OBS. 6.—­In speaking or writing, we of course bring together the different parts of speech just as they happen to be needed.  Though a sentence of ordinary length usually embraces more than one half of them, it is not often that we find them all in so small a compass.  Sentences sometimes abound in words of a particular kind, and are quite destitute of those of some other sort.  The following examples will illustrate these remarks. (1) ARTICLES:  “A square is less beautiful than a circle; and the reason seems to be, that the attention is divided among the sides and angles of a square, whereas the circumference of a circle, being a single object, makes one entire impression.”—­Kames, Elements of Criticism, Vol. i, p. 175. (2.) NOUNS:  “A number of things destined for the same use, such as windows, chairs, spoons, buttons, cannot be too uniform; for, supposing their figure to be good, utility requires uniformity.”—­Ib., i, 176. (3.) ADJECTIVES:  “Hence nothing just, proper, decent, beautiful, proportioned, or grand, is risible.”—­Ib., i, 229. (4.) PRONOUNS:  “I must entreat the courteous reader to suspend his curiosity, and rather to consider what is written than who they are that write it.”—­Addison, Spect., No. 556. (5.) VERBS:  “The least consideration will inform us how easy it is to put an ill-natured construction upon a word; and what perverse turns and expressions spring from an evil temper.  Nothing can be explained to him who will not understand, nor will any thing appear right to the unreasonable.”—­Cecil. (6.) PARTICIPLES:  “The Scriptures are an authoritative voice, reproving, instructing, and warning the world; and declaring the only means ordained and provided for escaping the awful penalties of sin.”—­G.  B. (7.) ADVERBS:  “The light of Scripture shines steadily, purely, benignly, certainly, superlatively.”—­Dr. S. H. Cox. (8.) CONJUNCTIONS:  “Quietness and silence both become and befriend religious exercises.  Clamour and violence often hinder, but never further, the work of God.”—­Henry’s Exposition. (9.) PREPOSITIONS:  “He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies, without the consent of our legislatures.”—­Dec. of Indep. (10.) INTERJECTIONS:  “Oh, my dear strong-box! Oh, my lost guineas! Oh, poor, ruined, beggared old man! Boo! hoo! hoo!”—­MOLIERE:  Burgh’s Art of Speaking, p. 266.

EXAMPLES FOR PARSING.

Parsing is the resolving or explaining of a sentence, or of some related word or words, according to the definitions and rules of grammar.  Parsing is to grammar what ciphering is to arithmetic.