Higher Lessons in English Part 18

grow wing dull --------------- | I | found / / | book =====|============================== | my

+Explanation+.--The diagram representing the phrase complement is drawn above the complement line, on which it is made to rest by means of a support. All that stands on the complement line is regarded as the complement. Notice that the little mark before the phrase points toward the object complement. The adjective _dull_ completes _growing_ and belongs to _book_, the a.s.sumed subject of _growing_.

13. He owned himself defeated.

14. No one ever saw fat men heading a riot or herding together in turbulent mobs.

15. I felt my heart beating faster.

16. You may imagine me sitting there.

17. Saul, seeking his father's a.s.ses, found himself suddenly turned into a king.

LESSON 38.

PARTICIPLES--CONTINUED.

a.n.a.lysis and Parsing.

The +participle+ may be used as +princ.i.p.al word+ in a +prepositional phrase+.

1. We receive good by doing good.

We | receive | good =====|==================== | by -----,doing | good --------------

+Explanation+.--The line representing the participle here is broken; the first part represents the participle as a noun, and the other as a verb.

+Oral a.n.a.lysis+.--The phrase _by doing good_ is a modifier of the predicate; _by_ introduces the phrase; the princ.i.p.al word is _doing_, which is completed by the noun _good_.

+Pa.s.sing+.--_Doing_ is a participle; like a noun, it follows the preposition _by_, and, like a verb, it takes an object complement.

2. Portions of the brain may be cut off without producing any pain.

3. The Coliseum was once capable of seating ninety thousand persons.

4. Success generally depends on acting prudently, steadily, and vigorously.

5. You cannot fully sympathize with suffering without having suffered.

(_Suffering_ is here a noun.)

The +participle+ may be the +princ.i.p.al word+ in a phrase used as a +subject+ or as an +object complement+.

6. Your writing that letter so neatly secured the position.

---, writing | letter '------------------------ Your | neatly that | so | / | secured | position =========|========='=========== | the

+Explanation+.--The diagram of the subject phrase is drawn above the subject line. All that rests on the subject line is regarded as the subject.

+Oral a.n.a.lysis+.--The phrase _your writing that letter so neatly_ is the subject; the princ.i.p.al word of it is _writing_, which is completed by _letter; writing_, as a noun, is modified by _your_, and, as a verb, by the adverb phrase _so neatly_.

7. We should avoid injuring the feelings of others.

8. My going there will depend upon my father's giving his consent.

9. Good reading aloud is a rare accomplishment.

The +participial form+ may be used as a +mere noun+ or a +mere adjective+.

10. The cackling of geese saved Rome.

11. Such was the exciting campaign, celebrated in many a long-forgotten song. [Footnote: "_Manig man_ in Anglo-Saxon was used like German _mancher mann_, Latin _multus vir_, and the like, until the thirteenth century; when the article was inserted to emphasize the distribution before indicated by the singular number."--_Prof. F. A. March._]

+Explanation+.--_Many_ modifies _song_ after _song_ has been limited by _a_ and _long-forgotten_.

12. All silencing of discussion is an a.s.sumption of infallibility.

13. He was a squeezing, grasping, hardened old sinner.

The +participle+ may be used in +independent+ or +absolute phrases+.

14. The bridge at Ashtabula giving way, the train fell into the river.

+Explanation+.--The diagram of the absolute phrase, which consists of a noun used independently with a participle, stands by itself. See lesson 44.

15. Talking of exercise, you have heard, of course, of d.i.c.kens's "const.i.tutionals."

LESSON 39.

COMPOSITION--PARTICIPLES.

+COMMA--RULE.--The Participle used as an adjective modifier, with the words belonging to it, is set off+ [Footnote: An expression in the body of a sentence is set off by two commas; at the beginning or at the end, by one comma.] +by the comma unless restrictive+.

+Explanation+.--_A bird, lighting near my window, greeted me with a song.

The bird sitting on the wall is a wren. Lighting_ describes without restricting; _sitting_ restricts--limits the application of _bird_ to a particular bird.

+Direction+.--_Justify the punctuation of the participle phrases in Lesson_ 37.

+Caution+.--In using a participle, be careful to leave no doubt as to what you intend it to modify.

+Direction+.--_Correct these errors in arrangement, and punctuate, giving your reasons:--_

1. A gentleman will let his house going abroad for the summer to a small family containing all the improvements.

2. The town contains fifty houses and one hundred inhabitants built of brick.

3. Suits ready made of material cut by an experienced tailor handsomely trimmed and bought at a bargain are offered cheap.

4. Seated on the topmost branch of a tall tree busily engaged in gnawing an acorn we espied a squirrel.

5. A poor child was found in the streets by a wealthy and benevolent gentleman suffering from cold and hunger.

+Direction+.--_Recast these sentences, making the reference of the participle clear, and punctuating correctly_:--

+Model+.--_Climbing to the top of the hill the Atlantic ocean was seen._ Incorrect because it appears that the ocean did the climbing.

_Climbing to the top of the hill, we saw the Atlantic ocean_.

1. Entering the next room was seen a marble statue of Apollo.