Bible, an other instance of the construction now in question; but it has no support from the Septuagint, the Vulgate, or the French: to wit, "The second [lot came forth] to Gedaliah, who with his brethren and sons were twelve."-1 Chron., xxv, 9. Better: "and he, his brethren, and his sons, were twelve." OBS. 20.-Cobbett, who, though he wrote several grammars, was but a very superficial grammarian, seems never to have doubted the propriety of putting with for and; and yet he was confessedly not a little puzzled to find out when to use a singular, and when a plural verb, after a nominative with such "a sort of addition made to it." The 246th paragraph of his English Grammar is a long and fruitless attempt to fix a rule for the guidance of the learner in this matter. After dashing off a culpable example, "Sidmouth, with Oliver the spye, have brought Brandreth to the block;" or, as his late editions have it, "The Tyrant, with the Spy, have brought Peter to the block;" he adds: "We hesitate which to employ, the singular or the plural verb; that is to say, has or have. The meaning must be our guide. If we mean, that the act has been done by the Tyrant himself, and that the spy has been a mere involuntary agent, then we ought to use the singular; but if we believe that the spy has been a co-operator, an associate, an accomplice, then we must use the plural verb." Ay, truly; but must we not also, in the latter case, use and, and not with? After some further illustrations, he says: "When with means along with, together with, in Company with, and the like, it is nearly the same as and; and then the plural verb must be used: [as] He, with his brothers, are able to do much.' Not, 'is able to do much.' If the pronoun be used instead of brothers, it will be in the objective case: 'He, with them, are able to do much.' But this is no impediment to the including of the noun (represented by them) in the nominative." I wonder what would be an impediment to the absurdities of such a dogmatist! The following is his last example: "Zeal, with discretion, do much;' and not 'does much;' for we mean, on the contrary, that it does nothing. It is the meaning that must determine which of the numbers we ought to employ." This author's examples are all fictions of his own, and such of them as here have a plural verb, are wrong. Ilis rule is also wrong, and contrary to the best authority. St. Paul says to Timothy, "Godliness with contentment is great gain:”—1 Tim., vi, 6. This text is right; but Cobbett's principle would go to prove it erroneous. Is he the only man who has ever had a right notion of its meaning? or is he not rather at fault in his interpretations? OBS. 21.-There is one other apparent exception to Rule 16th, (or perhaps a real one,) in which there is either an ellipsis of the preposition with, or else the verb is made singular because the first noun only is its true subject, and the others are explanatory nominatives to which the same verb must be understood in the plural number; as, "A torch, snuff and all, goes out in a moment, when dipped in the vapour."-ADDISON: in Johnson's Dict., w. All. "Down comes the tree, nest, eagles, and all."-See All, ibidem. Here goes and comes are necessarily made singular, the former agreeing with torch and the latter with tree; and, if the other nouns, which are like an explanatory parenthesis, are nominatives, as they appear to me to be, they must be subjects of go and come understood. Cobbett teaches us to say, The bag, with the guineas and dollars in it, were stolen," and not, was stolen. 'For," says he, "if we say was stolen, it is possible for us to mean, that the bag only was stolen,"-English Gram., 246. And I suppose he would say, "The bag, guineas, dollars, and all, were stolen," and not, "was stolen;" for here a rule of syntax might be urged, in addition to his false argument from the sense. But the meaning of the former sentence is, "The bag was stolen, with the guineas and dollars in it;" and the meaning of the latter is, "The bag was stolen, guineas, dollars, and all." Nor can there be any doubt about the meaning, place the words which way you will; and whatever, in either case, may be the true construction of the words in the parenthetical or explanatory phrase, they should not, I think, prevent the verb from agreeing with the first noun only. But if the other nouns intervene without affecting this concord, and without a preposition to govern them, it may be well to distinguish them in the punctuation; as, "The bag, (guineas, dollars, and all,) was stolen." NOTES TO RULE XVI. NOTE I.-When the conjunction and between two nominatives appears to require a plural verb, but such form of the verb is not agreeable, it is better to reject or change the connective, that the verb may stand correctly in the singular number; as, "There is a peculiar force and beauty in this figure."-Kames, El. of Crit., ii, 224. Better: "There is a peculiar force, as well as a peculiar beauty, in this figure." "What means this restless stir and commotion of mind ?"—Murray's Key, 8vo, p. 242. Better: "What means this restless stir, this commotion of mind?" NOTE II.-When two subjects or antecedents are connected, one of which is taken affirmatively, and the other negatively, they belong to different propositions; and the verb or pronoun must agree with the affirmative subject, and be understood to the other: as, "Diligent industry, and not mean savings, produces honourable competence."—" Not a loud voice, but strong proofs bring conviction."—" My poverty, but not my will, consents."-Shakspeare. NOTE III.-When two subjects or antecedents are connected by as well as, but, or save, they belong to different propositions; and, (unless one of them is preceded by the adverb not,) the verb and pronoun must agree with the former and be understood to the latter: as, "Veracity, as well as justice, is to be our rule of life."Butler's Analogy, p. 283. "The lowest mechanic, as well as the richest citizen, may boast that thousands of his fellow-creatures are employed for him."-Percival's Tales, ii, 177. "These principles, as well as every just rule of criticism, are founded upon the sensitive part of our nature."-Kames, El. of Crit., Vol. i, p. xxvi. Nothing but wailings was heard."-" None but thou can aid us."—"No mortal man, save he," &c., "had e'er survived to say he saw."-Sir W. Scott. NOTE IV. When two or more subjects or antecedents are preceded by the adjective each, every, or no, they are taken separately; and, (except no be followed by a plural noun,) they require the verb and pronoun to be in the singular number: as, "No rank, no honour, no fortune, no condition in life, makes the guilty mind happy."—"Every phrase and every figure which he uses, tends to render the picture more lively and complete."-Blair's Rhet., p. 179. "And every sense, and every heart, is joy.”—Thomson. NOTE V. When any words or terms are to be taken conjointly as subjects or antecedents, the conjunction and, (in preference to with, or, nor, or any thing else,) must connect them. The following sentence is therefore inaccurate; with should be and; or else were should be was: "One of them, [the] wife of Thomas Cole, with her husband, were shot down, the others escaped."-Hutchinson's Hist., Vol. ii, p. 86. So, in the following couplet, or should be and, or else engines should be engine: as, "What if the head, the eye, or ear repined, To serve mere engines to the ruling mind ?"-Pope. NOTE VI.-Improper omissions must be supplied; but when there occurs a true ellipsis in the construction of joint nominatives or joint antecedents, the verb or pronoun must agree with them in the plural, just as if all the words were expressed: "The second and the third Epistle of John are each but one short chapter." "The metaphorical and the literal meaning are improperly mixed."-Murray's Gram., p. 339. "The Doctrine of Words, separately consider'd, and in a Sentence, are Things distinct enough."-Brightland's Gram., Pref., p. iv. Better perhaps : "The doctrine of words separately considered, and that of words in a sentence, are things distinct enough." "The Curii's and the Camilli's little field, To vast extended territories yield."-Rowe's Lucan, B. i, 1. 320. NOTE VII.-Two or more distinct subject phrases connected by and, require a plural verb, and generally a plural noun too, if a nominative follow the verb; as, "To be wise in our own eyes, to be wise in the opinion of the world, and to be wise in the sight of our Creator, are three things so very different, as rarely to coincide."-Blair. "This picture of my friend,' and 'This picture of my friend's,' suggest very different ideas."-Priestley's Gram., p. 71; Murray's, i, 178. "Read of this burgess-on the stone appear, How worthy he! how virtuous! and how dear!"— Crabbc. IMPROPRIETIES FOR CORRECTION. FALSE SYNTAX UNDER RULE XVI. UNDER THE RULE ITSELF. THE VERB AFTER JOINT NOMINATIVES. "So much ability and merit is seldom found."-Murray's Key, 12mo, p. 18; Merchant's School Gram., p. 190. [FORMULE-Not proper, because the verb is is in the singular number, and does roi correctly agree with its two nominatives, ability and merit, which are connected by and, and taken conjointly. But, according to Rule 16th, "When a verb has two or more nominatives connected by and, it must agree with them jointly in the plural, because they are taken together." Therefore, is should be are; thus, "So much ability and merit are seldom found." Or: "So much ability and 80 much merit are seldom found."] "The syntax and etymology of the language is thus spread before the learner."-Bullions's English Gram., 2d Edition, Rec., p. iii. "Dr. Johnson tells us, that in Englion poetry the accent and the quantity of syllables is the same thing."-J. Q. Adams's Phet., ii, 213. "Their general scope and tendency, having never been clearly apprehended, is not remembered at all."-ray's Gram., i, p. 126. "The soil and sovereignty was not purchased of the natives."-Kapp's Lect. on Amer. Lit., p. 55. "The boldness, freedom, and variety of our blank verse, is infinitely more favourable than rhyme, to all kinds of sublime poetry."—Blair's Rhet., p. 40. "The vivacity and sensibility of the Greeks seems to have been much greater than ours.”—Ib.. p. 253. "For sometimes the Mood and Tense is signified by the Verb, sometimes they are signified of the Verb by something else."-Johnson's Gram. Com., p. 254. "The Verb and the Noun making a complete Sense, which the Participle and the Noun does not."-Ib., p. 255. "The growth and decay of passions and emotions, traced through all their mazes, is a subject too extensive for an undertaking like the present."-Kames, El. of Crit., i, 108. "The true meaning and etymology of some of his words was lost."—-Knight, on the Greek Alph., p. 37. "When the force and direction of personal satire is no longer understood."-Junius, p. 5. "The frame and condition of man admits of no other principle."-Brown's Estimate, ii, 54. "Some considerable time and care was necessary."-lb., ii, 150. "In consequence of this idea, much ridicule and censure has been thrown upon Milton."-Blair's Rhet., p. 428. "With rational beings, nature and reason is the same thing."-Collier's Antoninus, p. 111. "And the flax and the barley was smitten."-Exod. ix, 31. "The colon, and semicolon, divides a period, this with, and that without a connective. -J. Ware's Gram., p. 27. " Consequently wherever space and time is found, there God must also be."-Sir Isaac Newton. "As the past tense and perfect participle of love ends in ed, it is regu lar."-Chandler's Gram., p. 40; New Edition, p. 66. "But the usual arrangement and nomen clature prevents this from being readily seen."-Butler's Practical Gram., p. 3. Do and c simply implies opposition or emphasis."-Alec. Murray's Gram., p. 41. "I and another make we plural; Trou and another is as much as ye; He, she, or it and another make they."—Ib. p. 124. "I and another, is as much as (we) the first Person Plural; Thou and another, is as much as (4) the second Person Plural; He, she, or it, and another, is as much as (they) the third Person Plzral."-British Gram., p. 193; Buchanan's Syntax, p. 76. "God and thou art two, and thou and thy neighbour are two."-The Love Conquest, p. 25. "Just as an and a has arisen out of the numeral one."-Fowler's E. Gram., 8vo, 1850, § 200. "The tone and style of each of them, particularly the first and the last, is very different."-Blair's Rhet., p. 246. "Even as the roebuck and the hart is eaten."-Deut., xiii, 22. "Then I may conclude that two and three makes not five."-Barclay's Works, iii, 354. "Which at sundry times thou and thy brethren hast received from us."-Ib., i, 165. "Two and two is four, and one is five."-POPE: Lives of the Postt, p. 490. "Humility and knowledge with poor apparel, excels pride and ignorance under costly array."-Day's Gram., Parsing Lesson, p. 100. "A page and a half has been added to the section on composition."-Bullions's E. Gram., 5th Ed., Pref., p. vii. Accuracy and expertness in this exercise is an important acquisition."-Ib., p. 71. "Woods and groves are of thy dressing, Hill and dale doth boast thy blessing."-Milton's Poems, p. 139. UNDER THE RULE ITSELF.-THE VERB BEFORE JOINT NOMINATIVES. "There is a good and a bad, a right and a wrong in taste, as in other things."-Blair's Phet, p. 21. "Whence has arisen much stiffness and affectation."-Ib., p. 133. "To this error s owing, in a great measure, that intricacy and harshness, in his figurative language, which I bsfore remarked."-Ib., p. 150; Jamieson's Rhet., 157. "Hence, in his Night Thoughts, there prevails an obscurity and hardness in his style."-Blair's Rhet., p. 150. "There is, however, in that work much good sense, and excellent criticism."—Ib., p. 401. "There is too much low wit ani scurrility in Plautus."-Ib., p. 481. "There is too much reasoning and refinement; too much pomp and studied beauty in them."-Ib., p. 468. "Hence arises the structure and characteristic expression of exclamation."-Rush, on the Voice, p. 229. "And such pilots is he and his brethren, according to their own confession."-Barclay's Works, iii, 314. "Of whom is Hymenes and Philetas; who concerning the truth have crred."-2 Tim., ii, 17. "Of whom is Hymens and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan."-1 Tim., i, 20. "And so was James and John, the sons of Zebedee."-Luke, v, 10. "Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing."-James, iii, 10. "Out of the mouth of the Most High proceedeth not evil and good." -Lam, iii, 38. "In which there is most plainly a right and a wrong."-Butler's Analogy. P 215. "In this sentence there is both an actor and an object."-Smith's Inductive Gram. p 1L "In the breast-plate was placed the mysterious Urim and Thummim.”—Mılman's Jers, i. 88. 'What is the gender, number, and person of those in the first?"-Smith's Productive Gram, p. 19. There seems to be a familiarity and want of dignity in it."-Priestley's Grum., p. 150. "It has been often asked, what is Latin and Greek?"-Literary Convention, p. 209. “For where does beauty and high wit But in your constellation meet?”—Hudibras, p. 134. "Thence to the land where flows Ganges and Indus."-Paradise Lost, B. ix, 1. 81. "On these foundations seeras to rest the midnight riot and dissipation of modern assemblies."-Brown's Estimate, ii, 46 Bet what has disease, deformity, and filth, upon which the thoughts can be allured to dwell ?”—Johs son's Life of Swift, p. 492. "How is the gender and number of the relative known?"—Bullions, Practical Lessons, p. 32. UNDER NOTE I-CHANGE THE CONNECTIVE. "In every language there prevails a certain structure and analogy of parts, which is understood to give foundation to the most reputable usage."-Blair's het., p. 90. "There runs through his whole manner, a stiffness and affectation, which renders him very unfit to be considered a general model.”—Ib., p. 102. "But where declamation and improvement in speech is the sole aim."-Ib., p. 257. "For it is by these chiefly, that the train of thought, the course of reasoning, and the whole progress of the mind, in continued discourse of all kinds, is laid open.”— Louth's Gram., p. 103. "In all writing and discourse, the proper composition and structure of sentences is of the highest importance."-Blair's Rhet., p. 101. Here the wishful look and expectation of the beggar naturally leads to a vivid conception of that which was the object of his thoughts."-Campbell's Rhet., p. 386. "Who say, that the outward naming of Christ, and signing of the cross, puts away devils."-Barclay's Works, i, 146. By which an oath and penalty was to be imposed upon the members."—Junius, p. 6. "Light and knowledge, in what manner soever afforded us, is equally from God."-Butler's Analogy, p. 264. "For instance, sickness and untimely death is the consequence of intemperance."—Ib., p. 78. "When grief, and blood illtempered vexeth him."-Beauties of Shakspeare, p. 256. "Does continuity and connexion create sympathy and relation in the parts of the body ?"--Collier's Antoninus, p. 111. "His greatest concern, and highest enjoyment, was to be approved in the sight of his Creator."-Murray's Key, p. 224. "Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?"-2 Sam., iii, 38. What is vice and wickedness? No rarity, you may depend on it."-Collier's Antoninus, p. 107. "There is also the fear and apprehension of it."-Butler's Analogy, p. 87. "The apostrophe and s, ('s,) is an abbreviation for is, the termination of the old English genitive." -Bullions, E. Gram., p. 17. "Ti, ce, and ci, when followed by a vowel, usually has the sound of sh; as in partial, special, ocean."-Weld's Gram., p. 15. "Bitter constraint and sad occasion dear Compels me to disturb your season due."-Milton's Lycidas. "Debauches and excess, though with less noise, As great a portion of mankind destroys."- Waller, p. 55. UNDER NOTE II.-AFFIRMATION WITH NEGATION. "Wisdom, and not wealth, procure esteem."-Brown's Inst., p. 156. "Prudence, and not pomp, are the basis of his fame."-Ib. "Not fear, but labour have overcome him."-lb. "The decency, and not the abstinence, make the difference."-Ib. "Not her beauty, but her talents attracts attention."-Ib. "It is her talents, and not her beauty, that attracts attention."-Ib. "It is her beauty, and not her talents that attract attention."-Ib. "His belly, not his brains, this impulse give: He'll grow immortal; for he cannot live."-Young, to Pope. UNDER NOTE III-AS WELL AS, BUT, or SAVE. "Common sense as well as piety tell us these are proper."-Family Commentary, p. 64. "For without it the critic, as well as the undertaker, ignorant of any rule, have nothing left but to abandon themselves to chance."-Kames, El. of Crit., i, 42. "And accordingly hatred as well as love are extinguished by long absence."-Ib., i, 113. "But at every turn the richest melody as well as the sublimest sentiments are conspicuous."-Ib., ii, 121. "But it, as well as the lines immediately subsequent, defy all translation."— Coleridge's Introduction, p. 96. "But their religion, as well as their customs, and manners, were strangely misrepresented."-BOLINGBROKE, ON HISTORY, p. 123: Priestley's Gram., p. 192; Murray's Exercises, p. 47. "But his jealous policy, as well as the fatal antipathy of Fonseca, were conspicuous."-Robertson's America, i, 191. "When their extent as well as their value were unknown."-Ib., ii, 138. "The Etymology, as well as the Syntax, of the more difficult parts of speech are reserved for his attention [at a later period]." -Parker and Fox's E. Gram., Part i, p. 3. "What I myself owe to him, no one but myself know."-See Wright's Athens, p. 96. 'None, but thou, O mighty prince! canst avert the blow." -Inst., p. 156. "Nothing, but frivolous amusements, please the indolent.”—Ib. "Nought, save the gurglings of the rill, were heard."-G. B. UNDER NOTE IV.-EACH, EVERY, OR NO. "Give every word, and every member, their due weight and force."-Blair's Rhet., p. 110. "And to one of these belong every noun, and every third person of every verb."— Wilson's Essay on Gram., p. 74. "No law, no restraint, no regulation, are required to keep him in bounds."-Literary Convention, p. 260. "By that time, every window and every door in the street were full of heads."-N. Y. Observer, No. 503. Every system of religion, and every school of philosophy, stand back from this field, and leave Jesus Christ alone, the solitary example."-The Corner Stone, p. 17. "Each day, and each hour, bring their portion of duty."Inst., p. 156. "And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him."-1 Sam., xxii, 2. "Every private Christian and member of the church ought to read and peruse the Scriptures, that they may know their faith and belief founded upon them."-Barclay's Works, i, 340. "And every momtain and island were moved out of their places."—Rev., vi, 14. "No bandit fierce, no tyrant mad with pride, No cavern'd hermit rest self-satisfied." UNDER NOTE V.—WITH, OR, &c. FOR AND. "The side A, with the sides B and C, compose the triangle."-Tobitt's Gram., p. 48: Felch's, 69; Ware's, 12. "The stream, the rock, or the tree, must each of them stand forth, so as to make a figure in the imagination."—Blair's Rhet., p. 390. "While this, with euphony, constitute, finally, the whole."-O. B. Peirce's Gram., p. 293. "The bag, with the guineas and dollars in it, were stolen."-Cobbett's E. Gram., ¶ 246. "Sobriety, with great industry and talent, enable a man to perform great deeds."-lb., ¶ 246. "The it, together with the verb to be, express states of being."-Ib., ¶ 190. "Where Leonidas the Spartan king, with his chosen band, fighting for their country, were cut off to the last man."-Kames, El. of Crit., Vol. i, p. 203. “And Leah also, with her children, came near and bowed themselves."-Gen., xxxiii, 7. "The First or Second will, either of them, by themselves coalesce with the Third, but not with each other."Harris's Hermes, p. 74. "The whole must centre in the query, whether Tragedy or Comely are hurtful and dangerous representations?"-Formey's Belles-Lettres, p. 215. "Grief as well as jy are infectious: the emotions they raise in the spectator resemble them perfectly.”—Kames, El of Crit., i, 157. "But in all other words the Qu are both sounded."-Ensell's Gram., p. 16. “Q (which are always together) have the sound of kū or k, as in queen, opaque.”—Goodenour's Gram, p. 45. "In this selection the ai form distinct syllables."-Walker's Key, p. 230. "And a cor siderable village, with gardens, fields, &c., extend around on each side of the square."—Liberator, Vol. ix, p. 140. "Affection, or interest, guide our notions and behaviour in the affairs of life; imagination and passion affect the sentiments that we entertain in matters of taste.”—Junic son's Rhet., p. 171. "She heard none of those intimations of her defects, which envy, petulance, or anger, produce among children."-Rambler, No. 189. "The King, with the Lords and Con mons, constitute an excellent form of government."-Crombie's Treatise, p. 242. “If we say, 'I am the man, who commands you,' the relative clause, with the antecedent man, form the predicate."-Ib., p. 266. 243. "The spacious firmament on high, With all the blue ethereal sky, Murray's And spangled heav'ns, a shining frame, UNDER NOTE VI.-ELLIPTICAL CONSTRUCTIONS. "This "There is a reputable and a disreputable practice."—Adams's Rhet., Vol. i, p. 350. and this man was born in her."-Milton's Psalms, lxxxvii. "This and that man was born in her."-Psal. lxxxvii, 5. "This and that man was born there."-Hendrick's Gram., p. 94. "Thus le in lego and legi seem to be sounded equally long."—Adam's Gram., p. 253; Gad "A distinct and an accurate articulation forms the groundwork of good delivery."-Kirik ham's Elocution, p. 25. "How is vocal and written language understood?"-C. W. Sanders, Spelling-Book, p. 7. "The good, the wise, and the learned man is an ornament to human society." -Bartlett's Reader. "On some points, the expression of song and speech is identical"—Ai, on the Voice, p. 425. "To every room there was an open and secret passage."—Johnson's Kus selas, p. 13. “There iz such a thing az tru and false taste, and the latter az often directs fashion, az the former."-Webster's Essays, p. 401. "There is such a thing as a prudent and impru lent institution of life, with regard to our health and our affairs."-Butler's Analogy, p. 210. "The lot of the outcasts of Israel and the dispersed of Judah, however different in one respect, have in another corresponded with wonderful exactness.”—Hope of Israel, p. 301. "On these final syllables the radical and vanishing movement is performed.”—Rush, on the Voice, p. 64. To be young or old, good, just, or the contrary, are physical or moral events."-SPURZHEIM: Fek's Comp. Gram., p. 29. "The eloquence of George Whitfield and of John Wesley was of a very different character each from the other."-Dr. Sharp. "The affinity of m for the series b, and of n for the series t, give occasion for other Euphonic changes."-Fowler's E. Gram., § 77. "Pylades' soul, and mad Orestes', was In these, if we believe Pythagoras."-Cowley's Poems, p. 3. UNDER NOTE VII.-DISTINCT SUBJECT PHRASES. "To be moderate in our views, and to proceed temperately in the pursuit of them, is the best way to ensure success."-Murray's Key, 8vo, p. 206. "To be of any species, and to have a right to the name of that species, is all one."-Locke's Essay, p. 300. "With whom to will and to do is the same."Jamieson's Sacred History, Vol. ii, p. 22. "To profess, and to possess, is very different things."-Inst., p. 156. "To do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God, is duties of universal obligation."-Ib. "To be round or square, to be solid or fluid, to be large or small, and to be moved swiftly or slowly, is all equally alien from the nature of thought,”—s. "The resolving of a sentence into its elements or parts of speech and stating the Accidents which belong to these, is called PARSING."—Bullions, Pract. Lessons, p. 9. "To spin and to weave, to knit and to sew, was once a girl's employment; but now to dress and catch a beau, is all she calls enjoyment."-Lynn News, Vol. 8, No. 1. |