Nouns of multitude have singular or plural verbs according to the idea conveyed. When the noun conveys an idea of unity, the verb should be singular; as, THE CROWD WAS GREAT. When the noun conveys plurality of idea, the verb should be plural; as, THE PEOPLE WERE NOISY. 2 Pronouns agree in gender, number, and person with the nouns for which they stand. 3 The Relative must agree with its antecedent in gender, number, and person. Its case is determined, not by its antecedent, but by its relation to the verb in its own sentence. If no nominative come between the relative and the verb, the relative is the nominative to the verb, but if a nominative come between, then the relative is governed by the verb, or by some other word in its own sentence; as, THE BOY, WHO HITS THE BALL. THE BOY, WHOM THE BALL HIT. THE BOY, BY WHOM THE BALL WAS HIT. GOVERNMENT. Nouns. 1 When two substantives come together meaning different things, the former is put in the possessive case; as, THE BOY'S BALL. 2 When two substantives come together meaning the same thing, they are put into the same case, and the latter is said to be in apposition to the former; as, I AM HENRY OF WINCHESTER, YOUR KING. Verbs. 1 Transitive Verbs take after them the accusative case. 2 The Substantive Verbs TO BE and To BECOME take the same case after them as before them; as, IT IS I. I AM HE. Several intransitive verbs, such as TO APPEAR, SEEM, etc., and some passive verbs, especially those of calling, such as TO BE CALLED, TO BE ESTEEMED, TO BE REGARDED, etc., follow the same rule. 3 Intransitive verbs sometimes take after them an accusative of similar meaning; as, HE RAN A RACE. 4 Some transitive verbs, as To ASK, LEND, GIVE, TELL, SEND, PAY, PRESENT, TEACH, OFFER, DENY, COST, are often followed by two accusatives, a preposition being understood before the first or indirect one; as, I PROMISED (TO) YOU A HOLIDAY. HE TAUGHT (TO) US THE GAME. WE LENT (TO) YOU A BOOK. 5 These verbs will also take, in the passive, an accusative after them; as, YOU ARE PROMISED A HOLIDAY. WE WERE TAUGHT THE GAME. YOU WERE LENT A BOOK. 6 A verb in the infinitive mood may depend either upon a verb, or an adjective, or a noun; as, I WISH TO GO. HE IS WORTHY TO BE CHOSEN. A DESIRE TO VISIT FRANCE. 7 The infinitive is usually preceded by the preposition тo; but after some verbs ro is omitted; as, YOU MUST GO. HE BADE YOU GO. YOU NEED NOT TRY. 8 The infinitive mood in English often expresses a purpose. It is then sometimes preceded by the words IN ORDER TO; AS, HE CAME TO SPEAK TO YOU. HE CALLED IN ORDER TO SEE YOU. 9 The Subjunctive Mood should be used only when contingency and futurity are implied; as, IF HE BE ALONE, GIVE HIM THE LETTER. When contingency and futurity are not both implied, the Indicative should be used; as, IF HE SPEAKS AS HE THINKS, HE MAY BE TRUSTED. PRINTED FOR T. K. EATON, CHELTENHAM, |