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(3) We shall, however, for reasons which will appear hereafter exhibit the declensions so as to accord with the structure of the ancient Anglo-Saxon, and the sister languages of the north of Europe, and substantially with the Greek and Latin. (4) In doing this we add two cases to those already enumerated, but which in form (save in the class of pronouns) are always the same with the nominative. (5) One of these we call, following the commonly received names, the accusative or objective case. (6) The last is the name generally given to this case by English grammarians, because its chief function is to express the passive OBJECT of an active verb. (7) The second additional case we call also by the old name, the Dative Case. This case is sometimes used to express what is called the personal object of a verb, the same which is more generally expressed by the noun preceded by the particle to.

(8) We might add a fifth case, and so conform more completely to the ancient models of declension, calling it the vocative. (9) A noun is said to be in the vocative or case of address, when it is used in calling upon that which the noun represents. (10) In the ancient languages, the noun thus employed sometimes differed in form from the nominative. (11) The subject form, when convenient, was abbreviated, as we still sometimes abbreviate the names of our familiar friends, in calling them. (12) Thus Thomas becomes Tom, James Jem, William Will, &c.

(13) But as the noun used in address does not enter into the structure of propositions, serves simply in continuous speech as the means of calling the attention of the party addressed, and gives no occupation to the student of grammatical analysis, we omit it in the model of declension.*

* Whether there are some dozen cases, or three cases, or two cases, or only one case, depends on the definition which we choose to give to the term case. This term is derived from a Latin word, which means to fall. Casus, the Latin of case, means a falling. The subject noun, in its singular

(3) How do we propose to exhibit the declensions? (4) What additional cases are introduced? (5) What is one of these cases called? (6) Why is it called the objective case? (7) What is the second additional case called, and what is its function ?

(S) What other case might be added? (9) What is the function of a vocative case? (10) What is said of the form of this case in the ancient languages? (11) Repeat the remark in reference to the ancient forms of the vocative. (12) Give examples.

(13) What reason is given for omitting the vocative in our model of declension? (19 Decline brother, afterwards spelling and noting the place of the apostrophe.

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We subjoin the Declension of the Personal Pronouns. (15) It will be seen that most of these have a form for the accusative and dative, distinct from the form of the nominative. (16) It will

and plural forms, appears to have been considered (rather whimsically, perhaps) by the old grammarians as the upright or straight form-the standard form-(in Latin casus rectus) from which the other case forms were fallings off, or declinations. (Hence the term declension.) According to this view, the subject noun cannot properly be called a case. Yet a case it has been called by the ancient grammarians themselves, and we still currently call it the nominative case. If we use the term case strictly, as meaning a falling off from the form of the subject noun, or, to speak more in accordance with modern conceptions, a change of the form of the noun, we have only one case in English nouns, namely, the possessive, or genitive case. We have, however, according to this view, two cases in some of the pronouns. If we consider the noun, when used to complete a verb (as shall be shown here after), and when it is connected to another word by a preposition, as a distinct case, and call the subject noun the nominative, we shall have three cases of nouns. This is the view of the subject generally taken by English grammarians. This third case-the noun used after verbs and prepositions -they call the objective or accusative case.

Another principle on which to determine the number of cases, is to recognise every distinct function which a noun performs in construction, independently, without the help of other words, as a distinct case. On this principle, we shall have a dative case, at least, in addition to the three already enumerated. We have adopted this principle of determining the number of cases, so far as to admit a dative. It may be doubted whether, in consistency, we ought not to admit a case to express time, measure, &c., and a distinction between the functions of object direct of a verb, and the noun which follows a preposition. If we admit every relation in which a noun may stand to another noun, verb, or adjective, either with or without the aid of a preposition, we shall have, as we said in the beginning of this note, some dozen cases.

(15) What remark in reference to the accusative and dative forms of the personal pronouns? (16) Repeat remark in reference to the formation of the cases of pronouns.

also be seen that neither the possessive form nor the accusative form of these pronouns is in most cases regularly derived from the nominative.

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* Some give a double form of the genitive or possessive cases of all these pronouns except He and It. Thus, My, or mine; thy, or thine; her, or hers; our, or ours; your, or yours; their, or theirs. My, thy, her, our, your, their, we treat as determinative adjectives. (See Additional Observations on the Personal Pronouns, § 155.) The learner will remark, that no apostrophe is used in writing ours, yours, hers, its, theirs.

You has not only usurped the place of thou, in addressing an individual, but also the place of ye, in addressing a number of individuals. At one period of our language, ye appears to have been used exclusively as the form for the nominative plural (or plural subject noun) of the second person. Many instances may be found in which ye is used as an accusative, both after verbs and prepositions: for example-"The more shame for ye—holy men I thought ye.”—Shak. This usage may have arisen from a softened or slovenly pronunciation of you, in conversation. It is still common enough to hear persons of good education say, Thank ye, instead of, Thank you; though such forms are banished from the written language.

You, was originally the proper accusative form of the second person plural, and used only for the purpose of modification, and not as subject noun. Now it performs the functions of nominative, accusative, and dative, both singular and plural. The possessives your and yours, whether we regard

(17) Decline separately each of the personal pronouns.

EXERCISE on the Formation of the Genitive or Possessive Case.Write the following nouns in the Genitive Case, followed by such nouns as they can appropriately modify. Man, singular and plural. Brother Brothers. Brethren. Hero, singular and plural. William. James. Agnes. Mary. The tailor. The shoemaker. The carpenter. My father. Mother. Wisdom. Beauty. Virtue. Goodness, &c. Each of these may be applied as genitive modification of several other nouns, if this should be thought expedient.

§ 75. We now return to the enumeration of the several modifications of nouns and verbs.

(1) We direct our attention first to that modification of the noun (or complement of the subject), which consists of a noun in the genitive or possessive case prefixed to limit it. (2) This we may call the Genitive or Possessive Case Modification of the Noun. (3) Or, more briefly, the Genitive Modification (abbreviated, Gen. Mn.) (4) The noun in the genitive case usually expresses what stands in the relation of possessor, or some kindred relation to what the noun which it modifies expresses. We give a number of examples which the learner will analyze as an exercise. We mark, by using Italics, the words which the learner is prepared by the instructions already given to analyze. He may pass over, for the present, the words printed in Roman characters.

(5) It will be remembered that this, like other modifications, is not limited to the noun employed as subject noun, but may be applied to a noun whatever function it happens to perform in the construction of a proposition.

EXAMPLES TO SERVE AS AN EXERCISE IN ANALYSIS.-His father's house stands a ruin. In God's sight, man's strength is weakness ; man's wisdom is folly; man's hopes are vanity. Wisdom's ways are ways of pleasantness; her paths are peace. Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice. Minerva's temple stood a landmark to the mariThat man's haste to grow rich became the cause of his reverses

ner.

one or both as cases of you, or as determinative adjectives formed from you. have in like manner superseded the old singular forms.

§ 75. (1) Describe the modification of the noun here first presented. (2) How do we name this modification? (3) Give a shorter name, and the abbreviation. (4) Repeat what is said of the noun in the genitive case.

(5) Repeat remark.

The fool's prosperity becomes his destruction. John's escape seemed a miracle. William's energy secured him an independence.

(6) The principal noun in this species of construction is often suppressed, when clearly indicated by the modifying noun in the possessive case. (7) Thus, St. Paul's, St. Peter's, &c., are used to signify the churches named in honor of the Apostles Paul and Peter; The bookseller's, The stationer's, The grocer's, instead of The bookseller's shop, The stationer's shop, &c. (8) The possessive cases mine, thine, hers, ours, yours, theirs, are never, in the present usage of the language, followed by the noun which they limit. (9) In other words, these possessive forms are never used except when (to avoid ungraceful repetition) we wish to suppress the principal noun. (10) Thus we say, That book is MINE, OURS, YOURS, HERS, &c., to avoid the ungraceful repetition of book in the predicate of the proposition which would be necessary if we employed the forms my, our, your, &c. That book is my book; except we omit (as is often done) the noun of the subject, and say, That is my book. (11) This is the real distinction between the forms mine, ours, thine, yours, hers, theirs, on the one hand, and my, our, thy, your, her, their, on the other; the first-mentioned class are always used when the principal noun-the noun which they limit-is suppressed, the last mentioned when the principal noun is expressed.* (12) It follows that

*The word his is used both when the principal noun is suppressed, and when it is expressed; thus we say both, That horse is нs, and That is HIS horse. In other words, the form is performs the double function of a possessive case of HE, and of a determinative adjective pronoun. Its we suspect is seldom employed to perform the double function of a possessive case of ITs, namely, both to indicate and limit a suppressed noun. The grammars, which we have examined give no examples; and we cannot think of a case in which its could be gracefully and appropriately employed with its principal noun suppressed. If no examples can be found of this use, its should be degraded from the place which it occupies in our grammars as possessive case of it, that is, in those grammars which exclude my, our, &c., from this place. Its is a word that (even as an adjective pronoun) has no long stand

(6) What often happens in reference to the principal noun in this construction? (7) Repeat examples. (S) What is said in reference to the possessive cases, mine, ours, &c. ? (9) Vary the expression. (10) Repeat examples, and illustrate them. (11) State the real distinction between mine, ours, thine, yours, &c., on the one hand, and my, our, thy, your, tc., on the other. (12) What follows from what has been said of mine, ours, &c. ? (13)

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