Page:The grammar of English grammars.djvu/641

 mas Book''.

CHAPTER VII--PARTICIPLES.

The true or regular syntax of the English Participle, as a part of speech distinct from the verb, and not converted into a noun or an adjective, is twofold; being sometimes that of simple relation to a noun or a pronoun that precedes it, and sometimes that of government, or the state of being governed by a preposition. In the former construction, the participle resembles an adjective; in the latter, it is more like a noun, or like the infinitive mood: for the participle after a preposition is governed as a participle, and not as a case.[417] To these two constructions, some add three others less regular, using the participle sometimes as the subject of a finite verb, sometimes as the object of a transitive verb, and sometimes as a nominative after a neuter verb. Of these five constructions, the first two, are the legitimate uses of this part of speech; the others are occasional, modern, and of doubtful propriety.

RULE XX.--PARTICIPLES.

Participles relate to nouns or pronouns, or else are governed by prepositions: as, "Elizabeth's tutor, at one time paying her a visit, found her employed in reading Plato."--Hume. "I have no more pleasure in hearing a man attempting wit and failing, than in seeing a man trying to leap over a ditch and tumbling into it."--Dr. Johnson.

"Now, rais'd on Tyre's sad ruins, Pharaoh's pride   Soar'd high, his legions threat'ning far and wide."--Dryden.

EXCEPTION FIRST.

A participle sometimes relates to a preceding phrase or sentence, of which it forms no part; as, "I then quit the society; to withdraw and leave them to themselves, APPEARING to me a duty."--"It is almost exclusively on the ground we have mentioned, that we have heard his being continued in office DEFENDED."--Professors' Reasons, p. 23. (Better, "his continuance in office," or, "the continuing of him in office." See Obs. 18th on Rule 4th.)

"But ever to do ill our sole delight,   As being the contrary to his high will."--Milton.

EXCEPTION SECOND.

With an infinitive denoting being or action in the abstract, a participle is sometimes also taken abstractly; (that is, without reference to any particular noun, pronoun, or other subject;) as, "To seem compelled, is disagreeable."--"To keep always praying aloud, is plainly impossible."--"It must be disagreeable to be left pausing[418] on a word which does not, by itself, produce any idea."--Murray's Gram., 8vo, p. 323.

"To praise him is to serve him, and fulfill,   Doing and suffering, his unquestion'd will." --Cowper, Vol. i, p. 88.

EXCEPTION THIRD.

The participle is often used irregularly in English, as a substitute for the infinitive mood, to which it is sometimes equivalent without irregularity; as, "I saw him enter, or entering"--Grant's Lat. Gram., p. 230. "He is afraid of trying, or to try."--Ibid. Examples irregular: "Sir, said I, if the case stands thus, 'tis dangerous drinking:" i.e., to drink.--Collier's Tablet of Cebes. "It will be but ill venturing thy soul upon that:" i.e., to venture.--''Bunyan's Law and Grace'', p. 27. "Describing a past event as present, has a fine effect in language:" i.e., to describe.--''Kames, El. of Crit.'', i, 93. "In English likewise it deserves remarking:" i.e., to be remarked.--Harris's Hermes, p. 232. "Bishop Atterbury deserves being particularly mentioned