Sidebilder
PDF
ePub

PART FIRST.

KINDS OF WORDS — THE PARTS OF SPEECH.

LESSON I.

THE SENTENCE.

How many thoughts are expressed in the following sentences?—

1. The village master taught his little school.
2. Keep thy tongue from evil.

3. Who planted this old apple-tree?

4. How are the mighty fallen!

The expression of a complete thought in words is called a sen

tence.

State the office or use of each sentence above - tell which sentence states or declares something, which expresses a command, etc.

A sentence that states or declares something is called a declarative sentence.

A sentence that expresses a command or an entreaty is called an imperative sentence.

A sentence that asks a question is called an interrogative sen

tence.

A sentence that expresses sudden or strong feeling is called an exclamatory sentence.

EXERCISE I.

State the office of each of the following sentences, and tell the kind of sentence:

1. The last ray of sunshine departed.
2. Every stranger finds a ready chair.
3. How fleet is a glance of the mind!
4. The boat was crowded with passengers.
5. Dark clouds began to rise in the west.
6. The troops were concealed by a thick wood.
7. What an admirable piece of work this is!

8. Apply thine heart to understanding.

9. How many entered the room?

IO. Consider the lilies of the field.
II. What was the result?

12. I sat beside the glowing grate.

EXERCISE II.

I. Write three declarative sentences.
2. Write three imperative sentences.
3. Write three interrogative sentences.
4. Write three exclamatory sentences.

LESSON II.

SUBJECT AND PREDICATE.

Tell what is spoken of in each of the following sentences, and what

is said about the thing spoken of:

1. Time flies swiftly.

2. A rolling stone gathers no moss.

3. The breaking waves dashed high.

The part of a sentence that shows what is spoken of is called the subject.

The part of a sentence that tells something about the thing spoken of is called the predicate.

To find the subject and the predicate, answer the questions: (1) What is this sentence about? (2) What is said or asked about it? The subject and the predicate may each be expressed by a single word, or by several words; as,

Bells ring.

A merciful man | considers his beast.

The subject of a declarative sentence is usually placed before the predicate; as,

The well-curb had a Chinese roof.

But sometimes, especially in poetry, the subject is placed after the predicate; as,—

Up springs the lark.

Sweet is the breath of morn.

EXERCISE I.

Name the subject and the predicate in each of the following

[merged small][ocr errors]

I. The whole island was covered with wood.
2. The first spring wild-flowers yield no honey.
3. The old oaken bucket hangs in the well.

4. Blessed are the pure in heart.

5. The first dragon-fly of the season is always a happy discovery.

6. These prairies glow with flowers.

7. The copper of Cyprus was in demand in most places. of the ancient world.

8. All bloodless lay the untrodden snow.

9. For three nights they floated down the stream. 10. Language is the highest mode of expression.

The subject of an imperative sentence is thou, ye, or you. generally not expressed; as,

Come into the garden.

It is

When the subject is expressed, it is placed after the verb; as,—

Praise ye the Lord.

EXERCISE II.

Copy the following sentences, supplying the subjects which are understood and enclosing them in brackets:

1. Listen to this account of the fire.

2. Fling wide the generous grain.
3. Throw part of the cargo overboard.
4. Speak gently to the erring.

5. Cleanse thou me from secret faults.
6. Rejoice in the prosperity of others.
7. Be not weary in well-doing.

8. Follow the directions carefully.

Example. - Listen [you] to this account of the fire.

EXERCISE III.

State the kind of sentence, and name the subject and the predicate in each of the following sentences:

1. When will the matter be settled?

2. Here we are at last!

3. What peaceful hours I once enjoyed!

4. Where does he live?

5. Where are a grasshopper's ears?

6. How lightly past hardship sits upon us!

7. What real service to others did you render yesterday? 8. How strange everything looks in this light!

9. Do your friends know this?

10. How blessings brighten as they take their flight!

EXERCISE IV.

Write three examples each of a declarative, an imperative, an interrogative, and an exclamatory sentence, and name the subject and the predicate in each sentence.

LESSON III.

NOUNS.

Mention the words in the following sentences that are used as

names, and tell what each is the name of:

« ForrigeFortsett »