COMPLEMENTARY OF THE ACTIVE VERB, and THE ADJECTIVE COMPLE

THE ADJECTIVE COMPLEMENTARY OF THE NEUTER VERB. (10) This complement is most extensively employed with the verb TO BE. (11) We subjoin a few examples: The steward is faithful; The boy is industrious; The fields are green; The weather is warm; Vanity is contemptible; Pride is detestable; Industry is commendable. (12) We need not multiply examples, since this is in fact one of the most common forms of construction in all languages. Mankind have constantly occasion to predicate or assert the existence of attributes, or qualities in the objects which come within their knowledge.

NOTE.-We have already, elsewhere, had occasion to observe, that the adjective thus employed with the verb to be, is generally thought by logicians and grammarians to contain (either alone or with its appropriate complements) the entire predicate, and the verb to perform solely the function of copula. We have given our reasons for thinking that this opinion, so long and so generally entertained by the philosophical world, is destitute of foundation, and for holding, as we do, that the verb to be, in its assertive form, includes either the entire predicate, or the leading part of the predicate, like all other verbs. The verbal noun BEING, is exactly equivalent to the predicate contained in this verb, as we have elsewhere endeavored to establish, by an appeal to the understandings of our readers. What is asserted or predicated in such propositions as, The steward is faithful, is being faithful, not barely the attribute faithful. But, for the more full examination of this matter, we refer to § 46, and note. Here it is only necessary to remind the learner of the manner in which we view this subject, and our reason for treating the adjective, in this kind of construction, as comple

* We omit the term descriptive before the adjective, as in this case unnecessary; though it will be remembered, that rarely any other than a descriptive adjective is used in this way. If an adjective employed generally as a determinative, is sometimes used to complete the predicate, it is in this case to be considered as performing a descriptive function. For instance, in such expressions as, "The laborers are few," the word few-generally employed as a determinative-is, perhaps, to be considered as a descriptive adjective, expressing an attribute belonging to the "laborers," collectively considered, and here (with being) predicated of them.

(10) With what verb is the adjective complementary of neuter verbs chiefly employed? (11) Give examples. (12) Why is it unnecessary for us to multiply examples?

་

mentary of the verb or of the predicate; in other words, as a part only, and Lot the whole of the predicate.

For the same reason assigned above, we do not subjoin numerous examples for analysis. We rather leave the learner to furnish his own examples of this very plain and familiar construction, assured that this will prove no difficult task.

(13) All that is necessary to be said in analysis in reference to the adjective in a construction of this kind is, that the verb, for example in the proposition The man is ignorant, is modified or completed by the complementary adjective ignorant. When the learner has become familiar with these terms, he may omit complementary, and after having given the usual account of the subject noun and verb, simply add that the verb is completed by the adjective-naming the adjective which occurs in the particular

case.

EXERCISES I. II. &c.—Supply a given number of written propositions formed with the verb to be in its several tenses, accompanied in each instance by a complementary adjective making a predicate, such as can rationally be asserted of the subject chosen.

(14) The neuter verb become is generally modified in the same manner. It is always completed either by an adjective or by a noun, and never stands as the complete predicate.*

(15) Examples of Become, with an adjective complementary. That man becomes old; The boy has become impatient; James will become learned; That nation has become powerful; John has become generous, &c. The verb grow is similarly modified, as, The field grows green; The boy grows large, &c.

Many other neuter verbs are completed in the same manner, though not so frequently as the verbs we have just noticed. (16) Amongst those thus occasionally completed, we may enumerate the following:

*In this it is unlike the verb to be, which stands, as we have seen already, often as the complete predicate; much oftener in reality than in our language is apparent at the first glance. (See § 46, Note p. 81.)

(13) Repeat the substance of the direction in reference to the analysis of this species of modification.

(14) What is said in reference to the verb become? (15) Give examples.

(16) Enumerate some of the neuter verbs which adınit of the same kind of modification

Look, seem, feel, taste, smell, blow, shine, remove, stand, continue, &c. Some of these words are used both as active and as neuter verbs. We have concern with them here only in their neuter signification. We subjoin examples of some of these verbs, accompanied by a complementary adjective. (17) The analysis of these examples is to be conducted as in the case of the verbs to be, to become, to grow, completed by an adjective.

William seems disap

EXAMPLES FOR ANALYSIS.-Mary looks cold. pointed. Black feels rough, white feels smooth. Honey tastes sweet. Roses smell fragrant. The wind blows soft. The moon shone bright. The work remains unfinished. The door stands open. The weather continues stormy. We take the following examples from D'Orsey. The first is altered from the imperative to the assertive form :

He looks big. "He turns pale."-Addison. "Half the women would have fallen sick."—Addison. "A miser grows rich by seeming poor; an extravagant man grows poor by seeming rich."—Shenstone. "Dappled horses turn white.”—Bacon. "They all shall wax old.”—Heb. 1: 11. "This horror will grow mild."-Milton.

"With what eyes could we

Stand in his presence humble, &c."-Milton.

(18) After look and seem the infinitive to be might be supplied without injury to the sense, and some may choose to take this mode of analyzing the propositions in which these verbs occur, followed by an adjective; saying, in such cases, that they are completed by the verb to be suppressed, and considering the adjective as complementary of the suppressed infinitive. We have no objection to this course. We believe the infinitive necessary to the full expression of the assertion. But when this is once understood, we consider it unnecessary on every occasion to supply the omitted infinitive.

(19) This remark will not apply to most of the other verbs enumerated. The introduction of the infinitive to be between the verb and adjective is inadmissible, as it would mar the sense. And yet the existence of the quality expressed by an adjective in connection with the subject is perhaps always implied; i. e. the existence of the quality in the subject in the mode or manner expressed by the verb. Thus, Honey tastes sweet. Here the quality sweet is asserted to exist in honey in connection with its taste, or in the mode or manner expressed by the verb taste.

(17) What remark is made about the analysis of the subjoined examples? (18) What is said in reference to the analysis of the propositions in which the verbs look and seem occur?

(19) Will the remark in regard of the verbs look and seem apply to the other verbs above enumerated? Repeat the substance of the illustration.

[(20) We must be careful to distinguish this species of modification from the adverbial modification to be considered presently. The adjective in the case before us expresses an attribute pertaining to the subject in connection with the predicate, or together with the verb expresses the condition of the subject; the adverb expresses only the manner of the action of the verb, or some circumstance affecting the assertion in general, as of time, place, &c. Or, in other words, an attribute of the action asserted, not of the subject itself of which it is asserted. A few examples will render this more clear: John feels warm, and John feels warmly. In the first proposition the adjective warm expresses an attribute of John in connection with the predicate feeling; or, perhaps, rather we should say, warm with the predicate feeling expresses a condition here asserted of John. The wind blows soft; The wind blows softly. The same remark will apply here. A wind that is not soft may blow SOFTLY—that is, gently; but none, except a wind possessing the attribute expressed by soft, can truly be said to blow SOFT. We may subjoin a few more examples: William looks proud, and William looks proudly on the result of his persevering efforts. That lady looks cold; and That lady looks coldly on the gentleman by her side. In all these cases, the difference between the adjective and adverb is plain enough.]

EXERCISE. After the analysis of the above examples, the learner may construct a given number of propositions with the verbs enumerated above, containing examples of the adjective complementary appropriately employed with these verbs.

We may remark that sometimes active verbs seem to take an adjective complementary, having reference like the adjective complementary of the neuter verb to the subject noun. Examples of what we mean may be found in such expressions as, John spends his time thoughtless of the purposes of existence. There are three ways in which thoughtless and its modifications might here be regarded; 1st, as a descriptive adjective, modifying John the subject noun; 2d, as an adjective adverbially used, expressing manner and modifying the predicate; or, 3d, as an adjective complementary, expressing an attribute applicable to John in the mode of spending his time. This last we think the most accurate mode of analysis. Constructions of this kind are seldom used. This is altogether unlike the adjective complementary of 'he active verb, which affects not the subject but the objective.

§ 89. THE ADJECTIVE COMPLEMENTARY OF THE Active Verb.

[(20) Repeat the substance of the remarks in reference to the distinction between an adJective complementary modification and an adverbial modification.]

-We now pass on to consider the adjective complementary of the ACTIVE Verb.

(1) This complement is very similar to the NOUN complementary of the active verb. (2) The difference is this: when the noun complementary is used, we intimate that the passive object becomes something substantive by the action expressed by the verb; on the contrary, when the adjective complementary is used, we intimate that the passive object becomes possessed of some property or attribute, by the action expressed by the verb. (3) When allowance is made for this difference, nearly all that we have said in reference to the noun complementary will apply to the adjective complementary of the active verb.

(4) It will be observed that here the adjective does not as when employed with the neuter verb express the condition of the SUBJECT as affected by the action indicated by the verb, but the condition of the passive object under the influence of the action indicated by the active verb. (5) It expresses the complement of the action which affects the passive object. For example, Virtue renders life Here happy expresses the condition of life, as influenced by the action of virtue, or a property of which life becomes possessed through the action asserted of virtue. Happy thus completes renders. (6) The complete action asserted here of virtue is rendering happy, and this action has for its objective modification life— the word expressing that to which the complete action, "rendering happy," is in this assertion limited or directed.

HAPPY.

We submit a number of examples of the adjective complementary of the active verb, in order that this construction may be more perfectly understood.

"We call the proud HAPPY." " ANALYSIS. After going through the analysis in the usual manner till we come to the modifications attached to the verb, we say the verb call is here modified by the complementary adjective happy, and the predicate (thus completed) calling happy

§ 89. (1) To what other form of complement is the adjective complementary of the active verb said to be similar? (2) What is the only difference between these two modifications? (3) Will what has been said of the one apply to the other?

(4) Repeat what is said of the distinction between the adjective used with the neuter and with the active verb. (5) What does the adjective used with the active verb express? Illustrate by an example. (6) Continue the illustration.