Syntax treats of the relations which words bear to one another in sentences, and of the order in which the words are arranged. The relation of a word in a sentence is called its construction.
Note.—Many of the leading principles of syntax have been illustrated already. We shall now study them and others in a systematic way.
LESSON LVI.
Examine the construction of the italicized nouns in the following sentences:—
| 1. | Trees grow. | |
| 2. | This man is a carpenter. | |
| 3. | Mr. Brown, the merchant, has retired. | |
| 4. | Boys, close the doors. | |
| 5. | The wheel being broken, I walked home. | |
| 6. | John lost his knife. | |
| 7. | She lives in the city. | |
| 8. | I bought the boy a hat. | |
| 9. | We visited our mother’s grave. | |
| 10. | He lived here ten years. | |
| 11. | I was taught music by my mother. | |
| 12. | This boy ran a race yesterday. | |
| 13. | I told him to be a good boy. | |
| 14. | The people chose him ruler. |
1. Subject nominative. The noun may be used as the subject of a verb; as, Boys play. The subject of a verb is in the nominative case.
2. Predicate nominative. A noun that is used to form a complete predicate, and refers to the same person or thing as the subject, is in the nominative case after the verb; as, John became king. A noun so used is called a predicate noun or predicate nominative. The verbs be, seem, become, appear, look are followed by a predicate nominative.