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Some intransitive verbs have a complete meaning in themselves;

The rain falls.

Other intransitive verbs must be followed by a noun or an adjective to complete their meaning; as,

I. He was a statesman.

2. The day is cloudy.

EXERCISE I.

Select the transitive verbs, and name the subject and the object of each:

I. He shrugged his shoulders, shook his head, cast up his eyes, but said nothing. - IRVING.

2. Each takes his seat, and each receives his share.

3. We scatter seeds with careless hand.

4. Can the blind lead the blind? — BIBLE.

5. Do many good works, and speak few vanities.

CHAUCER.

6. We carved not a line, and we raised not a stone,

But we left him alone in his glory. — WOLFE.

7. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth his handiwork. — BIble.

8. The warrior bowed his crested head. HEMANS.

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9. The doe lifted her head a little with a quick motion, and turned her ear to the south. Had she heard something?

-C. D. Warner.

10. In the cold moist earth we laid her, when the forests

cast the leaf,

And we wept that one so lovely should have a life

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Tell whether the verbs in the following sentences are transitive or intransitive, mention the objects of the transitive verbs, and tell what complete the meanings of the incomplete intransitive verbs:

I. A tear stood in his bright blue eye. - Longfellow.
2. A rill of water trickles down the cliff. - HAWTHORNE.
3. The Piper advanced, and the children followed. —

BROWNING.

4. My heart leaps up when I behold a rainbow in the sky. - WORDSWORTH.

5. The daffodil is our doorside queen. - BRYANT.

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6. The next day Congress took the formal vote upon the resolution. FISKE.

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7. Behold the fowls of the air. — BIBLE.

8. The fish swam by the castle wall,

And they seemed joyous, each and all. —BYron.

9. Open then I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,

In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days

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10. The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew. - COLERIDGE.

EXERCISE III.

Write sentences containing the following words used as transitive verbs: —

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Write sentences containing the following words used as intransitive verbs:

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Tell in how many ways each thought is expressed in the following

sentences:

1. The governor signed the bill.

2. The bill was signed by the governor.

3. A hound chased the deer.

4. The deer was chased by a hound.

A transitive verb may represent its subject as acting or as being

acted upon.

A transitive verb that represents its subject as acting is said to be in the active voice; as, Columbus discovered America.

A transitive verb that represents its subject as being acted upon is said to be in the passive voice; as, America was discovered by Columbus.

The object of the verb in the active form becomes the subject of the verb in the passive form. The active voice makes the agent prominent, while the passive voice makes the object of the action. prominent.

Some verbs usually intransitive become transitive by means of a preposition, and take the passive voice; as,

He disposed of the goods.

The goods were disposed of by him.

EXERCISE I.

Tell the voice of each transitive verb in the following sentences, giving in each case a reason for your statement:

1. The frightened animal sought the open country.

2. Our guide had never visited the cave.

3. The building was destroyed by fire, but some of the furniture was saved.

4. The guest was admitted into the parlor.

5. The portrait attracted his notice at once.

6. The petition was signed by a number of prominent citizens.

7. He holds him with his glittering eye. - Coleridge.

8. Many interesting discoveries were made among these broken cliffs. - HAWTHORNE.

9. He shrugged his shoulders, shook his head, cast up his eyes, but said nothing.- IRVING.

10. The farmer swung the scythe or turned the hay, And 'twixt the heavy swaths his children were at play.

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II. On Christmas eve the bells were rung. - SCOTT. 12. The schoolmaster swept and smoothed the ground before the door, trimmed the long grass, trained the ivy and creeping plants which hung their drooping heads in melancholy neglect; and gave to the outer walls a cheery air of home.-DICKENS.

EXERCISE II.

Rewrite the sentences in the preceding exercise, changing the voice of each transitive verb.

LESSON XXXIII.

MODE.

Find in the following sentences a verb that asserts something as

a fact, one that asserts something as doubtful, and one that expresses a command:

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1. He speaks distinctly.

2. If he be at home, we shall see him.

3. Speak the truth.

The manner of asserting is called the mode of the verb.

A verb that asserts a thing as a fact or asks a direct question is

in the indicative mode; as,

The river is deep.

Is the river deep?

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