AGREEMENT. -VERBS AND SUBJECTS. 129 LESSON LXXXIII. AGREEMENT.-VERBS AND SUBJECTS. RULE X.-When a verb has two or more subjects connected by and, it must agree with them in the plural number; as, "Temperance and exercise preserve health.""William, James, and John have been promoted." The following are exceptions : 1. When the nouns connected refer to the same person or thing, the verb should be singular; as, "This patriot, statesman, and orator was famous." 2. When the connected subjects are each preceded by the adjective each, every, or no, they are taken separately, and require a singular verb ; as, "And every sense and every heart is joy." RULE XI.-When a verb has two or more singular subjects connected by or or nor, it must agree with them in the singular number; as, "Fear or jealousy affects him." If the connected subjects differ in person or number, the verb should be made to agree with that which is placed next to it; as, "Neither he nor his brothers were present." -" Neither you nor I am concerned." Sometimes, however, it is better to express the verb or the proper auxiliary in connection with each subject; as, "Either thou art to blame, or I am.” When the subjects include the speaker or writer, he should be mentioned last, unless the predicate is the confession of a fault; as, "My friend and I are invited. -" I and my brother Robert are to blame." 9 L, L, Exercises. Correct, analyze, and parse the following sentences. 1. Industry and frugality leads to wealth. 2. Either ability or inclination were wanting. 3. Neither John nor his brother have been to school. 4. My love and esteem toward him remains unaltered. 5. Either he or I are mistaken. (Express in two ways.) 6. No pains nor cost were spared in his education. 7. Neither John nor I were to blame. 8. Every boy and every girl were at play. 9. No wife, no mother, and no child were there to comfort him. 10. That brilliant patriot, soldier, and statesman have passed from earth. PUNCTUATION. - See Lesson XXV. LESSON LXXXIV. AGREEMENT.-CONNECTED VERBS. RULE XII.-When verbs are connected by a conjunction, they must either agree in mood, tense, and form, or have separate subjects; as, "She played and sung admirably." "He was good, and he will receive his reward." The following tenses are often connected without repeating the subject: 1. The present, perfect, and first-future tenses of the indicative mood. 2. The corresponding tenses of the indicative and potential moods. The affirmative and negative forms, and the simple and compound forms are, also, often excepted. In the latter case, the simple verb should generally be placed first, Thus: AGREEMENT. - SUBJECT AND ATTRIBUTE. "What nothing earthly gives or can destroy." -Pope. 131 Auxiliaries and other words common to several verbs are usually expressed to the first only, being understood to the rest. Thus:"Every sincere endeavor to amend shall be assisted, [shall be] accepted, and [shall be] rewarded." "You have seen it, but I have not" [seen it]. Exercises. Correct, analyze, and parse the following sentences. 1. He was invited to the meeting but would not attend. 2. William can learn his lesson, but will not. 3. They would neither go in themselves, nor suffered others to enter. 4. He had arranged to leave the country, but could not go. 5. Did he not waste his time and neglected his lessons? LESSON LXXXV. AGREEMENT.-SUBJECT AND ATTRIBUTE. RULE XIII. The attribute must agree in case with the subject; as, "It was she." -" Who is he? ""Whom did he allege it to be? "-" Art thou he?" In interrogative sentences, the attribute is usually placed before the verb, and the subject after it; as, "Who art thou?" Or the subject and attribute are both placed after the verb; as, "Art thou he?"-" Am I thy slave?” The verb be generally affirms only the connection between the subject and attribute. When the latter is a noun, it may express: 1. Class; as, "Cain was a murderer."-2. Identity; as, "Cain was the murderer of Abel." Class or identity is sometimes affirmed by other verbs, in connection with a particular act or state of being; as, "She looked a goddess, and she walked a queen."- " It seemed a miracle."-" He became a scholar." Also by affirming not only the connection but the cause or manner of its establishment; as, "The twig has grown a tree." "He was elected president." - "The child was named John." When the active verb is used instead of the passive, the object is an infinitive clause. (See Lesson LXXVIII.) For example, "They elected him president." - "They named the child John."-" The saints proclaim thee King." In these cases the predicate verb which usually connects the subject and the attribute is the infinitive of be, understood. The attribute is sometimes used in an infinitive phrase without reference to any particular subject; as, "To be a poet requires genius."-"To be good is to be happy." Exercises. Correct, analyze, and parse the following sentences. 1. It could not have been her that I saw. 2. They believed it to be I, but it was my brother. 3. Let him be whom he may, I will have him punished. 4. Who do they think him to be? 5. Whom do they say that I am? 6. It was me who wrote the letter which you thought to be from your friend. 7. I should have acted in the same way, if I had been him. LESSON LXXXVI. AGREEMENT.-PRONOUN AND ANTECEDENT. RULE XIV.-A pronoun must agree with its antecedent, or the noun or pronoun which it represents, in person, number, and gender; as, I, who am your friend, will aid you." AGREEMENT. PRONOUN AND ANTECEDENT. 133 While every pronoun must represent some noun or pronoun, expressed or understood, it is only the relative pronoun that necessarily has an antecedent (word going before). The pronoun must always agree with the noun or pronoun which it represents, whether it be an antecedent or not. The antecedent of a relative pronoun is always in the same sentence; but it is in the principal clause, while the relative is in the dependent clause. Who is applied only to persons, and which to brute animals or inanimate things. That may be used to represent either. The relative pronoun should be placed as near as possible to the antecedent. The pronoun it is often used indefinitely; as, "It rains."" It is stormy." It is also very often used to represent a phrase or a clause coming after the verb; as, "It is good to be here." The phrase in this case is an explanatory adjunct of the pronoun. (See Lesson LXXIX.) As is sometimes used as a relative pronoun; as, "Avoid such as are vicious." RULE XV. When the antecedent is a collective noun conveying the idea of plurality, the pronoun must agree with it in the plural number; but when it conveys the idea of unity, the pronoun should be singular. Examples of Plurality. The council disagreed in their sentiments. The people will not relinquish their rights. The general orders the army to lay down their arms. Examples of Unity. The nation will enforce all its laws. The association expelled two of its members. The committee has made its report. The army continued its retreat. |