Page:Collier's Cyclopedia of Commercial and Social Information.djvu/18

6 prepositions, exactly as we have seen nouns attached, in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), but showing their subordinate position to the subject, by being in the objective or accusative case; and the third, "won by observation," is a participle with an object expressive of means. This participle is not formed in the same way as those were formed which we have before met with. "Perfect-ed" and "bound-ed" have been made by the addition of the final syllable; but "won" is formed by the change of the vowel in the verb "win."

17. The last paragraph (7) we thus arrange:

Here we have a predicate "read," and a considerable number of objects, but there is no subject; yet the sense is complete. There is, however, no assertion made by the verb; on the contrary, it conveys a command; and the subject, if expressed, would not occupy the customary place to the left of the predicate, but would come between it and the objects. Grammarians distinguish the forms of verbs which signify commands as the imperative mood. The four principal groups of objects belong to one and the same class, that which expresses the purpose or design of the action; and they are so combined by the conjunctions, "nor" and "but," as to enable a single verb to act as predicate to them all. The conjunction, "nor," serves to give to the second and third groups the same negative character that is imparted to the first by the negative object "not;" and the fourth is contrasted with all the preceding groups, as stating the design that should be kept in view in reading, by the use of "but."

In the expression, "to take for granted," we have a participle attached to a verb by means of a preposition, as an object needful to complete it; and the next group shows two nouns, "talk and discourse," combined by the conjunction "and," so as to spare the repetition of the verb "to find," to which they both serve as "objects." 18. From this illustration, extending only to seven paragraphs—and those neither long nor very greatly complicated—may be seen, both what English grammar actually is, and what a large and clear knowledge of its facts and laws may be attained by the plan of study which we have recommended. It may also be seen how completely language is the product and representation of the thought or meaning of those who speak or write; and how subordinate is the office of the grammarian—limited, in fact, to the elucidation and interpretation of the forms and principles of language, by the most general laws and forms of thought. For not only cannot possibly frame his declensions and conjugations, his concords and governments, so as to provide a place for every combination and inflexion and mode of giving expression to the infinitely diversified shade of meaning, even in the language of common life.

19. The following example will show how easy it is to analyze and arrange the most complicated paragraphs, so as to exhibit, without the employment of a single technical term, every fact both of Etymology and Syntax contained in it. The passage is from Locke's "Essay concerning Human Understanding." Book iv., chap. 1., § 7. "God, having designed man for a sociable creature, made. him not only with an inclination, and under a necessity, to have fellowship with those of his own kind, but furnished him also with language; which was to be the great instrument and common tie of society."