say, "The vessel had arrived at nine o'clock," we mean, at nine o'clock the arriving of the vessel was past. But when we say, The vessel arrived at nine o'clock," we mean, the arriving of the vessel was then present.

915. It is always essential to the use of this tense that the event be PAST at the time referred to. It is proper to notice here, also, that in pointing out the time of a past event, two points or periods of time are often mentioned-the one for the pur pose of ascertaining the other. Thus, "We arrived an hour before sunset." Here the past-perfect is not used, though the arriving is represented as past before a past time mentioned, viz., sunset, because sunset is not the time referred to, but is mentioned in order to describe that time; and at the time described, the event, arriving, was not past, but present. If in this example we omit the word "hour," and merely say "before sunset." the construction will be the same. This will show that it is correct to say, "Before I went to France I visited England," because the visiting of England is represented as present, and not past at the time indicated by the word before. But if the event mentioned is represented as past at the time indicated by the word before, or if the sentence is so arranged that only one point of past time is indicated at which the event referred to is past, the past-perfect must be used; as, "They had arrived before we sailed.”—“ They arrived after we had sailed."had visited England when we returned to America."

-"I

916. The present and past of the auxiliaries, shall, will, may, can, should never be associated in the same sentence; and care must be taken that the subsequent verb be expressed in the same tense with the antecedent verb (344); thus, "1 may or can do it now, if I choose"-"I might or could do it now, if I chose"-" I shall or will do it, when I can"-"I may do it, if I can"-"I once could do it, but I would not"-"I would have done it then, but I could not."—"I mention it to him, that he may stop if he choose"-" I mentioned it to him, that he might stop if he chose"—"I have mentioned it to him, that he may stop"-" I had mentioned it to him, that he might stop"—" I had mentioned it to him, that he might have stopped had he chosen."

917. In dependent clauses, the past-perfect indicative or potential is used to express an event antecedent to, but never contemporary with, or subsequent to, that expressed by a verb in the past tense in the leading clause. Thus, we can say, “I believed he had done it," but not, "I hoped he had done it;" because belief may refer to what is past, but hope always refers to something future. See also the infinitive (920, 921).

918. When should is used instead of ought, to express present duty (363), it may be followed by the present or present-perfect; as, "You should study, that you may

become learned."

919. The indicative present is frequently used after the words when, till, be fore, as soon as, after, to express the relative time of a future action (406); as, "When he comes, he will be welcome." When before the present-perfect indicative, they denote the completion of a future action or event; as, "He will never be better till he has felt the pangs of poverty."

920. A verb in the infinitive mood must be in the present tense (446), when it expresses what is contemporary in point of time with its governing verb, or subsequent to it; as, "He appeared to be a man of letters."-"The apostles were deter. mined to preach the gospel." Hence, verbs denoting hope, desire, intention, or command, must be followed by the present infinitive, and not the perfect (451).

921. But the perfect infinitive must be used to express what is antecedent to the time of the governing verb; as, "Romulus is said to have founded Rome."

EXERCISES TO BE CORRECTED.

(910) The doctor said that fever always produced thirst. The philosopher said that heat always expanded metals. He said that truth was immutable.

(911) I know the family more than twenty years. I am now at school six months. My brother was sick four weeks, and is no better. He tells lies long enough. They continue with me now three days.

(912) He has lately lost an only son. He has been formerly very disorderly. I have been at London last year, and seen the king last summer. I have once or twice told the story to our friend before he went away. He has done it before yesterday. Some one has long ago told the same story.

(914) After Columbus made his preparations, he set out on his voyage of discovery. When we finished our lessons, we went out to play. He that was dead sat up and began to speak. When we

had arrived at the palace, we delivered the letters which we previously procured. It was a strange thing to me, for I never saw such a thing before. When I came, he was gone.

(916) I should be obliged to him if he will gratify me in that particular. Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. Be wise and good, that you might be happy. He was told his danger, that he may shun it.

(917) We had hoped that Lord Nugent would have been able to collect much new and interesting information. Columbus hoped that he would have rendered the natives tributary to the crown of Spain. We expected that they would have come to-day. We trusted that it had been He who should have redeemed Israel.

(918) He should study diligently, that he might become learned. We should respect those persons, because they continued long attached to us.

(919) We shall welcome him when he shall arrive. As soon as he shall return we will recommence our studies. A prisoner is not accounted guilty till he be convicted.

(920) From the little conversation I had with him, he appeared to have been a man of learning. Our friends intended to have met us. He was afraid he would have died.

(921) Kirstall abbey, now in ruins, appears to be an extensive building. Lycurgus, the Spartan lawgiver, is said to be born in the nine hundred and twenty-sixth year before Christ.

CONSTRUCTION OF ADVERBS.

922. RULE XVIII.—Adverbs modify VERBS, ADJEC TIVES, and other ADVERBS; as, "John speaks distinctly, he is remarkably diligent, and reads very correctly.'

[See Etymology of Adverbs, 523, &c.]

923. A few adverbs sometimes modify nouns or pronouns (526); as, "Not only the men, but the women also, were present."—"I, even I, do bring a flood."-Gen. vi. 17.

924. Sometimes an adverb modifies a preposition, and sometimes an adjunct or clause of a sentence (525); as, "He sailed nearly round the globe"-"Just below the ear"-" Verily I say unto you."

SPECIAL RULES.

925. RULE 1.—Adverbs should not be used as adjectives, nor adjectives as adverbs (687).

Thus, "The above [preceding] extract.”—“ Thine often [frequent] infirmities." -"The then ministry," for "The ministry then in power."-" It seems strangely [strange]," &c. So, also," He writes beautiful [beautifully].”— "It is done good [well].""-See (686).

926. The adverbs hence, thence, whence, meaning from this place, from that place, from which place, properly should not have from before them, because it is implied. But the practice of the best writers has so sanctioned the use of it, that the omission of it would now sometimes appear stiff and affected.

927. After verbs of motion, the adverbs hither, thither, whither, are now used only in solemn style. In ordinary discourse, here, there, and where, are used instead of them; as, "We came here”—“ They walked there"—" Where did he go?"

928. Where should not be used for in which, except the reference is to place. Thus, "They framed a protestation, where [in which] they repeated their former claims."

929. The adverbs now, then, when, where, in such phrases as till now, till then, since when, to where, &c., are sometimes used by good writers as nouns. This, however, is rare in prose, and should not be imitated. In poetry it is more common (1048).

930. Of this character are the expressions at once, far from hence, &c., but these are now established idioms, and in parsing are regarded as one word (535-6). 931. There, properly an adverb of place, is often used as an introductory expletive; as, "There came to the beach" (529).

932. RULE 2.-Two negatives are equivalent to an affirmative, and should not be used unless affirmation is intended; as, 'I can not drink no [any] more," or, "I can drink no more.” 933. One negative is sometimes connected with another implied in the negative prefixes dis, un, im, in, il. ir, &c.; as, "You are not unacquainted with his merits,"

that is, "You are acquainted," &c. In this way a pleasing variety of expression is sometimes produced. But the word only with the negative, preserves the nega tion; as, "He was not only illiberal, but even covetous."

934. The adverbs nay, no, yea, yes, often stand alone as a negative or affirma tive answer to a question; as, "Will he go?"—"No"" He will not go."-“ Is he at home?". -"Yes" "He is at home." Amen is an affirmative adverb, equiv. 1 alent to "Be it so," or "May it be so."

935. No, before a noun, is an adjective; as, "No man." Before an adjective or adverb in the comparative degree, it is an adverb; as, "No taller"—“ No sooner.” In all other cases the proper negative is not; as, “He will not come"-" Whether he come or not."

POSITION.

936. RULE 3.—Adverbs are for the most part placed before adjectives, after a verb in the simple form, and after the first auxiliary in the compound form; as, "He is very attentive, behaves well, and is much esteemed."

937. This rule applies generally to adjunct phrases as well as to adverbs (825).

938. This is to be considered only as a general rule, to which there are many exceptions. Indeed, no rule for the position of the adverb can be given, which is not liable to exceptions. That order is the best which conveys the meaning with most precision. In order to this, the adverb is sometimes placed before the verb, or a some distance after it.

939 Never, often, always, sometimes, generally precede the verb. Not, with the participle or infinitive, should generally be placed before it (500).

940. The improper position of the adverb only often occasions ambiguity. This will generally be avoided when it refers to a sentence or clause, by placing it at the beginning of that sentence or clause; when it refers to a predicate, by placing it before the predicating term; and when it refers to a subject, by placing it after its name or description; as, “Only acknowledge thine iniquity.”—“ The thoughts of his heart are only evil."—" Take nothing for your journey but a staff only." These observations will generally be applicable to the words merely, solely, chiefly, first, at least, and perhaps to a few others.

941. In prose, to, the sign of the infinitive, should never be separated by placing an adverb immediately after it. Thus, "They are accustomed to carefully study their lessons," should be "to study carefully," or “carefully to study," &c.

942. The adverb enough is commonly placed after the adjective which it modifies; as, "A large enough house"-" A house large enough for all."

943. Ever is sometimes improperly used for never. Thus, "Ask me ever so much," should be, "Ask me never so much"--that is, so much as never before. "Charmers charming never so sweetly"-that is, so sweetly as never before.

EXERCISES TO BE CORRECTED.

As adverbs are indeclinable, mistakes are liable to be made chiefly in their posi tion, or in using as adverbs words that are not so, or in using adverbs where other words are required. Correct the errors in the following:

He spoke eloquent. safely. The boat

(925) They hoped for a soon and prosperous issue to the war. The then emperor was noted for his cruelty. He was befriended by the then reigning duke. She walks graceful. She did that work good. Our friends arrived moves rapid. His expressions sounded harshly. She is a remarkable pretty girl. My foot slipped, and I pretty near fell down.

"Come up

(926) He departed from thence into a desert place. I will send thee far from hence to the Gentiles. From hence! away! (927) Where art thou gone? And he said unto me, here." The city is near, oh! let me escape there. there ye can not come.

Where I am,

(928) He drew up a petition, where he represented his own merit. The condition where I found him was deplorable. He went to London last year, since when I have not seen him.

(932) I can not do no more. He will never be no taller. He did not say nothing at all. Neither he nor no one else can do that. I have received no information on the subject, neither from him nor from his friend. I never did repent for doing good, nor shall not now. I can not see to write no more. Nothing never can justify ingratitude.—(935) Be so kind as to tell me whether he will do it or no.

(936) We should not be overcome totally by present events. We always should prefer our duty to our pleasure. It is impossible continually to be at work. Not only he found her employed, but pleased and tranquil also. In the proper disposition of adverbs, the ear carefully requires to be consulted as well as the sense. They seemed to be nearly dressed alike. The bark Clarissa is soon expected to sail. -(937) I wished that any one would hang me a hundred times.

(938) The women contributed all their rings and jewels voluntarily, to assist the government. He determined to invite back the king, and to call together his friends.-(939) Having not known or having not considered the measures proposed, he failed of success.

(940) Theism can only be opposed to polytheism. By greatness, I do not only mean the bulk of any single object, but the distinctness of a whole view. Only you have I known of all the nations of the earth. In promoting the public good, we only discharge our duty. He only read one book, not two. He read the book only, but did not keep it. He only read the book, but not the letter. He chiefly spoke of virtue, not of vice. He only reads English, not French. (941) Scholars should be taught to carefully scrutinize the sentiments advanced in all the books they read. To make this sentence perspicuous, it would be necessary to entirely remodel it.