OBSERVATIONS ON RULE XIII.

Obs. 1.—When separate nominatives are expressed, distinct sentences are formed, and the verbs have not a common construction. Those examples which require a repetition of the nominative might be corrected equally well by Note 5th to Rule 9th.

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OBS. 2.—Those parts which are common to several verbs are generally expressed to the first, and understood to the rest; as, Every sincere endeavour to amend shall be assisted, [shall be] accepted, and [shall be] rewarded."—" Honourably do the best you can" [do],— You have seen it, but I have not" [seen it].

NOTES TO RULE XIII.

Note I.—The preterit should not be employed to form the compound tenses, nor should the perfect participle be used for the preterit. Thus: say, "To have forgotten"— —not, "To have forgot," and, "I began it"—not, began it."

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NOTE II.—Care should be taken to give every verb its appropriate form and signification. Thus: say, "He lay by the fire"—not, "He laid by the fire."—" He had entered into the connexion"—not, "He was entered into the connexion."—" I would rather stay"—not, "I had rather stay."

Obs.—Several verbs which resemble each other in form are sometimes confounded: as, to flee, to fly; to lay, to lie; to sit, to set; &c. There are also erroneous forms of some of the compound tenses: as, "We will be convinced," for "We shall be convinced."

FALSE SYNTAX UNDER RULE XIII.

They would neither go in themselves, nor suffered others to

enter.

[Not proper, because the two verbs would go and suffered, which are connected without separate nominatives, do not agree in mood. But, according to Rule 13th, "When verbs are connected by a conjunction, they must either agree in mood, tense, and form, or have separate nominatives expressed." The sentence is best* corrected by changing suffered to would suffer (would understood); thus, They would neither go in themselves, nor suffer others to enter.]

Errors under this rule may generally be corrected in three ways: 1. By changing the first verb, to agree with the second; 2. By changing the second verb, to agree with the first; 3. By inserting the nominative.

If he understands the business, and attend to it, wherein is he deficient?

The day is approaching, and hastens upon us, in which we must give an account of our stewardship.

There are a few who have kept their integrity to the Lord, and prefer his truth to all other enjoyments.

This report was current yesterday, and agrees with what we
heard before.
Under Note 1.

They have chose the part of honour and virtue.
Somebody has broke my slate.

Under Note 2.

He was entered into the conspiracy.
I entered the room and set down.
Go and lay down, my son.

RULE XIV.—PARTICIPLES.

Participles relate to nouns or pronouns, or are governed by prepositions: as, "Elizabeth's tutor, at one time paying her a visit, found her employed in reading Plato."— Hume.

EXCEPTION FIRST.

A participle sometimes relates to a preceding phrase or sentence, of which it forms no part; as,

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But ever to do ill our sole delight,

As being the contrary to His high will."—Milton.

EXCEPTION SECOND.

With an infinitive denoting being or action in the abstract, a participle is sometimes also taken abstractly (that is, without reference to any particular noun, pronoun, or other subject); as, "To seem compelled is disagreeable."

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OBSERVATION ON RULE XIV.

The word to which the participle relates is sometimes understood; as, Granting this to be true, what is to be inferred from it?"—Murray. That is, "I granting this to be true, ask what is to be inferred from it?" "The very chin was, [I] modestly speaking [say], as long as my whole face."—Addison.

How many and what exceptions are there to Rule 14th?

NOTES TO RULE XIV.

Note I.—Active Participles have the same government as the verbs from which they are derived; the preposition of, therefore, should never be used after the participle when the verb does not require it. Thus, in phrases like the following, of is improper: "Keeping of one day in seven"— "By preaching of repentance."

Obs.—When participles are compounded with something that does not belong to the verb, they become adjectives; and, as such, they cannot govern an object after them. The following sentence is therefore inaccurate: "When Caius did any thing unbecoming his dignity." Jones's Church History. Such errors are to be corrected by Note 15th to Rule 4th, or by changing the participle; as, Unbecoming to his dignity," or "Not becoming his dignity."

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NOTE II.—When a transitive participle is converted into a noun, of must be inserted to govern the object following. Oas. 1.—An imperfect or a compound participle, preceded by an article, an adjective, or a noun or pronoun of the possessive case, becomes a verbal noun; and, as such, it cannot govern the objective case. A word which may be the object of the participle in its proper construction, requires the preposition of, to connect it with the verbal noun; as, 1. (The participle)" Worshipping idols, the Jews sinned."— "Thus worshipping idols—In worshipping idols—or, By worshipping idols, they sinned." 2. (The verbal noun) "The worshipping of idols—Such worshipping of idols—or, Their worshipping of idols, was sinful."

OBS. 2. When the use of the preposition produces ambiguity or harshness, the expression must be varied. Thus the sentence, He mentions Newton's writing of a commentary," is both ambiguous and awkward. If the preposition be omitted, the word writing will have a double construction, which is inadmissible. Some would say, "He mentions Newton writing a commentary." This is still worse; because it makes the leading word in sense the adjunct in construction. meaning may be correctly expressed thus: "He mentions that Newton wrote a commentary."."-" By his studying the Scriptures, he became wise." Here his serves only to render the sentence incorrect: all such possessives are to be expunged.

The

OBS. 3.—We sometimes find a participle that takes the same case after as before it converted into a verbal noun, and the latter word retained unchanged in connexion with it; as, "I have some recollection of his father's being a judge." -"To prevent its being a dry detail of terms."—Buck. The noun after the verbal is in apposition with the possessive going before. Nouns that are in apposition with the possessive case do not admit the possessive sign.

Obs. 4.—The verbal noun should not be accompanied by any adjuncts of the verb or participle, unless they be taken into composition; as, "The hypocrite's hope is like the giving-up of the ghost." The following phrase is therefore inaccurate : For the more easily reading of

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large numbers." Yet if we say, "For reading large numbers the more

easily," the construction is different, and not inaccurate.

Note III. In the use of participles and of verbal nouns, the leading word in sense should always be made the leading or governing word in the construction.

Obs.—A participle construed after the nominative or the objective case, is not equivalent to a verbal noun governing the possessive. There is sometimes a nice distinction to be observed in the application of these two constructions. For the leading word in sense should not be made the adjunct in construction. The following sentences exhibit a disregard to this principle, and are both inaccurate : "He felt his strength's declining." "He was sensible of his strength declining." In the former sentence the noun strength should be in the objective case, governed by felt; and in the latter, in the possessive, governed by declining.

NOTE IV.—Participles, in general, however construed, should have a clear reference to the proper subject of the being, action, or passion. The following sentence is therefore faulty: "By giving way to sin, trouble is encountered." This suggests that trouble gives way to sin. It should be, By giving way to sin, we encounter trouble."

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NOTE V.—The preterit of irregular verbs should not be used for the perfect participle: as, "A certificate wrote on parchment"—for, A certificate written on parchment." Note VI.—Perfect participles being variously formed, care should be taken to express them agreeably to the best usage: thus, learnt, past, are erroneously written for tearned, passed; and holden, proven, are now superseded by held, proved.

FALSE SYNTAX UNDER RULE XIV.

Examples under Note 1.

In forming of his sentences, he was very exact.

[Not proper, because the preposition of is used after the participle forming, whose verb does not require it. But, according to Note 1st under Rule 14th, " Participles have the same government as the verbs from which they are derived; the preposition of, therefore, should not be used after the participle, when the verb does not require it." Therefore of should be omitted; thus, In forming his sentences, he was very exact.]

By observing of truth, you will command respect.

I heard them discussing of this subject.

By consulting of the best authors, he became learned.

Here are rules, by observing of which, you may avoid error.

Under Note 2.

Their consent was necessary for the raising any supplies.
Thus the saving a great nation devolved on a husbandman.
It is an overvaluing ourselves, to decide upon every thing.
That burning the capitol was a wanton outrage.

My admitting the fact will not affect the argument.

Under Note 3.

There is no harm in women knowing about these things.
They did not give notice of the pupil leaving.

The maturity of the sago tree is known by the leaves being covered with a delicate white powder.

Under Note 4.

Sailing up the river, the whole town may be seen.
Being conscious of guilt, death becomes terrible.
By yielding to temptation, our peace is sacrificed.
In loving our enemies, no man's blood is shed.

Under Note 5.

I found the water entirely froze, and the pitcher broke.
Being forsook by my friends, I had no other resource.
My cloak was stole from the portmanteau.

Under Note 6.

With powerless wings around them wrapt.
Error learnt from preaching, is held as sacred truth.
He past the house several times.

RULE XV.--ADVERBS.

Adverbs relate to verbs, participles, adjectives, or other adverbs: as, "Any passion that habitually discomposes our temper, or unfits us for properly discharging the duties of life, has most certainly gained a very dangerous ascendency."—Blair.

EXCEPTION.

The adverbs yea and yea expressing a simple affirmation, and the adverbs no and nay expressing a simple negation, are always independent. They generally answer a question, and are equivalent to a whole

sentence.

What exception is there to Rule 15th?
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