+Oral Analysis+.—The phrase your writing that letter so neatly is the subject; the principal word of it is writing, which is completed by letter; writing, as a noun, is modified by your, and, as a verb, by the adverb phrase so neatly.
7. We should avoid injuring the feelings of others. 8. My going there will depend upon my father's giving his consent. 9. Good reading aloud is a rare accomplishment.
The +participial form+ may be used as a +mere noun+ or a +mere adjective+.
10. The cackling of geese saved Rome.
11. Such was the exciting campaign, celebrated in many a long-forgotten song. [Footnote: "Manig man in Anglo-Saxon was used like German mancher mann, Latin multus vir, and the like, until the thirteenth century; when the article was inserted to emphasize the distribution before indicated by the singular number."—Prof. F. A. March.]
+Explanation+.—Many modifies song after song has been limited by a and long-forgotten.
12. All silencing of discussion is an assumption of infallibility. 13. He was a squeezing, grasping, hardened old sinner.
The +participle+ may be used in +independent+ or +absolute phrases+.
14. The bridge at Ashtabula giving way, the train fell into the river.
+Explanation+.—The diagram of the absolute phrase, which consists of a noun used independently with a participle, stands by itself. See lesson 44.