NOTE. Each expression may be expanded to a much greater length than in the model.

I am contented.

I believe.

Alonzo was not to blame.

I love to read.

He went.
They stopped.

The choir sung.

Have you heard?

The learner can now write short compositions on subjects which are easy and familiar, like the following:

SUBJECTS.*

A visit.

The advantages of an education.

The sagacity of a dog.

A sleigh ride.

A dialogue on the stars.

A story of an elephant.

A dialogue on the study of grammar.

An anecdote about Washington.

LETTER WRITING.

The following is a proper example for imitation, in respect to the dating, beginning and closing of a letter.

obliged to you

Olney, June 16, 1769.

for

your

invitation, but being long

accustomed to retirement, which I was always fond of, I am now more than ever unwilling to visit those noisy scenes which I never loved, and which I now abhor. I remember you with all the friendship I ever professed, which is as much as I ever entertained for any man.

I love and you

I thank

yours,
and shall not cease to be their and

your

you for your continued remem

brance

of me,

Affectionate Friend,

William Cowper.

Joseph Hill, Esq.

REMARKS.

Letters should be written in an easy and natural style, but with a strict regard to neatness in the penmanship, and to propriety in the complimentary address and close, and also to pointing, folding and superscribing.

The learner should occasionally write letters to be examined and corrected by the teacher.

*The word subject in this connection signifies a theme, or that about which we may write or converse.

MODIFIERS OF THE PREDICATE.
The MODIFIERS of the predicate may
be a noun in the objective case, (if the
verb is transitive;) a verb in the infini-
tive; an adverb; a preposition with
its object (adjunct); a clause; and
rarely an adjective.

The Predicate, whose meaning is modified by one or more words,
is called the MODIFIED (or logical) PREDICATE.

of the good.

from your own admission.
verdant, in the winter.
from a Saxon word.

to-morrow.

to be accommodated.

PART III.

§ 109. SYNTAX.

1. Syntax treats of sentences, and teaches the proper construction of words in forming them.

CLASSIFICATION OF SENTENCES.

1. Sentences are of five kinds; declaratory, imperative, interrogative, conditional and exclamatory.

2. A declaratory sentence is one in which any thing is simply affirmed or denied of a subject; as, Time flies; he will not understand.

3. An imperative sentence is one in which a command is expressed: as, Buy the truth, and sell it not.

4. An interrogative sentence is one in which a question is asked; as, Who hath believed our report?

5. A conditional sentence is one in which something contingent or hypothetical is expressed, and is always dependent on another sentence with which it is connected by a conjunction; as, If it rains; though he slay me.

6. An exclamatory sentence is one in which something surprising is expressed, or in which full utterance is given to some strong or sudden emotion; as, There stands the mighty Mansfield! May my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth!

7. Sentences are either simple or compound. A simple sentence consists of but one proposition; a compound sentence consists of two or more simple sentences.

8. The simple propositions which make up a compound sentence, are called clauses or members.

9. The leading clause is one on which the other members depend. 10. A dependent clause, is one which makes complete sense only in connection with another clause.

§. 110. SIMPLE SENTENCES.

A simple sentence contains only one subject or nominative, and one predicate. See explanation in Part I.

EXAMPLES.

Water flows, is a simple sentence;-it is a simple statement, containing only one subject, water, and one predicate flows.

Birds fly. Why a simple sentence? Which is the predicate? Which the subject?

The sea roars. Why a simple sentence?

• The trees put forth their leaves. What kind of a sentence? Why? Point out the subject, the predicate. Which is the object or objective case? Answer. Leaves.

REMARKS.

1. The subject of a sentence may be simple or compound.

2. The subject is simple when it is a single noun; as, The rose is fragrant; rose is the simple subject.

3. The subject is simple when it consists of two or more nouns joined by some connecting word, if what is asserted of them together cannot be asserted of them separately; as, Two and three make five, that is, two and three together make five, but the same cannot be asserted of them separately, viz; two make five, and three make five. Two and three, then, are the simple subject of make. The horse and chaise are worth forty pounds. Horse and chaise, is the simple subject.

4. The subject is compound when it consists of two or more nouns connected by a conjunction, if what is said of the whole, çan be said of each separately; as, Pompey and Cæsar were Roman generals; here, what is said of both can be said of each, viz: Pompey was a Roman general; Cæsar was a Roman general,

5. The predicate also may be simple or compound; simple, when but one thing is asserted of the subject; compound, when more than one thing is asserted of the subject; as, Honesty is praised; is praised is a simple predicate; it asserts but one thing of honesty; honesty is praised and neglected; is praised and neglected is a compound predicate, because more than one thing is asserted of honesty, the subject.

§ 111. COMPOUND SENTENCES.

1. A compound sentence consists of two or more simple

sentences.

2. The simple sentences which make up a compound sentence are called clauses.