§ 14. THE SUBJECT.*

The subject of a sentence denotes that of which something is asserted.

EXAMPLES.

The earth trembled, is a sentence. The subject is the noun earth; it denotes the thing of which something is asserted.

The flowers bloom. What is the subject? Why?

EXERCISE.

(a) Point out the subjects of the following sentences.

(b) Supply three subjects for each of the following verbs.

(c) Point out the nouns which denote the subjects and objects, in the following

sentences.

The king conquered the enemy.
The soldiers besieged the town.
The foxes deceived the hunters.
The wolf followed the lamb.

The tree yields fruit.

The moon withdraws her light.
Bees collect honey.
Hunters pursue the game..

4. The noun which is the subject of the verb is in the nominative case.

In the sentences above, king, soldiers, foxes, and wolf, are in the nominative case. What others are in the nominative ?

The subject is here defined as a grammatical term. In logic, the subject of thought is always some person or thing. A similar distinction is made between the terms object and predicate in grammar, and the same terms in logic.

5. To find the word which is in the nominative case, inquire what word denotes that of which something is asserted.

EXERCISE.

Point out the nouns in the nominative case in the following sentences.

§ 15. THE PREDICATE.

NOTE.-To predicate, signifies to affirm, to assert, to declare.

The predicate of a sentence consists of the word or words, which we use in asserting any thing.

EXAMPLES.

The sun shines; shines is the predicate; it is used to assert something about the sun.

The grass grows. Point out the predicate. Why is it called predicate ? The ship sails. Point out the predicate.

The day is pleasant. What is asserted of day?

EXERCISE.

Supply two predicates for each of the following nouns.

What part of speech has been used in asserting something of the subjects above? What parts of speech have been defined?

§ 16. The Verb Be.

1. Am, are, was, is, are parts of the verb be.

2. The verb be asserts only the existence of the subject; as, I am; i. e., I exist. The world is; i. e., exists.

3. Some word or words must be used with the verb be, to predicate or assert any thing more than existence; as, The sun is shining; is shining is the predicate. The earth is round; "is," with the word "round," constitutes the predicate. The man is in trouble; is in trouble, is the predicate.

NOTE. In these examples, existence is first asserted, and then something more is added. The man is; i. e. is existing or living; in trouble is added to show the state in which he is living.

EXERCISE.

(a) Point out the predicate in the following expressions.

Time is short.

The rain is falling.

The un is pleasant.

The soil is productive.

The trees are tall.

The day is near.

The view was delightful.
The time is at hand.

Supply a word to complete the predicate in each of the following expressions.

§ 17. The Verbs May, Can, Shall, Will, Might, Must, Could, Would,

Should.

These verbs are used with other verbs, or as parts of other verbs, to make an assertion or predicate.

COMPOSITION.

Compose three sente ces on each subject, including the verbs last mentioned.

1. A sentence is any collection of words which comprises a subject and a predicate.

2. The principal parts of a sentence are the subject and predicate.

3. The subject denotes that of which something is asserted or expressed.

4. The predicate is used to express that which is asserted of the subject.

5. The subject must be a noun, or something standing for a

noun.

6. The predicate may be any verb, or the verb BE with some word or words connected with it.

COMPOSITION.

DIRECTION.-Write the composition in a plain neat hand, leaving a wide margin on the left side of the page. Make a period at the close of every complete sentence.

Compose six sentences on each of the following subjects.

REVIEW.

1. What parts of speech are essential in forming a sentence? 2. What are the principal parts of a sentence called? 3. Define the subject. 4. Of what part or parts of speech must the subject consist? 5. Of what may the predi

cate consist? 6. How does the verb BE differ from other verbs ? 7. What is said of the verbs may, can, &c. 8. Will you give an example of a sentence? 9. In the sentence, The clouds fly, which word is the subject? Which word is the predicate? 10. Point out the subjects and predicates in the following sentences. The sky is clear. The leaves shake. The ship is sailing.

EXERCISE.

The learner may now point out the subject and predicate in each of the following sentences.

NOTE. The predicate may be known by asking what is said or asserted of the subject; the word or words which answer the question will be the predi

cate.

Authors write books.

Ships sail on the sea.

Indians use the tomahawk.

Soldiers fight battles.

Foxes dig holes in the ground.

Life is a vapor.

Point out the nouns and verbs in the sentences above.

Point out the nouns which are in the nominative case; in the objective case. The objective case may be found by inquiring what is the object of the action.

§ 19. THE PRONOUN.

The word pronoun [Latin pro, instead of, and nomen, a name] signifies in stead of a noun or name.

1. A pronoun is employed to avoid an improper or too frequent use of the noun; as, I will write; the pronoun I is properly used instead of the name of the writer. James might