The Grammar of English Grammars eBook

Goold Brown
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 4,149 pages of information about The Grammar of English Grammars.

The Grammar of English Grammars eBook

Goold Brown
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 4,149 pages of information about The Grammar of English Grammars.

Ah is an interjection, indicating sorrow:  and is used independently; according to Rule 24th, which says, “Interjections have no dependent construction; they are put absolute, either alone, or with other words.”  Because the meaning is—­ah!—­unconnected with the rest of the sentence.

Poor is a common adjective, of the positive degree, compared regularly, poor, poorer, poorest:  and relates to nature; according to Rule 9th, which says, “Adjectives relate to nouns or pronouns.”  Because the meaning is—­poor human nature.

Fallen is a participial adjective, compared (perhaps) by adverbs:  and relates to nature; according to Rule 9th, which says, “Adjectives relate to nouns or pronouns.”  Because the meaning is—­fallen nature.

Human is a common adjective, not compared:  and relates to nature; according to Rule 9th, which says, “Adjectives relate to nouns or pronouns.”  Because the meaning is—­human nature.

Nature is a common noun, of the second person, singular number, neuter gender, and nominative case:  and is put absolute by direct address; according to Rule 8th, which says, “A noun or a pronoun is put absolute in the nominative, when its case depends on no other word.”  Because the meaning is—­poor fallen human nature!—­the noun being unconnected with any verb.

What is a pronominal adjective, not compared:  and relates to conflicts; according to Rule 9th, which says, “Adjectives relate to nouns or pronouns.”  Because the meaning is—­what conflicts.

Conflicts is a common noun, of the third person, plural number, neuter gender, and nominative case:  and is the subject of are; according to Rule 2d, which says, “A noun or a pronoun which is the subject of a finite verb, must be in the nominative case.”  Because the meaning is—­conflicts are.

Are is an irregular neuter verb, from be, was, being, been; found in the indicative mood, present tense, third person, and plural number:  and agrees with its nominative conflicts; according to Rule 14th, which says, “Every finite verb must agree with its subject, or nominative, in person and number.”  Because the meaning is—­conflicts are.

Thy is a personal pronoun, representing nature, in the second person, singular number, and neuter gender; according to Rule 10th, which says, “A pronoun must agree with its antecedent, or the noun or pronoun which it represents, in person, number, and gender:”  and is in the possessive case, being governed by portion; according to Rule 4th, which says, “A noun or a pronoun in the possessive case, is governed by the name of the thing possessed.”  Because the meaning is—­thy portion.

Portion is a common noun, of the third person, singular number, neuter gender, and nominative case:  and is put after are, in agreement with conflicts; according to Rule 6th, which says, “A noun or a pronoun put after a verb or participle not transitive, agrees in case with a preceding noun or pronoun referring to the same thing.”  Because the meaning is—­conflicts are thy portion.

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The Grammar of English Grammars from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.