Remarks.

The compound relatives are declined like the simple relatives from which they are derived, but the compounds of which and what have no possessive form.

The compound relatives have a double construction, and should be so parsed. Thus, in the sentence, "Take whichever is best," the transitive verb take requires an object, which is found in the word whichever, and the predicate verb requires a nominative, which also is found in the word whichever. Whichever is therefore a compound relative having a double construction. It is in the objective case after the transitive verb take, and in the nominative case, being the subject of is best.

When either of the relatives which and what is used to limit a noun, it is called a pronominal adjective.

Ex.-1. What house was burned?

2. Which book do you prefer?

The compounds of which and what may be used as relatives and pronominal adjectives at the same time.

Ex.-1. Read whichever book you prefer.

2. Whatever goods were left were sold.

Interrogative Pronouns.

Interrogative Pronouns are those pronouns which are used in asking questions.

The Interrogatives are Who, Which, and What.

They are declined like the simple relative pronouns. Who is used in asking about persons; as, "Who discovered America ?"

Which is used in asking about persons, animals, and things; as, "Which of the boys has recited ?" "Which of the horses is yours?" "Which of the books will you have?"

What is used commonly to inquire about things; as, "What do you want?" "What does the wind say?"

In inquiring about persons, who asks for the name; as, "Who is that?" "Mr. Adams." Which asks for the particular person meant; as, "Which Mr. Adams?" "Mr. John Adams." What asks for the description; as, "What is he?" "A merchant."

Remarks on Interrogative Pronouns.

66

Interrogative pronouns refer to subsequents, or words following, instead of antecedents; as, Who was the first President of the United States ?" "George Washington."

When an interrogative pronoun is used in a responsive sense it may be called a Responsive Pronoun or an Indefinite Interrogative Pronoun; as in the following sentence: "Who called to me?" "I do not know who called to you."

Exercise.

Name the pronouns, and tell the class of each, in the following sentences: 1. Errors, like straws, upon the surface flow;

He who would seek for pearls must dive below.-Dryden.

2. The poorest education that teaches self-control is better than the best that neglects it.-Sterling.

3. Hail to the chief who in triumph advances!-Scott.

4.

My heart leaps up when I behold

A rainbow in the sky;

So was it when my life began,

So is it now I am a man,

So be it when I shall grow old,

Or let me die.- Wordsworth.

Parsing.
Models.

1. Spirit that breathest through my lattice.-Bryant.

CONDENSED FORM

That is a simple relative pronoun. It agrees with its antecedent

spirit, in the singular number, third person, neuter gender. It is in the nominative case, being the subject of breathest.

2. What is dark in me illumine.-Milton.

What is a simple relative pronoun, and is equivalent to the antecedent and a relative. It is in the singular number, third person, neuter gender, and has a double construction, being in the objective case after the transitive verb illumine, and in the nominative case as subject of is dark.

3. What art thou?-Milton.

What is an interrogative pronoun. It is in the singular number, second person, common gender, and agrees with some noun understood as its subsequent. It is in the nominative case after the intransitive verb art.

4. It is not what people earn, but what they save, that makes them rich.

1. Parse the pronouns in the following sentences:

1. What we learn in our youth grows up with us, and in time becomes a part of the mind itself.

2. There are men who always fail in whatever they undertake, simply because they are always behind time.-Freeman Hunt.

3. Grace is to the body what good sense is to the mind.-Rochefoucauld.

4. Every one hath a natural dread of everything that can endanger his happiness.-Tillotson.

5. He who every morning plans the transactions of the day, and follows out that plan, carries on a thread which will guide him through the labyrinth of the most busy life.-Blair.

6. My sword and yours are kin.-Shakespeare.

7. He that doth not know those things which are of use for him to know is but an ignorant man, whatever he may know besides.Tillotson.

8. Ethics is the science of the laws which govern our actions as moral agents.-Sir W. Hamilton.

9. Most men know what they hate, few what they love.-Colton.

10. The troops entered the Alhambra, the gates of which were wide open, and all its splendid courts and halls silent and deserted.—Irving. 11. To commemorate the talents, virtues, and exploits of great and good men is at all times a pleasing task to those who know how to esteem them.-Hamilton.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

Life! I know not what thou art,

But know that thou and I must part;
And when, or how, or where we met,

I own to me's a secret yet.-Mrs. Barbauld.
They are poor

That have lost nothing; they are poorer far

Who, losing, have forgotten; they most poor

Of all, who lose and wish they might forget.—Jean Ingelow.

Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much;
Wisdom is humble that he knows no more.-Cowper.

He jests at scars that never felt a wound.-Shakespeare.
Whoever thinks a faultless piece to see,.
Thinks what ne'er was, nor is, nor e'er shall be.

O little hands, that, weak or strong,
Have still to serve or rule so long,

Have still so long to give or ask

I, who so much with book and pen

Have toiled among my fellow-men,

Am weary, thinking of your task.-Longfellow.

2. Parse also the nouns and the adjectives in the foregoing sentences.

A Verb is a word used to express action, being, or

state.

Remark. Some verbs express action; as, Henry speaks; some express being; as, I am; and others express state; as, The book lies on the table.

Note-The word verb is derived from the Latin verbum, the "word."

The verb is the most important part of speech, be