SECTION VI.

ANALYSIS AND SYNTHESIS.

LV.-DEFINITIONS.

I. SUBJECT AND PREDICATE.

I. Analysis is the separation of a sentence into the parts, or ele ments, of which it is composed..

II. Synthesis is the process of constructing sentences from their elements.

III. A sentence is a combination of words expressing a complete thought.

IV. The principal elements of a sentence are the subject and the predicate.

The subject represents that of which something is stated: as, "Birds sing."

The predicate tells what is stated of the subject: as, "Birds sing."

V. An adjunct, or modifier, is a word (or words) added to the subject or predicate to limit or modify its meaning: as, "The big fire burns brightly."

VI. The simple subject is the subject without adjuncts: as, "Fire burns."

VII. The complete subject is the simple subject with its adjuncts: as, "The big FIRE burns."

VIII. The simple predicate is the predicate verb: as, "The big fire burns."

IX. The complete predicate is the predicate verb with its adjuncts: as, "The big fire BURNS brightly."

X. A proposition is the combination of a subject with a predicate, forming either an independent or a dependent statement. Thus

1. Life is but an empty dream-[independent statement].

2. Tell me not that life is but an empty dream-["that life is but an empty dream" a dependent statement, because the object of the verb "tell"].

EXERCISE 56.

a.

In the following sentences select, first the simple subjects and predicates, and then the complete subjects and predicates.

1. The army advanced rapidly.

2. Great men are rare.

3. The huntsman's horn awoke the echoes.
4. Many friends of my youth have perished.

5. The little bird's song is sweet.

6. Franklin, the great philosopher, was an American.

7. The bright fire soon warmed our hands.

8. The garden has many beautiful flowers in full blossom.
9. We must not eat unripe fruit.

10. The apples will be ripe soon.
11. Where has your brother gone?
12. How cool the air is!

b.

In the following sentences, expand the subject by means of adjective words, adjective phrases, or both.

MODEL: "The bridge spans the river." Enlarged-"The great iron bridge, built by a skilful engineer, spans the river."

1. The bridge spans the river.

G

2. The mechanic repaired the engine.

3. Snakes infest the country.

4. Milton wrote Paradise Lost.

5. Birds fly.

6. The fox stole the hens.

7. Bees gather honey.

8. Music soothes.

9. The fire burns. 10. The day is passed. 11. Humboldt is dead. 12. Books please me.

C.

In the following sentences, expand the predicate by means of adverbs, adverbial phrases, or both.

MODEL: "We go to swim." Enlarged-"We often go to swim in the river."

1. We go to swim.

2. The moon shines.

3. They learn their lessons.

4. The American soldiers fought.

5. James wrote a letter.

6. It is pleasant to watch the stars.

7. We took shelter.

8. The fire burns.

9. Bees gather honey.

10. The microscope shows us animalcules.

11. Birds fly.

12. Fishes swim.

II. ELEMENTS OF THE SENTENCE.

XI. A phrase is a combination of related words forming an element of a sentence.

1. A phrase is generally introduced by a preposition, a participle, or an infinitive: as

The study of history improves the mind-[phrase introduced by a preposition].

The balloon, filled with gas, floated up in the air-[phrase introduced by a participle].

To forget an injury is the mark of a noble mind-[phrase introduced by an infinitive].

2. A phrase is equivalent to a noun, an adjective, or an adverb. When equivalent to a noun it is called a noun phrase; when equivalent to an adjective, an adjective phrase; when equivalent to an adverb, an adverbial phrase.

X II. A clause is a dependent, or subordinate, proposition, introduced by a connective: as―

1. He will learn if you teach him.
2. I shall be ready when you call.

× III. Sentences are classed as simple, complex, and compound.

A simple sentence consists of one independent proposition: as— The earth rotates.

A complex sentence consists of one independent (or principal) proposition and one or more clauses: as

We succeed [principal statement] because we persevere [clause].

XA compound sentence consists of two or more independent propositions: as

The fields are fragrant and the woods are green.

IV. According to their use, sentences are classed as declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamative.

For the definition of these terms, see page 23.

LVI-ANALYSIS OF THE SIMPLE SENTENCE.

1. Nature of the Simple Sentence.

I. The simple subject of a simple sentence consists of a word or

a phrase.

Gold is a metal-[noun subject].

Word Subject..... We hear the music-[pronoun subject].

To walk is good exercise-[infinitive subject].
Where to go is the question.

Phrase Subject... Fishing for trout is fine fun.

To die for one's country is sweet.

II. The simple subject of a simple sentence may be modified by adjective words or adjective phrases.

III. An adjective word may be―

1. An adjective: as, "bright skies;" "some books."

2. A noun in the possessive case: as, "the huntsman's horn;" "the sun's rays."

3. A noun in apposition: as, "Franklin, the philosopher;" "Alexander, the coppersmith."

IV. An adjective phrase may be introduced by a preposition or a participle: as

1. The love [subject] of money is the root of all evil.

2. Exhausted by fatigue, we [subject] lay down to rest.

V. The simple predicate of a simple sentence may take an object or other complement (predicate nominative or predicate adjective):

as

1. Carpenters BUILD houses—[object].

2. We ARE scholars-[complement or predicate nominative].
3. Glass is transparent-[complement or predicate adjective]