But you introduced the word they. Is not the word they a pronoun ? Name the nouns for which the pronoun they was used. Repeat the whole of the instances as before, but instead of the pronoun they use the nouns for which it stands. Then, besides conjoining sentences, conjunctions save the repetition of many words. Yes; they save the use of many words, and many useless repetitions; and we should always bear in mind never to use more words in a sentence than necessary, that is, never use two words if one will do. You told me in the first course that conjunctions were divided into two kinds. Yes; they are divided into conjoining and disjoining conjunctions; or, as they are sometimes termed, copulative and disjunctive conjunctions. Explain the word copulative. Copulative means to unite, conjoin, or link together; the Latin, copulo, to couple, tye, or join together. from Then a conjoining or copulative conjunction connects or ties sentences together, so as to express an addition. Yes; and that addition to a sentence may be in apposition; or consist of a supposition, a cause, or a consequence. Give an instance of a copulative conjunction. "By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the host of them," Ps. xxxiii. 6. The copulative conjunction in that sentence is and, which means addition to, or join this. Suppose the conjunction had not been used. Then that which is expressed in one sentence, must have been expressed in two. Leave out the conjunction and show what you mean. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made. By the word of the Lord were all the host of heaven made. You have used the word and as a copulative conjunction, or conjoining word; are there any others? Yes, several; we will name some: And Both Because Besides For If Since Then That Therefore So means addition to, or add to that. in the sense of as well, having the conjunction and to correspond with it. means the cause is, and joins the act with the cause; the cause either preceding or following the act. signifies moreover this, or add also. expresses cause is, or this is the cause; the marks condition, and implies give or grant. is from a passive participle, and conveys the marks consequence, or this follows. signifies taken, or assumed; and frequently joins the preceding verb with the object or the end. means this is before, and joining what follows as a consequence to a former act. expresses this or that, and may be antecedent or relative. Well, let us press on. Now explain the word dis junctive. Disjunctive means separation, opposition, or incapability of union; and comes from the Latin prefix, dis, not able, and jungo, to join. Would you say a disjoining or disjunctive conjunction continues a sentence by an addition ? Well; a disjunctive conjunction does add, or is an addition to the sentence, but in a sense conveying the idea of opposition of meaning; and which opposition we may remark may be expressed in various degrees. You say that the disjunctive conjunction is an addition to a sentence, but in a sense conveying the idea of opposition of meaning: give an instance. "The Lord is far from the wicked; but He heareth the prayer of the righteous," Prov. xv. 29. Which is the conjunction ? But, which means, differing or taking away, and shows that the last part of the sentence differs from, or is opposed to the first. Must this last sentence have been expressed in two, if the conjunction had not been used? Yes; though it would not have been so emphatic. How would it read without the conjunction? The Lord is far from the wicked. The Lord heareth the prayer of the righteous. Give another instance of a disjoining, or disjunctive conjunction. "The wise shall inherit glory; but shame shall be the promotion of fools," Prov. iii. 35; that is, differing from the glory of the wise, shame shall be the promotion of fools You have used the same disjunctive word twice ; can you give an instance with another? Yes; Rom. viii. 35: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword ? " Which is the conjunctive word? The word or, which implies opposition, and conveys the idea, if not that, this. Well, remove the word or, and substitute the idea or meaning of the conjunction, and let me hear how it applies. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation? If not that, shall distress ? If not that, shall peril ? If not that, shall the sword? Yes; and they are all questions which Paul asked; and the remainder of the chapter is taken up with the answer, which we recommend you to read and think over. Can you give a list of some of the disjunctive conjunctions ? Yes; here are several :- But Than means separate, or take away. implies comparison with the next in order. Though allow this, and is frequently answered by yet. Either means this or that; sometimes followed by or. answers to neither, expresses opposition, and conveys the idea, if not that, this. Or As means like: sometimes used in connexion with so. Unless means except, if not, or supposing that not. Neither means not either, that is, not this one, not that one-generally used in connexion with nor. Nor Lest Yet means not that one; generally preceded by neither. that not, for fear that. add this, however, or nevertheless. Except means, take out, or substract. Notwithstanding is not strictly a conjunction, and implies without hinderance or obstruction from. Note. To give an instance under each of the conjunctions named in both classes would greatly increase this part of the book, and would not include all the conjunctive words; indeed the same may be said of the adverbs and prepositions; besides, the object of the book is not to do all for the pupils, but rather to indicate the way, and show how they may help themselves. As a general rule, the young are soon interested in what they understand. Once awake up the spirit of independent thought and self-reliance within them, by shewing clearly what can be done, and how they can do it; and though what the teacher may require be somewhat difficult at first, the pupils will not generally be slow in exerting themselves, from the very pleasure that the mind feels in unfolding its own powers. The teacher would therefore do well to encourage the pupils to furnish instances of the use of the conjunctive words named, or of any others. Have you anything further to say concerning the conjunctions ? Yes; we may notice two things with respect to the disjunctive conjunctions, or and nor. Name the first of the two points respecting or and nor. When either or or nor is used between two nouns or pronouns in the singular number and nominative case, but of different persons, then the verb must agree in person with the noun nearest to it: as, either thou or |