RULE III

The conjunction disjunctive has an effect contrary to that of the conjunction copulative; for as the verb, noun, or pronoun, is referred to the preceding terms taken separately, it must be in the singular number; as, "Ignorance or negligence has caused this mistake;"" John, or James, or Joseph, intends to accompany me;" "There is, in many minds, neither knowledge nor understanding."

RULE IV.

A noun of multitude, or signifying many, may have a verb or pronoun agreeing with it, either of the singular or plural number; yet not without regard to the import of the word, as convey. ing unity or plurality of idea; as, "The meet ing was large;" "The parliament is dissolved ;" "The nation is powerful;" "My people do not consider: they have not known me;" "The multitude eagerly pursue pleasure, as their chief good;" "The council were divided in their sentiments."

RULE V.

Pronouns must always agree with their antecedents, and the nouns for which they stand, in gender and number; as, "This is the friend whom I love ;" "That is the vice which I hate.” "The kim

The relative is of the same person as the antecedent, and the verb agrees with it accordingly; as, "Thou who lovest wisdom," "I, who speak from experience."

RULE VI.

The relative is the nominative case to the verb, when no nominative comes between it and the verb; as, "The master who taught us; "The trees which are planted."

When a nominative comes between the relative and the verb, the relative is governed by some word in its own member of the sentence; as, "He who preserves me, to whom I owe my being, whose I am, and whom I serve, is eter

nal."

RULE VII.

When the relative is preceded by two nominatives of different persons, the relative and verb may agree in person with either, according to the sense; as, "I am the man who command

you;" or, "I am the man who commands you.”

RULE VIII.

Every adjective, and every adjective pronoun, belongs to a substantive, expressed or understood; as, "He is a good, as well as a wise man "Few are happy ;" that is, "persons :" "This is 4 & Vria wxalla in Ul &o

RULE IX.

The article a or an agrees with nouns in the singular number only, individually or collectively; as, "A Christian, an Infidel, a score, a thousand."

The definite article the may agree with nouns in the singular or plural number; as, "the gar den, the houses, the stars."

The articles are often properly omitted: wher used they should be justly applied, according to their distinct nature; as, "Gold is corrupting ; The sea is green; A lion is bold."

RULE X.

One substantive governs another signifying a different thing, in the possessive or genitive case; as, "My father's house;" "Man's happiness;" "Virtue's reward."

RULE XI.

Active verbs govern the objective case; as, "Truth ennobles her;" "She comforts me "They support us;" Virtue rewards her fol

lowers.

RULE XII.

One verb governs another that follows it, or depends upon it, in the infinitive mood; as, "Cease to do evil; learn to do well;" "We should be prepared to render an account

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

RULE XIII.

In the use of words and phrases which, in point of time, relate to each other, a due regard to that relation should be observed. Instead of saying, "The Lord hath given, and the Lord hath taken away;" we should the Lord hath taken away." say, "The Lord gave, and member the family more than twenty years;" it Instead of, "I reshould be, "I have remembered the family more than twenty years."

RULE XIV.

Participles have the same government as the verbs from which they are derived; as, “I am weary with hearing him;" "She is instructing us," "The tutor is admonishing Charles."

RULE XV.

Adverbs though they have no government of case, tense, &c. require an appropriate situation in the sentence, viz. for the most part before adjectives, after verbs active or neuter, and frequently between the auxiliary and the verb: as, 411 ande a very sensible discourse; he spoke W7777 ily and forcibly; and was attentively heard by the whole assembly."

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RULE XVI.

Two negatives in English destrov one anoth

Prepositions govern the adjective case: as, "I have heard a good character of her;"

"From him that is needy, turn not away;" "A word to the wise is sufficient for them;" "We may be good and happy without riches.”

RULE XVIII.

Conjunctions connect the same moods and tenses of verbs, and cases of nouns and pronouns : as, "Candour is to be approved and practised;" "If thou sincerely desire, and earnestly pursue virtue, she will assuredly be found by thee, and prove a rich reward ;""The master taught her and me to write ;"2" He and she were schoolfellows."

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RULE XIX.

Some conjunctions require the indicative, some the subjunctive mood, after them. It is a general rule, that when something contingent or doubtful is implied, the subjunctive ought to be used; as, If I were to write, he would not regard it;" "He will not be pardoned, unless he repent.” Conjunctions that are of a positive and absolute "As virtue nature require the indicative mood. advances so vice recedes;" "He is healthy because he is temperate.”