A Grammar of the English Tongue eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 63 pages of information about A Grammar of the English Tongue.

A Grammar of the English Tongue eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 63 pages of information about A Grammar of the English Tongue.

What, whether relative or interrogative, is without variation.

Whosoever, whatsoever, being compounded of who or what, and soever, follow the rule of their primitives.

Singular.  Plural.

This These

In all cases.  That Those.

Other, Others.

Whether.

The plural others is not used but when it is referred to a substantive
preceding, as I have sent other horses.  I have not sent the same
horses, but others.

Another, being only an other, has no plural.

Here, there, and where, joined with certain particles, have a relative and pronominal use.  Hereof, herein, hereby, hereafter, herewith, thereof, therein, thereby, thereupon, therewith, whereof, wherein, whereby, whereupon, wherewith, which signify, of this, in this, &c. of that, in that, &c. of which, in which, &c.

Therefore and wherefore, which are properly there for and where for, for that, for which, are now reckoned conjunctions, and continued in use.  The rest seem to be passing by degrees into neglect, though proper, useful, and analogous.  They are referred both to singular and plural antecedents.

There are two more words used only in conjunction with pronouns, own and self.

Own is added to possessives, both singular and plural, as my own hand, our own house.  It is emphatical, and implies a silent contrariety, or opposition; as, I live in my own house, that is, not in a hired house.  This I did with my own hand, that is, without help or not by proxy.

Self is added to possessives, as myself, yourselves; and sometimes to personal pronouns, as himself, itself, themselves.  It then, like own, expresses emphasis and opposition, as I did this myself, that is, not another; or it forms a reciprocal pronoun, as We hurt ourselves by vain rage.

Himself, itself, themselves, are supposed by Wallis to be put by corruption, for his self, it self, their selves; so that self is always a substantive.  This seems justly observed, for we say, He came himself; Himself shall do this; where himself cannot be an accusative.

* * * * *

Of the verb.

English verbs are active, as I love; or neuter, as I languish.  The neuters are formed like the actives.

    Most verbs signifying action may likewise signify condition or habit,
    and become neuters; as I love, I am in love; I strike, I am now
    striking.

Verbs have only two tenses inflected in their terminations, the present, and simple preterit; the other tenses are compounded of the auxiliary verbs, have, shall, will, let, may, can, and the infinitive of the active or neuter verb.

The passive voice is formed by joining the participle preterit to the substantive verb, as I am loved.

To have.  Indicative Mood.

Present Tense.

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
A Grammar of the English Tongue from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.