An English Grammar Part 67

He washed out some _of_ the dirt, separating thereby as much of the dust as a ten-cent piece would hold.--BANCROFT.

[Sidenote: _See also Sec. 309._]

(7) _Possessive_, standing, with its object, for the possessive, or being used with the possessive case to form the double possessive.

Not even woman's love, and the dignity _of_ a queen, could give shelter from his contumely.--W.E. CHANNING.

And the mighty secret _of_ the Sierra stood revealed.--BANCROFT.

(8) _Appositional_, which may be in the case of--

(_a_) Nouns.

Such a book as that _of_ Job.--FROUDE.

The fair city _of_ Mexico.--PRESCOTT.

The nation _of_ Lilliput.--SWIFT.

(_b_) Noun and gerund, being equivalent to an infinitive.

In the vain hope _of_ appeasing the savages.--COOPER.

Few people take the trouble _of_ finding out what democracy really is.--LOWELL.

(_c_) Two nouns, when the first is descriptive of the second.

This crampfish _of_ a Socrates has so bewitched him.--EMERSON

A sorry antediluvian makes.h.i.+ft _of_ a building you may think it.--LAMB.

An inexhaustible bottle _of_ a shop.--ALDRICH.

(9) _Of time._ Besides the phrases _of old_, _of late_, _of a sudden_, etc., _of_ is used in the sense of _during_.

I used often to linger _of_ a morning by the high gate.--ALDRICH

I delighted to loll over the quarter railing _of_ a calm day.

--IRVING.

(10) _Of reference_, equal to _about_, _concerning_, _with regard to_.

The Turk lay dreaming _of_ the hour.--HALLECK.

Boasted _of_ his prowess as a scalp hunter and duelist.--BANCROFT.

Sank into reverie _of_ home and boyhood scenes.--_Id._

[Sidenote: _Idiomatic use with verbs._]

_Of_ is also used as an appendage of certain verbs, such as _admit_, _accept_, _allow_, _approve_, _disapprove_, _permit_, without adding to their meaning. It also accompanies the verbs _tire_, _complain_, _repent_, _consist_, _avail_ (one's self), and others.

Exercise.--Find sentences with six uses of _of_.

On, Upon.

324. The general meaning of on is position or direction. _On_ and _upon_ are interchangeable in almost all of their applications, as shown by the sentences below:--

(1) _Place_: (_a_) Where.

Cannon were heard close _on_ the left.--PARKMAN.

The Earl of Huntley ranged his host _Upon_ their native strand.--MRS. SIGOURNEY.

(_b_) With motion.

It was the battery at Samos firing _on_ the boats.--PARKMAN.

Thou didst look down _upon_ the naked earth.--BRYANT.

(2) _Time._

The demonstration of joy or sorrow _on_ reading their letters.

--BANCROFT.

_On_ Monday evening he sent forward the Indians.--PARKMAN.

Upon is seldom used to express time.

(3) _Reference_, equal to _about_, _concerning_, etc.

I think that one abstains from writing _on_ the immortality of the soul.--EMERSON.

He p.r.o.nounced a very flattering opinion _upon_ my brother's promise of excellence.--DE QUINCEY.

(4) _In adjurations._

_On_ my life, you are eighteen, and not a day more.--ALDRICH.

_Upon_ my reputation and credit.--SHAKESPEARE

(5) _Idiomatic phrases_: _on fire_, _on board_, _on high_, _on the wing_, _on the alert_, _on a sudden_, _on view_, _on trial_, etc.

Exercise.--Find sentences with three uses of _on_ or _upon_.