Positive. Forth, Well or good, Comparative. Superlative. REM. 2. Adverbs of quality generally admit comparison by prefixing the comparatives more and most, less or least; as, more discretely, most discretely; more wickedly, most wickedly; less culpably, least culpably. In these cases, however, the degree of comparison belongs to the adverb prefixed, and therefore they should be parsed separately. The same should be done with respect to adjectives thus compared. EXERCISES IN PARSING. "The matter will presently be decided." What part of speech is presently? 171. Why? § 171. What kind of an adverb? § 174. Why? § 174. What does it modify? Will be decided. EXAMPLES FOR PARSING. 2 When' did Frederic the Great die? To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. She went away yesterday. That circumstance occurred seasonably. The periodical is published monthly. It now and then happens favorably. Secondly,' we will consider what duty requires. The suggestions of inclination are sometimes for the dictates of conscience. You read too little. He conducted very improperly. I see him often, but my brother sees him oftener. He swam quite across the river. The more frequently you read with care, the more you will improve. When thou callest, I will answer thee. They doubted whereunto this would grow. 10 RULE. Adverbs modify verbs, participles, adjectives, and other adverbs. PREPOSITIONS. 180. "A preposition is a particle which expresses the relation between a noun or pronoun and some preceding word; as, 'I went to New York;' 'A book lies before me."-Andrews and Stoddard. REMARK 1. Prepositions are so called, because they are placed before the nouns or pronouns, expressed or implied, which they govern. REM. 2. A preposition expresses a relation between two terms called the antecedent and subsequent term. The antecedent term may be an adverb, adjective, participle, verb, noun, or pronoun, and the subsequent may be a noun or pronoun; as, "James went from London to York." Here the verb went is the antecedent term, and the two nouns London and York are the subsequents from denoting the relation between London and went, and to denoting the relation between went and York. Why are prepositions so called? What does a preposition express? Give an instance where a verb is antecedent to two subsequent terms, and explain it. REM. 1. The words in the above list are prepositions, when they have a subsequent term of relation expressed or implied; but when they have none, they are adverbs or conjunctions; except when some of them are affixed to verbs, and form a part of a compound verb. See § 131, R. 4. REM. 2. But is a preposition when it has the meaning of except or aside from; as, "All went but James," i. e., except or aside from James; "All but the nightingale gazed with joy." REM. 3. Nouns or subsequent terms are frequently understood after prepositions. Also the antecedent is often understood. REM. 4. Two prepositions sometimes occur together, and form compound prepositions; as, according to, out of, as to. REM. 5. Two prepositions sometimes come together, and are not parsed as compound prepositions, but a noun of place or some other noun is understood between them; as, from beneath, i. e., from the place beneath; from above, from before, from behind, from among. REM. 6. In is generally placed before the names of countries, cities, and large towns; as, He dwelt in France;" "He lives in Edinburgh;" He resides in New York." REM. 7. Into is generally used after verbs of motion; as, "He went into the city." REM. 8. "At is used before the names of villages, single houses, and cities which are distant; as, "He resides at Andover;" "He boards at the Astor House." REM. 9. During is used when the action or state continues through the whole period of time mentioned; as, "I have performed much labor during this week." But when the action or state does not continue through the whole period of time mentioned, in or within should be used; as, "There have been twenty lectures within or in twenty-four hours." SECOND COURSE. When are the words, given in the list, prepositions? When is but a preposition? Are nouns frequently understood after prepositions? Do two prepositions ever occur together? Where is in generally placed? How is into used? When is during used? REM. 10. Between and betwixt refer to two nouns only; as, "There was great friendship between David and Jonathan." REM. 11. Among, amongst, amid and amidst refer to more than two nouns. REM. 12. Except and save are prepositions when they denote the same as aside from or without; as, "All the family rode out this afternoon except or save James;" Some have considered except and save in the construction above as verbs in the imperative mode. But as they imply in such a construction neither command nor exhortation, I see no reason for thus classifying them. REM. 13. Except and save sometimes govern a part or the whole of a succeeding clause or sentence; as, "Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying, that bonds and afflictions abide me." Acts xx. 23. REM. 14. Sometimes a part of the proposition which save governs, is implied; as, "Put God forbid that I should glory, save [that I should glory] in the cross of Christ." Gal. vi. 14. "Let them not meet this sea without a shore! save [that they meet] in an ark."-Byron. REM. 15. Excepting and saving are generally used like except and save. REM. 16. Prepositions are sometimes construed as adverbs when they follow a verb; as, "Go on," "Go to." EXERCISES IN PARSING. "He rode with us." What part of speech is with? § 180. Why? § 180. Between what words does it show a relation? Between rode and us. § 180, Rem. 2. RULE. Prepositions govern the objective case. SECOND COURSE. To what do between and betwixt refer? To what do among, amongst, amid and amidst refer? When are except and save prepositions? Do except and save ever govern a part or a whole sentence? Give an in stance. Give an example where a part of the preposition, which save governs, is implied. How are excepting and saving used? EXAMPLES FOR PARSING. The summit is above the region of storms. The boat sailed across the river. The Greeks marched boldly against the foe. A meteor shot athwart1 the heavens. Aside from1 this, I should have no objection to your going to1 the place. Hell from beneath' is moved to meet thee at thy coming. A good understanding existed between them. He stood like a rock amid ocean's wild waves. They all prospered save the eldest. "I feel like one who treads alone Some banquet hall deserted, Whose lights are fled, whose garlands dead, CONJUNCTIONS. 181. Conjunctions are particles that connect words, propositions, or sentences. § 182. Conjunctions are divided into six classes, according to their meaning; the copulative, the disjunctive, the adversative, the conditional, the causal, and the final. 183. The copulative conjunctions connect those things that are considered together; as, and, both, and as. REMARK 1. And means add; as, "The book is worth four shillings and sixpence; or, with sixpence added. REM. 2. Both is often placed before the first of two nouns that are to be connected, to mark the connection more forcibly.. 184. Disjunctive conjunctions connect those things that are considered separately; as, either, or, neither, nor, and than; as, "For I am persuaded that neither |