Higher Lessons in English | Page 7

is the predicate because it tells what is
thought. [Footnote: When pupils are familiar with the definitions, let
the form of analysis be varied. The reasons may be made more specific.
Here and elsewhere avoid mechanical repetition.]
1. Squirrels climb. 2. Blood circulates. 3. Muscles tire. 4. Heralds
proclaim. 5. Apes chatter. 6. Branches wave. 7. Corn ripens. 8. Birds
twitter. 9. Hearts throb.

+Explanation+.--Draw a heavy line and divide it into two parts. Let the
first part represent the subject of a sentence; the second, the predicate.
If you write a word over the first part, you will understand that this
word is the subject of a sentence. If you write a word over the second
part, you will understand that this word is the predicate of a sentence.
Love | conquers ========|============ |
You see, by looking at this figure, that Love conquers is a sentence;
that love is the subject, and conquers the predicate.
Such figures, made up of straight lines, we call Diagrams.
+DEFINITION.--A Diagram is a picture of the offices and the relations
of the different parts of a sentence.+
+Direction+.--Analyze these sentences:--
1. Frogs croak. 2. Hens sit. 3. Sheep bleat. 4. Cows low. 5. Flies buzz. 6.
Sap ascends. 7. Study pays. 8. Buds swell. 9. Books aid. 10. Noise
disturbs. 11. Hope strengthens. 12. Cocks crow.
* * * * *
LESSON 5.
COMPOSITION--SUBJECT AND PREDICATE.
+CAPITAL LETTER--RULE.--The first word of every sentence must
begin with a capital letter+.
+PERIOD--RULE.--A period must be placed after every sentence that
simply affirms, denies, or commands.+
+Direction+.--Construct sentences by supplying a subject to each of the
following predicates:--
Ask yourselves the questions, What tarnishes? Who sailed, conquered,

etc.?
1. ----- tarnishes. 2. ----- capsize. 3. ----- radiates. 4. ----- sentence. 5.
----- careen. 6. ----- sailed. 7. ----- descends. 8. ----- glisten. 9. -----
absorb. 10. ----- corrode. 11. ----- conquered. 12. ----- surrendered. 13.
----- refines. 14. ----- gurgle. 15. ----- murmur.
+Direction+.--Construct sentences by supplying a predicate to each of
the following subjects:--
Ask yourselves the question, Glycerine does what?
1. Glycerine -----. 2. Yankees -----. 3. Tyrants -----. 4. Pendulums -----.
5. Caesar -----. 6. Labor -----. 7. Chalk -----. 8. Nature -----. 9. Tempests
-----. 10. Seeds -----. 11. Heat -----. 12. Philosophers -----. 13. Bubbles
-----. 14. Darkness -----. 15. Wax -----. 16. Reptiles -----. 17. Merchants
-----. 18. Meteors -----. 19. Conscience -----. 20. Congress -----. 21. Life
-----. 22. Vapors -----. 23. Music -----. 24. Pitch -----.
TO THE TEACHER.--This exercise may profitably be extended by
supplying several subjects to each predicate, and several predicates to
each subject.
* * * * *
LESSON 6.
ANALYSIS.
The predicate sometimes contains more than one word.
+Direction+.--Analyze as in Lesson 4.
1. Moisture is exhaled. 2. Conclusions are drawn. 3. Industry will
enrich. 4. Stars have disappeared. 5. Twilight is falling. 6. Leaves are
turning. 7. Sirius has appeared. 8. Constantinople had been captured. 9.
Electricity has been harnessed. 10. Tempests have been raging. 11.
Nuisances should be abated. 12. Jerusalem was destroyed. 13. Light
can be reflected. 14. Rain must have fallen. 15. Planets have been

discovered. 16. Palaces shall crumble. 17. Storms may be gathering. 18.
Essex might have been saved. 19. Caesar could have been crowned, 20.
Inventors may be encouraged.
+Direction+.--Point out the subject and the predicate of each sentence
in Lessons 12 and 17.
Look first for the word that asserts, and then, by putting who or what
before this predicate, the subject may easily be found.
TO THE TEACHER.--Let this exercise be continued till the pupils can
readily point out the subject and the predicate in ordinary simple
sentences.
When this can be done promptly, the first and most important step in
analysis will have been taken.
* * * * *
LESSON 7.
COMPOSITION--SUBJECT AND PREDICATE.
+Direction+.--Make at least ten good sentences out of the words in the
three columns following:--
The helping words in column 2 must be prefixed to words in column 3
in order to make complete predicates. Analyze your sentences.
1 2 3 Arts is progressing. Allen was tested. Life are command. Theories
will prolonged. Science would released. Truth were falling. Shadows
may be burned. Moscow has been measured. Raleigh have been prevail.
Quantity should have been lost.
Review Questions.
What is language proper? What is English grammar? What is a
sentence? What are its two parts? What is the subject of a sentence?
The predicate of a sentence? The analysis of a sentence? What is a

diagram? What rule has been given for the use of capital letters? For
the period? May the predicate contain more than one word? Illustrate.
TO THE TEACHER.--Introduce the class to the Parts of Speech before
the close of this recitation. See "Introductory Hints" below.
* *