English Grammar in Familiar Lectures Part 41

EXAMPLES FOR THE NOTE.

Every man, woman, and child, were numbered.

Not proper; for, although _and_ couples things together so as to present the whole at one view, yet _every_ has a contrary effect: it distributes them, and brings each separately and singly under consideration. _Were_ numbered is therefore improper. It should be, "_was_ numbered," in the singular, according to the Note. (Repeat it.)

When benignity and gentleness reign in our b.r.e.a.s.t.s, every person and every occurrence are beheld in the most favorable light.

RULE IX.

Two or more nouns, or nouns and p.r.o.nouns, in the _singular_ number, connected by disjunctive conjunctions, must have verbs, nouns, and p.r.o.nouns, agreeing with them in the _singular_; as, "Neither John _nor_ James _has_ learned _his_ lesson."

NOTE 1. When singular p.r.o.nouns, or a noun and p.r.o.noun, of different persons, are disjunctively connected, the verb must agree, in person, with that which is placed nearest to it; as, "Thou _or_ I _am_ in fault; I _or_ thou _art_ to blame; I, _or_ thou, _or_ he, _is_ the author of it." But it would be better to say "Either I am to blame or thou art," &c.

2. When a disjunctive occurs between a singular noun or p.r.o.noun and a plural one, the verb must agree with the plural noun or p.r.o.noun, which should generally be placed next to the verb; as, "Neither poverty _nor riches_ were injurious to him;" "I _or_ they were offended by it."

Constructions like these ought generally to be avoided.

FALSE SYNTAX.

Ignorance or negligence have caused this mistake.

The verb, _have_ caused, in this sentence, is improperly used in the plural, because it expresses the action, not of _both_, but of either the one or the other of its nominatives; therefore it should be in the singular, _has_ caused; and then it would agree with "ignorance _or_ negligence," agreeably to Rule 9 (Repeat the Rule.)

A circle or a square are the same in idea.

Neither whiteness nor redness are in the porphyry.

Neither of them are remarkable for precision.

Man is not such a machine as a clock or a watch, which move merely as they are moved.

When sickness, infirmity, or reverse of fortune, affect us, the sincerity of friends.h.i.+p is proved.

Man's happiness or misery are, in a great measure, put into his own hands.

Despise no infirmity of mind or body, nor any condition of life, for they may be thy own lot.

The prince, as well as the people, were blameworthy.

RULE X.

A collective noun or noun of mult.i.tude, conveying _unity_ of idea, generally has a verb or p.r.o.noun agreeing with it in the _singular_; as, "The _meeting was_ large, and _it_ held three hours."

NOTE. Rules 10, and 11, are limited in their application. See page.

FALSE SYNTAX.

The nation are powerful.

The fleet were seen sailing up the channel.

The church have no power to inflict corporal punishment. The flock, and not the fleece, are, or ought to be, the objects of the shepherd's care.

That nation was once powerful; but now they are feeble.

RULE XI.

A noun of mult.i.tude, conveying _plurality_ of idea, must have a verb or p.r.o.noun agreeing with it in the _plural_; as, "The _council were_ divided in _their_ sentiments."

FALSE SYNTAX.

My people doth not consider.

The mult.i.tude eagerly pursues pleasure as its chief good.

The committee was divided in its sentiments, and it has referred the business to the general meeting.

The people rejoices in that which should give it sorrow.

RULE XII.

A noun or p.r.o.noun in the possessive case, is governed by the noun it possesses; as, "_Man's_ happiness;" "_Its_ value is great."

NOTE 1. When the possessor is described by a circ.u.mlocution, the possessive sign should generally be applied to the last term only; as, "The _duke of Bridgewater's_ ca.n.a.l; The _bishop of Landaff's_ excellent book; The _captain of the guard's_ house." This usage, however, ought generally to be avoided. The words do not literally convey the ideas intended. What nonsense to say, "This is _the governor of Ohio's_ house!"

2. When nouns in the possessive case are in apposition, and follow each other in quick succession, the possessive sign is generally annexed to the last only; as, "For _David_ my _servant's_ sake; _John_ the _Baptist's_ head; The ca.n.a.l was built in consequence of _De Witt Clinton_ the _governor's_ advice."

But when a pause is proper, and the governing noun not expressed, the sign should be applied to the first possessive only, and understood to the rest; as, "I reside at Lord _Stormont's_, my old _patron_ and _benefactor_."

3. _Its_, the possessive case of _it_, is often improperly used for _'tis_, or, _it is_; as, "_Its_ my book: _Its_ his," &c.; instead of, _"It is_ my book; or, _'Tis_ my book; _It is_ his; or, _'Tis_ his."

4. Participles frequently govern nouns and p.r.o.nouns in the possessive case, as, "In case of his _majesty's dying_ without issue, &c.; Upon _G.o.d's having ended_ all his works, &c.; I remember _its being reckoned_ a great exploit; At _my coming_ in he said,"

&c. But in such instances, the participle with its adjuncts may be considered a substantive phrase, according to Note 2, Rule 28.

5. Phrases like these, "A work of _Was.h.i.+ngton Irving's_; A brother of _Joseph's_; A friend of _mine_; A neighbor of _yours_," do not, as some have supposed, each contain a double possessive, or two possessive cases, but they may be thus construed; "A work of (_out of_, or, _among the number of) Was.h.i.+ngton Irving's works_; that is, One of the works of _Was.h.i.+ngton Irving_; One of the brothers _of Joseph_; One friend _of my friends_; One neighbor of _your neighbors_."

FALSE SYNTAX.

Homers works are much admired.

Nevertheless, Asa his heart was not perfect with the Lord.

James Hart, his book, bought August the 19, 1829.

_Note_ 1. It was the men's, women's, and children's lot to suffer great calamities.

This is Peter's, John's, and Andrew's occupation.