out our sentence, by supplying every word that the construction will possibly bear, and thus become verbose, without any advantage to our style or sentiment. It is to be hoped that the mania of supplying ellipsis, where the sense does not necessarily require it, will soon subside. We have many words which are necessarily used as several parts of speech, and we experience little difficulty in determining their use, and the class to which they belong in all their distinctive associations, nor does any obscurity arise from this application of the words after, before, against, &c. If the rule that, equivalence in use and meaning constitutes similarity in grammatical construction, holds good with the words that, what, whoever, &c.-why should it not hold good with regard to the words under consideration, and all others of similar associations? CHAPTER IX. Of Conjunctions. A conjunction is a part of speech that is chiefly used to connect sentences, so as, out of two or more sentences to make one. It sometimes connects words only; as, three and four and two make nine. You and he were respected, because you were diligent. Conjunctions are principally divided into two sorts, the copulative and the disjunctive. The conjunction copulative serves to connect or continue a sentence, by denoting an addition, a supposition, a cause, &c. as, he and his brother reside in Lexington; I will go if he will accompany me; you are happy because you are good. The conjunction disjunctive, generally serves to mark an opposition of meaning in the connected members; as, though he was frequently reproved, yet he did not reform; they came with her, but they went away without her. The following lists comprise the principal conjunctions. Copulative, and, if, that, both, then, since, for, because, therefore, wherefore, provided, besides. Dis " Questions. Is it proper to supply an ellipsis after these words? What is a conjunction? How many sorts of conjunctions are there? What are copulative conjunctions? What are disjunctive conjunctions? Repeat a ist of the copulatives. junctive, but, or, nor, as, than, lest, though, unless, either, neither, yet, notwithstanding. We have several words which are used sometimes as conjunctions, sometimes as adverbs, and sometimes as prepositions; as, I rest then on this argument; then is a conjunction. In the following sentence it is an adverb of time. He came then, and not before. For is a conjunction when it can be changed into because without impairing the sense; as, I submitted for (because) it was in vain to resist; when for cannot be changed into because, without injury to the sense, it is a preposition; as, I write for the benefit of youth. For is copiously used in its conjunctive signification, in the Epistle to the Romans; perhaps 110 times. Since may be used as a preposition, a conjunction and an adverb; as, I have not seen him since last week; since we must part let us do it peaceably; our acquaintance commenced long since. The learned Horn Tooke, in his Diversions of Purley, proves very clearly that but, in one of its derivations, is analogically a preposition. Nay, gentle reader, do not start at this account, and put the grammar where a certain testament was once placed, into the fire. Truth cannot injure you, and if this is not found a truth, you can reject hold fast what is true. as error, and Uniformity in the construction of language is what constitutes correctness, and is therefore desirable. This at present, does not exist, in consequence of the diversity of opinion, and consequently of practice among writers and speakers with regard to this but. Those who reject the idea of its being a preposition, write thus; no person accompanied me but he; i. e. he accompanied me. While those who admit that but is a preposition when it means be out, or excepting, write thus; no person accompanied me but him; i. e. be out or excepting him. To produce uniformity in this particular, would be a desirable attainment; and this alone shall be my aim in the following arguments. Would it not be as proper to apply the rule that equivalence in reaning, constitutes similarity in grammatical construction to this word, as to that, what, for, &c? If admitted, let us try the experiment, and see what will be the result. All were well but (be out or exccpting) him. No person accompanied me but (except or excepting) him. I have but (only) one friend. I have written but (only) one volume. From these and similar examples, it appears proper to say, When but means except or excepting, or when either of those words can be substituted for but without impairing the sense, it is a preposition, and should be followed by the objective case of the noun or pronoun; as, all were well but him. When but can be changed into only without impairing the sense, it is an adverb; and in all other cases, it is a conjunction disjunctive. Questions. Repeat a list of the disjunctive conjunctions. What words are used sometimes as conjunctions, and sometimes as prepositions? When is for a conjunction? What is said of since? Is but ever a preposition? What is the difference of construction among writers, in the use of but? What is but when it means except or excepting? What is but when it means only? What is it when it means neither of these? I am aware that Mr. S, Kirkham has said that "but is never a preposition;" "but this is assertion without proof" or argument. And even if dogmatical assertions would prove facts, his ipse dixit would be no better than that of any other man of equal veracity; and while we were proving and disproving our caprices, truth would shun our grasp. It will be admitted by all, that a rule is necessary for the establishing of this point, and when a better is found, let this be discarded. The difference in the connexion produced by the conjunction and preposition, is a subject worthy of your consideration; and as it has hitherto been little regarded, and consequently not well understood, I crave your undivided attention, while I shall attempt to lay it before you. The conjunction connects words to show that the connected words have the same relation to some other word in the sentence; as, John and Brown attend my school. In this sentence, the two words John and Brown, connected by the conjunction and, have the same relation to the word attend. I saw James and William. In this sentence the twowords James and William, have the same relation to the verb saw, both being governed by it in the objective case. Examples of the verb, adjective, adverb, and participle, might be multiplied, but it is believed the foregoing will be sufficient to enable your mind to grasp the subject. The connexion produced by the preposition, shows the relation which the connected words have to each other, without any reference to any otherword in the sentence; as, Brown sits by John. John came with Brown. In these examples the preposition shows the relation existing between the connected words, without any reference to any connexion with any other word in the sentence. When conjunctions serve to connect words only, they are nearly allied in use to prepositions, but essentially distinct in their nature. In productions highly argumentative, the conjunction is an essential part of speech, as may be seen by referring to the epistles to the Romans and Gallatians.) In poetry, books of aphorisms, like the Proverbs of Solomon, and highly descriptive writings, conjunctions are of less importance. The conjunctions, again, further, besides, &c. connect sentences, but never connect members of sentences. Than, lest, unless, that, so that, connect members of sentences, but they should never be used to connect sentences. But, for, therefore, and, because, &c. may connect sentences or menbers of sentences. Both is one of the words in our language, that is used by writers, with no small degree of latitude. It is used as three parts of speech, a pro Questions.-Who says but is never a preposition? How does he prove it? For what do conjunctions connect words? Give the examples. "What does the connexion produced by the preposition show? Give the examples. When are conjunctions allied in their use to prepositions? Are they similar in their nature? In what kind of writings are conjunctions most important? In what kind are they of least importance? What conjunctions are used to connect sentences only? Which connect members and not sentences? Which are used to connect both sentences and members? noun, adjective, and conjunction. In all its uses it has reference to two, and no more. Mil on makes a wrong application of both in its conjunctive significa tion, in the following passage: "And under open sky, adored "The God that made both sky, air, earth, and heaven, Both, in this sentence, is made to assist in connecting six words; sky, air, earth, heaven, globe, and pole, which is a manifest error, and might have been avoided by using the article the: thus, the sky, air, earth, &c. The same word should never be used in the same sentence, in different senses, or parts of speech, when it can be avoided. Addison has shown the impropriety of this practice, in the following ludicrous use of the word that. "The tutor said in speaking of the word that, that that that, that that lady parsed, was not that that, that that gentleman requested her to analyze." When both is used as a pronoun, it refers to two persons or things; as, There arrived; both stood, both turned, &c. that is, Adam and Eve stood, turned, &c. When both is used as an adjective, it refers to two and no more; as, both boys were present; and when used as a conjunction, it always corresponds with and, and assists in connecting two words. It may, therefore, be called dual, in all its uses; a dual pronoun, a dual, adjective, and a dual conjunction. Relative pronouns are also connectives. Indeed, the union produced by the relative is closer than that produced by the conjunction. The conjunction may unite two or inore simple sentences into one compound sentence; but the relative incorporates several sentences into one and the same clause of a sentence; as, Thou seest that man. He is called Peter; Thou seest that man, and he is called Peter; That man whom thou seest is called Peter. In the first example we have two simple sentences; in the second, those simple sentences are formed into a compound sentence by the connexion produced by and; and in the third, we have the same ideas in a single member, by the use of the relative whom. The latter sentence is least complex, and not less comprehensive; hence it is preferable. I shall conclude this chapter with some remarks on the use of the particle as. Perhaps no word in our language has greater diversity in use and application, and is less understood, than this little as. It is the general custom to call it a disjunctive conjunction, be its use and application as they may. Hoping your mind aspires to something more than a superficial knowledge of the use of words, I am induced to investigate the Questions. What is said of both? How many parts of speech is, bot? Is it proper to use the same word in different senses in the same sentence? What should both be called in all its uses? Are relative pronouns used as connectives? Which produces the closer union, conjunçtions or relative pronouns? Give the examples. Which of these expressions are the least complex? Which is preferable? Is as ever a disjunc tive conjunction? subject for your benefit; and see whether as is ever a disjunctive conjunction. To be such, it must connect, and mark an opposition in the meaning of the connected words or members; but does as ever mark this opposition? Does it not more frequently mark an exact equality in the meaning? If it does, it would be more proper to call it a copulative, than a disjunctive. In the sentence, he accepted this as an equivalent, as marks an equality in the meaning of the words this and equivalent. Some persons contend that as is a preposition in sentences like the foregoing; but it would then show relation, which as never does. It therefore is improper to analyze it as a preposition. In the sentence, I saw him as he passed; as is equivalent in meaning to while; thus, I saw him while i. e. during the time in which, he passed. It is, in this sentence, an adverbial conjunction. When as connects two members of a comparative sentence, it should be called a comparative conjunction; when it denotes time and connects, it is an adverbial conjunction; when it follows such, much, many, or same, it is a relative pronoun; as, let such as censure others, look well to their own conduct: I have as much as will answer my purpose: As many as were ordained to eternal life believed. His arguments were the same as were formerly adduced. CHAPTER X. OF INTERJECTIONS. Interjections are words thrown in between the parts of a sentence, to express the passions, or emotions of the speaker; as, ah! I have alienated my friend: alas! I fear for life: O virtue! how amiable thou art! Interjections are the onlywords in our language, which denote passion or emotion. All the other parts of speech represent ideas, the actions expressed, or the qualities or circumstances of action of ideas; or they serve as connectives of ideas, actions, or the qualities or circumstances of ideas or actions; but the interjection performs none of these offices. For this reason it has neither agreement, government, nor connexion. Interjections may be classed into different sorts, according to the pas sion or emotion they denote. 1. Of earnestness or grief; as, oh, O, ah, alas, &c. 2. Of contempt; as, pish, tush, &c. 3. Of wonder; as, heigh, really, strange. 4. Of calling; as, hem! ho! hallo! so ho! &c. 5. Of aversion or disgust; as, foh! fie! away! 6. Of attention; as, lo! behold! hark! Questions. Why is as not a disjunctive conjunction? Is as ever a preposition? Why? When is as a comparative conjunction? When is it an adverbial conjunction? When is it a relative pronoun? Give examples. What are interjections? Why has the interjection no agreement, government, or connexion? Repeat the different sorts of interjections |