English Grammar; Adapted to the Different Classes of Learners: With an Appendix Containing Rules and Observations for Assisting the More Advanced Stud
Lindley Murray
Paperback
(TheClassics.us, Sept. 12, 2013)
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1809 edition. Excerpt: ...cases which suppose the existence of a plurality of subjects of the same kind. In the expressions, " A subject of the emperor's;" " A sentiment of my brother's;" more than one subject, and one sentiment, are supposed to belong to the possessor. But when this plurality is neither intimated, nor necessarily supposed, the double genitive, except as "before mentioned, should not be used: as, " This house of the governor is very commodious;" " The crown of the king was stolen;"' " That privilege of the scholar was never abused." (See page 56.) But after all that can be said for this double genitive, as it is termed, some grammarians think that it would be better to avoid the use of it altogether, and to give the sentiment another form of expression. 7. When an entire clause of a sentence, beginning with a participle of the present tense, is used as one name, or to express one idea or circumstance, the noun on which it depends may be put in the genitive case; thus, instead of saying, " What is the reason of this person dismissing his servant so hastily?" that is, " What is the reason of this person in dismissing his servant so hastily?" we may say, and perhaps ought to say, " What is the reason of this person's dismissing of his servant so hastily?" Just as we say, " What is the reason of this person's hasty dismission of his servant?" So also, we say, " I remember it being reckoned a great exploit;" or more properly, " I remember its being reckoned," &c. The following sentence is correct and proper: " Much will depend on the pupil'a composing, but more on /iis reading frequently." It would not be accurate to say, " Much will depend on the puful composing" Sec. We also properly say; " This will be the effect of the pnpil'a composing...