Page:The Comic English Grammar.djvu/92

88 For which reason she is like a cook.

Verbs neuter do not govern an objective case. Observe, therefore, that such phrases: as, "She cried a good one" "He came the old soldier over me," and so forth, are highly improper in a grammatical point of view, to say nothing of other objections to them.

These verbs, however, are capable of governing words of a meaning similar to their own: as, in the affecting ballad of Giles Scroggins—

The verb To Be has the same case after it as that which goes before it: as, "It was I," not "It was me" "The Grubbs were they who eat so much tripe at our last party;" not "The Grubbses were them."

One verb governs another that depends upon it, in the infinitive mood: as, "Cease to smoke pipes." "Begin to wear collars." "I advise you to shave." "I recommend you to go to church." "I resolved to visit the Carolinas."

In general the preposition to is used before the latter of two verbs; but sometimes it is more properly omitted: as, "I saw you take it, young fellow; come along with me." "Let me get hold of you, that's all!" "Did I hear you speak?" "I'll let you know!" "You dare not hit me." "Bid me discourse." "You need not sing."

The proposition for is sometimes unnecessarily intruded into a sentence, in addition to the preposition to, before an infinitive mood: as, How came you for to