The order of parsing a CONJUNCTION, is—­a conjunction, and why?—­copulative or disjunctive, and why?—­what does it connect?

“Wisdom and virtue form the good man’s character.” And is a conjunction, a word that is chiefly used to connect sentences; but in this example it connects only words—­copulative, it serves to connect and continue the sentence by joining on a member which expresses an addition—­it connects the words “wisdom and virtue.”

Wisdom is a noun, the name of a thing—­(You may parse it in full.)—­Wisdom is one of the nominatives to the verb “form.”

Virtue is a noun, the name, &c.—­(Parse it in full:)—­and in the nom. case to the verb “form,” and connected to the noun “wisdom” by and, according to RULE 33. Conjunctions connect nouns and pronouns in the same case.

Form is a verb, a word which signifies to do, &c.—­of the third person, plural, because its two nominatives, “wisdom and virtue,” are connected by a copulative conjunction, agreeably to RULE 8. Two or more nouns in the singular number, joined by copulative conjunctions, must have verbs, nouns, and pronouns agreeing with them in the plural.

“Wisdom or folly governs us.” Or is a conjunction, a word that is chiefly used to connect sentences:  it sometimes connects words—­disjunctive, it serves not only to connect and continue the sentence, but also to join on a member which expresses opposition of meaning—­it connects the nouns “wisdom and folly.”

Governs is a verb, a word that signifies, &e.—­of the third person, singular number, agreeing with “wisdom or folly,” according to RULE 9. Two or more nouns singular, joined by disjunctive conjunctions, must have verbs, nouns, and pronouns agreeing with them in the singular: 

If you reflect, for a few moments, on the meaning of me last two Rules presented, you will see, at once, their propriety and importance.  For example; in the sentence, “Orlando and Thomas, who study their lessons, make rapid progress,” you notice that the two singular nouns, Orlando and Thomas, are connected by the copulative conjunction and, therefore the verb make, which agrees with them, is plural, because it expresses the action of both its nominatives or actors.  And you observe, too, that the pronouns who and their, and the noun lessons, are plural, agreeing with the nouns Orlando and Thomas, according to RULE 8.  The verb study is plural, agreeing with who, according to RULE 4.