But let us connect these two nouns by a disjunctive conjunction, and see how the sentence will read:  “Orlando or Thomas, who studies his lesson, makes rapid progress.”  Now, you perceive, that a different construction takes place, for the latter expression does not imply, that Orlando and Thomas, both study and make rapid progress; but it asserts, that either the one or the other studies, and makes rapid progress.  Hence the verb makes is singular, because it expresses the action of the one or the other of its nominatives.  And you observe, too, that the pronouns who and his, and the noun lesson, are likewise in the singular, agreeing with Orlando or Thomas, agreeably to RULE 9. Studies is also singular, agreeing with who, according to RULE 4.

EXERCISES IN PARSING.

Joseph and his brother reside in New York.  The Sun, moon, and stars, admonish us of a superior and superintending Power.  I respect my friend, because he is upright and obliging.  Henry and William, who obey their teacher, improve rapidly.  Henry or William, who obeys his teacher, improves very fast.  Neither rank nor possession makes the guilty mind happy.  Wisdom, virtue, and meekness, form the good man’s happiness and interest:  they support him in adversity, and comfort him in prosperity.  Man is a little lower than the angels.  The United States, as justly as Great Britain, can now boast of their literary institutions.

NOTE.  The verb form is plural, and agrees with three nouns singular, connected by copulative conjunctions, according to RULE 8.  The verb comfort agrees with they for its nominative.  It is connected to support by the conjunction and, agreeably to RULE 34. Angels is nom. to are understood, and Great Britain is nom. to can boast understood, according to RULE 35.

REMARKS ON CONJUNCTIONS AND PREPOSITIONS.

The same word is occasionally employed, either as a conjunction, an adverb, or a preposition.  “I submitted, for it was in vain to resist;” in this example, for is a conjunction, because it connects the two members of a compound sentence.  In the next it is a preposition, and governs victory in the objective case:  “He contended for victory only.”

In the first of the following sentences, since is a conjunction; in the second, it is a preposition, and in the third, an adverb; “Since we must part, let us do it peaceably; I have not seen him since that time; Our friendship commenced long since.”

“He will repent before he dies; Stand before me; Why did you not return before” [that or this time;] in the first of these three examples, before is an adverbial conjunction, because it expresses time and connects; and in the second and third, it is a preposition.