445. The same is inflected interrogatively thus:

Shall I move?

Wilt thou move?
(or Art thou to move?)
Shall he move?

Shall we move?

Will ye or you move? (or Are you to move?) Shall they move?

["I will move" implies that the action depends on my own will; "I am to move implies that the action depends on the will of another. In like manner "Wilt thou move?" or "Will you move?" implies that the action depends on the will of the person addressed; but if the action were to depend on the will of another, the question should be "Are you to move?"]

LESSON XLVI.

Punctuation.

446. Punctuation is that branch of Orthography which teaches us how to indicate by Stops or Points the different pauses made by the voice in correct speaking and reading.

447. These different pauses are indicated by the following Stops or Points :—

448. In ordinary letter-writing the stops most commonly used are the Period, the Comma, and

the Note of Interrogation. The Note of Admiration is also sometimes used, but it should be employed only sparingly.

449. The Period marks the long pause which the voice makes when a sentence is quite finished, i.e., when nothing further is needed to make the sense complete. As, Patience and perseverance command success.

450. The Comma marks the short pauses which the voice makes in reading correctly a sentence, which consists of two or more separate sentences, or two or more distinct phrases.

As

To confess the truth, we are all liable to error, and should, on that account, regard with patience and humility the failings of our neighbours.

In reading this sentence correctly a very short pause should be made at truth, at error, at should, and at account. These short pauses of the voice should in writing be indicated by Commas.

451. The Note of Interrogation marks the pause which the voice makes after completing a question. This pause is equal in duration to that indicated by the Period, but differs from it in this, that, before the pause marked by the Period, the voice is lowered, whereas at the end of a question the voice should be raised.

452. The Note of Admiration marks the pause which the voice makes after the expressions of

L

Surprise, Sorrow, Joy, &c. As, Oh how wonderful! Alas! how very sad!

453. The uses of the several Stops can best be learned by explanations in connexion with Reading Lessons and Dictation Exercises.

There is a tendency to use too many stops. An eminent authority has said :"The great enemies to understanding anything printed in our language are the Commas. And these are inserted without the slightest compunction on every possible occasion. Many words are by rule always hitched off with two Commas, one before and one behind. 'Too' is one of these words; however' another; also' another; the sense in almost every such case being disturbed, if not destroyed by the process."

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DUBLIN: Printed by ALEXANDER THOM, 87 & 88, Abbey-street,

Printer to the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty.

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