we may frequently commence the sentence with one or other of the concomitant circumstances instead of beginning with the subject. EXERCISE. LESSON 87.-Extend the following sentences as fully as you possibly can by employing addition, complement, and circumstance; and if you can accomplish it without producing an awkward effect, let one or more phrases precede the subject. Ex.: Thomas slides. Every evening after school the hardy little Thomas slides joyously, with his playfellows from the neighbouring village, on the frozen lake at the bottom of his uncle's garden. Ellen reads. Charles plays. The dog has bitten. A child has lost. The angler has caught. A beggar has found. William has bought. The pig has eaten. The mother is cooking. The apprentice has spoilt. A captain has brought. The master will give. LESSON 88.-Write twelve similar sentences, of which you have yourself chosen the subject and predicate. 88 CHAPTER III. SECTION I. THE COMPOUND SENTENCE. CONJUNCTIONS. A Simple Sentence contains only one subject and one predicate. We frequently, however, attribute several qualities or assert several actions of the same subject, or we predicate the same thing of different subjects; and we then make use of certain words called CONJUNCTIONS, by whose aid we can so connect kindred members of a sentence in a common relation to some other member, as to spare the repetition of words, and thus render language concise without impairing its lucidity. Conjunctions and other connectives perform highly important functions in the mechanism of language, and constitute a very interesting part of gram mar. An intimate acquaintance with them is indispensable to the rapid and solid acquirement of other languages; but, in the gradual development of the structure of a sentence, I shall, for the present, merely exhibit a few examples of connected phrases, deferring for a time a more exact analysis of this class of words. We may assert several things of the same subject; and, in this case, several predicates are, by the help of conjunctions, connected in relation to a common subject. Ex.: God is just. God is merciful. God is just and merciful. The dog barks. The dog bites. The dog both barks and bites. Cæsar was a statesman as well as a soldier. We have had milk for breakfast and shall have fish for dinner. The gamekeeper killed the hawk, but missed the weasel. This feeling may be mitigated, if not subdued. EXERCISE. LESSON 89.-Write twenty sentences, in which two or more predicates depend on one subject, and place a comma between the connected members, except when they are joined by the conjunctions "and,” “ nor, "or." 99 66 Ex.: Our visitor is a scholar and seems a gentleman. The ascent is dangerous, as well as difficult. The brook is rapid, though shallow. The stranger lost his watch, but saved his purse. The tide ebbs and flows. We fish in summer, shoot in autumn, and hunt in winter. We often assert the same thing of two or more different subjects, and in this case, by the help of conjunctions, several subjects stand in a common relation to the same verb. When several subjects are connected by such conjunctions that the verb predicates of them conjointly, they constitute together a plural number, and the verb, and any pronominal word representing them, must be put in the plural also. But if such conjunctions are used that the verb predicates of each subject individually, or of one to the exclusion of the other, the verb, &c., will then be in the singular number. Ex.: The butler and the footman have lost their places. Not only the butler, but the footman also, has lost his place. The trees of the forest and the flowers of the field feel alike the vivifying influence of spring. The roaring of the waves, the howling of the winds, the creaking of the cordage, and the hoarse voices of the sailors were mingled in frightful harmony. EXERCISE. LESSON 90.-Write twenty sentences, in each of which one verb predicates of two or more subjects. Ex.: The lion and the tiger are beasts of prey. Neither the woman nor the child can speak a word of English. Several additions may be so connected in relation to a common substantive as to spare its repetition; but this ellipsis sometimes requires that the defined substantive be put in the plural number. Ex.: John's book and William's book are both torn. John's and William's books are both torn. The flesh of sheep and the flesh of oxen serve mankind for food. The flesh of sheep and oxen serves mankind for food. He was a generous as well as a rich man. The myrtles in the conservatory and on the lawn are in blossom. Not only German and Spanish, but also African and Australian wool is employed by the English clothiers. Avoid vulgar and irreverent language. "It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, EXERCISE. LESSON 91.-Write twenty sentences, in each of which two or more additions determine or qualify the same substantive. Ex.: The white as well as the purple violet is fragrant. Tan- The young, Again, several complements may depend upon or be governed by the same verb or adjective. Ex.: A horse eats hay and corn. Man requires not only food but raiment also. The deaf are unconscious both of harmony and discord. The general is rid of his gout and the surgeon. Little Mary gave a penny to the mother and a halfpenny to the child. The moon affords light but not heat. She is deficient in judgment but not in imagination. EXERCISE. LESSON 92.-Write twenty sentences, in ten of which two or more complements are governed by a verb, and in the other ten by an adjective. Ex.: Insects destroy both flowers and fruit. Intemperance is ruinous to the reputation as well as to the health. Several circumstances of a similar kind may be connected in relation to a common verb or adjective. Ex.: Life is uncertain both in youth and age. I have planted some primroses on the lawn and in the garden also. God sees us by night as well as by day. The young lady is admired both for her talents and her beauty. The rector visits the major now and then. EXERCISE. LESSON 93.-Write twenty sentences, in each of which two or more circumstantial phrases are connected by con junctions in relation to a common member of the sen tence. Ex.: My father speaks rapidly but distinctly. The men are fishing both with lines and a net. The king made the attack promptly and with complete success. We have seen several things predicated of the same object, thus having a compound predicate dependent upon a simple subject; and we have also seen the same thing predicated of several distinct objects, and then a compound subject is followed by a simple predicate. We may however predicate several things of several objects, and thus we have a compound subject followed by a compound predicate. Ex.: The crew and passengers defended the vessel bravely and repelled the pirates. Neither the gentleman nor his wife can speak or understand a word of French. The mate, a part of the crew, and several passengers took to one of the boats, made for the shore, and landed in safety. EXERCISE. LESSON 94.-Try if you can form ten sentences, in each of which a compound subject is followed by a compound predicate. SECTION II. PARTICIPIAL CONNECTIVES. In narrating several facts of the same subject, we may regard some of them as introductory of, or conducive to, others of more importance, and as cited rather to illustrate the principal action, than to recount the illustrative incidents themselves. Where this is the case, instead of coupling, by conjunctions, all the predicates in relation to a common subject, we express the preliminary or incidental facts by the participles of the respective verbs; and thus, while clearly describing several actions emanating from the same |