We must contend that the above is a racy observation.
Exceptions to the Rule.
Verbs of the infinitive mood—but hold. Remember that there is scarcely any rule without an exception; and this axiom particularly applies to the Syntax. We used to wish it did not; because then we should not have had so much to learn—to resume however—
Verbs of the infinitive mood often have set before them an accusative case instead of a nominative; the conjunction quod, or ut, being left out, as
Annam reginam aiunt occubuisse:
They say that Queen Anne’s dead.
A verb placed between two nominative cases of different numbers, is not like a donkey between two stacks of hay, it makes choice of one or the other, and agrees with it, as
Amygdalæ amaræ venenum est,
Bitter almonds is poison.
We have written the English beneath the Latin. Perhaps it may be imagined that we think good English beneath us.