DEFECTIVE VERBS. DEFECTIVE Verbs are such as are imperfect, or wanting in some of the Moods and Tenses; as, do, shall, will, can, may, let, must, ought. IMPERSONAL VERBS. IMPERSONAL Verbs are those which only admit: of the Pronoun It before them; as, It rains, it snows, &c. PARTICIPLES. A PARTICIPLE is a word derived from a Verb, or rather is part of a Verb, and partakes of the nature of Adjectives and Nouns. The Participle frequently becomes an Adjective, when it is joined to a Substantive merely to denote its quality without any respect to time, expressing not an action, but a habit; and as such it admits of the degrees of comparison; as, P. C. S. A learned, more learned, most learned man. The The Active Participle is sometimes used for a Substantive; as, "Reading is useful "or, "this is good writing." The Participle with an Article before it, and the Preposition of after it, becomes a Substantive, expressing the action itself which the Verb signifies; as, By the observing of which you may avoid mistakes." ADVERBS. AN ADVERB is a part of Speech joined to a Verb, an Adjective, a Participle, and sometimes to another Adverb, to express the quality or circumstance of it; as, "He reads well; a truly good man; he is secretly plotting; he writes very correctly.” Some Adverbs admit of Comparison; as, Often, oftener, oftenest; Soon, sooner, soonest. Those ending in ly are compared by more and most; as, Easily, more easily, most easily. The principal Adverbs are as follows: 1. Adverbs of Time; as, now, then, to-day, lately, yesterday, to-morrow, not yet, often, seldom, sometimes, ever, never, immediately, soon, sooner, soonest, oftener, oftenest. 2. Of 2. Of Order; first, secondly, thirdly, &c. 4. Of Place; here, there, above, below, within. 7. Of Manner; easily, gracefully, politely. 10. Of Relation; particularly, respectively. 16. Of Certainty; truly, certainly, surely, &c. 18. Of Doubt, perhaps, possibly, &c. 19. Of Explanation; namely, viz. 20. Of Negation; no, not, &c. 21. Of Interrogation; why, wherefore, how, &c. 2. Of Conclusion; therefore, consequently. The above mentioned words are not always Adverbs, but are sometimes used as Adjectives, and sometimes as Substantives; which can only be determined by the sense. EXAMPLES. EXAMPLES. ADJ. Much money has been expended. ADV. It is much more blessed to give than to receive. SUB. Where much is given much will be required. ADJ. More things may be learned from reading, than from conversation. ADV. Martha is more diligent than Mary. SUB. A covetous man makes the most of what he has. ADJ. Little things are sometimes of great consequence. ADV. "Ah! Little think the gay, licentious proud &c." See Thomson's Winter. ADJ. Less things have produced great effects. ADV. The English are less volatile than the French. ADJ. The least thing you can do, is to offer her your assistance. She came home yesterday; she sets out again today; and she will return to-morrow. In this sentence, yesterday, to-day, and to-morrow, are adverbs of time, because they answer to the question when. To-day's lesson is more difficult than yesterday's; but to-morrow's will be more so than either. Yesterday, Yesterday, to-day, and to-morrow, are Substantives, because they are words that make sense by themselves, and admit likewise of the Genitive Case. CONJUNCTIONS. A CONJUNCTION is a part of Speech which joins words and sentences together. The principal Conjunctions are: N. B. For is sometimes a Preposition; as, she took it (the book) for me. That, when it can be changed into who or which, is a pronoun. PREPOSITIONS. A PREPOSITION is a word set before Nouns or Pronouns, |