6. A relative clause: e. g. "Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus;" or 7. Correlative clauses: e. g. "When he comes, then you may go;" or 8. Distinct propositions: e. g. "It was the third hour; and they crucified him." Sometimes several of these different kinds of compound structure may be combined. When this occurs, the pupil should be required to state the fact. NOTE 3. It should be understood, that while analyzing a compound structure we have regard only for the subjects, verbs, attributes, objects and adjuncts, expressed, as in No. 1, 2, 3, 4,5. We by no means assert that these expressed subjects, verbs, &c. exhaust the elements of the compound structure. There are always, in fact, as many verbs expressed or understood as there are subjects expressed; and vice versa; as many subjects and verbs, as attributes; &c. &c. All sentences, whether simple or compound, are comprehended in three classes: the declarative, the interrogative and exclamatory. I. Declarative sentences state or declare something, affirmatively or negatively, in some one or more of the various relations, of time past, present or future; as true or false; absolute or conditional; possible or impossible; certain or contingent; &c. &c. II. Interrogative sentences are such as contain questions. III. Exclamatory sentences are such as are employed to express emotion or passion. PUNCTUATION. SEC. 1. SIMPLE SENTENCES. All simple sentences terminate with the period, or its representative, the interrogation or exclamation point. As no part of a simple sentence can separately make perfect sense; in other words, inasmuch as simple sentences make, at every point, except at the end, imperfect sense; the comma is the only intermediate pause which they admit; (See Plate, figure 8;) and this is admissible only in the following cases. 1. When the subject or nominative case is followed by an inseparable adjunct of some length, a comma may be inserted immediately before the verb: e. g. The good taste of the present enlightened age, has not allowed us to neglect the cultivation of the English language. To be totally indifferent to praise or censure, is a real defect of character. 2. When the connection is interrupted by a circumstance, a comma may be inserted both before and after it. For a full explanation of the circumstance, and its appropriate punctuation, see the end of this classification; and also Punctuation, Comma, cases of omission, 3. 3. When the natural order of the sentence is reversed by transposition, a comma may be inserted between the parts transposed: e. g. In the day of trouble, I called on the name of the Lord. Of all this, I was ignorant. Under these circumstances, he gave up the contest. 4. When the sentence is long, and the natural order unchanged, a comma may be inserted between parts which admit of transpo sition: e. g. He began with censuring the ministry very severely, for delaying to give earlier notice to parliament of the disturbances in America. CLASS I. SIMPLE DECLARATIVE SENTENCES. (See Definition of a simple sentence, and also of a declarative sentence.) Examples. I fear the consequences. I will shortly return. You should acknowledge your faults. He has been a long time ill. Hold thy peace. Fear God. The windows of heaven were opened. The poor are often in want of the necessaries of life. Public wisdom, on some occasions, must condescend to give way to popular folly. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. The prosperity of the wicked is not durable. Be not desirous of vain-glory. Be not forward in the presence of your superiors. He was not, at that time, in the city. By means of their standing armies, they have every one lost their liberties. Besides this powerful engine of government, he had a most extraordinary talent of persuading men to his purpose. As to the temporal side of the question, I can have no dispute with you. This fastened on my mind more strongly, from its beauty being unexpected. He found in them the guileless manner of the earliest times, with the culture of the most refined ones. The first of these paragraphs contains affirmative simple declarative sentences; one of them only, (the last,) requiring intermediate punctuation: the second contains negative simp. decl.; the last only, as before, requiring intermediate punctuation: the third contains examples of transposition: the fourth examples of possible transposition, though not actually transposed, and punctuated accordingly YES, YEA, AY, AYE; NO, NAY; WELL. The words, yes, with its equivalents yea, ay and aye, no, with its equivalent nay and well, when employed elliptically, have some peculiarities which are explained at the end of this classification. CLASS II. SIMPLE INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES. (See Definition of a simple sentence, and also of an interrogative.) Simple interrogative sentences are either definite, indefinite, or indirect. 1. The DEFINITE are those which begin with verbs, answered by yes or no. and may be NOTE. They are called definite, because they limit the answer to yes or no, or the equiva lent of these words. Examples. Will you ride to town to-day? Am I my brother's keeper? Were there not ten cleansed? Will ye also go away? Is any among you afflicted? Do ye not hear the law? Are they ministers of Christ? Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? Have all the gifts of healing? Have not we power to forbear working? Could ye not watch one hour? Should not children obey their parents in all things? 2. The INDEFINITE are such as begin with adverbs and relative pronouns, and cannot be answered by yes or no. NOTE. They are called indefinite, because they do not, like the definite, limit the answer; as, "When did we last meet " To this the answer may be any one of a thousand that are possible, and may be supposed. The following extract, showing a somewhat remarkable coincidence between the definitions of Definite and Indefinite interrogatives, here given, and those received from classical antiquity, will be read with interest by the scholar. Inter percontationem (indefinite) autem et interrogationem, (definite,) hoc veteres interesse dixerunt, quòd ad percontationem multa responderi possunt: ad interrogationem, Verò, aut Non, aut Etiam.-St. Augustini Opera de Doctrina Christiana, Lib. III. ch. 3 Examples. Where did we last meet ! When will you leave town! At what hour, this evening, will the moon rise! Why was this important fact concealed By whom was the deed done? Which of the two is the most admired! How is the object, in view, to be secured! Wherefore then serveth the law! Who can estimate the influence of the Sabbath school! The adverb why, when employed as in the passages which follow, though usually regarded as a mere expletive, is unquestionably an abbreviated indefinite interrogative. And who, I pray, is to judge of their necessity! Why, the King. He said to them the third time: why, what evil hath he done! In the first instance, why is obviously equivalent to the interrogative sentence, "Why ask the question " in the second to "Why crucify him !" When was formerly used in the same way: e. g. Why, when, I say-Nay, good sweet Kate, be merry. Taming the Shrew, IV, 1. When, Harry, when,—— Obedience bids: I should not bid again. King Richard II, I, 1. 3. The INDIRECT are interrogatives in a declarative form. NOTE 1. It would be, perhaps, more correct to say, with a declarative structure. In declarative sentences, the subject properly, and almost uniformly, precedes the verb. This is what is meant by the declarative form or structure. In an interrogative sentence, (see definite and indefinite interrogatives,) the verb, at least the auxiliary verb, precedes the subject. This is what is meant by the interrogative structure or form. NOTE 2. But this is not the only characteristic of the indirect interrogative. When a person employs the definite or indefinite question, he represents himself as wholly ignorant of the subject matter of inquiry, and as desiring information: when he employs the indirect question, he represents himself as assuming the subject matter of inquiry, and as desiring confirmation. NOTE 3. The name of this question is derived from its nature; or the manner in which it is put; i. e. indirectly. "Indeed, the trapper was left to renew the dialogue himself; which he soon did by asking a question in the indirect manner so much in use by the border inhabitants. "You found it no easy matter to ford the water-courses, and make your way so deep into the prairies, friend, with teams of horses and herds of horned beasts?" Cooper. Indirect interrogatives are of three kinds. 1. The first does not differ, except in structure, as noticed in note 1, above, and in the peculiarity noticed in note 2, from definite interrogatives. Examples of the first kind. You will go to the city of New York next week? You will convey my message? They never were heard of afterward! He refused obedience ! 2. The second kind is distinguished by being used exciusively in supplication. Examples of the second kind. Lady, Dear Queen that ended when I but began, The last line, which is all I quote as an example of simple indirect, is evidentiy «quivalent to "Will you give me that hand of yours to kiss?" (See Indirect Interrogatives, Ch. VI.) 3. The third kind occurs where a proposition is expressed with such confidence in its truth, as precludes contradiction, and commands assent. Examples of the third kind. Surely, sir, I have seen you before of God? Truly, this was the Son Out jumps the gardener in a fright, And runs away with all his might; The exclamation here, which is all that I quote as example, together with the sentences which precede, are manifestly equivalent to questions: differing only from other questions in the direct form, in that they take the answer for granted. As the examples show, this question may be put to another or to ones self. The third kind always, or almost always, includes some word like sure, surely, truly, certainly, &c., by which it may be distinguished. CLASS III. SIMPLE EXCLAMATORY SENTENCES. (See Definition of simple sentence, and also of an exclamatory.) Simple exclamatory sentences are declarative, interrogative, compellative and spontaneous. * We make use of speech only to communicate our thoughts to others; and consequently our language is always addressed to some one. That those to whom we speak, may know that we are addressing them, we call upon them, either by name, or some equivalent expression, proper to fix their attention. Thus: I say, “Victor, you are not attentive;" "Lord! am thy creature:" "Sir, are you my friend ?" These words, "Victor," "Lord,” “Sir," make no part of the proposition. I shall call this part of speech a Compellative, from a Latin word which signifies "to address, to accost." (DE SACY. Principles of General Grammar.) 1. DECLARATIVE. These are so called, because they are declarative sentences employed as exclamations. In other words, they are declarative sentences which, besides expressing a thought, express it with emotion. Examples. He died a madman! It is impossible! May that time never come! Happy are they! May the will of the Lord be done! Not for the world would I peril my soul by such a deed! God grant to those few friends courage to declare themselves in opposition to your formidable enemies! Thus was felt his despotism over the heart! The declarative exclamatory sentence is not always entire: it is often a mere fragment, the complement of which must be supplied, perhaps inferred, from the context: e.g. Impossible! Beautiful! Happy day! What is life! A shadow! Did you, sir, throw up a black crow? Not I! Cruel fortune! Delusive hopes! Piercing thought! This to me! The complete sentence in each of these cases is as follows: It is impossible! This is a happy day! That is beautiful! Life is a shadow! I did not throw up a black crow! This is a cruel fortune! These are delusive hopes! It is a piercing thought! This is said to me Whenever a fragmentary sentence occurs, the student should supply the portion of the sentence suppressed. This observation, which is an important one, is made once for all. 2. INTERROGATIVE; which are so called, because they assume interrogative forms. They are definite, indefinite and indirect. 1. THE DEFINITE. Do you envy my good fortune! Are you mad! Is it indeed so! Hath it not burst upon thee! Seest thou that old man there! Art thou my father! Is this to me! Could he possibly, at his years, be guilty of an outrage like that! Darest thou thus provoke me! These, like the declarative, appear very often in fragments. Are his talents adequate to the occasion? Adequate !-Will he succeed? Succeed!-Will you go there? I go there! Never.— He is a thief. A thief! I cannot believe it. NOTE. It is not easy to distinguish this sentence, when fragmentary, from the fragmentary declarative on the one hand, and the fragmentary compact, hereafter to be noticed, on the other. When it is a mere echo, as in three of the examples above, there is little difficulty; but this is not always the case. In a given passage, the only criterion is the sense. 2. THE INDEFINITE. Examples. Why do I suffer so many sorrows! How can I endure them! When will they cease pressing me to the dust! What could I have done to provoke thus the thunderbolts of heaven against my |