thou speakest, he speaks; the man thinks; the horse neighs,

&c.

When more objects than one are spoken of, the verb is plural; as we speak, ye speak, they speak; the men think; the horses neigh, &c.

In each of these cases the verb is in the same number with the substantive or pronoun preceding, and, consequently, may be said to agree (or to have concord) with it in respect to number.

§ 200. Concord of Person.-Where a person speaks of himself, the verb is in the first person singular; as I read, I think.

Where a person speaks to one other person, the verb is in the second person singular: as thou readest, thou thinkest.

Where a person speaks of any other person (or any other object whatever), the verb is in the third person singular ; as he reads, the man reads, the woman reads, the child reads, the man thinks, the horse neighs, the dog barks, &c.

Where a person speaks of himself and others, the verb is in the first person plural; as we read, we think.

Where more persons than one are spoken to, the verb is in the second person plural; as ye read, ye think.

Where more persons (or objects) than one are spoken of, the verb is in the third person plural; as they read, the men read, the women read, the children read, the men think, the horses neigh, the dogs bark, &c.

In each of these cases the verb is not only in the same number with the substantive or pronoun preceding, but in the same person also. Consequently it may be said to agree (or to have concord) with it in respect to person.

§ 201. Government of Verbs.-Laying out of the account the verb substantive, verbs are of two sorts: (1) Transitive; (2) Intransitive.

In saying I strike the iron, the verb strike denotes an action. It also does something more: it denotes an action

M

that has an effect upon an object; since the word iron is the name of an object, and the word strike is the name of an action that affects that object. In this case the action may be said to pass off from the agent (i. e. the person who strikes) to the object (i. e. the iron). Verbs expressing action capable of affecting objects are called Transitive Verbs, from the Latin word transire to pass over.

In saying I walk, the verb walk denotes an action. It does not, however, denote an action that has any effect upon any object whatever. The action alone, in its simplest form, is stated to take place. Verbs like walk are called Intransitive, because no action can be said to pass off from them to any object,

Respecting the Government of these two sorts of verbs, there are the two following rules:—

1. Transitive verbs always govern the substantive in the objective case; as I strike him, he strikes me, they teach us, the man leads the horse, &c.

2. Intransitive verbs govern no case at all; as I sleep, I walk, I think, &c.

The same word has often two meanings, one of which is transitive, and the other intransitive; as, 1. Imove,-where the verb is intransitive, and denotes the mere act of motion. 2. I move my limbs,-where the verb is transitive, and where the action affects a certain object (my limbs); or 1. I walk, -where the verb is intransitive, and denotes the mere act of walking. 2. I walk the horse, where the words I walk are equivalent to I cause to walk, and are also transitive, denoting an action affecting a certain object (the horse).

Unless this fact of the same verb having transitive and intransitive meanings be borne in mind, transitive verbs will appear to be without an objective case, and intransitive verbs to govern one.

§ 202. Syntax in respect to Mood.-When an action is mentioned as absolutely taking place, as absolutely having taken place, or as absolutely being about to take place,

the verb is used in the indicative mood; as I speak, thou speakest, he speaks; we speak, ye speak, they speak.

When an action is mentioned as taking place under certain conditions and contingencies, rather than as absolutely taking place, the verb is used in the conjunctive mood; as if he speak, if he move, if he stand; not if he speak-s, move-s, stand-s.

When an absolute command is made, the verb is used in the imperative mood; as go! walk! stand! do not go ! go not! walk not! do this! come hither!

When two verbs come together, the latter is used in the infinitive mood; as I wish to go, I long to speak, I have to write, let me go, dare you come? when shall I go? &c.

§ 203. A verb in the infinitive mood is generally preceded by the particle to; as I begin to speak, he wishes to run, he fears to move. We say, however,

When, however, dare signifies to challenge or defy, and transitive, it requires to to accompany the infinitive mood. following; as

Also,

I dare thee but to breathe upon my love.

Thou shalt not see thy brother's ox or his ass fall down by

the way.

We heard him say, I will destroy this temple.

I feel the pain abate.

He bid her alight.

I would fain have any one name to me that tongue that any one can speak as he should do by the rules of Grammar. We need only go to London.

§ 204. Persons.—In Latin, and certain other languages, the Pronoun is omitted, it being enough to say—

In English, however, except in three small classes of words, the subject is always expressed. We cannot say speakest, however much the termination -est may suffice to show that the word is in the second person. On the contrary, thou speakest is the form that must be used.

§ 205. The three cases where the subject may be omitted are (1) that of the Imperative Mood, (2) that of the Optative Preterite, and (3) that of the three Impersonals.

In Imperative Propositions, the subject, being the name of the person spoken to, is suppressed without either ambiguity or inconvenience. We may say, walk thou-hold thou thy tongue: but we may also say, walk -hold thy tongue.

The Preterite would, when Optative, or expressive of a wish, can stand by itself, i. e. without any personal pronoun to precede it. We may say, I would I could: but we may also say, would I could.

The three Impersonals are (1) Methinks, (2) Meseems, (3) Me listeth.

In Anglo-Saxon pincan signified think, whilst pencan meant seem. Hence, methinks and meseems mean the same, viz. it seems, or appears, to me. Here me is in the condition

of the Dative Case, and it is suppressed or understood. Me listeth means it pleases me.

§ 206. The Pronoun generally precedes the Verb. Expressions like said I, or says he, instead of, I said, or he said, are only admitted in very familiar discourse. One verb, however, always precedes its pronoun, viz. quoth—we always say quoth he never he quoth.

§ 207. The second person singular is only used in solemn discourse, and by members of the Society of Friends. Instead of thou speak-est, we say you speak.

§ 208. The use of shall and will in connection with the Person has, probably, given rise to more discussion than all the other points of English Grammar put together. In so small a work as the present, the general rule is all that can be given. There are two ways in which we may speak of a future event. We may simply predict, or we may promise, that it will take place. When the When the proposition which delivers the assertion is simply predictive, it means that something will happen hereafter, but says nothing about the intention of the speaker in regard to it. The promissive expression brings in the intention or will of the speaker.

This prepares us for believing that shall is the Predictive, will, the Promissive, Verb. And so they are to some extent. A man in a house a-fire says I shall be burned if I don't get out, where assuredly there is no intention, or will, on his part. On the other hand, one of the ancient martyrs, when offered his choice between the stake and the renunciation of his religion, would say I will be burnt.

So far, so good. The person, however, who uses shall as the Predictive, uses it for the first Person only, reserving will for the second and third. And, vice versa, the word will is Promissive only when conjoined with I. The Promissive for the second and third person is shall. Wallis's rule, runs thus :-" In the first persons shall predicts; whilst will