A man may see a metaphor or an allegory in a picture, as well as read them in a description. Despise no infirmity of mind or body, nor any condition of life, for they may be thy own lot. RULE IX.-VERBS. A finite Verb must agree with its subject, or nominative, in person and number: as, "I know; thou knowst, or knowest; he knows, or knoweth."—"The bird flies; the birds fly." OBSERVATIONS ON RULE IX. OBS. 1.-To this general rule for the verb, there are properly no exceptions. The infinitive mood, having no relation to a nominative, is of course exempt from such agreement; and all the special rules which follow, virtually accord with this. OBS. 2.-Every finite verb (that is, every verb not in the infinitive mood) must have some noun, pronoun, or phrase equivalent, known as the subject of the being, action, or passion; and with this subject the verb must agree in person and number. OBS. 3.-Different verbs always have different subjects, expressed or understood; except when two or more verbs are connected in the same construction, or when the same verb is repeated for the sake of emphasis. OBS. 4.-Verbs in the imperative mood, commonly agree with the pronoun "Trust thou, ye, or you, understood; as, "Do [thou] as thou list."-Shak. God and be doing, and leave the rest with him."-Dr. Sibs. OBS. 5.-The place of a verb can have reference only to that of the subject with which it agrees, and that of the object which it governs; this matter is therefore sufficiently explained in the observations under Rule 2d and Rule 20th. NOTES TO RULE IX. NOTE I." The adjuncts of the nominative do not control its agreement with the verb: as, Six months' interest was due." -W. Allen. "The propriety of these rules is evident."-Id. "The mill, with all its appurtenances, was destroyed." NOTE II. The infinitive mood, a phrase, or a sentence, is sometimes the subject to a verb: a subject of this kind, however composed, if it is taken as one whole, requires a verb in the third person singular; as, "To lie is base."—"To see the sun is pleasant." "That you have violated the law, is evident." "For what purpose they embarked, is not yet known."-"How far the change would contribute to his welfare, comes to be considered."-Blair. OBS. 1.-The same meaning will be expressed, if the pronoun it be placed before the verb, and the infinitive, phrase, or sentence, after it; as, "It is base to lie."-"It is evident that you have violated the law." The construction of the following sentences is rendered defective by the omission of the pronoun: "Why do ye that which [it] is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?" -Inike, vi, 2. "The show-bread which [it] is not lawful to eat, but for the priests only."-Luke, vi, 4. Orз. 2.- When the infinitive mood is made the subject of a finite verb, it is used to express some action or state in the abstract; as, "To be contents his natural desire."-Pope. Here to be stands for simple existence. In connexion with the infinitive, a concrete quality may also be taken as an ab stract; as, "To be good is to be happy." Here good and happy express the quality of goodness and the state of happiness, considered abstractly; and therefore these adjectives do not relate to any particular noun. So also the passive infinitive, or a perfect participle taken in a passive sense; as, be satisfied with a little, is the greatest wisdom."-"To appear discouraged, is the way to become so." Here the satisfaction and the discouragement are considered abstractly, and without reference to any particular person. "To OBS. 3.-When the action or state is to be limited to a particular person or thing, the noun or pronoun may be introduced before the infinitive, by the preposition for; as, "For a prince to be reduced by villany to my distressful circumstances, is calamity enough."-Tr. of Sallust. NOTE III. A neuter or a passive verb between two nomin atives should be made to agree with that which precedes it; as, "Words are wind:" except when the terms are transposed and the proper subject is put after the verb by questio hyperbaton; as, "His pavilion were dark waters and k clouds of the sky."-Bible. "Who art thou?"-Ib. wages of sin is death."—Ib. 66 "The NOTE IV. When the verb has different forms, that form should be adopted, which is the most consistent with present and reputable usage in the style employed: thus, to say familiarly, "The clock hath stricken," "Thou laughedst and talkedst, when thou oughtest to have been silent,' "He readeth and writeth, but he doth not cipher,"-would be no better, than to use don't, won't, can't, shan't, and didn't, in preaching. NOTE V.-Every finite verb not in the imperative mood, should have a separate nominative expressed; as, “I came, 1 saw, I conquered" except when the verb is repeated for the sake of emphasis, or connected to an other in the same construction; as, "They bud, blow, wither, fall, and die."- Watts. FALSE SYNTAX UNDER RULE IX.-VERBS. You was kindly received. [FORMULE.-Not proper, because the passive verb was received is of the singular number, and does not agree with its nominative you, which is of the second person, plural. But, according to Rule 9th, "A finite verb must agree with its subject, or nominative, in person and number." Therefore, was received should be were received; thus, You were kindly received.] We was disappointed. What have become of our cousins? What avails good sentiments with a bad life? There is many occasions for the exercise of patience. There were a great number of spectators. science. Huge heaps of hoary moulder'd walls.-Dyer. He that trust in the Lord, will never be without a friend. Errors that originates in ignorance, is generally excusable. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no under standing. Not one of the authors who mentions this incident, is entitled to credit. The man and woman that was present, being strangers to him, wondered at his conduct. There necessarily follows from thence these plain and unques tionable consequences. O thou, for ever present in my way, Who all my motives and my toils survey. The derivation of these words are uncertain. One added to nineteen, make twenty. The increase of orphans render the addition necessary. A round of vain and foolish pursuits, delight some folks. To obtain the praise of men, were their only object. To steal and then deny it, are a double sin. To copy and claim the writings of others, are plagiarism. men. That it is our duty to promote peace and harmony among men, admit of no dispute. Under Note 3.- Verb between Nominatives. The reproofs of instruction is the way of life, So great an affliction to him was his wicked sons. Under Note 4.-Adapt Form to Style. 1. For the Familiar Style. Was it thou that buildedst that house? That boy writeth very elegantly. Couldest not thou write without blotting thy book? Doth not your cousin intend to visit you? That boy hath torn my, book. Was it thou that spreadest the hay? Was it James or thou that didst let him in? He dareth not say a word. Thou stoodest in my way and hinderedst me. 2. For the Solemn Style. The Lord has prepar'd his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom rules over all. Thou answer'd them, O Lord our God: thou was a God that forgave them, though thou took vengeance of their inventions. Then thou spoke in vision to thy Holy One, and said— So then it is not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God that shows mercy. Under Note 5.-Express the Nominative. New York, Fifthmonth 3d, 1823. Dear friend, Am sorry to hear of thy loss; but hope it may be retrieved. Should be happy to render thee any assistance in my power. Shall call to see thee to-morrow morn ing. Accept assurances of my regard. A. B. New York, May 3d, P. M., 1823. Dear sir, Have just received the kind note favoured me with this morning; and cannot forbear to express my gratitude to you. On further information, find have not lost so much as at first supposed; and believe shall still be able to meet all my engagements. Should, however, be happy to see you. Accept, dear sir, my most cordial thanks. C. D. Will martial flames forever fire thy mind, RULE X.-VERBS. When the nominative is a collective noun conveying the idea of plurality, the Verb must agree with it in the plural number; as, "The council were divided." OBSERVATION ON RULE X. To this rule there are no exceptions. Whenever the collective noun conveys the idea of plurality without the form, the verb is to be parsed by Rule 10th; but if the nominative conveys the idea of unity or takes the plural form, the verb is to be parsed by Rule 9th. The only difficulty is, to determine in what sense the noun should be taken. In modern usage, a plural verb is commonly adopted wherever it is admissible; as, "The public ars informed," "The plaintiff's counsel are of opinion," "The committee were instructed." A collective noun conveying the idea of unity, requires a verb in the third person, singular; and generally admits also the regular plural construction: as, "His army was defeated." "His armies were defeated." FALSE SYNTAX UNDER RULE X.-VERBS. The people rejoices in that which should cause sorrow. [FORMULE.-Not proper, because the verb rejoices is of the singular number, and does not correctly agree with its nominative people, which is a collective noun conveying the idea of plurality. But, according to Rule 10th, "When the nominative is a collective noun conveying the idea of plurality, the verb must agree with it in the plural number." Therefore, rejoices should be rejoice; thus, The people rejoice in that which should cause sorrow.] The nobility was assured that he would not interpose. The peasantry goes barefoot, and the middle sort makes use of wooden shoes. All the world is spectators of your conduct. Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound. Under Note to Rule 10.-The Idea of Unity. The church have no power to inflict corporal punishments. The meeting have established several salutary regulations. A detachment of two hundred men were immediately sent. In this business, the house of commons were of no weight. There are a flock of birds. No society are chargeable with the disapproved conduct of particular members. |