sign of the Infinitive Mode.

51. We will try to do it. We will try to avoid it.

We will try and do it. We will try and avoid it.

The Syntax of the Preposition.

336. Third, the SYNTAX of the Preposition.

337. RULE I. A Preposition must precede its subsequent

term.

338. RULE II. In the English, the preposition, BY, must be used to show the relation of a second object, which names the actor or first primary idea.

Analyses of the Preposition.

5

1. In1 the morning, the bands' of sleep are broken"; in the evening, we" surrender" (ourselves" to be bound by them').sc

General Analysis. In the morning, etc., is, logically, a compound connected thought in the third degree; its first immediate element is the simple thought, the bands of sleep are broken; its second, is the complex thought, in the evening, we surrender, etc. These parts are joined by the idea of connection (but) not expressed. In the evening, etc.. has, for its first element, the independent thought, in the evening, we sur• render, and the dependent thought, ourselves be bound by them.

Rhetorically, in the morning, etc., is a connected compound sentence, of two clauses, joined by a connector, understood. Its first clause is the simple sentence, in the morning, the bands of sleep are broken; its second clause is the mixed sentence, in the evening, etc.

Special Analysis. The principal words of the first clause are, bands, are broken; of the second clause, we, surrender (ourselves to be bound by them), ourselves, be bound.

Grammatical Analysis. In is a Preposition, showing the relation of the second object, morning, to the predicate, are broken.

used according to the First Use of Prepositions.

In is here

Parsing. Of is a Preposition, showing the relation of the adjunct sleep, to the subject, bands. Of is here used according to the Second Use of Prepositions.

To is a Preposition, showing the relation of the affirmer, be bound, to the subject personated by ourselves. To is here used according to the Third Use of Prepositions.

By is a preposition, showing the relation of its subsequent name of the actors personated by them, to its antecedent, the predicate, be bound. By is here used according to its Special Use.