4. The relation of a word to other words in the sentence is called its Construction.

5. Grammar is the study of the functions, or parts of speech, the inflections, and the constructions of words in the sentence.

QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR REVIEW.

1. With the help of the dictionary, write out the definition of word, of function, of punctuation, of capitalization. 2. Show how in talking we indicate the division of our words into sentences. 3. How is the division of words into sentences indicated in writing and in printing? 4. What is meant by the term Parts of Speech? 5. Name the various parts of speech in the English language, and give a sentence illustrating each. 6. What is meant by Inflection? 7. Give two sentences containing the same word in different inflectional forms. 8. What is meant by the Construction of a word? 9. Define Grammar. 10. Choose some topic and write not less than five sentences on it. After you have written the sentences, pick out all the nouns, pronouns, adjectives, and verbs which you have used.

CHAPTER II.-THE SENTENCE.

6. The Complete Sentence.-Not every group of related words forms a sentence. The words, in that tree, for example, standing by themselves, do not form a sentence, but are merely a phrase. In order to form a sentence they must be united to other words so as to express some thought about the tree completely. Thus if we say, I see a squirrel in that tree, or The nest is in that tree, then we use complete sentences, because each group of words expresses a complete thought about the tree. In good writing and speaking it is necessary to use complete sentences, and the difference between the incomplete and the complete group of words should be carefully observed. Definition: A Sentence is a word or a group of words expressing a thought completely.

EXERCISE.

Tell which of the following groups of words are complete and which are incomplete, and fill out the incomplete ones so as to make them complete sentences.

(1) The longest day of the year.

(2) It is high tide at eleven o'clock.

(3) His first attempt.

(4) He came to invite us to play tennis.

(5) On account of the rain.

(6) After a hurried dinner under the shelter of a rock.

(7) If you had come ten minutes earlier.

8

(8) While we were waiting, the sun began to shine.

(9) Never had I seen such a display of fruits and flowers.

(10) Because we had not time to do full justice to the exhibition. (11) Down the street to the postoffice.

(12) It is time to go.

(13) Procrastination is the thief of opportunity.

(14) My oldest brother and my sister.

(15) He having finished his lessons.

(16) Walking down the street this afternoon.

(17) The horse, newly shod, walked without slipping.

(18) Skating is good exercise.

(19) Running about the field.

(20) Having spent two hours in the dark trying to find the little wharf at which we usually landed.

(21) How to sail a boat.

(22) The dark shadows, gathering in from all sides, soon shut out the view.

(23) At sunrise the army of the Nabob, pouring through many openings of the camp.

(24) The dexterity with which he managed his steed, and something of youthful grace which he displayed in his

manner.

(25) As far as could be judged of a man sheathed in armor, the new adventurer did not greatly exceed the middle size, and seemed to be rather slender than strongly made. (26) If I had come to see you day before yesterday as I had intended.

7. Sentences of One Word.-In the definition of the sentence, it was stated that a sentence may consist of a word or of a group of words expressing a thought completely, and a number of sentences which consist of a group of words have been cited. But how may we have sentences of a single word? It is in this way. If the commander of a regiment of soldiers who are drawn up for the battle should shout to them the word Fire, the

men would have no uncertainty as to his meaning. The single word would convey as complete a meaning to them as the longer and less emphatic expression, I command you to fire. The word Fire would, therefore, in those circumstances, be a sentence, because it expresses a thought completely. Such sentences are called Imperative Sentences because they give commands.

Words, however, like Oh! and Ah!, which sometimes stand alone, are not sentences. For, if someone, in a moment of surprise, should exclaim Oh!, another person merely hearing the exclamation would not know exactly what it meant. It might mean Oh, I didn't know you were here, or Oh, I didn't recognize you, or one of many things. The word Oh, and similar words, are not capable by themselves of expressing a thought completely, and therefore they cannot be sentences. They are called interjections (see 2, (h).

8. Kinds of Sentences.-Sentences are of different kinds. The sentence, I see a squirrel in that tree, merely states a fact. The sentence, Fire, expresses a command. Closely related to this second kind of sentence is that which expresses a wish or entreaty, as, for example, Show me the squirrel. A sentence like Where is the squirrel? asks a question, and a sentence like How swift he is! is an exclamation in the form of a sentence. We have, therefore, four different kinds of sentences:

(1.) A Declarative Sentence states a fact or what is regarded
as fact.

(2.) An Imperative Sentence expresses a command or entreaty.
(3.) An Interrogative Sentence asks a question.
(4.) An Exclamatory Sentence states a fact, or gives a com-

mand, or asks a question in a highly energetic or
emotional manner.

As to the exclamatory sentence, it should be observed that a declarative sentence may become an exclamatory sentence when it expresses a statement very emphatically, as, for example, "That is nonsense!, or a command, as, Be off with you!, or even a question, as, How could you do it! The exclamatory sentence is thus seen to be dependent more upon the strength of the emotion with which it is uttered than upon the thought of it.

Declarative and imperative sentences end with a period.

Interrogative sentences end with a question mark. Exclamatory sentences end with an exclamation

point.

9. The Length of the Sentence.-The classification of sentences as declarative, imperative, interrogative, and exclamatory is not at all dependent on the length of the sentences. I see a squirrel is a declarative sentence, but so also is I see a squirrel every morning in that chestnut tree on the other side of the road. So also Fire when you see the whites of their eyes is as much an imperative sentence as the single word Fire. Always, therefore, in determining the kind of sentence, observe the nature of the thought, not the number of words it takes to express the thought. Note also that a declarative sentence may contain a question or command.

(1) He said, “Who is your father?"

(2) The officer shouted "Let go the anchor!"

An imperative sentence may contain a declarative statement or a question.

(1) Think always "I have a duty to perform."

(2) Ask yourself "Who is my master?"