still better to express the sentence in the following manner : "This was the advice of my father, mother, and uncle." [See No. 21, p. 9.] 70. The possessive case should be immediately followed by the noun by which it is governed; and the noun which governs it always expresses the thing which is possessed. Whenever, therefore, a sentence occurs, in which the possessive case cannot be placed immediately before the noun which governs it, it will be proper to change the possessive into the objective, according to the principle stated in No. 21, p. 9. Correct the following sentences. She began to extol the farmer's, as she called him, excellent understanding. This fact appears from Dr. Pearson of Birmingham's experiments. They implicitly obeyed the Protector's, as they called him, imperious mandates. [It is proper here to remark, that, in such expressions as the following-"I left the parcel at Smith's, the bookseller "-"Whose glory did he emulate? He emulated Cæsar's, the greatest general of his age," &c.—the latter nouns, bookseller and general, are not to be considered as the possessive case. The expressions are elliptical; and when the ellipsis is supplied, the sentence will stand thus: "I left the parcel at Smith's, who is the bookseller," &c. (See Part I, p. 84, line 14.) It may be further remarked, that it is inelegant to construct a sentence in such a manner, as to cause too frequent a repetition either of the preposition of, or the sign of the possessive case. Thus, the expression, "The king of England's prerogative's extent," or "The extent of the prerogative of the king of England," would be better thus: "The extent of the king of England's prerogative."] 71. When two or more nouns, or a noun and pronoun, come together, and mean the same person or thing, they are in apposition, and must be in the same case. Correct the following errors. They slew Varus, he that was mentioned before. Napoleon Bonaparte, him that conquered the ablest generals of Europe, was himself conquered by Wellington. 72. The word to, the sign of the infinitive mood, is omitted after the active form of the verbs bid, dare, need, make, see, hear, feel, let, perceive, observe, behold, have, know, and a few others. Correct the following errors. I need not to solicit him. I dare not to proceed. I have seen some young persons to conduct themselves very discreetly. It is unpleasant to see so many to make the error. He bade me to go home. The difference in their conduct makes us to approve the one and reject the other. THE ARTICLE. 73. When a noun occurs without any article before it, it is used to signify all of its kind. Thus, when we say that "A candid temper is proper for man," the word man means all of mankind. Again, when we say, "Fire, air, earth, and water, are the four elements of the philosophers," we mean all kinds of fire, air, earth, and water. When a noun is thus used, it is said to be taken in its UNIVERSAL SENSE. If, however, we wish to mention some particular individual person or thing, we use the article THE before it. Thus, if "I saw the man go into the house," we mean some particular man, and some particular house. When a noun we say, is thus used, it is said to be taken DEFINITELY.* But if we wish to speak of one person or thing of a kind, without mentioning any particular one, we use the article a, Although the proper use of the articles is a most important point in the construction of sentences, it is absolutely impossible to give any rule of universal application with regard to them. And although what is stated in No. 73 is generally true, yet there is a most singular exception as it regards the article THE, which is sometimes put before a noun representing the whole of its species, when compared with another noun representing another species. Thus we say, "THE dog is a more grateful animal than the cat; that is, ALL dogs are more grateful than cats. "The European is more intelligent than the African." "The Englishman is a better sailor than the Frenchman." "The oak is stronger than the elm." So likewise with regard to the indefinite article a.—A peculiar effect is produced by its use or omission after certain words. Thus we say, "I do not intend to turn critic on this occasion," not " turn a critic,' &c.; but if we substitute the word become for turn, it will then be proper to insert the article a, thus: "I do not intend to become a critic," &c. So likewise it is proper to say, "He is in a great hurry;" but if we substitute the word haste for hurry, it will be proper to omit the article, thus: "He is in great haste." A few sentences are subjoined, to show the peculiar use of the articles, and the effect on the sense when they are omitted. "Mun was made for society, and ought to extend his good will to all men; but a man will naturally entertain a more particular kindness for When a which means one. Thus, if we say, "I saw a man go into a house," it may mean any man, and any house. noun is thus used, it is said to be used INDEFINITELY. In the following sentences, the pupil will supply the proper articles, and omit those which are improperly introduced. We The reason was given to a man to control his passions. A gold is corrupting. Man is a husband of woman. Wisest and best men are sometimes betrayed into the errors. must act our parts with a constancy, though reward of our constancy be distant. The purity has its seat in a heart, but extends its influence over so much of an outward conduct, as to form great and material part of character. Profligate man is seldom found to be good husband, good father, or beneficent neighbor. The true charity is not meteor which occasionally glares, but luminary which dispenses benignant influence. He is a head of the class. The Almighty has given reason to a man to be a light unto him. 74. A great difference in the sense is made by the use or · omission of the article A. Thus, if we say, "She has a little modesty," we mean that she is modest; but if we say, "She has little modesty," we mean that she is not modest. THE men with whom he has the most frequent intercourse, and enters into a still closer union with THE man whose temper and disposition suit best with his own." "In the History of Henry the Fourth, by Father Daniel, we are sur ́prised at not finding him the great man.' "I own I am often surprised that he should have treated so coldly a man so much the gentleman." is, "He looks him full in the face," that is, "his face." "In his presence they were to strike the forehead on the ground," that "their foreheads." "Men who have not bowed the knee to Baal," that is," their knees.” "A commonwealth is a constitution the most adapted of any to the poverty of a country." "The great and good man," means one man. "The great and the good man," means two different men. "I saw a red and white house," means that I saw but one house. "I saw a red and a white house," means I saw two different houses. They cost five shillings a dozen," that is, "each dozen."-" Forty pounds a year," that is, "each year.' 66 "He is a better soldier than scholar," that is, "He has more merit as a soldier than as a scholar."-" He is a better soldier than a scholar," that is, "He has more merit as a soldier than a scholar has." "Full many a flower is born to blush unseen. Correct the following sentences. He behaved with a little reverence, and therefore deserved reproof. Had he behaved with little reverence, we should commend him He has been much censured for paying a little attention to his business. Had he paid little attention to his accounts, they would have been more correct. So bold a breach of order, called for little severity in punishing the offender. PARTICIPLES. 45. The present and compound perfect participles of active verbs require the objective case after them. Correct the following errors. Esteeming theirselves. Suspecting ye and they. Having exposed hisself. Having invited she, you may attend yourself. Considering, in some degree, they as enemies to me, and he as a suspicious friend, I avoided both him and them. 76. A participle preceded by an article, or a possessive adjective pronoun, becomes a noun, and must be followed by the preposition of; as, "Much depends on their observing of the rules." "This was a betraying of the trust." "It is an overvaluing of ourselves." Correct the following errors. He prepared them for this event, by the sending to them proper information. A person cannot be wise or good without the taking pains for it. Nothing could have made her so unhappy as the marrying a man who possesses such principles. The changing times and seasons, the removing and setting up kings, belong to Providence alone. Poverty turns our thoughts too much upon the supplying our wants, and riches upon the enjoying of superfluities. The middle station of life, therefore, seems to be the most advantageously situated for the gaining wisdom. Propriety of pronunciation is the giving to every word of that sound, which the most polite usage of the language appropriates to it. This was in fact a converting the deposit to his own use. There will be no danger of their spoiling their faces, or of their gaining converts. For his avoiding that precipice, he is indebted to his friends' care. It was from our misunderstanding of the directions, that we lost our way. 77. The perfect participle must not be used for the imperfect tense, nor the imperfect tense for the perfect participle. Correct the following errors. That boy run a great risk. He done it at my request. He has wrote his copy. He begun to be weary of having nothing to do. He drunk with great avidity. A second deluge learning thus o'errun, and the monks finished what the Goths begun. If some events had not fell out very unexpectedly, I should have went with him. He returned the goods which he had stole. They have chose the good path. His vices have broke his health. He had mistook his true interest, and found himself forsook by his former adherents. The bread that has been eaten is soon forgot. -No new contentions have arose. The cloth was wove of the finest wool. The French language is spoke in every state in Europe. His resolution could not be shook by slight opposition. Having took improper liberties at first, he was not much restrained afterwards. He said that he see him yesterday. He has not yet wore off his rough manners. You have forsook your old friends. They who have bore a part of the labor, shall share the reward. The rules have been wantonly broke. He writes as the best authors would have wrote, had they writ on the same subject. I am almost froze. The price of flour has rise. He has arose. The school has began. I have bade him be prepared. The society has chose their officers. John come to school early this morning. The cock has crew twice. Wicked men have never throve long. I have not durst to say much. He has trod upon my paper. Have you did your work? Have you ate your dinner? I have wore this garment a long time. They fit bravely. The bird has flew away. His best friends have forsook him. Have you gave that note to your father? The vessel was heavily laded. The bell has been rang. He has rose from his seat. I have never saw it before. It was shook very violently. She has sang her song. The book has slid from the shelf. He was smote. I have spoke to him. I have strove to make him understand. He has swore very wickedly. He has took |