An English Grammar. James Witt Sewell
domesticated, and retain their foreign plurals.
Others have been adopted, and by long use have altered their power so as to conform to English words. They are then said to be naturalized, or Anglicized, or Englished.
Domesticated words.
The domesticated words may retain the original plural. Some of them have a secondary English plural in -s or -es.
Exercise.
Find in the dictionary the plurals of these words:—
I. FROM THE LATIN.
apparatus
appendix
axis
datum
erratum
focus
formula
genus
larva
medium
memorandum
nebula
radius
series
species
stratum
terminus
vertex
II. FROM THE GREEK.
analysis
antithesis
automaton
basis
crisis
ellipsis
hypothesis
parenthesis
phenomenon
thesis
Anglicized words.
When the foreign words are fully naturalized, they form their plurals in the regular way; as—
bandits
cherubs
dogmas
encomiums
enigmas
focuses
formulas
geniuses
herbariums
indexes
seraphs
apexes
Usage varies in plurals of letters, figures, etc.
54. Letters, figures, etc., form their plurals by adding -s or 's. Words quoted merely as words, without reference to their meaning, also add -s or 's; as, "His 9's (or 9s) look like 7's (or 7s)," "Avoid using too many and's (or ands)," "Change the +'s (or +s) to -'s (or -s)."
CASE.
Definition.
55. Case is an inflection or use of a noun (or pronoun) to show its relation to other words in the sentence.
In the sentence, "He sleeps in a felon's cell," the word felon's modifies cell, and expresses a relation akin to possession; cell has another relation, helping to express the idea of place with the word in.
56. In the general wearing-away of inflections, the number of case forms has been greatly reduced.
Only two case forms.
There are now only two case forms of English nouns—one for the nominative and objective, one for the possessive: consequently the matter of inflection is a very easy thing to handle in learning about cases.
Reasons for speaking of three cases of nouns.
But there are reasons why grammars treat of three cases of nouns when there are only two forms:—
(1) Because the relations of all words, whether inflected or not, must be understood for purposes of analysis.
(2) Because pronouns still have three case forms as well as three case relations.
57. Nouns, then, may be said to have three cases—the nominative, the objective, and the possessive.
I. Uses of the Nominative.
58. The nominative case is used as follows:—
(1) As the subject of a verb: "Water seeks its level."
(2) As a predicate noun, completing a verb, and referring to or explaining the subject: "A bent twig makes a crooked tree."
(3) In apposition with some other nominative word, adding to the meaning of that word: "The reaper Death with his sickle keen."
(4) In direct address: "Lord Angus, thou hast lied!"
(5) With a participle in an absolute or independent phrase (there is some discussion whether this is a true nominative): "The work done, they returned to their homes."
(6) With an infinitive in exclamations: "David to die!"
Exercise.
Pick out the nouns in the nominative case, and tell which use of the nominative each one has.
1. Moderate lamentation is the right of the dead; excessive grief, the enemy of the living.
2.
Excuses are clothes which, when asked unawares,
Good Breeding to naked Necessity spares.
3. Human experience is the great test of truth.
4. Cheerfulness and content are great beautifiers.
5. Three properties belong to wisdom—nature, learning, and experience; three things characterize man—person, fate, and merit.
6.
But of all plagues, good Heaven, thy wrath can send,
Save, save, oh save me from the candid friend!
7. Conscience, her first law broken, wounded lies.
8. They charged, sword in hand and visor down.
9.
O sleep! O gentle sleep!
Nature's soft nurse, how have I frighted thee?
II. Uses of the Objective.
59. The objective case is used as follows:—
(1) As the direct object of a verb, naming the person or thing directly receiving the action of the verb: "Woodman, spare that tree!"
(2)