Distinction of the Subject, Predicate, Object, and Prepositional SECTION III. Construction of Simple Sentences, SECTION IV. Variation of Position and Form in Simple Sentences, SECTION V. Construction of Simple Sentences continued, SECTION VI. Construction of Simple Sentences continued, SECTION VII. Variation of Expression and Construction in Simple Sentences, 31 SECTION VIII. Construction of Simple Sentences continued, 32 BOOK I. ON THE SIMPLE SENTENCE. SECTION I. EXPLANATION OF THE SIMPLE SENTENCE. A Sentence consists of words so arranged as to make sense. The words of a sentence express a complete act of thought, and form what is called a Proposition. The Proposition may be expressed in different forms : 1. It may be affirmative; as, Life is short. 2. It may be negative; as, Man shall not live by bread alone. 3. It may be imperative; as, Sound the loud tim brel. 4. It may be interrogative; as, Who saw the sun to-day? 5. It may be exclamatory; as, How vast is the empire of Nature! Sentences are either Simple or Complex. A simple sentence consists of one subject and one finite verb or predicate. The Subject is the thing spoken of, and the Predicate is the affirmation respecting it. B In the sentence, "The king reigns," king is the subject, and reigns is the predicate. The Subject. 1. The subject may be simply a noun or a pronoun; as, Peter wept; they fled. 2. The subject may consist of two or more nouns or pronouns so connected that the predicate cannot affirm of each individually; as, He and I met; England and Scotland form the kingdom of Great Britain. 3. The subject may consist of a noun and words modifying or depending upon it; as, A great storm arose; persons of a quarrelsome disposition are dangerous associates. 4. The subject may consist of a noun and words placed in apposition to it; as, William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy and King of England, died in the year 1087. 5. The subject may be simply an infinitive; as, To swear is sinful. 6. The subject may be an infinitive with words modifying or governed by it; as, Readily to forgive injuries is the mark of an amiable disposition. 7. The subject may be part of a sentence; as, That you have wronged me doth appear in this; his having so often offended was the cause of his punish ment. The Predicate. 1. The predicate may be simply an intransitive verb or a verb passive; as, The eagle soars; they slumbered; the door was locked. 2. The predicate may consist of an intransitive verb, or a verb passive, and words modifying it; as, The enemy advanced rapidly and in good order; gold is obtained abundantly in California. 3. The predicate may consist of an intransitive verb, or a verb passive, and words modifying the subject; as, John is attentive to his studies; the prisoner stands acquitted of the crime; the soldier was considered worthy of promotion. 4. The predicate may consist of an intransitive verb, or a verb passive, and words placed in apposition to the subject; as, A foolish son is a grief to his father; the principal writer of the Psalms was David, King of Israel; the lion is called the king of beasts. 5. The predicate may consist of a transitive verb with its object; as, Winds purify the air. The Object. 1. The object of the transitive verb may be simply a noun or a pronoun; as, Diligence brings wealth; extravagance ruined him. 2. The object, when a noun, may be modified by other words; as, The industrious husbandman tills the fruitful earth; the heat of the sun brings to maturity the fruits of the earth. 3. The object of the transitive verb may be simply an infinitive; as, He desired to go; they learned to dance. 4. The object may be an infinitive with words modifying or governed by it; as, The man undertook to finish the work in three days. 5. The object of the transitive verb may be part of a sentence; as, The people cried, God save the king! "Tell Zion's mournful daughter, O'er kindred bones she'll tread." Adjuncts. The modifying words forming part of the subject, predicate, or object, are termed Adjuncts. |
