But this expression is now almost obsolete; the interrogative which being substituted for it.

SECT. 3.

The adjective pronouns, so named because they partake of the properties of adjectives and pronouns, and which are, by some grammarians, classed among the former, may be considered as possessive, distributive, demonstrative, and indefinite.

The possessive pronouns, relative to possession or property, are seven; my, our, thy, your, his, her, their.

Pronouns possessive being of the nature of adjectives, are like them indeclinable, except that when used without their nouns my becomes mine; thy, thine; our, ours; your, yours; her, hers; their, theirs; as, "These pens are mine;" "this paper is yours;"" these horses are theirs ;" "that house is ours."

Mine and thine were formerly used before a vowel, or h mute, instead of my and thy: as, "Blot out mine iniquities as a cloud;" "mine arrow is lost." But this is now no longer adopted in prose.

SECT. 4.

Two words, own and self, expressing emphasis and opposition, are used only in conjunction with pronouns. Own is added to possessives, both singular and plural: as, my own garden; our own house; their own master; in opposition

liar temptations; this tempts to murmuring and anxiety; that leads to pride and presumption."

SECT. 7.

Those pronouns which have a general and indefinite signification, are named indefinite pronouns such are, some, other, any, one, all, such, &c.

Some denotes an indeterminate quantity or number.

Other, a Saxon word, is used when reference is made to two objects, and signifies the second or latter of them. To the former the words one, some, a few, are applied; as, " One was rich, the other 66 poor;" a few of them were prudent, the others inconsiderate ;" some are happy, others are miserable." Other admits any numerical word Twenty other men were wit

before it as, 66

nesses to the fact." Other is thus declined:

When separate from the noun to which it relates, the plural of other is always used: as, "Others are not so fond of him as you are;" "when you have finished reading those books, I will send you others." When this pronoun is joined to nouns either singular or plural, it has no declension; as, the other book, the other books.

One has a general meaning, signifying man

kind at large: as, "One ought to pity the miserable, and to relieve the distressed, to the best of one's power;" that is, every man ought to pity the miserable, and to relieve the distressed, to the best of his power.

Sometimes, also, one has a peculiar reference to the person speaking: as, "One is too apt to flatter and deceive one's self." It is often used, likewise, in the plural number: as, "The exalted ones of the earth;""the dear little ones." One has a possessive case, like nouns: as,

.

None, or no one, the negative of one, is used with a plural, as well as a singular verb: as, "None of that family are friendly to you;" that is, all of that family are unfriendly to you. "None is so utterly devoid of reason;" that is, no one person.

All signifies a whole number, or a whole quantity.

Alone is all one; that is, no more than one.
Both means the two.

"Few

Few signifies a small number: as, persons were present." A few, and few, without a noun, are expressions in common use: as, "Give me a few of those apples ;" "here

are a few."

Many expresses a great number.
Much, a large quantity.

Several denotes a number taken separately from a general collection; and,

Divers is sometimes used in the same sense. The adjective pronouns are, by some authors, styled definitive adjectives.

All the pronouns, excepting the personal and relative, may, in a general view, be called definite pronouns ; because they define the extent of the common name, or general term, to which they refer.

CHAP. VI.

SECT. 1. Of Verbs.

A VERB is a part of speech that betokeneth being; as, it is: or action; as, he runs: or suffering; as, he is wounded. The verb implieth at once an attribute, or property, of some person or thing; an affirmation concerning that property, and the idea of time. Thus, when it is said, "fire burneth," the property of burning is ascribed to fire; and that property of burning is affirmed to belong to it at the time present.

Verbs may be regarded as being of two kinds, active and passive. But some grammarians divide them into active and neuter; and others into active, passive, and neuter.

Verbs active, as their name implies, signify action of the mind or body: as, I love, he gives, we dance, they learn.

Verbs active may be distinguished into transitive and intransitive, or neuter. They are called transitive when they have not only a subject, but also an object, of the affirmation they express, upon which object their meaning passes, which object their action influences, and without which the sense would not be complete : as, "We see the sun."

In this sentence, we is the subject to which the property of seeing is attributed, and which property it is affirmed to be exercising; the sun is the object upon which the action passes. And it is plain that without some object of the property or faculty of sight, the sentence would not convey a perfect meaning.

Verbs are called intransitive when the action is confined to the agent, or thing acting, and its influence does not extend to any other person or thing: as, he sleeps, they awake, I breathe, we rise, the boys jump. In these sentences, each verb has a subject to which it attributes some property exercised, as that of sleeping, of awaking, of breathing, of rising, of jumping; but no object upon which the influence of the action passes.

The term neuter may be appropriated to those verbs which express existence only, since they do not necessarily imply action.

NOTE. As transitive and intransitive verbs are often confounded, not only in speaking, but even in writing, it