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727. But the article follows the adjectives, all, such, many, what, both; and all adjectives preceded by too, so, as, or how; as, " All the men"-" Such a man"— Many a man"-" What a man”—“ Both the men"-" Too great a man"-" So great a man"-" As great a man"-" How great a man."

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728. When the adjective follows the noun, not as an epithet, the article remains before the noun, and the adjective is without it; as, "A man destitute of principle should not be trusted." For an adjective as an epithet, see (715) above.

NOTE. The use of the article is so varied, that the best general rule is to study what the sense requires, both as to its proper use and position.

EXERCISES TO BE CORRECTED.

Change, or omit, or insert the article, where necessary, and give a reason for so doing:

(707-1 and 2) A country around New York is beautiful in a spring. A life of the modern soldier is ill represented by heroic fiction. Earth existed at first in the state of chaos. An age of chivalry is gone. A crowd at the door was so great that we could not enter. The large number of foreigners was present.

(708) The fire, the air, the earth, and the water, are four elements of the philosophers. Reason was given to a man to control his passions. A man was made to mourn. The gold is corrupting. The silver is a precious metal.

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(709) Horse is a noble animal. A lion is generous, a cat is treach erous, a dog is faithful. A horse-leech cries, Give, give," and a grave is never satisfied. The war has means of destruction more dreadful than a cannon or a sword.

(712) Neither the man nor boy was to blame. A man may be a mechanic, or farmer, or lawyer, and be useful and respected; but idler or spendthrift can never be either.

(713) We should ever pay attention to graceful and becoming. The memory of just is blessed; but the name of wicked shall rot. Best men are often those who say least. Your friend is a man of the most brilliant talents. Keep good and throw bad away.

(715) Herod Great was distinguished for his cruelty; Pliny younger for gentleness and benignity. Peter Hermit proposed his plan for recovering Jerusalem to Pope Martin II. The father of William Cowper, poet, was chaplain to George II.

tower.

(717) A red and a white flag was the only one displayed from the A beautiful stream flows between the old and new mansion. A hot and cold spring were found in the same neighborhood. The young and old man seem to be on good terms. The first and second book are difficult. Thomson the watchmaker and the jeweller made one of the party.

(721) A man may be a better soldier than a logician. There is much truth in the saying that fire is a better servant than a master. He is not so good a poet as an historian.

(722) It is always necessary to pay little attention to business. A little respect should be paid to those who deserve none. Let the damsel abide with us few days. Are not my days a few? A few men of his age enjoy so good health.

A PRONOUN AND ITS ANTECEDENT.

729. RULE IV.-Pronouns agree with the words for which they stand, in gender, number, and person; as, “All that a man hath will he give for his life.”—“ A tree is known by its fruit."

SPECIAL RULES.

730. RULE 1.- When a pronoun refers to two or more. words taken together, and of different persons, it becomes plural, and prefers the first person to the second, and the second to the third; as, "John and you and I will do our duty."

RULE 2. When a pronoun refers to two or more words in the singular taken separately, or to one of them exclusively, it must be singular; as, “A clock or a watch moves merely as it is moved."

RULE 3.-But if either of the words referred to is plural, the pronoun must be plural also; as, "Neither he nor they trouble themselves."

731. Nouns are taken together when connected by and-separately when connected by or or nor, as above; also after each, every, no, though connected by and; as, "Each book and each paper is in its place."

732. When singular nouns of different genders are taken separately, they can not be represented by a pronoun, for want of a singular pronoun, common gender, except by a clumsy repetition of pronouns of the corresponding genders; thus, "If any man or woman shall violate his or her pledge, he or she shall pay a fine.”— The use of the plural pronoun in such cases, though sometimes used, is improper; as, "If any man or woman shall violate their pledge," &c.

733. Pronouns referring to singular nouns or other words, of the common gender, (126), taken in a general sense, are commonly masculine; as, “A parent should love his child."-" Every person has his faults."-"No one should commend

imself." The want of a singular personal pronoun, common gender, is felt also in this construction.

734. A pronoun referring to a collective noun in the singular, expressing many as one whole, should be in the neuter singular; but when the noun expresses many as individuals, the pronoun should be plural; as, "The army proceeded on its march."- The court were

divided in their opinions.”

735. A singular noun after the phrase "many a," may take a pronoun in the plural, but never in the same clause; as

"In Hawick twinkled many a light,

Behind him soon they set in night."-W. Scott.

736. The personal pronoun is sometimes used at the beginning of a sentence, instead of the word person or persons; as, “He who”—" They who”—also “Those who"-for "The person or persons who."

737. Pronouns representing nouns personified (129), take the gender of the noun as a person; as, “Night, sable goddess, from her ebon throne." But those repre senting nouns taken metaphorically agree with them in their literal sense; as, "Pitt was the pillar which in its strength upheld the state."

738. It is improper in the progress of a sentence to denote the same person by pronouns of different numbers; as, "I labored long to make thee happy, and now you reward me by ingratitude." It should be either "to make you happy," or "thou rewardest" (245).

739. In the use of pronouns, when it would be uncertain to which of two or more antecedent words a pronoun refers, the ambiguity may be avoided by repeating the noun, instead of using the pronoun, or by changing the form of the sentence, thus, "When we see the beautiful variety of color in the rainbow, we are led to consider its cause"-better, "the cause of that variety."

POSITION OF PRONOUNS.

740. The first and the second personal pronouns commonly stand instead of nouns implied, but not expressed. Possessive pronouns, and the pronouns of the third person, are commonly placed after the words to which they refer; but sometimes this order, especially in poetry, is reversed.

741. When words of different persons come together, the usual order of arrangement, in English, is to place the second person before the third, and the first person last; as, You and he and I are sent for."-"This matter concerns you or him or me."

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In connexion with these rules and observations, see also the observations on gender (128-134), on number (155–160), and on personal pronouns (240-252)

EXERCISES TO BE CORRECTED.

In each sentence, state the words to which the pronouns refer; change the pronouns which are wrong, and give a reason for the change:

(729) A person's success in life depends on their exertions; if they shall aim at nothing, they shall certainly achieve nothing. Ex

tremes are not in its nature favorable to happiness. A man's recollections of the past regulate their anticipations of the future. Let every boy answer for themselves. Each of us had more than we wanted. Every one of you should attend to your own business (301). (730-1) Discontent and sorrow manifested itself in his countenance. Both cold and heat have its extremes. You and your friend should take care of themselves. You and I must be diligent in your studies.

(730-2) John or James will favor us with their company. One or other must relinquish their claim. Neither wealth nor honor confers happiness on their votaries.-(731) Every plant and every flower proclaims their Maker's praise. Each day and each hour brings their changes. Poverty and wealth have each their own temptations. No thought, no word, no action, can escape in the judgment, whether they be good or evil.

(732) Let every man and every woman strive to do their best. If any boy or girl shall neglect her duty, they shall forfeit their place. No lady or gentleman would do a thing so unworthy of them.

(733) One should not think too highly of themselves. A teacher should always consult the interest of her pupils. A parent's care for her children is not always requited. Every one should consider their own frailties. Let each esteem others better than herself.

(734) The assembly held their meetings in the evening. The court, in their wisdom, decided otherwise. The regiment was greatly reduced in their number. Society is not always answerable for the conduct of their members. The committee were divided in its opinions. The public are informed that its interests are secured.

(737) The earth is my mother; I will recline on its bosom. That freedom, in its fearless flight, may here announce its glorious reign. Policy keeps coining truth in its mints, such truth as it can tolerate, and every die except its own it breaks and casts away. As time advances, it leaves behind him the traces of its flight.

(738) Though you are great, yet consider thou art a man. Care for thyself, if you would have others to care for thee. If thou wert not my superior, I would reprove you. If thou forget thy friend, can you expect that your friend will remember thee?

(739) One man may do a kindness to another, though he is his enemy. John gave his friend a present which he highly valued. (741) I and my father were invited. An invitation was sent to me and George. You and I and James were to be of the party; but neither I nor you nor he can go.

THE RELATIVE AND ITS ANTECEDENT.

742. RULE V.-The relative agrees with its antecedent in number and person; as, "Thou who speakest."—"The book which was lost."

[See Etymology, 255, &c.]

743. The number of the relative can be determined only from the number of the antecedent.

744. Who is applied to persons or things personified; as, “The man who"'—“The fox who had never seen a lion."

745. Which is applied to things and inferior animals--sometimes to children-to collective nouns in the singular, implying unity-and also to persons in asking questions.

746. In the translation of the Bible, which is applied to persons; as, "Our Father which art in heaven."

747. Which applies to a noun denoting a person, when the character, or the name merely as a word, is referred to; as, "He is a good writer, which is all he professes to be."-"That was the work of Herod, which is but another name for cruelty."

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748. That, as a relative, is used instead of who or which

1. After adjectives in the superlative degree-after the words very, same, and all --often after no, some, and any—and generally in restrictive clauses (268) 2. When the antecedent includes both persons and things; as, "The man and the horse that we saw."

3. After the interrogative who, and often after the personal pronouns; as, "Who that knew him could think so?"—"I that speak in righteousness."

4. Generally when the propriety of who or which is doubtful; as, "The little child that was placed in the midst."

749. The relatives who or which and that should not be mixed in a series of relative clauses having the same antecedent. Thus it is improper to say, "The man that met us and whom we saw." It should be, "who met us," or "that we saw." 750. The relative refers sometimes to the idea expressed by an adjective, some. times to the infinitive. But this construction is rare. See examples (256).

751. The relative in the objective case is often omitted; as, "Here is the book I promised you." The relative in the nominative is hardly ever omitted except in poetry; as

"In this, 'tis God

directs. in that, 'tis man."

752. The antecedent is omitted before what (266), and generally before the com pound relatives (273). It is sometimes understood, especially in poetry; as— "[He] who lives to Nature, rarely can be poor."

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753. What should not be used for the conjunction that. Thus, "I can not be lieve but what it is so," should be, "but that it is so." Also the demonstrative that should not be used for the relative what; as, “We speak that we do know." better, "what we do know."

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