the presence of a noun also; which noun is the name of the object affected. A transitive verb, unac

companied by a noun, either expressed or understood, is a contradiction in terms.

Again to repeat what has been stated in p. 75, in such a sentence as I strike the iron.

The verb strike denotes an action; an action that has an effect upon an object; the word iron being the name of an object, and the word strike the name of the action affecting it. In this case the action may be said to pass off from the agent (i. e. the person who strikes) to the object (i. e. the iron); a view which supplies the meaning of the word transitive. Verbs expressing actions capable of affecting objects are called transitive verbs, from the Latin word transire to pass over.

In saying I walk, the verb walk denotes an action. It does not, however, denote an action that has any effect upon any object whatever. The action alone, in its simplest form, is stated to take place. Verbs like walk are called intransitive, because no action can be said to pass off from them to any object. Hence, respecting the government of these two sorts of verbs, there is the following difference; viz., that whilst transitive verbs always govern a noun, and that in the objective case, intransitive verbs govern no case at all; as I sleep, I walk, I think, &c.

Observe. The same word has often two meanings, one of which is transitive, and the other intransitive;

as,

1. I move,-where the verb is intransitive, and denotes the mere act of motion. 2. I move my limbs,-where the verb is transitive, and where the action affects a certain object (my limbs).

1. I walk,-where the verb is intransitive, and denotes the mere act of walking. 2. I walk the horse, -where the words I walk are equivalent to I cause to walk, and are also transitive, denoting an action affecting a certain object (the horse).

This fact of the same verb having transitive and intransitive meanings must be continually borne in mind; otherwise, transitive verbs will appear to be without an objective case, and intransitive verbs to govern one.

§ 155. Concord of Verbs.-The verb agrees with the noun in number, and in person-as,

1. We speak, not we speaks.

2. He speaks, not he speak.

THE UNINFLECTED PARTS OF SPEECH.

ADVERBS.

§ 156. An adverb takes its name from being, whenever it forms part of a proposition, immediately connected with the verb, as the sun shines brightly, the night looks very dark. Here brightly and very are adverbs connected with the verbs shines and looks respectively.

§ 157. As the verb signifies action, the adverb

G

signifies the manner, time, degree, place, number of times, &c. that such an action takes place-as

The sun shines brightly.

The sun shines to-day.

The sun shines brightly to-day.

The sun shines very brightly to-day.

The sun shines brightly here.

The sun has shone brightly twice this week, &c. § 158. A few adverbs are capable of being inflected after the manner of adjectives, i. e. in respect to the degrees of comparison-John comes seldom, James seldomer still, and William seldomest of all.

Generally, however, instead of inflecting an adverb, one of the two following methods is adopted.

1. That of taking the comparative or superlative form of an adjective, and using it adverbially; as the sun shines brighter to-day than it did yesterday, and probably it will shine brightest to-morrow.

2. That of prefixing the word more; as the sun shines more brightly than it did yesterday, and will probably shine most brightly to-morrow.

PREPOSITIONS.

§ 159. A preposition takes its name from the Latin words præ-before, and positio=position (or placing.) It always governs either a noun or pronoun, and, in the English language, always precedes the word it governs-as, John is going to London, James is coming from London.

§ 160. All prepositions require that the noun they

govern should be in the objective case. I am thinking of him (not he); he is thinking of me (not I).

CONJUNCTION.

§ 161. A conjunction takes its name from the Latin words con with, and junctio=junction (or joining). § 162. Conjunctions connect words and propositions-as,

1. All men are black or white.

§ 163. In most cases where a conjunction apparently connects words, it really connects propositions.

In such an expression as the sun and moon shine, there are, in reality, two separate propositions1. The sun shines.

2. The moon shines.

The cases where it is merely two words that are connected are very rare. In the previous example, however, such was the case. It cannot be said that all men are black, nor yet that all men are white. All that can be said is, that each man is either one or the other.

§ 164. Those conjunctions that denote doubt or uncertainty require that the verb which follows them should be in the conjunctive mood.-If I were1 you I should act differently.

1 Not was.

§ 165. The following words, amongst others, are

$166. The following words, amongst others, are prepositions—in, on, of, at, up, by, to, for, from, till, with, through, behind.

§ 167. The following words, amongst others, are conjunctions and, or, nor, if, because, although.

§ 168. One and the same word may be at one time an adverb, at another a preposition, and at another a conjunction.

A. In, on, up, by, through, and several others, are adverbs or prepositions, as the case may be.

B. Since is a preposition in the sentence, I have been here since ten o'clock; but it is a conjunction in the sentence, Since you have waited here so long, I will, at once, go with you. The same is the case with the word but, and with some others.

§ 169. Words that can be either prepositions or