VI. SYNTAX

DEFINITION. Syntax is that part of grammar which treats of the way in which words are joined in sentences.

Under the head of Syntax should be considered (1) the elements of the sentence; (2) the classification of sentences according to the manner in which these elements are arranged; (3) the four leading principles, Concord, Government, Modification, and Order, that determine the relations of words in sentences; (4) elliptical sentences; (5) punctuation; and (6) the analysis of sentences into their component elements.

For the convenience of pupils we have already treated the elements of the sentence (pp. 29-45), the classification of sentences (pp. 51-63), and the analysis of sentences (pp. 57-66).

The four principles that regulate the grammatical union of words in sentences are Concord, Government, Modification, and Order.

CONCORD

DEFINITION. - Concord is the agreement in case, gender, number, mode, or tense of two connected words.

MAX. SCH. GRAM. -14 209

CONCORD OF SUBJECT AND PREDICATE

I. A verb agrees with its subject in number and person; and the subject of a verb, when a noun or a pronoun, is always in the nominative case.

The meaning of the first part of this rule is that a verb must have that grammatical form which shows that it is of the same person and number as its subject; as, All men admire courage. A man admires courage. Thou admirest all beautiful things. I am to blame. They are to blame.

The following special cases under this general rule require attention:

1. When a noun in the plural is used to denote a whole, a unit of some sort, as the title of a book, a sum of money, etc., the verb may be in the singular; as, Plutarch's Lives is a good book. Five hundred dollars was spent.

2. When a singular noun is modified by two adjectives, so as to mean two distinct things, the verb is in the plural; as, Moral and physical education are both necessary. Here education must be regarded as understood after moral.

3. A collective noun denoting a group of objects regarded as one whole takes a verb in the singular; but when the noun denotes a group regarded as individuals, it takes a verb in the plural; as, The government has begun to turn its attention. Sydney Smith.

Bible.

The assembly of the wicked have inclosed me.

4. Few, many, most, some, several, the rest, etc., take a verb in the plural; as, Few of the men were there. Many of the sailors were shipwrecked. None (originally meaning no one) would seem to require a singular verb, but it has come to be used in both the singular and the plural; as, None of our party was (or were) sick.

5. When the subject consists of two or more nouns connected by the conjunction and, the verb is in the plural; as The evening and the morning were the first day.

To this rule there are several exceptions:

(1) If the nouns are names for the same person or thing, the verb is in the singular; as, A laggard in love and a dastard in war was to wed the fair Ellen of brave Lochinvar. -Scott.

(2) If the nouns are names of things that may be considered as forming one whole, the verb is in the singular; as, Wherein doth sit the fear and dread of kings. - Shakespeare. The wheel and axle was out of repair.

(3) When the verb is made to agree with the subject next to it, being mentally supplied with the others, two or more nouns or pronouns connected by and often take a verb in the singular. This may happen in the following cases:

(a) When it is desired to make one of the subjects emphatic; as, Both death and I am found eternal. Milton. To rive what Goth and Turk and Time hath spared. Byron.

(b) When the subject nouns are preceeded by each, every, or no; as, Each book and each paper was found in its place. Every hour and every minute is important. No help and no hope comes to the drowning man.

(c) When a verb separates its subjects, it agrees with the first; as, The leader of the band was slain, and all his men. If the first noun is plural, the verb is plural; as, The men were slain and their leader also.

(d) When a verb is placed before its subject, and the latter is represented by there, such, etc.; as, Upon this there was a fearful cry from heaven, and (there were) great claps of thunder. Washington Irving. Such was the intelligence, the gravity, and the self-command of Cromwell's warriors. - Macaulay. When the pronoun it has a forward reference, it has a verb in the singular even when the complement is plural; as, It is they. It was the governor and his brother who were here.

6. When the subject consists of two or more singular nouns, or equivalents of nouns, joined by or, either - or, neither—nor, the verb must be singular.

The reason of this rule is that, with or, either

or,

the predi

cate is affirmed of only one of the subjects; as, Either Jones or Smith starts for Europe to-morrow. With nor, or neither — nor, the predicate is denied of each of the subjects separately; as, Where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt. Bible. Nor man nor fiend hath fallen so far. - Byron.

Good writers, however, occasionally use a plural verb after nouns connected by neither -nor, if the predicate is regarded as denied of both together; as, Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace to-night. — Shakespeare. Neither the king nor either of his two sons are permitted to leave the island.

When two or more subjects connected by or or nor differ in person, the rule is usually given that the verb must agree with the subject next to it; as, Either you or I am to go. Either he

or you are to go. Either you or he is to go. It is better to avoid this construction,- either complete the predicate with the first subject, "Either you are to go, or I am," or change the form of the sentence.

CAUTION 1. Do not use a plural verb after a singular subject modified by an adjective phrase that is introduced by with. We should say, The rebel chief, with all his attendants, was (not were) captured.

CAUTION 2. When two subject nouns are connected by the conjunction as well as, the verb agrees in person and number with the first. We say, The boy, as well as his sister, deserves commendation; meaning, The boy deserves commendation, as well as his sister (deserves commendation).

CAUTION 3. Never use a singular verb after you or they. Do not say, You was there, or Was you there? or They was.

CAUTION 4. Do not mistake a noun in a modifying phrase for the subject of the verb; as, The eating of apples promotes (not promote) health.

CAUTION 5. When the subject is a relative pronoun, the number and person of the verb are the same as the number and person of the antecedent of the relative. We say, This is the only one of the books that is worth reading, because the antecedent of that is one; but, This is one of the best books that have appeared this year, because the antecedent of that is books.

CAUTION 6. Beware of incorrect contractions of verbs with the adverb not. Do not use, He don't, It don't, for He does not, or He doesn't, etc. Do not use You da'sn't, He da'sn't, for You dare not, etc. We may say, I don't, We don't. The use of such expressions as hadn't ought to and didn't ought to is wholly

wrong.

EXERCISE 73.

Correct the errors in the concord of subject and verb in the following sentences, and give reason for each change:

1. It don't seem possible that our country is so young!
2. Every one of the passengers tell the same story.

3. Care thou for me?

4. John don't understand this rule in grammar.

5. Thomas or I were going to call for you.

6. The bones forming an open cage, commonly known as the chest, is scientifically called the thorax.

7. In expiration, the diaphragm and the muscles that raise the ribs relaxes.

8. All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.

9. If five yards of muslin costs fifty cents, what does three yards cost?

10. It don't seem possible that it is ten years since I saw you.

11. The jury has disagreed.

12. The crowd are becoming uncontrollable.

13. The collection from the scholars are to be given to a G. A. R. Post.