ii. The relation between a given action and a given existence, the latter being viewed as the object towards which the action tends ;

It dazzles my eyes.

iii. The relation between an action previously noticed, and the existence to which it is attributed:

The shining sun.

The first is called the predicative relation, the second the objective relation, the third the attributive relation. All the laws of Syntax, with the exception of those which relate to the connexion of sentences, fall under one of these three heads.

REMARK.

When the predicate is either a verb or an adjective, the fact of its expressing action is obvious. When, however, it is a common noun coupled with the verb to be, this fact is not so manifest. It must be remembered in this case that the word action is employed in a very wide sense, meaning any power that resides in an object of affecting us; i. e. any phenomenon distinct from the existence to which it belongs. When I say "John is a man," the real meaning of the assertion is :-that John presents phenomena, to which we attach the idea "human." Thus the phrase "is a man" really denotes a phenomenon; i. e. it denotes action in the sense in which all attributes denote it.

I. THE PREDICATIVE RELATION.

& L.

The subject expresses a given existence, the predicate expresses a given action. So long as these stand unrelated to each other, we have simply two isolated notions. Unite them so that the given action is referred to the given existence as its subject, and we have a complete thought :

The predicative relation between two notions is indicated as follows:

i. By the subject being in a given case, called the nominative.

REMARK.

In many languages, as the Latin, Greek, etc., the nominative case of nouns is distinguished by a peculiar form or inflexion. In English this only occurs in the pronouns, where the words I, thou, we, etc., as distinguished from me, thee, us, always mark the subject of an assertion. In other instances the nominative is determined by its position in the sentence.

ii. By the agreement as to number and person between the subject and the verb :-

The man instructs the boy.

Here, 1st, the nominative case is indicated by the position of the word man; and, 2ndly, the relation between the subject "man" and the action "instructs," is marked by the final s, which indicates the singular number and the third person. Unless such an agreement existed, the thought, implied in the assertion, would be incongruous and absurd.

The two fundamental rules of the predicative relation therefore, are as follows:

First Rule.-THE SUBJECT OF THE VERB MUST STAND IN THE NOMINATIVE CASE.

Second Rule.-THE VERB MUST AGREE WITH ITS NOMINATIVE IN NUMBER AND PERson.

$ LII.

As the above rules are based upon the natural congruity of the two notions implied in every assertion, so will all their minor modifications arise from certain peculiarities in the thought to be expressed. For example:

i. Two singular nouns will have a verb plural, if so combined as to form a plural idea; but not otherwise :-as

John and Thomas are running. John or Thomas is running.

ii. A singular noun, if it convey a plural idea, will have a plural verb, and not otherwise :

The whole nation is prosperous. The people are divided.

iii. Adjectives, infinitive moods, phrases, etc., may form the subject of a sentence, when they are used in the sense of a notion implying existence. In all such cases, they are treated exactly like a noun in the nominative case.

EXERCISES.

55. Point out all the predicative relations (16 in number) which are found in the following passages:—

The tastes of men may differ very considerably as to their object, and yet none of them be wrong. One man relishes poetry most, another takes pleasure in nothing but history. One prefers comedy, another tragedy. One admires the simple, another the ornamental style. The young are amused with gay and sprightly compositions; the elderly are more entertained with those of a graver cast. Some nations delight in bold pictures of manners, and strong representations of passions; others incline to more correct and regular elegance both in description and sentiment. Though all differ, yet all pitch upon some one beauty which peculiarly suits their turn of mind; and therefore no one has a title to condemn the rest.

56. Point out all the predicative relations (14 in number) which are found in the following passage.

It must be so-Plato, thou reasonest well;

Else whence this pleasing hope, this fond desire,
This longing after immortality?

Or whence this secret dread, and inward horror,
Of falling into nought? Why shrinks the soul
Back on herself, and startles at destruction?
'Tis the Divinity that stirs within us:

'Tis heaven itself that points out an hereafter
And intimates Eternity to man.

II. THE OBJECTIVE RELATION.

& LIII.

In this relation we have the same elements as in the one just explained. A given action is expressed as before, by a verb; but instead of considering the source from which the action springs, we now consider the point to which it tends. In other words, we connect the action with its object, instead of its subject.

The direction or course of an action may refer either, 1st., to the object itself, which the action immediately affects; or, 2ndly., to the circumstances of