In the first of these sentences, we are not speaking of any particular kind of grass or wheat, neither do we wish to limit the meaning to any particular crop or field of grass, or quantity of wheat; but we are speaking of grass and wheat generally, therefore the article the should be omitted.  In the second sentence, we do not refer to any definite kind, quality, or number of horses or men; but to horses and men generally; that is, the terms are here used to denote whole species, therefore, the article should be omitted, and the sentence should read thus, “Grass is good for horses, and wheat for men.”

In the third and fourth examples, we wish to limit our meaning to the crops of grass and wheat now on the ground, which, in contradistinction to the crops heretofore raised, are considered as particular objects; therefore we should say, “The grass looks well; The wheat is blighted.”

NOTE 2.  When a noun is used in its general sense, the article should be omitted; as, “Poetry is a pleasing art;” “Oranges grow in New Orleans.”

FALSE SYNTAX.

Corn in the garden, grows well; but corn in the field, does not.  How does the tobacco sell?  The tobacco is dear.  How do you like the study of the grammar?  The grammar is a pleasing study.  A candid temper is proper for the man.  World is wide.  The man is mortal.  And I persecuted this way unto the death.  The earth, the air, the fire, and the water, are the four elements of the old philosophers.

* * * * *

LECTURE IV.

OF ADJECTIVES.

An ADJECTIVE is a word added to a noun to express its quality or kind, or to restrict its meaning; as, a good man, a bad man, a free man, an unfortunate man, one man, forty men.

In the phrases, a good apple, a bad apple, a large apple, a small apple, a red apple, a white apple, a green apple, a sweet apple, a sour apple, a bitter apple, a round apple, a hard apple, a soft apple, a mellow apple, a fair apple, a May apple, an early apple, a late apple, a winter apple, a crab apple, a thorn apple, a well-tasted apple, an ill-looking apple, a water-cored apple, you perceive that all those words in italics are adjectives, because each expresses some quality or property of the noun apple, or it shows what kind of an apple it is of which we are speaking.