SYNTAX. INTRODUCTION. 602. PARTS of speech (as we have seen, 2), either singly or combined, form propositions; e. g., Amas, thou lovest; puer ludit, the boy plays. 603. Propositions, either singly or combined, form sentences; e. g., Equus currit (one prop.), the horse runs; Puĕr lūdĭt et équŭs currit (two propositions). 604. Sentences, in their various forms and combinations, of course, comprise the language. 605. Sentences may be divided into two classes, viz.: 1) Simple sentences, or such as contain a single proposition; e. g., Puĕr lūdĭt. 2) Compound sentences, or such as contain more than one proposition; e. g., Puěr ladit et equus currit. 606. In a compound sentence, the propositions which compose it are either, 1) Independent of each other, as in the above example, and are called co-ordinate propositions; or, 2) One of them is used to qualify the other, or some part of it, and is called a dependent or subordinate proposition, while that on which it depends is called a leading or prin cipal proposition; e. g., Servus vēnĭt ut portas claudăt, the slave has come to shut the gates. Here, 'servūs vēnìť is a principal proposition, and ut portās claudăť' is a dependent proposition. CHAPTER I. The Essential Elements of Sentences.—Subject and Predicate. SECTION I.-SUBJECT. 607. EVERY sentence, however simple, consists of two distinct parts, viz.. 1) The Subject, or that of which it speaks, as, puĕr, in the sentence puěr lūdīt. 2) The Predicate, or that which is said of the subject, as ludit, in the above sentence. 608. The subject of a sentence must be either, 1) A noun; e. g., puer, in the sentence puĕr lūdît; or, 2) A word or clause used as a noun; e. g., mentīrī, in the sentence turpe est mentīrī. 609. RULE I. The Subject.-The subject of a finite* verb is put in the nominative; e. g., Equus currit, the horse runs. 610. The subject may either be simple or compound. 1) The simple subject consists either of a single nominative, or of two or more nominatives representing the same person or thing; e. g., (1) Lătīnus rēgnābăt, Latinus was reigning; (2) Lătīnus rex rēgnābăt, Latinus the king was reigning. 2) The compound subject consists of two or more simple subjects connected by conjunctions, expressed or understood; e. g., Caesăr ĕt Balbus Rōmăm vēnērunt, Caesar and Balbus came to Rome. SECTION II.-PREDICATE. 611. The predicate of a sentence must be either, 1) A verb; e. g., lūdīt, in the sentence puěr lūdīt; or, * For the subject of an infinitive see 655. By an attributive noun is meant one which is used to qualify or describe another noun. 1. Cícero fuit consul, Cicero was consul. Christiani est nēmĭněm viõlārě, it is the duty of a. Chris tian to wrong nobody. Here, fuit consul and Christiani est are the predicates. 2. Terră est rotundă, the earth is round. Humanum est errare, to err is human. Here, est rõtundă and hūmānum est are the predicates. 612. RULE II. Finite Verb.-A finite verb must agree with its subject in number and person; e. g., Puěr lūdĭt, the boy plays. REM.-If the subject is compound, the verb is generally put in the plural. 613. RULE III. Attributive Noun.-An attributive noun in the predicate, after the verb essě and a few passive verbs, is put, 1) In the same case as the subject, when it denotes the same person or thing; e. g., Cicero fuit consul, Cicero was consul. 2) In the genitive, when it denotes a different person or thing; e. g., Christiani est němĭněm viõlarě, it is the duty of a Christian to wrong nobody. 614. RULE IV. Adjectives.-Adjectives and participles (whether in the subject or the predicate) agree in gender, number, and case, with the nouns which they qualify; e. g., Terră est rotundă, the earth is round. 615. The predicate, like the subject, may be either simple or compound. 1) The simple predicate contains but a single finite verb e. g., Puĕr currit, the boy runs. 2) The compound predicate consists of two or more simple predicates connected by conjunctions, expressed or under stood; e. g, Puĕr currit et lūdĭt, the boy runs and plays. 616. In principal sentences (including simple sentences) the verb of the predicate may be put in any finite mood. 1) The indicative is used, in positive assertions; e. g., Portaa claudit, he is shutting the gates. 2) The subjunctive is used, a) To express an affirmation doubtfully cr conditionally; e. g., Dărět, he would give it (i. e., if he had it, perhaps). b) Sometimes to express a wish or command; e. g., Scrībăt, he may write, may he write, or let him write. 3) The imperative is used to express a command; e. g., Portás claudě, shut the gates. 617. RULE V. Vocative.-The name of the person or thing addressed is put in the vocative; e. g., Quid est, Cătălină? why is this, Catiline? REM.-This, of course. forms no part of the subject or predicate. CHAPTER II. Subordinate Elements.-Modifiers. SECTION I.-USE OF MODIFIERS. 618. BOTH subject and predicate may have qualifying words and clauses connected with them, to limit or modify their meaning; e. g., 1) Lătinŭs rex rēgnāvīt, Latinus the king reigned. Here the subject is modified by rex (59). 2) Mīlītēs fortiter pugnant, the soldiers fight bravely. Here the predicate is modified by fortiter (77). 619. Any modifier, whether in the subject or the predicate, may be itself modified; e. g., Lătínŭs, bonus rex, rēgnavit. Here the modifier, rex, is itself modified by bonus. 620. Nouns, adjectives, verbs, and adverbs, are often found with modifiers. SECTION II.-MODIFIERS OF NOUNS. 621. Nouns, including pronouns, may be modified, I. By adjectives and participles. II. By nouns and clauses used with the force of adjectives. 622. I. Nouns may be modified by adjectives and participles; e. g1 Bonus puer, a good boy. See Rule IV. 623. II. Nouns may be modified by nouns and clauses used with the force of adjectives. These are, |