English Grammar in Familiar Lectures eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 386 pages of information about English Grammar in Familiar Lectures.

English Grammar in Familiar Lectures eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 386 pages of information about English Grammar in Familiar Lectures.

DECLENSION OF THE RELATIVE PRONOUNS.

SINGULAR AND PLURAL.

Nom. who, Poss. whose, Obj. whom. " whoever, " whosever, " whomever. " whosoever, " whosesoever, " whomsoever.

Which and that are indeclinable, except that whose is sometimes used as the possessive case of which; as, “Is there any other doctrine whose followers are punished;” that is, the followers of which are punished.  The use of this license has obtained among our best writers; but the construction is not to be recommended, for it is a departure from a plain principle of grammar, namely, who, whose, whom, in their applications, should be confined to rational beings.

That may be used as a pronoun, an adjective, and a conjunction, depending on the office which it performs in the sentence.

That is a relative only when it can be changed to who or which without destroying the sense; as, “They that (who) reprove us, may be our best friends; From every thing that (which) you see, derive instruction.” That is a demonstrative adjective, when it belongs to, or points out, some particular noun, either expressed or implied; as, “Return that book; That belongs to me; Give me that.”  When that is neither a relative nor an adjective pronoun, it is a conjunction; as, “Take care that every day be well employed.”  The word that, in this last sentence, cannot be changed to who or which without destroying the sense, therefore you know it is not a relative pronoun; neither does it point out any particular noun, for which reason you know it is not an adjective pronoun; but it connects the sentence, therefore it is a conjunction.

If you pay particular attention to this elucidation of the word that, you will find no difficulty in parsing it.  When it is a relative or an adjective pronoun, it may be known by the signs given; and whenever these signs will not apply to it, you know it is a conjunction.

Some writers are apt to make too free use of this word.  I will give you one example of affronted that, which may serve as a caution.  The tutor said, in speaking of the word that, that that that that that lady parsed, was not the that that that gentleman requested her to analyze.  This sentence, though rendered inelegant by a bad choice of words, is strictly grammatical.  The first that is a noun; the second, a conjunction; the third, an adjective pronoun; the fourth, a noun; the fifth, a relative pronoun; the sixth, an adjective pronoun; the seventh, a noun; the eighth, a relative pronoun; the ninth, an adjective pronoun.  The meaning of the sentence will be more obvious, if rendered thus; The tutor said, in speaking of the word that, that that that which that lady parsed, was not the that which that gentleman requested her to analyze.

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English Grammar in Familiar Lectures from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.