(25) REMARK.-Sometimes two prepositions are employed together in forming this kind of modification, as, He came from beyond the river; out of, from within, from without, over against, down from, down to, &c., are employed in this way. Perhaps in down from, and down to, down should be considered as employed in the second function, and only from and to as employed in the third.*

(26) The preposition a in its separate state is chiefly employed before the verbal nouns in ING. Thus used it is we believe a corruption of on, or in. We have had occasion to notice this form of expression in treating of the verbs. (See § 64.)

(27) In analysis, when a preposition occurs in the first function no remark is necessary, as the compound into which it enters as a part is treated as a single word. (28) When the preposition in the second function (separate from the verb) occurs, we call it simply the preposition modification, and say in analysis that the verb is modified by such a preposition, naming it. Some call all prepositions thus used adverbs. It would be less objectionable, perhaps, to call them prepositions adverbially employed. (29) When the noun preceded by the preposition occurs, we say in analysis that the principal noun or verb, as it may chance to be, is modified by the noun and preposition, repeating the preposition and noun employed.

In written exercises the learner may employ the following abbreviations: Prep. for preposition, Prep. Modn. for preposition modification, and N. and Prep. Modn. for noun and preposition modification.]

(30) The noun which enters into this form of modification is always considered as in the accusative case. (31) When pronouns which possess a distinct accusative form enter into this modification,

* All these examples of double prepositions, may be used with good effect to prove that these words express an independent sense, and not a mere relation between other words. See additional remarks on the prepositions.

(25) Repeat the remark and illustrate by examples.

(26) Repeat what is said in reference to the preposition a.

(27) What is said in reference to the analysis when the preposition in its first function occurs? (28) How do we treat the preposition in analysis when we find it in the second function? (29) How do we conduct the analysis when it occurs in its third function-followed by a noun ?]

(30) In what case is the noun which follows the preposition always considered to be! (31) Repeat what is said of pronouns following prepositions, and illustrate by examples.

it is always their accusative form which is employed. Examples, from me, to us, towards thee, beyond him, beside her, among them, &c.*

In reference to this point the learner may, for convenience, adopt the following rule.-(32) Rule. In the noun and preposition modification, the noun or pronoun is in the accusative case.

[(33) As regards the order of arrangement, other forms of modification occurring in the same proposition almost invariably take the precedence of the noun and preposition, when the modifications follow the principal word. (34) Sometimes the noun and preposition, especially when they express a circumstance of time, place, order, &c., are placed in the beginning of the proposition, the subject standing between them and the verb which is modified. (35) When they follow the verb in company with the simple modifications, such as the

* In the ancient language (the Anglo-Saxon) other cases besides the accusative were used in connection with prepositions. Some prepositions were followed always by the accusative of their accompanying noun, others by a dative, and still others by a genitive. Sometimes the same preposition was followed by one or other of these cases, according to the nature of the assertion which it and the noun served to complete. The genitive, we believe, was never much employed after prepositions—and in the most ancient times only after a few of these words. At all events, the use of this case with prepositions has long since entirely ceased in our language. And, as we have no distinct forms for either the dative or accusative in nouns, and, as there is now but one form of the pronouns for the dative and accusative, all difference among the prepositions in reference to the case of the word which accompanies them, is completely concealed in the English of the present day. It often happens that the form of a pronoun which follows a preposition is, strictly speaking, a dative, not an accusative. But there is no practical use in compelling the learner to tell what case each preposition took after it seven centuries ago, or in requiring him to distinguish when the case which now follows them ought to be considered a dative, and when an accusative. The distinction between the two cases, even in the pronouns, has been long consigned to oblivion. And it is only as a historical fact, or when, as in reference to the dative modification, it throws light on the construction of the language, that it is useful to revive it.

(32) Repeat Rule.

[(33) Repeat what is said in reference to the order of arrangement. (34) Repeat the substance of what is said under No. 34. (35) What is said of the noun and preposition when they follow the verb?

objective or dative modifications, the objective and dative, being more closely connected in sense with the verb, are arranged nearer to it than the noun and preposition.*

(36) As regards the order of sense, the principal word already modified by the more intimate complements, is farther modified by the noun and preposition. (37) For example, John's friend sent him a present on Tuesday. Here the verb sent modified by the accusative present, and dative him, is farther modified by the noun and preposition on Tuesday, expressing a circumstance of time less closely connected with the action-less essential to the assertion than the objective and dative complements. The whole assertion, sent him a present, is modified by the words on Tuesday.

(38) Often a principal word—especially a verb-is affected by several noun and preposition modifications. (39) When one of these modifications is more closely connected in sense with the principal word than the rest, it ought to be arranged nearest to it. For example, He dined with his friends before his departure. (40) If we change the arrangement of the modifications in this proposition, we change the sense, or render the assertion ambiguous. (41) In many cases, modifications of this kind have a connection with the principal word independent of each other, and sometimes it might be difficult to decide which has the closest connection in sense. (42) In such cases there is room for the exercise of taste in arrangement. (43) In propositions where several of these modifications occur, there is often an order de

* Another reason besides the connection in sense, might be assigned for this order of arrangement. In our language, it is only by arrangement— by placing nouns immediately after the verbs which they modify—that we can clearly indicate our intention that they shall perform the functions of objective and dative complements. On the contrary, the noun and preposition together, wherever placed, express a definite function, and therefore admit more latitude of choice in regard of arrangement. In languages, which, like the Latin, have distinct forms for the accusative and dative cases, even a greater latitude of arrangement of objective and dative modifications is allowed, than with us in respect to the noun with the preposition.

(36) What is said in reference to the order of sense? (37) Give examples and illustration.

(38) Repeat the remark about a principal word? (39) When more than one of these noun and preposition modifications are applied to the same word, how are they to be arranged? Give example. (40) What happens if we change the arrangement? (41) Repeat what is said of independent modifications of this class. (42) What remark is made in reference to the arrangement in such cases? (43) Continue the remark. (44) Repeat what is said about attention to the arrangement of this kind of modifications and of adverbs.

cidedly preferable, as bringing out more clearly the exact meaning intended by the writer or speaker; and good sense and good taste are to be employed in discovering this order in each particular case. (44) To the degree of attention paid to the arrangement of this kind of modification, and of adverbs, and accessory propositions, the chief difference between a perspicuous and a confused writer, between a good and a bad style, may generally be traced.

(45) REMARK.-When two or more nouns in connection with the same preposition are employed to modify a principal word, the preposition is generally expressed only with the first noun, and suppressed before the other nouns, as the mind of the reader or hearer can readily supply it. Thus we say, A man of intelligence and integrity, equivalent to A man of intelligence and or integrity; the second of being suppressed by ellipsis, as it is called. That gentleman travelled through France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Spain; instead of through France, THROUGH Germany, THROUGH Switzerland, &c. Good taste must determine when such suppressions ought, or ought not, to be admitted.]

EXAMPLES FOR ANALYSIS.-John travelled from London to Edinburgh by railroad. I sent him letters by the packet on Wednesday. I gave him letters to my brother in the country.* In the beginning God created the heavens. The man of benevolence receives the reward of his virtuous acts, in this world and the world to come. (To come, infinitive modification of noun world. See § 71.) "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge." "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth."

* The learner will please take notice that the noun and preposition in country are not a second modification of the verb sent, but modify the noun brother. The verb gave stands in the relation of principal to the words him, letters, to brother; but brother-itself a modifying word-stands in the rela tion of principal to in the country. These distinctions cannot be too carefully observed. In tracing them, the student is tracing the connection of thought, through the connection of the signs of thought. He is learning to think accurately, to develop accurately the meaning of the writing subjected to his analysis. All properly conducted analysis exhibits the sense of a passage, so far as that is determined by the construction of language. That analysis or parsing which does not effect this is mere pedantic gibberish.

(45) Repeat the remark in reference to two or more nouns preceded by the same preposition. Illustrate by examples.]

"On eagle-pinions borne,

(The muse) Attempted through the summer-blaze to rise;
Then swept o'er autumn with the shadowy gale;
And now among the wintry clouds again,
Roll'd in the doubling storm she tries to soar;
To swell her note with all the rushing winds;

66

To suit her sounding cadence to the floods."
Thom. Win., 1. 20.

Borne," 1st line, a participle modified by on eagle-pinions;" the same remark applies to roll'd. Several infinitives occur in these lines modified by nouns and prepositions. For "eagle-pinions" and " summer-blaze," see § 70. O'er in the third line is a contraction for over.

The learner is expected to analyze, as usual, all the words in Italics. Let the learner now form a given number of propositions, containing one or more prepositions, followed by nouns or a pronoun. Let this exercise be repeated till he becomes well acquainted with all the prepositions in the list; and let him have credit according to the dexterity shown in introducing as many as possible of the modifications already considered in each proposition which he forms.

REMARK.--Cases sometimes occur in which a preposition is manifestly suppressed; as, Go your way, Speed your course, He travels the same road. On is here suppressed. We say to ride a horse and to ride on a horse. The first is, we believe, the most usual construction. Perhaps ride in this case should be considered an active verb, since we can use a passive form, and say, The horse was ridden to death. He resides in Bond street, No. 25. It is customary to suppress the preposition at in such cases.

$82. ADDITIONAL REMARKS ON THE PREPOSITIONS.-It is now, we believe, generally admitted by those best qualified to express an opinion on the subject, that prepositions are not an originally distinct class of words. (The same may be said of the conjunctions and the adverbs.) We regard prepositions as a collection (rather than a class) into which grammarians throw such words as take after them (to form a complement) a noun in an oblique case (that is, a case used exclusively for the purpose of expressing certain modifications)—words, too, which have lost, through the lapse of time, the marks of their descent and of their original use, as primary parts of speech, but which most likely may have been, as many philologists contend, all, or nearly all, at one time verbs or nouns. The fact that they all, when a noun is united with them in forming a complement, require that it should be in an oblique case, distinguishes them from adverbs and conjunctions. This is, in fact, their great distinguishing mark. This unfortunate collection of words has suffered very harsh and unjust usage from the hands of some ‹f the