CHAPTER IV.

THE VERB.

199. The VERB, or predicating word, allows little scope for variation. The chief case is the interchange of the ACTIVE and the PASSIVE forms. We might, indeed, express ourselves by means of the Active forms alone; but there are some occasions when the Passive forms are found very useful,especially when we want to state the action without stating the agent concerned. The union of a preposition with an intransitive verb so as to constitute a compound transitive verb is worthy of attention. There is also the apparent case of a double object with a double passive interchange.

The incomplete verb with complement is regarded as more particularly suitable for the expression of habitual action, for stating the fact of business or occupation. Certain condensed forms of great interest are to be adverted to, as well as the substitution of DO to save the repetition of a verb.

The force of the verb as manifested in nouns and adjectives is a point of very high significance and most extensive influence. The changes incidental to this transformation and the constructions connected with it are illustrated in various parts of the present work. Especially fertile in examples are the interchanges of Clauses and Prepositional Phrases, as well as of the Noun Clause or the Infinitive and the Abstract Noun.

The points that are taken up for illustration in the following Exercises include the most important varieties of predicate forms. There are not wanting, however, other convertible verb expressions, by no means unimportant, though perhaps more complicated and less fitted for extended notice here.

I. ACTIVE and PASSIVE.

Active Voice replaced by Passive Voice.

200. 'Age lessens the enjoyment of life' may be expressed thus:-'The enjoyment of life is lessened by age.'

'I saw him' is the same as 'He was seen by me.'

The object of a transitive verb in the Active form becomes the subject of the same verb in the Passive form.

EXERCISE 169.

1. John threw the ball. 2. An earthquake destroyed the city. 3. Age increases the desire of living. 4. Wellington fought many battles. 5. Ships crowded the harbour. 6. A whale has upset a boat. 7. The king readily accepted foreign aid. 8. We expect a good harvest. 9. The court had thrown off all disguise. 10. Drowsy tinklings lull the distant fold.

EXERCISE 170.

1. The child has torn the book. 2. Adverse winds had impeded the Admiral's progress. 3. Bees gather honey. 4. A thick fog favoured the besiegers.

5. Your master cannot

employ his revenues better. 6. Blunt wedges rive hard knots. 7. Jeffreys suited his advice to the king's temper. 8. He will bind the books presently. 9. Every passenger must give up his ticket here. 10. The Mayor and other city authorities will welcome the Queen.

201. 'Somebody has broken a pane.' Another convenient form in such cases is: A pane has been broken.' We need not add 'by somebody.'

'One seldom enjoys such a treat.' Otherwise: 'Such a treat is seldom enjoyed.' 'By one' is not needed: the subject is general and unimportant.

They say that the king has arrived' That the king has arrived is said. The more common form shows the anticipative use of 'it': 'It is said that the king has arrived '-which is much easier. By a change nearly allied to the previous ones, we may read: The king is said to have arrived.'

EXERCISE 171.

1. Some one threw a stone. 2. People heard the rattle of musketry in the streets. 3. Somebody carried to Whitehall information of the whole intrigue. 4. They say an old man is twice a child. 5. One easily sees the town from the top of the hill. 6. People generally disliked the marriage. 7. We do not know the future. 8. They say that the forgers have been apprehended. 9. It was not till the failure of the legitimate branch that men had paid any attention to the claim of the Somerset line. 10. Men felt high indignation at seeing the young prince sacrificed to the jealous politics of two tyrants.

202. 'I shall attend to your orders'' Your orders will be attended to.'

The people that had charge of the boy cared for him well'=' The boy was well cared for.

The preposition is removed from the adverbial phrase -' to your wishes,' 'for him '—and attached to the intransitive verb— attend,' 'cared.' The compound verbs-'attend-to,' care-for' -are transitive, 'your orders' and 'him' being regarded as their objects. The conversion is then regular.

EXERCISE 172.

1. The point they contend for is not important. 2. We shall insist on a thorough examination. 3. What does the petition pray for? 4. Hath he asked for me? 5. What are you thinking of? 6. His friends have provided well for him. 7. The managers approve of your play. 8. Nobody has ever objected to our proposal. 9. They will have to contend against serious difficulties. 10. He soon ran through his fortune. 11. None of the speakers touched upon the real cause. 12. A stray waggon

ran into the mail train.

203. He taught me grammar' may be converted in two ways: it may become 'I was taught grammar by him,' Grammar was taught me by him.'

'They promised us help'=' We were promised help by them,' or ' Help was promised us by them.'

In the first case, it is possible to point to two objects of the verb-the person taught and the subject taught. The second case, it will be observed, is different: (to) us being adverbial. The first case may, however, be also treated as the second; 'me' may be reckoned as 'to me.'

EXERCISE 173.

1. I asked him a question. 2. They offered me my choice. 3. The government entrusted him with the administration of the province. 4. You must pay him his bill at once. 5. You will teach us geometry. 6. Our guest offered us assistance. 7. They told the messengers many lies. 8. We shall give you every encouragement. 9. The king entrusted him with the command of the reserves. 10. We must allow him great latitude.

Passive Voice replaced by Active Voice.

204. 'St. Paul's was built by Sir Christopher Wren.' Otherwise: 'Sir C. Wren built St. Paul's.' 'A great impression will likely be produced by this speech.' Or: This speech will likely produce a great impression.'

The subject of the verb in the Passive form becomes the object of the same verb in the Active form.

EXERCISE 174.

1. The Waverley Novels were written by Sir Walter Scott. 2. The spire of the church has been struck by lightning. 3. The soldiers were praised by the king. 4. He was betrayed by one of his friends. 5. The victory has been gained by the English. 6. The avenues were lined with grenadiers. 7. The streets were kept clear by cavalry. 8. The first floor is occupied by an office. 9. The land had been overrun by various tribes. 10. Never before was so remarkable an order issued to an army by its commander.

EXERCISE 175.

1. The gate will be opened by an old man. 2. I was recognised by him at once. 3. We have all been saved by you to-day. 4. He was often interrupted by the deep hum of his audience. 5. Britain was subjugated by the Roman arms. 6. A resolution directly condemning him could not be carried by them. 7. My lord, the greatest injustice is done to us poets by you. 8. It was

a message whereby many hearts were lightened. 9. William had been largely endowed by nature with the qualities of a great ruler, and those qualities had been developed in no common degree by education. 10. The dangers whereby the state was threatened, had been strongly represented to the king by Montague.

205. 'Sentence of death was pronounced on the pirate.' An agent may be inferred from this

statement, so as to allow the conversion of the sentence thus: The judge pronounced sentence of death on the pirate.'

"The boat was swept away during the flood,' may be expressed in this form: The river swept away the boat during the flood,' or 'The flood swept away the boat.'

EXERCISE 176.

1. He was bound in honour to provide for her. 2. No money will be taken at the door. 3. The ship was run ashore. 4. But see how oft ambitious aims are crossed. 5. All his preconcerted arrangements were communicated to the Duke. 6. Several books have been published on the subject. 7. Those young trees were recently planted. 8. A relieving force was every day expected. 9. Napoleon's tactics were turned against himself. 10. Ropes were hurriedly spliced.

206. The ship may be heard of yet'=' We (the owners, one, people, &c.) may hear of the ship yet.' The intransitive verb 'hear' takes to itself the preposition 'of'; the compound verb 'hear-of' is transitive, and thus may have a passive form. (See § 202.)

EXERCISE 177.

1. His consent was not asked for. 2. Many grievances were complained of. 3. The men were strongly remonstrated with. 4. The general's conduct was approved of. 5. A speedy period to the reign of Ferdinand was now hoped for. 6. The action of the committee was protested against. 7. How many tickets have been disposed of? 8. The subject was talked over at last meeting. 9. Who is alluded to? 10. His conduct was animadverted upon. 11. He that's coming must be provided for. 12. Pitt's colleagues were never talked of or thought of.

207. These irregularities should be-takennotice-of' That is, 'The proper authorities should take-notice-of these irregularities.'

to

The predicate 'take' and the object notice' seem coalesce, and then to assume the preposition 'of.' The compound take-notice-of,' being regarded as equivalent to some single verb, like 'notice,' 'mark," censure,' &c., is turned into the passive form accordingly.