(24) REMARK.-Sometimes two prepositions are employed together in forming this kind of modification, as, He came from beyond the river; out of, from within, from without, over against, down from, down to, &c., are employed in this way. Perhaps in down from, and down to, down should be considered as employed in the second function, and only from and to as employed in the third. (e) (25) The preposition a in its separate state is chiefly employed before the verbal nouns in ING. Thus used it is, we believe, a corruption of on, or in. (f) (26) In analysis, when a preposition occurs in the first function no remark is necessary, as the compound into which it enters as a part is treated as a single word. (27) When the preposition in the second function (separate from the verb) occurs, we call it simply the preposition modification, and say in analysis that the verb is modified by such a preposition, naming it. Some call all prepositions thus used adverbs. It would be less objectionable, perhaps, to call them prepositions adverbially employed. (28) When the noun preceded by the preposition occurs, we say in analysis that the principal noun or verb, as it may chance to be, is modified by the noun and preposition, repeating the preposition and noun employed; or, what we think better, and at the same time easier, we may simply say in all cases that the principal word is modified by the preposition, and in this last case, when a noun follows, that the principal word together with the preposition is modified by an accusative noun. The teacher can follow which of these methods he may prefer. (g) (e) All these examples of double prepositions, may be used with good effect to prove that these words express an independent sense, and not a mere relation between other words. (See additional remarks on the prepositions, Structure of Language, § 82.) (f) See as above, § 64. (g) Our impression is, that the principal word (whether verb or noun) is really modified by the preposition first, and then the principal word and preposition together are modified by the noun after the preposition. To illustrate by reference to a verb used as the principal word: the action of the verb receives a particular direction (we know not well what to call it, so as to embrace all cases-direction suits most cases) in reference to place, time, &c., from the preposition, and thus modified, thus directed, takes a noun to complete it. For example: The man went up the hill; or, The man (24) Repeat the remark and illustrate by examples. (25) Repeat what is said in reference to the preposition a.] (26) What is said in reference to the analysis when the preposition in its first function occurs? (27) How do we treat the preposition in analysis when we find it in the second function? (28) How do we conduct the analysis when it occurs in its third fanction-followed by a noun? In written exercises the learner may employ the following abbrevia tions: Prep. for preposition, Prep. Modn. for preposition modification, and N. and Prep. Modn. for noun and preposition modification. (29) The noun which enters into this form of modification 18 always considered as in the accusative case. (30) When pronouns which possess a distinct accusative form enter into this modification, it is always their accusative form which is employed. Examples, from me, to us, towards thee, beyond him, beside her, among them, &c. (h) In reference to this point the learner may, for convenience, adopt the following rule:-(31) Rule. In the noun and position modification, the noun or pronoun is in the accusative case. pre (32) As regards the order of arrangement, other forms of modification occurring in the same proposition almost invariably take the precedence of the noun and preposition, when the modifications follow the principal word. (33) Sometimes the noun and preposition, especially when they express a circumstance of time, place, order, &c., are placed in the beginning of the proposition, the subject standing between them and the verb which is modified. (34) When they follow the verb in company with the simple modifications, such as the objective or dative modifications, the objective and came into the house. Here the verb went is modified by up, which gives a direction to the action of going, or expresses the direction of the action of going; and the action thus modified, thus directed, is completed by the addition of the noun hill. So the action of coming receives a direction from into, and the verb thus modified is completed by the noun house. There are a few prepositions, such as in, of, with, for, which can scarcely be said to give direction, and we have not succeeded in finding a common notion and common term under which to unite them with the other prepositions. The words give a direction, seem to us to express well the function of nearly all the other prepositions. See more on this subject in the larger treatise, Structure of Language, § 82. (h) See Ex. Gram. Struct. Eng. Lang., p. 239, note. (29) In what case is the noun which follows the preposition always considered to be? (30) Repeat what is said of pronouns following prepositions, and illustrate by examples. (81) Repeat Rule. [(82) Repeat what is said in reference to the order of arrangement. (33) Repeat the sub-, stance of what is said under No. 33. (34) What is said of the noun and preposition when they follow the verb? dative, being more closely connected in sense with the verb, are arranged nearer to it than the noun and preposition. (35) As regards the order of sense, the principal word already modified by the more intimate complements, is farther modified by the noun and preposition. (36) For example, John's friend sent him a present on Tuesday Here the verb sent modified by the accusative present, and dative him, is farther modified by the noun and preposition on Tuesday, expressing a circumstance of time less closely connected with the action than the objective and dative complements. The whole assertion, sent him a present, is modified by the words on Tuesday. (37) Often a principal word—especially a verb—is affected by several noun and preposition modifications. (38) When one of these modifications is more closely connected in sense with the principal word than the rest, it ought to be arranged nearest to it. For example, He dined with his friends before his departure. (39) If we change the arrangement of the modifications in this proposition, we change the sense, or render the assertion ambiguous. (40) REMARK.-When two or more nouns in connection with the same preposition are employed to modify a principal word, the preposition is generally expressed only with the first noun, and suppressed before the other nouns, as the mind of the reader or hearer can readily supply it. Thus we say, A man of intelligence and integrity, equivalent to A man of intelligence and or integrity; the second or being suppressed by ellipsis, as it is called. That gentleman travelled through France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Spain; instead of through France, THROUGH Germany, THROUGH Switzerland, &c. Good taste must determine when such suppressions ought, or ought not, to be admitted. EXAMPLES FOR ANALYSIS.-John travelled from London to Edinburgh by railroad. I sent him letters by the packet on Wednesday. I gave him letters to my brother in the country. (i) In the beginning God created the heavens. (i) The learner will please take notice that the noun and preposition in country are not a second modification of the verb sent, but modify the noun brother. The verb gave stands in the relation of principal to the words him, letters, to brother; but brother—itself a modifying word-stands in the relation of principal to in the country. These distinctions cannot be (85) What is said in reference to the order of sense? (36) Give examples and illustration. (37) Repeat the remark about a principal word? (38) When more than one of these noun and preposition modifications are applied to the same word, how are they to be arranged? Give example. (39) What happens if we change the arrangement? (40) Repeat the remark in reference to two or more nouns preceded by the same preposition. Illustrate by examples.] The man of benevolence receives the reward of his virtuous acts, in this world and the world to come. (To come, infinitive modification of noun world.) "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge." now thy Creator in the days of thy youth." "The Muse, on eagle-pinions borne, Then swept o'er autumn with the shadowy gale; 66 Remember "Borne," 1st line, a participle modified by "on eagle-pinions;" the same remark applies to roll'd. Several infinitives occur in these lines modified by nouns and prepositions. For "eagle-pinions” and “summerblaze," see § 51. O'er in the third line is a contraction for over. The learner is expected to analyze, as usual, all the words in Italies. Let the learner now form a given number of propositions, containing one or more prepositions, followed by nouns or pronouns. Let this exercise be repeated till he becomes well acquainted with all the prepositions in the list; and let him have credit according to the dexterity shown in introducing as many as possible of the modifications already considered in each proposition which he forms. REMARK.-Cases sometimes occur in which a preposition is manifestly suppressed; as, Go your way, Speed your course, He travels the same road. On is here suppressed. We say to ride a horse and to ride on a horse. The first is, we believe, the most usual construction. Perhaps ride in this case should be considered an active verb, since we can use a passive form, and say, The horse was ridden to death. He resides in Bond Street, No. 25. It is customary to suppress the preposition at in such cases. (j) § 63. There is a distinction of modifying expressions attached to the predicates of propositions, which we have not yet noticed, and which claims our attention in this place. (1) We have hitherto considered all too carefully observed. In tracing them, the student is tracing the connection of thought, through the connection of the signs of thought. He is learning to think accurately, to develop accurately the meaning of the writing subjected to his analysis. All properly conducted analysis exhibits the sense of a passage, so far as that is determined by the construction of language. That analysis or parsing which does not effect this is mere pedantic gibberish. (j) See additional remarks on the prepositions, Exposn. Gram. Struct. Eng. Lang. § 82. $63. [(1) Tell how we have hitherto considered all modifications. (2) What other case modifications as affecting separately either the subject or the predicate of propositions, or some word or phrase modifying the subject or the predicate. (2) But there is another case possible, viz., a modification applied to the whole assertion made by the union of subject and predicate. (3) Such modification might, perhaps, with propriety be called a modification of the predicate, since it modifies the assertion; for, as the old grammarians have said, the force of the assertion rests in the predicate or verb. (4) Still we may distinguish, and sometimes it is important to distinguish, between such modifications as affect specially the part of the predicate contained in the verb; and such as affect the whole preceding assertion— we mean preceding in order of sense. a. (5) The modifications affecting the predicate, already examined, except the last, may be regarded as all of the first kind; they affect that part of the predicate contained in the verb. (6) Many of the noun and preposition modifications are also of the same kind, as, for instance, the noun and preposition used to describe the manner of an action (7) This noun is perhaps always accompanied with a descriptive adjective. (8) The man acted IN a becoming MANNER. Here, in a becoming manner is employed to modify acted. The predicate asserted is, acting in a becoming manner. The noun and preposition with the accompanying complementary words, a becoming, complete acting (9) The noun and preposition employed to indicate the personal object, may also be considered as directly completing the part of the predicate contained in the verb. Example: He wrote To ME, He carried a letter FOR ME. Here to me and for me, may be regarded as completing the predicates writing and carrying, though it is not so clear as in the case above, that they may not as well be considered as modifying the whole assertion. A (10) A large portion, however, of the noun and preposition modifications, are of the second kind. They express some circumstance necessary to complete the assertion, but not directly descriptive or complementary of the verbal predicate. They do not express a modification inherent in the action indicated by the verb, or conceived by the mind as specially connected with it. (11) Example: IN THE BEGINNING God created the heaven, is possible? (8) How might such modifications as now described be considered? (4) Repeat what is said about the importance of distinguishing modifications which are applied to the whole proposition. (5) Repeat the remark in reference to the modifications already considered. (6) What is said of many of the noun and preposition modifications? (7) How is the noun in the noun and preposition expressing manner generally accompanied? (8) Give example and illus trate. (9) How may the noun and preposition expressing the personal object be considered? Give illustration by example. (10) Repeat the substance of what is said in reference to a large portion of the noun and preposition modifications. (11) Illustrate by examples. |