LESSON LIV.

CLASSES OF CONJUNCTIONS.

Point out in the following examples conjunctions that connect sentences or parts of a sentence of equal rank, and those that connect sentences that are not of equal rank:—

1.Men may come and men may go.
2.I have a pen and a book.
3.Henry remained but we went home.
4.My father knew that I did it.

A conjunction that connects sentences or parts of a sentence of equal rank, is called a co-ordinating conjunction; as, The night is cold and clear. It was sold, but I did not want it. I know he came home, and took it away.

A conjunction that connects a dependent or subordinate clause to a principal clause, is called a subordinating conjunction; as, James said that he was sick. I cannot go unless he come.

Note.—Conjunctions used in pairs are called correlatives; as, both—and, either—or, neither—nor.

PARSING OF CONJUNCTIONS.

Model.—The teacher gave me a book, and I read it.

And, a co-ordinating conjunction, connecting the two principal clauses, The teacher gave me a book, and I read it.

Model.—The boy is strong but lazy.

But, a co-ordinating conjunction, connecting the adjectives strong and lazy.

Model.—His mother said that he might go.

That, a subordinating conjunction, connecting the subordinate clause, he might go, to the principal clause, his mother said.

EXERCISE I.

Parse the conjunctions in the following sentences:—

1. He often looked at them,
And often thought, “I’ll make them man and wife.”—Tennyson.
2.The natives of the island supposed that the ships had sailed out of the crystal firmament, or had descended from above on their ample wings.—Irving.
3.Here lies his head upon the lap of earth,
A youth to fortune and to fame unknown.—Gray.
4.By chance it happened that in Atri dwelt
A knight, with spur on heel and sword in belt.—Longfellow.
5.With a sword or a hatchet in one hand and a knife in the other, they threw themselves against the throng of enemies, striking and stabbing with the fury of madmen, till the Iroquois fired volley after volley, and shot them down.—Parkman.
6.Cheerily, then, my little man,
Live and laugh, as boyhood can!
Though the flinty slopes be hard,
Stubble-speared the new-mown sward,
Every morn shall lead thee through
Fresh baptisms of the dew.—Whittier.

EXERCISE II.

1. Write three sentences each containing a co-ordinating conjunction. Underline example.

2. Write three sentences each containing a subordinating conjunction. Underline example.

3. Write an example of correlative conjunctions. Underline them.