Part 47 (2/2)

13. There (6) a _train_ of cars.

After these blanks have been filled with the verbs above, as indicated by the numbers, the sentences may be repeated aloud till the correct form is familiar.

Let the pupils see that in (2), Lesson 36, _were identified_ is a.s.serted of two things, and that in (3) _was antic.i.p.ated_ is a.s.serted of one of two things, but not of both. Let them give other examples of connected subjects with verbs singular in form, and with verbs plural in form. The meaning of _singular_ and _plural_ may be explained, and the pupils may form some such rule as the following:--

With two or more subjects connected by _and_ the verb agrees in the plural.

With two or more singular subjects connected by _or_ or _nor_ the verb agrees in the singular.

The pupils may examine such sentences as--

1. Each word and gesture _was_ suited to the thought; 2. Every bud, leaf, and blade of gra.s.s _rejoices_ after the warm rain; 3. No dew, no rain, no cloud _comes_ to the relief of the parched earth;--

and note that _each_, _every_, and _no_ show that the things named in the different subjects are taken separately, and that the verbs are therefore singular.

Such sentences as--

”In the death of Franklin, a philosopher and statesman _was_ lost to the world”--

may be given to show that subjects connected by _and_ may name the same thing, and so take a verb in the singular.

Such examples as the following may be given and justified:--

1. Beauty and utility _are_ combined in nature.

2. Either beauty or utility _appears_ in every natural object.

3. Here _is_ neither beauty nor utility.

4. Time and tide _wait_ for no man.

5. Wisdom and prudence _dwell_ with the lowly man.

6. _Does_ either landlord or tenant profit by this bill?

7. Neither landlords nor tenants _profit_ by this bill.

8. Every fly, bee, beetle, and b.u.t.terfly _is_ provided with six feet.

9. That desperate robber and murderer _was_ finally secured.

10. That desperate robber and that murderer _were_ finally secured.

11. The builder and owner of the yacht _has_ sailed from Liverpool.

12. The builder and the owner of the yacht _have_ sailed from Liverpool.

13. A lame and blind man _was_ provided with food and lodging.

14. A lame and a blind man _were_ provided with food and lodging.

Particular attention may be called to examples 9-14, that the pupils may note the effect of repeating _that_, _the_, and _a_.

Pupils should early learn that rules in grammar should not be followed rigidly and blindly, as they generally have variations and exceptions.

Caution, however, should be used in presenting exceptions, lest the pupils become confused. They may be presented in reviews after the rules and general principles are well understood. They need not be formally stated, but may be introduced in the way of observation lessons that appeal to the judgment rather than to the memory. In this way such constructions as the following may be introduced:--

1. Neither he nor _I am _going. (Better--He is not going, nor am I.) 2. Neither John nor his _sisters were_ there.

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