An English Grammar Part 22

Hence some take _what_ as a double relative, and pa.r.s.e _that_ in the first clause, and _which_ in the second clause; that is, "common souls pay with _that_ [singular, object of _with_] _which_ [singular, object of _do_] they do."

INDEFINITE RELATIVES.

[Sidenote: _List and examples._]

121. INDEFINITE RELATIVES are, by meaning and use, not as direct as the simple relatives.

They are _whoever_, _whichever_, _whatever_, _whatsoever_; less common are _whoso_, _whosoever_, _whichsoever_, _whatsoever_. The simple relatives _who_, _which_, and _what_ may also be used as indefinite relatives. Examples of indefinite relatives (from Emerson):--

1. _Whoever_ has flattered his friend successfully must at once think himself a knave, and his friend a fool.

2. It is no proof of a man's understanding, to be able to affirm _whatever_ he pleases.

3. They sit in a chair or sprawl with children on the floor, or stand on their head, or _what_ else _soever_, in a new and original way.

4. _Whoso_ is heroic will always find crises to try his edge.

5. Only itself can inspire _whom_ it will.

6. G.o.d offers to every mind its choice between truth and repose.

Take _which_ you please,--you cannot have both.

7. Do _what_ we can, summer will have its flies.

[Sidenote: _Meaning and use._]

122. The fitness of the term _indefinite_ here cannot be shown better than by examining the following sentences:--

1. There is something so overruling in _whatever_ inspires us with awe, in _all things which_ belong ever so remotely to terror, that nothing else can stand in their presence.--BURKE.

2. Death is there a.s.sociated, not with _everything that_ is most endearing in social and domestic charities, but with _whatever_ is darkest in human nature and in human destiny.--MACAULAY.

It is clear that in 1, _whatever_ is equivalent to _all things which_, and in 2, to _everything that_; no certain antecedent, no particular thing, being referred to. So with the other indefinites.

[Sidenote: What _simple relative and_ what _indefinite relative_.]

123. The above helps us to discriminate between _what_ as a simple and _what_ as an indefinite relative.

As shown in Sec. 120, the simple relative _what_ is equivalent to _that which_ or the _thing which_,--some particular thing; as shown by the last sentence in Sec. 121, _what_ means _anything that_, _everything that_ (or _everything which_). The difference must be seen by the meaning of the sentence, as _what_ hardly ever has an antecedent.

The examples in sentences 5 and 6, Sec. 121, show that _who_ and _which_ have no antecedent expressed, but mean _any one whom_, _either one that_, etc.

OTHER WORDS USED AS RELATIVES.

[Sidenote: But _and_ as.]

124. Two words, but and as, are used with the force of relative p.r.o.nouns in some expressions; for example,--

1. There is not a leaf rotting on the highway _but_ has force in it: how else could it rot?--CARLYLE.

2. This, amongst such other troubles _as_ most men meet with in this life, has been my heaviest affliction.--DE QUINCEY.

[Sidenote: _Proof that they have the force of relatives._]

Compare with these the two following sentences:--

3. There is nothing _but_ is related to us, nothing _that_ does _not_ interest us.--EMERSON.

4. There were articles of comfort and luxury such _as_ Hester never ceased to use, but _which_ only wealth could have purchased.--HAWTHORNE.

Sentence 3 shows that _but_ is equivalent to the relative _that_ with _not_, and that _as_ after _such_ is equivalent to _which_.

For _as_ after _same_ see "Syntax" (Sec. 417).

[Sidenote: _Former use of_ as.]

125. In early modern English, _as_ was used just as we use _that_ or _which_, not following the word _such_; thus,--

I have not from your eyes that gentleness And show of love _as_ I was wont to have.--SHAKESPEARE

This still survives in vulgar English in England; for example,--

"Don't you mind Lucy Pa.s.smore, _as_ charmed your warts for you when you was a boy? "--KINGSLEY

This is frequently ill.u.s.trated in d.i.c.kens's works.

[Sidenote: _Other subst.i.tutes._]

126. Instead of the phrases _in which_, _upon which_, _by which_, etc., the conjunctions _wherein_, _whereupon_, _whereby_, etc., are used.

A man is the facade of a temple _wherein_ all wisdom and good abide.--EMERSON.

The sovereignty of this nature _whereof_ we speak.--_Id._

The dear home faces _whereupon_ That fitful firelight paled and shone.--WHITTIER.

p.r.o.nOUNS IN INDIRECT QUESTIONS.