(First) (First)

The word than means next, and there is always an ellipsis in its use; thus,

than

'I could do it better (next) he' [could do it well].
'He loved him better next (he loved me well).'

By this method the correct case to follow than is always ascertained.

4. 'The' before the comparative is not the article, but an ablative case; as,

'The more, the merrier.'

i.e. By this the more, by that the merrier.' Cf. Latin eo, quo. 5. The first two refer to one class, the two first to two different classes.

§ 6. Articles.

1. The Article, 'a' or 'an,' is merely 'one' in its simple signification. There is a difference, however, between the two words. We use 'one' when we speak numerically: we use 'a' or ‘an’ when we wish to emphasize not the number but the description of the thing spoken of.

2. A or an always implies unity, and can therefore never be used but in speaking of one, or in speaking of many things collectively; as, 'A thousand years in Thy sight are but as yesterday.'

3. The article a has several meanings:

Sometimes it means each; as, ' once a year,' i. e. ' each year.' Sometimes it means any; as, 'If a man love me,' i.e. ‘ any man.' Sometimes it means every; as, 'It is good that a man should both hope and fear,' i.e. 'every man.'

4. The definite article is prefixed to plural adjectives and singular nouns to represent a class, and to singular adjectives to form an abstract noun; as,

'Men call the proud happy.'

'The dog is more sagacious than the cat.'
'Idolatry is the worship of the visible.'

5. If we make a comparison between two nouns with reference to a third, than is followed by an objective case without the article, by a nominative with the article; as,

Object.

1. 'He would make a better statesman than lawyer.'

Nom.

2. He would make a better statesman than a lawyer.'

In (1) lawyer is an objective case; thus,

‘He would make a better statesman than (he would make a) lawyer.'

In (2) A lawyer is a nominative case; thus,

'He would make a better statesman than a lawyer (would make).'

6. When two or more nouns are taken collectively, or describe one person, the article is used only before the first; as,

'The treasurer and secretary (one person).'

If different persons and things are meant, the article is repeated before each; as,

'The treasurer and the secretary (two persons).'

Sometimes, however, the article is repeated for the sake of emphasis; as,

'I returned a sadder and a wiser man.'

7. The pronominal adjectives, 'all, both, many, such, what,' and other adjectives when preceded by 'too, so, how,' stand before the article; as,

'Ye see how large a letter I have written to you.'—Gal. vi. 2.

The expression many a time, &c. will be discussed in chapter VII.

8. "The' before the comparative is not an article, but an ablative

case; as,

i. e.

'The more the merrier; '

'By this the more, by that the merrier.'

§ 7. Pronouns.

1. Pronouns possess the same gender, number, and person as the nouns they represent.

2. The rules that regulate the use of a singular verb after two or more nouns, or after a collective noun, apply also to the use of plural or singular pronouns; as,

'Everyone must judge of his own feelings.'

3. My and thy are used before a noun, mine and thine when the noun is understood, or begins with a vowel or h mute; as,

'Mine eye also shall see my desire upon mine enemies, and mine ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me.'-Ps. xcii. 11.

4. In such constructions as, 'He said that it was good,' that is usually termed a conjunction. It is really a demonstrative pronoun, and in apposition to the sentence it was good; thus,

'He knew that (thing) '-viz. 'it was good.'

5. The demonstrative pronoun 'this' when used with a plural noun and adjective, gives the expression a collective force, and hence the verb is in the singular; as,

'This seven years has passed quickly.'

6. Each, every, either, neither, no, require the verb to be in the singular.

7. For the construction of self, vide chap. V. § 2, (d) p. 48.

§ 8. Relatives.

1. The relative agrees with its antecedent in gender and number. 2. Who, whose, whom are used now with reference to rational beings; which, to irrational beings, inanimate objects, and collective nouns. That is a general relative used after any antecedent.

3. Collective nouns, which are followed by a singular verb, require

which. Nouns of multitude, which are followed by a plural verb, require who; as,

'The mob which followed the candidate was dispersed.'

'The clergy who assembled were then addressed.'

4. If two or more nouns are capable of being antecedents to a relative, the relative agrees with the nearest; as,

'Solomon, son of David, who slew Goliath' (correct).

'Solomon, son of David, who built the Temple' (wrong).

5. When two or more relative clauses refer to the same antecedent, and are connected by a conjunction, the relative must be repeated: so also must possessive pronouns, when the nouns they qualify are distinguished; as,

'Thus saith He who is, and who was, and who is to come.''

6. If a nominative come between the relative and the verb, the relative is governed by the verb, otherwise the relative is nominative to the verb; as,

'The man whom you saw.'

'The man who saw you.'

§ 9. The Verb.

1. When the truth of one proposition depends upon the truth of another, the sentence is said to be hypothetical; as,

'If thou read this, O Cæsar, thou mayest live.'-Shakspere.

The clause which contains the condition is called the conditional clause: If thou read this.' The clause which contains the consequence of the supposition is called the consequent clause: "Thou mayest live.'

2. The consequent clause sometimes appears in the form of a question, or as an imperative; sometimes it is introduced by were, or had, or would. Sometimes it is omitted; as,

'Is

any afflicted? let him pray.'-St. James.
'Prove that, and I will consent.'

3. A preventing conditional clause is introduced by were it not for, were it not that, but for; and is followed by the subjunctive in the principai clause.-Angus.

4. The subjunctive mood is used when uncertainty and futurity are implied;

(i) After if and although, expressing contingency and futurity. (ii) After if, although, unless, except, denoting a supposition expressed or understood; as,

Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.'

(iii) After an imperative with lest or that; as,
'See that thou do it not.'

(iv) After that, expressing a wish; as,

'Would that I had died for thee.'

5. The infinitive mood is governed (i) by a verb; (ii) by a preposition; as, 'I will write ;' 'I wish to write.'

6. Besides the auxiliary verbs shall, will, may, can, let, &c., the verbs behold, bid, dare (neuter), feel, hear, make, need, observe, perceive, and see, govern an infinitive mood directly.

7. The gerundial infinitive in ing, or with to, represents the A.-S. dative form. It generally implies purpose or fitness when found after nouns, adjectives, intransitive, and passive verbs; as,

Apt to teach.'

'Fools who came to scoff, remained to pray!'

8. The gerund also expresses purpose, when united to a noun in a compound word; as, a walking-stick,' i. e. 'a stick for walking.' 9. The gerundial infinitive explains the following forms:

'He went a hunting.'

'What went ye out for to see.'

'Fit for teaching.'

'A house to let.'

'Hard to bear.'

'Sad to say.'

'They are for surrendering.' 'He is to start.