RULE XXV.--Some verbs require special prepositions after them; as, They profit by it. He has swerved from the path of honour. (1) These are called preposition-verbs. (2) Some grammarians call the verb and its preposition in such cases a verb active; for the neuter verb becomes active with the assistance of the preposition. (3) These are preposition-verbs: Accuse of Accord to or with Attend to or upon Change for Confer on or with Confide in or to Converse with Die of or by Differ or dissent from Fall under or from Free from Insist upon Laugh at Resolve on Note (a)-Some of these verbs take other prepositions for other meanings; as, Fall in, gentlemen. Note (b)-These preposition-verbs, like active verbs, may be used in the passive voice; as, I was accused of it. EXERCISE. Point out the preposition-verbs : Is this the region, this the seat that we must change for heaven? How he fell from heaven, thrown by angry Jove. He died by the hand of the assassin. Those who boast of their acquirements show their ignorance. Think on me when it shall be well with thee. We do pray for mercy; and that same prayer doth teach us all to render the deeds of mercy. There's not the smallest orb which thou behold'st But in his motion like an angel sings, Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubim. Supply appropriate prepositions :— The Duke of Somerset was accused ( ) treason, found guilty, and beheaded. I differ entirely () that sentiment. He is greatly changed () the better. You may depend() me in this matter. Never swerve () the line of duty. Accord to. COMPOSITION. Agree with. Bestow upon. Brag of. Confide in. Cope with. Depend upon. Call for. RULE XXVI.-The gerund or present participle used as a noun is generally preceded by an article and followed by of; as, The working of the act will depend upon the people. (1) When a noun or pronoun comes before the gerund, it should be put in the possessive case; as, My going there has given much offence. The sense sometimes forbids this. (2) The present participle is often used as an adjective; as, She is a loving child.* Note. In such cases it may be compared like adjectives. (3) The present participle, like most adjectives, is made into an adverb by adding ly; as, It was charmingly beautiful. 66 (4) When the present participle, however, comes before an adverb ending in ly, the ly is not added; as, Exceeding abundantly, not, exceedingly abundantly." Sometimes the present participle is made to qualify an adjective : as, "He was exceeding wise, fair spoken, and persuading.' Observation. This usage is not sanctioned by modern grammar. EXERCISE. Point out the gerunds or present participles used as nouns, those used as adjectives, and those that are made adverbs by adding LY :— The taking of proper exercise is necessary to health. The raising of objections against a truth is sometimes easy. A loving heart is worth more than a clever head. A blasting calumny rebounds on him who sets it going. He spoke very sneeringly and insultingly of the whole affair. Soon as the evening shades prevail, The moon takes up the wondrous tale; Supply appropriate gerunds or present participles :— The() of Magna Charta by King John took place in 1215. The () of Protestants in England occurred in the reign of Mary. The ( ) back of the Spanish Armada was during the reign of Elizabeth. The () victory of Oliver Cromwell was the battle of Worcester. We cried unto the () God. The (clouds were gathering thick. COMPOSITION. Exhorting. Keeping. Returning. Resting. Gliding. Yielding. Fearing. Hoping. * While present participles always end in ing, all words ending in ing are not present participles. Some are real nouns, some are real adjectives, &c., according to their application. For the distinctions see page 28. RULE XXVII.-The past participle should be used after the verbs have and be; as, Washington was chosen commander-inchief. The ice had broken. Explanation. In these examples, the words chosen and broken are past participles, being used after the verbs was and had; the former a part of the verb to be, and the latter a part of the verb to have. Note.-Care must be taken not to use the past participle for the past tense, nor the past tense for the past participle; as, "He begun to accuse her," should be, He began to accuse her." "Demosthenes had shook the throne of Philip," should be, "Demosthenes had shaken," etc. The student cannot observe this too rigidly, as mistakes in the use of the past tense and past participle are of every day occurrence, even among those who ought to know better than to make them. EXERCISE. Point out the past participles :- She hath chosen the better part. He was frozen to death. Who is this beautiful virgin that approaches, clad in a robe of light green? He never took one side of a question because the person he was conversing with had taken the other. I am known to have had much experience of men and manners. What have I done to deserve this punishment? They lived unknown till persecution dragged them into fame. Truth shall restore the light by nature given. But yesterday, the word of Cæsar might Supply appropriate past participles :— I own I was ( ). Everybody is sometimes (). He had () a wrong turn. They were skating; for the lake was ( over. The king has() beyond me. And when I am for- ( as I shall be. Man shall not quite be (), but saved who will. Ill hast thou ( ) theme for jest! The love of liberty with life is (). The hopeless duke in covert of a ditch was (~~). COMPOSITION. Have. Has. Hath. Be. Am. Were. Shall have. Will have. Can have. Will be. Might be. Could be. RULE XXVIII. -Adverbs modify the signification of verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs; as, Socrates lived wisely. Lucretia was remarkably chaste. Edmund Burke spoke very eloquently. Explanation.In the first example, the adverb wisely modifies the signification of the verb lived; in the second example, the adverb remarkably modifies the signification of the adjective chaste; and in the third, the adverb very modifies the signification of the adverb eloquently. Observation.-Care must be taken not to use adverbs as adjectives, nor adjectives as adverbs; as, “The flowers look beautifully," should be, “The flowers look beautiful." "You speak too quick," should be "too quickly." Note. In poetry the adjective is often used for the adverb; thus "Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown." And even in prose the adjective is sometimes used, when one might suppose, at first sight, that an adverb was required; as, "The arrows of calumny fall harmless at the feet of the innocent." In many such sentences the adjective or the adverb may be used according to the sense intended. EXERCISE. Point out the adverbs, and the words they modify: Scipio, the gentle chief, humanely wise. How eagerly ye follow my disgraces! The most audacious to climb were instantly precipitated. I saw the tears run very plentifully down his face. The climate felt warm, though extremely delightful. He thinks full surely his greatness is a ripening. Thy tongue makes Welsh as sweet as ditties highly penned. I heard a thousand blended notes, In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts Supply appropriate adverbs : The situation was () beautiful. His conduct was () disgraceful. Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me(). You are () noble. The king has () cured me; I thank his grace. The like hath () been seen. COMPOSITION. Perhaps. Gently. Slowly. Calmly. Perhaps. Perchance. To-day. To-morrow. Soon. Early. Backwards. Forwards. RULE XXIX.-Two negatives in the same sentence, unless intended as an affirmation, are not correct; as, I will never go there no more, should be, I will never go there any more.* Note.-Formerly two negatives in English were allowed to strengthen each other, as they now are in French; thus, in Shakespeare, No, nor you shall not." "Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds." (1) The adverbs hither, thither, and whither were some years ago, used (and in some cases are still used) after a verb of motion; as, "Come hither, my son." "Whither are you going?" Here, there, and where are now preferred; as, Come here, my son.' Where are you going?" 66 (2) Before the adverbs hence, thence, and whence, there is no need of from: as, Whence do you come?" (3) It is now considered quite correct to say, "Where do you come from?" and it is certainly less stiff in familiar conversation than "Whence do you come?" "From whence," etc., may be found in some of our best writers. EXERCISE. Point out the negatives, as well as the other adverbs: I think his father loves him not. Come, come; no more of this unprofitable chat. There's nothing so becomes a man as modest stillness and humility. I will set you neither in gold nor silver, but in vile apparel. Did you not tell me this fat man was dead? Death distant!-No, alas! he's ever with us. I dare do all that may become a man ; Who dares do more is none. Glory is like a circle in the water; Which never ceases to enlarge itself, Till by broad spreading it disperse to nought. Supply appropriate negatives : My wife can speak no English, I() Welsh. O Sleep, how have I frighted thee, that thou ( ) more wilt weigh my eye) be long behind. I() felt better in all my life. Let() my cold words accuse my zeal. I fear ( ) woman. I am () in the roll of ordinary men. Will ( the cowards that sit at my table rid me of this turbulent priest? No. COMPOSITION. Not. Neither. None. Nothing. Never. Nor. of * When two negatives belong to different parts of a compound sentence, they are correct; as "I will not go, nor shall you.' |