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comparison_; in another, they express comparison _between two_, or
between _one_ and a number taken collectively,--and in a third they
express comparison between _one_ and a _number_ of others taken
separately.
_Pronouns_ are used in place of nouns; one class of them is used merely
as the _substitutes_ of _names_; the pronouns of another class have a
peculiar _reference_ to some _preceding words_ in the _sentence_, of
which they are the substitutes,--and those of a third class refer
adjectively to the persons or things they represent. Some pronouns are
used for both the _name_ and the _substitute_; and several are frequently
employed in _asking questions_.
_Affirmations_ and _commands_ are expressed by the verb; and different
inflections of the verb express _number_, _person_, _time_ and _manner_.
With regard to _time_, an affirmation may be _present_ or _past_ or
_future_; with regard to manner, an affirmation may be _positive_ or
_conditional_, it being doubtful whether the condition is fulfilled or
not, or it being implied that it is not fulfilled;--the verb may express
_command_ or _entreaty_; or the sense of the verb may be expressed
_without affirming_ or _commanding_. The verb also expresses that an
action or state _is_ or _was_ going on, by a form which is also used
sometimes as a noun, and sometimes to qualify nouns.
_Affirmations_ are _modified_ by _adverbs_, some of which can be
inflected to express different degrees of modification.
Words are joined together by _conjunctions_; and the various _relations_
which one thing bears to another are expressed by _'prepositions. Sudden
emotions_ of the mind, and _exclamations_ are expressed by _interjections_.
Some words according to meaning belong sometimes to one part of speech,
sometimes to another. Thus, in "After a storm comes a _calm_," _calm_ is
a noun; in "It is a _calm_ evening," _calm_ is an adjective; and in
"_Calm_ your fears," _calm_ is a verb.
The following sentence containing all the parts of speech is parsed
etymologically:
_"I now see the old man coming, but, alas, he has walked with much
difficulty."_
_I_, a personal pronoun, first person singular, masculine or feminine
gender, nominative case, subject of the verb _see_.
_now_, an adverb of time modifying the verb _see_.
_see_, an irregular, transitive verb, indicative mood, present tense,
first person singular to agree with its nominative or subject I.
_the_, the definite article particularizing the noun man.
_old_, an adjective, positive degree, qualifying the noun man.
_man_, a common noun, 3rd person singular, masculine gender, objective
case governed by the transitive verb _see_.
_coming_, the present or imperfect participle of the verb "to come"
referring to the noun man.
_but_, a conjunction.
_alas_, an interjection, expressing pity or sorrow.
_he_, a personal pronoun, 3rd person singular, masculine gender,
nominative case, subject of verb has walked.
_has walked_, a regular, intransitive verb, indicative mood, perfect tense,
3rd person singular to agree with its nominative or subject _he_.
_with_, a preposition, governing the noun difficulty.
_much_, an adjective, positive degree, qualifying the noun difficulty.
_difficulty_, a common noun, 3rd person singular, neuter gender,
objective case governed by the preposition _with_.
N.B.--_Much_ is generally an adverb. As an adjective it is thus compared:
Positive Comparative Superlative
much more most
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CHAPTER III
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THE SENTENCE
Different Kinds--Arrangement of Words--Paragraph
A sentence is an assemblage of words so arranged as to convey a determinate
sense or meaning, in other words, to express a complete thought or idea.
No matter how short, it must contain one finite verb and a subject or agent
to direct the action of the verb.
"Birds fly;" "Fish swim;" "Men walk;"--are sentences.
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