An Advanced English Grammar with Exercises. George Lyman Kittredge
word in the sentence.
The substantive which follows a preposition is called its object.
A preposition is said to govern its object.
In “The surface of the water glistened,” of makes it clear that surface belongs with water. In “Philip is on the river,” on shows Philip’s position with respect to the river. In, or near, or beyond would have indicated a different relation. Water is the object of the preposition of, and river is the object of the preposition on.
21. A preposition often has more than one object.
Over hill and dale he ran.
He was filled with shame and despair.
VII. CONJUNCTIONS
22. A conjunction connects words or groups of words.
A conjunction differs from a preposition in having no object, and in indicating a less definite relation between the words which it connects.
In “Time and tide wait for no man,” “The parcel was small but heavy,” “He wore a kind of doublet or jacket,” the conjunctions and, but, or, connect single words—time with tide, small with heavy, doublet with jacket. In “Do not go if you are afraid,” “I came because you sent for me,” “Take my key, but do not lose it,” “Sweep the floor and dust the furniture,” each conjunction connects the entire group of words preceding it with the entire group following it.
VIII. INTERJECTIONS
23. An interjection is a cry or other exclamatory sound expressing surprise, anger, pleasure, or some other emotion or feeling.
Interjections usually have no grammatical connection with the groups of words in which they stand; hence their name, which means “thrown in.”
Examples:
Oh! I forgot.
Ah, how I miss you!
Bravo! Alas!
THE SAME WORD AS DIFFERENT PARTS OF SPEECH
24. The meaning of a word in the sentence determines to what part of speech it belongs.
The same word may be sometimes one part of speech, sometimes another.
Words of entirely separate origin, meaning, and use sometimes look and sound alike: as in “The minstrel sang a plaintive lay,” and “He lay on the ground.” But the following examples (§ 25) show that the same word may have more than one kind of grammatical office (or function). It is the meaning which we give to a word in the sentence that determines its classification as a part of speech.
25. The chief classes of words thus variously used are (1) nouns and adjectives, (2) nouns and verbs, (3) adjectives and adverbs, (4) adjectives and pronouns, (5) adverbs and prepositions.
| I. Nouns and Adjectives | |
| Nouns | Adjectives |
|---|---|
| Rubber comes from South America. | This wheel has a rubber tire. |
| That brick is yellow. | Here is a brick house. |
| The rich have a grave responsibility. | A rich merchant lives here. |
The first two examples show how words that are commonly nouns may be used as adjectives; the third shows how words that are commonly adjectives may be used as nouns.
| II. Nouns and Verbs | |
| Nouns | Verbs |
|---|---|
| Hear the wash of the tide. | Wash those windows. |
| Give me a stamp. | Stamp this envelope. |
| It is the call of the sea. | Ye call me chief. |
Other examples are:
act,
address,
ally,
answer,
boast,
care,
cause,
close,
defeat,
doubt,
drop,
heap,
hope,
mark,
offer,
pile,
place,
rest,
rule,
sail,
shape,
sleep,
spur,
test,
watch,
wound.
| III. Adjectives and Adverbs | |
| Adjectives | Adverbs |
|---|---|
| That is a fast boat. | The snow is melting fast. |
| Draw a straight line. | The arrow flew straight. |
| Early comers get good seats. | Tom awoke early. |
For an explanation of the form of these adverbs, see § 191.
| IV. Adjectives and Pronouns | |
| Adjectives | Pronouns |
|---|---|
| This man looks unhappy. | This is the sergeant. |
| That book is a dictionary. | That is a kangaroo. |
| Each day brings its opportunity. | I received a dollar from each. |
For further study of this class of words, see pp. 62–65.
| V. Adverbs and Prepositions | |
| Adverbs | Prepositions |
|---|---|
| Jill came tumbling after. | He returned after the accident. |
| We went below. |
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