4.  In the use of prepositions, and words that relate to each other, we should pay particular regard to the meaning of the words or sentences which they connect:  all the parts of a sentence should correspond to each other, and a regular and clear construction throughout should be carefully preserved.

FALSE SYNTAX.

    They are much greater gainers than me.

    They know how to write as well as him; but he is a better grammarian
    than them.

    They were all well but him.

    None were rewarded but him and me.

    Jesus sought none but they who had gone astray.

REMARKS ON THE TENSES.

1.  In the use of verbs, and other words and phrases which, in point of time, relate to each other, a due regard to that relation should be observed.

Instead of saying, “The Lord hath given, and the Lord hath taken away;” we should say, “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away.”  Instead of, “I remember the family more than twenty years;” it should be, “I have remembered the family more than twenty years.”

2.  The best rule that can be given for the management of the tenses, and of words and phrases which, in point of time, relate to each other, is this very general one; Observe what the sense necessarily requires.

To say, “I have visited Washington last summer; I have seen the work more than a month ago,” is not good sense.  The constructions should be, “I visited Washington, &c.; I saw the work, &c.”  “This mode of expression has been formerly much admired:”—­“was formerly much admired.”  “If I had have been there;” “If I had have seen him;” “Had you have known him,” are solecisms too gross to need correction.  We can say, I have been, I had been; but what sort of a tense is, had have been?  To place had before the defective verb ought, is an error equally gross and illiterate:—­“had ought, hadn’t ought.”  This is as low a vulgarism as the use of theirn, hern, and hizzen, tother, furder, baynt, this ere, I seed it, I tell’d him.

3.  When we refer to a past action or event, and no part of that time in which it took place; remains, the imperfect tense should be used; but if there is still remaining some portion of the time in which we declare that the thing has been done, the perfect tense should be employed.

Thus, we say, “Philosophers made great discoveries in the last century;” “He was much afflicted last year;” but when we refer to the present century, year, week, day, &c. we ought to use the perfect tense; as, “Philosophers have made great discoveries in the present century;” “He has been much afflicted this year;” “I have read the president’s message this week;” “We have heard important news this morning;” because these events occurred in this century, this year, this week, and to-day, and still there remains a part of this century, year, week, and day, of which I speak.