Is your master at home?

Yes.

Is

your brother well? Yes. You are not wounded, father No. But the young hero fell not? No.

Are they those whom want compels to toil for their daily bread? No.

Yes and no, in the first four of these examples, represent simple declarative sentences, and consequently are themselves to be considered and treated as simple declaratives. The sentences successively represented are these: "He is at home:" "My brother is well :" "I am not wounded;""The young hero fell not."

In the fifth example, no represents the following compound sentence; and it must itself therefore be treated as a compound sentence: "They are not those whom want compels to toil for their daily bread."

In order, then, to determine when yes or no is simple or compound, it must be ascertained, in the first place, whether it is used independently; that is, unconnected with any thing succeeding it, expressed or understood; and then, secondly, whether the sentence it represents is simple or compound.

But

With regard to the last particular, there is little danger of mistake; for the sentence, preceding yes or no, always contains the sentence represented by it. Nor is it difficult to ascertain the first, when the connection is expressed and properly punctuated. this is not always the case; for sometimes the connection is understood; and sometimes, if expressed, yes and no are separated from it by the period, or by what is supposed to be its representative, an exclamation point. In such cases, these words appear to be simple sentences, or what is the same, to represent simple sentences, when they are actually parts of compound sentences: e. g.

Are they those whom want compels to toil for their daily bread? No. The labors of such are the very blessings of their condition. What will content you! Talent? No! Enterprise? No! Courage? No! Reputation? No! Virtue? No! The men whom you would select, should possess, not one, but all of these.

In the first of these examples, no is not independent, though it seems to be so, in consequence of the period after it, but is closely connected with the succeeding words, together with which it forms a double compact sentence, with the first and second part expressed. (See Double Compact below.) The longest pause which can be properly inserted between these parts, is the semicolon. (See Punctuation of the Single Compact below.)

No, in the second example, is not more independent than in the first. It is the first part of a double compact as before, with the second and all the other parts understood. Completed, it would read thus: "Talent? No, but something more," &c., or thus: "Talent? No, for the men whom I would select, should possess not talent merely, but enterprise, courage, reputation and virtue."

2. These words are often emphatically repeated: e. g.

Is he indeed a villain? No: no. Yes: yes.

Will you accept my offer?

When thus repeated, though independent of a sequent connection, the repetition as such, forms a compound loose sentence; for the sentences, represented by yes and no, being substituted, we should have the following: "He is not a villain: he is not a villain." "I will accept your offer: I will accept your offer." These are loose sentences. (See Loose Sentence below.)

3. With or without repetition, yes and no are often followed by the sentences they represent: e. g.

1. Without repetition.

Ag. I am going to walk in the garden.

Har. And so am I.

Ag. You are?

Har. Yes: I am.

Car. Does he remain here?

Am. No: he does not remain here.

2. With repetition.

2d Soldier. We will command ourselves. For Milan, comrades. 5th Soldier. Ay: aye: for Milan.

It cannot be !

Ah! no! no! no!

Taking the last sentence as an example of all, and substituting the equivalent for no in each instance, the following perfect loose sentence will be the result: "Ah! it cannot be: it cannot be: it cannot be: it cannot be." (See, as above, Perfect Loose Sentence.)

4. I have hitherto, except incidentally, spoken of yes and no, as being employed independently; that is, without being followed by any thing with which they could combine and form compound sentences. I shall now show that they do this; and that all the peculiarities I have pointed out, follow them in this new relation. 1. They are employed singly: e. g.

Sel. What tidings, man! Is Ethwald at the gate?

Ser. No, nor yet within the walls.

Wog. My place of strength?

Fol.

Yes: I spake with one new from the west,
Who saw the ruinous broil.

The first example is a close sentence: (see Close :) the second, double compact with the first and second part expressed: the third, the same with the first and third part expressed: the fourth, the same with the first part only expressed, but this comprising two members: the fifth is a loose sentence.

2. They are employed with repetition: e. g.

Ethw.

You weep, good Ethelbert.

Eth. Yes; yes; such tears as doth the warm showered earth Show kindly to the sun.

Freb. My friend, your face is pale: have you been ill?

De Mon. No Freberg: no: I think I have been well.

Her. I beseech

you, let me stay with you.

Ray. No: no: no! speak of this no more.

The first of these sentences is a single compact: the second and third are both loose

3. Single with the represented sentence inserted: e. g.

Jane. And he is well

you say

Freb. Yes, well, but joyless.

Ethw. It is some night-bird screaming on the tower.
Boy. Ay, so belike it seemeth, but I know-

Ethw. What dost thou know !

Ethw. Thou dost not grieve I am safe returned ?
Berth. O no, I do not grieve, yet I must weep.

These sentences are all of them single compacts.

4. Repeated and followed by the represented sentence: e. g. Mrs. B. I do think I could contrive to find you employment if you are inclined to it.

Charles. Mrs. B. True.

Theo.

Yes: yes: I am inclined to it: idleness is tiresome.
O you are wounded, Baltimore.

No; no! there are no wounds; we are victorious

Hear me, I do entreat thee.

Out. Nay, nay! no foolish pleadings, for thy life

Is forfeit now: [have at thee.]

Under the preceding head, each of the sentences is a single compact; (which see ;) but under this, the first is loose: the second and third are double compacts. (See Double Compact below.)

2. Well.

66

This word is not a representative like yes and no, but an elliptical expression for such forms as, It is well," "You say well," "I know well," "If it be well,” “As it is well," Since it is well," &c.

1. It is a simple sentence when employed independently, like yes and no, for assent or approval: e. g.

Do I say well? Well. He did well! Very well.

2. It is often independently repeated, like yes and no, and then forms, in like manner, a perfect loose sentence: e. g.

Al. You will never see him again.

Tob. Well: well.

3. In the main, however, it is employed in connection with words following, like yes and no, and then forms, in like manner, several species of compound sentences. Like them, too, in such a connection, it is employed with or without repetition: e. g.

Har. Would they have a man give up the woman of his heart, because she likes a bit of lace upon her petticoat?

Roy. Well, but she is, &c. &c.

Est. Do you know, last night, before twilight, I peeped over the blind, and saw him walking with slow, pensive steps, under my window?

Mar. Well; what happened then!

Est. I drew in my head, you may be sure; but a little while after I peeped out again, and, do you know, I saw him coming out of the perfumer's, just opposite my dressing-room, where he had been all the while?

Mar.

Ros.

Very well; and what happened then!

One fault he has: I know but only one:

His too great love of military fame

Absorbs his thoughts, and makes him oft appear

Unsocial and severe.

Fred. Well; feel I not undaunted in the field?
As much enthusiastic love of glory?

Why am I not as good a man as he s

Jer. Alas, my lord, she's dead.

De Mon. Well; then she is at rest.

Jer. How well, my lord!

De Mon. Is she not with the dead, the quiet dead, where all is peace?

Jer. Oh, I am stunned! My head is cracked in twain:

Your honor does forget how old I am.

De Mon. Well; well; the wall is harder than I wist.

With. I will have an end put to all this foolery.

Mar. Very well; I have just been following your advice.

All these examples of well, in connection with sequent matter, are compact sentences, of which well constitutes the first part: the first four having the correlative words, indeed-but, cxpressed or understood, and the last three, therefore-because, understood.

Before closing my remarks on this word, I should say that, like yes and no, it often appears to be single and independent, in consequence of the suppression of a part of the sentence, when, such being the case, it is, of course, in connection with the suppressed portion, compound. For an example, see Ch. VI., Simple Declarative Sentences, Note

CLASS II.

SIMPLE INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES.

(See Definition of a simple sentence, and also of an interrogative.)

Simple interrogative sentences are either definite, indefinite, or indirect.

1. The DEFINITE are those which begin with verbs, and may be answered by yes or no.

NOTE. They are called definite, because they limit the answer to yes or no, or the equivalent of these words.

Examples.

Will you ride to town to-day? Am I my brother's keeper? Were there not ten cleansed? Will ye also go away? Is any among you afflicted? Do ye not hear the law? Are they ministers of Christ? Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? Have all the gifts of healing? Have not we power to forbear working? Could ye not watch one hour? Should not children obey their parents in all things?

2. The INDEFINITE are such as begin with adverbs and relative pronouns, and cannot be answered by yes or no.

NOTE. They are called indefinite, because they do not, like the definite, limit the answer; as, "When did we last meet " To this the answer may be any one of a thousand that are possible, and may be supposed.

Examples.

Where did we last meet! When will you leave town! At what hour, this evening, will the moon rise! Why was this important fact concealed By whom was the deed done? Which of the two is the most admired! How is the object, in view, to be secured ! Wherefore then serveth the law? Who can estimate the influence of the Sabbath school!

The adverb why, when employed as in the passages which follow, though usually regarded as a mere expletive, is unquestionably an abbreviated indefinite interrogative.

And who, I pray, is to judge of their necessity! Why, the King. Sir,"-and so forth.-" Why, yes: the thing is fact,

Though in regard to number, not exact:

It was not two black crows, 'twas only one:
The truth of that you may depend upon

The gentleman himself told me the case.

"Where may I find him "—" Why,—in such a place."

In each of these instances, why is obviously equivalent to the interrogative sentence, "Why ask the question."

When was formerly used in the same way: e. g.

Why, when, I say-Nay, good sweet Kate, be merry.

Taming the Shrew, IV, 1.

When, Harry, when,

Obedience bids: I should not bid again. King Richard II, I, 1.

3. The INDIRECT are interrogatives in a declarative form.

NOTE 1. It would be, perhaps, more correct to say, with a declarative structure. In declarative sentences, the subject properly, and almost uniformly, precedes the verb. This is what is meant by the declarative form or structure. In an interrogative sentence, (see definite and indefinite interrogatives,) the verb, at least the auxiliary verb, precedes the subject. This is what is meant by the interrogative structure or form.

NOTE 2. But this is not the only characteristic of the indirect interrogative. When a person employs the definite or indefinite question, he represents himself as wholly ignorant of the subject matter of inquiry, and as desiring information: when he employs the indirect question, he represents himself as assuming the subject matter of inquiry, and as desiring confirmation.

NOTE 3. The name of this question is derived from its nature; or the manner in which it is put; i. e. indirectly.