adverbs, adverbs or conjunctions, conjunctions or prepositions, are called convertible words.

§ 170. The following are the signs by which it may be known whether a convertible word is an adverb, a preposition, or a conjunction.

§ 171. Rule 1. If a convertible word be a preposition it governs a noun-as, bring it out of the box, drive through the gate, get on the horse.

§ 172. Rule 2. If a convertible word be an adverb, no noun is governed by it, and the part of the sentence wherein it occurs is simple; i. e., not capable of being expanded into two propositions-as, bring it out, drive through, get on.

§ 173. Rule 3. If a convertible word be a conjunction, it is incapable of governing a noun, whilst the part of the sentence in which it stands is capable of being expanded into two propositions.

The force of the two first of these rules is clear. In such a sentence as, I climbed up a tree, the word up is a preposition, and it is by means of that word that the tree is connected with the act of climbing. To climb is the act itself. The tree is the object affected by me.

Contrast with this such words as, I climb up, I go in, I get on. In such case the words up, in, and on, are really portions of the verb itself; so that

In these, and all similar examples, the effect of the

verb upon any particular object is not mentioned. All that is mentioned is the general manner in which the action takes place; and, consequently, the sense is adverbial.

The process by which we prove a word to be a conjunction is less simple: it is, however, best illustrated by the words than and but.

A. All fled but John.-If this mean all fled except John, the word but is a preposition, the word John is an objective case, and the proposition is single. If, instead of John, we had a personal pronoun, we should say, all fled but him.

All fled but John.—If this mean, all fled, but John did not fly, the word but is a conjunction, the word John is a nominative case, and the propositions are two in number. If, instead of John, we had a personal pronoun, we should say all fled but he.

B. In the following sentence it is remarkable that the word than is followed by an objective case.

You are a much greater loser than me.--SWIFT.
She suffers more than me.-SWIFT.

Now, if this construction be correct, the word than is a preposition.

Nevertheless, it is far more in accordance with the practice of good writers, and the genius of the English language to consider than a conjunction. In this case each sentence would be double. Thus,

1. You are a much greater loser

than

2. I am (a loser).

1. She suffers more

than

2. I suffer.

Again, He approves of you more than I, means one thing; whereas, he approves of you more than me, means something quite different. In each case, the word than is a conjunction, and, in each case, the sentence, although apparently simple, contains two propositions. The first is equivalent to

1. He approves of you more

than

2. I approve of you.

The second means

1. He approves of you more than

2. He approves of me.

§ 174. Interjections are words like ah! oh! O! alas! pish! tush! &c. They are destitute of inflexion, and incapable of government.

PART V.

PROSODY.

§ 175. THE word Prosody is derived from the Greek word Prosodia, signifying accent.

§ 176. The regular recurrence, at regular intervals, of an accented syllable, constitutes verse.

§ 177. In the following lines the accent recurs regularly on every second syllable :—

The way was lóng, the wind was cold,
The minstrel wás infirm and old;
His wither'd cheék, and trésses gréy,
Seem'd to have known a bétter day.
The harp, his sóle remaining joy,
Was carried by an orphan boy.

The last of all the bárds was hé

Who súng of ancient chívalry.-SCOTT.

§ 178. In the following lines the accent recurs regularly on every third syllable :—

At the close of the day, when the hámlet is stíll,

And the mortals the sweets of forgetfulness prove,

And when nought but the torrent is heard on the hill,
And there's noúght but the níghtingale's sóng in the gróve.
BEATTIE.

§ 179. When every second syllable is accented,

the number of syllables in a line is double the number of the accents.

§ 180. When every third syllable is accented, the number of syllables in a line is treble the number of the accents.

From these two facts it is evident that the length of a verse may be calculated in two ways. It may be calculated according to the number of accents, or it may be calculated according to the number of syllables. Hence, in respect to the quotation in § 177, we may say that it consists of verses of four accents, or of eight syllables, just as we please; whilst the same is the case with the lines in § 178. may be verses of four accents, or they may be verses of twelve syllables.

These

§ 181. A group of syllables, wherein one is accented, and one (or more) unaccented, is called a measure. In the lines already quoted the following groups.

are measures:

1.

The way | was lóng | the wind | was cóld,

The minstrel wás | infírm | and 6ld.

Here each measure consists of two syllables, and is called disyllabic.

2.

At the close of the day | when the hám | let is stíll.

Here each measure consists of three syllables, and is called trisyllabic.

§ 182. The disyllabic measures are of two kinds. In the one the accent is on the first syllable, the second