Rules of Construction in English Grammar, Part 25 – Part 30
Verbes imperſonals and what caſe they gouerne.
It, or there, ſignes of verbes imperſonals for the most part.A Verbe imperſonall hath no nominatiue caſe before him, and this word it or there, is commonly his ſigne: as, Decet, it becommeth. Oportet aliquem eſſe, there must be ſome bodie.
The examples applied.In the firſt of theſe examples Decet, I know the ſaid verbe to be an imperſonall, by this ſigne it before him in Engliſh, when I ſay, it becommeth, by this rule.
In the ſecond example, Oportet aliquem eſſe, I know this word oportet, to be a verbe imperſonall, bicauſe in Engliſh he hath this ſigne there before him, when I ſay there must, by this rule.
What is to be doone when neither of theſe ſignes it, or there, are before a verbe imperſonall.But if the verbe imperſonall hauehave neither of theſe ſignes, it or there, before him, then the word that ſéemeth to be in the Engliſh the nominatiue caſe, ſhall in Latin be ſuch caſe as the verbe imperſonall will hauehave after him: as Me oportet, I muſt, tibi licet, thou maiest.
The examples applied.This rule hath two examples, Me oportet, I must, is the firſt, where bicauſe this imperſonall must, oportet, hath none of theſe ſignes it or there before him in Engliſh, therefore this word I that ſéemeth to be the nominatiue caſe, is in Latin turned into the accuſatiue caſe me, by this rule, bicauſe oportet will hauehave an accuſatiue caſe after him.
In the ſecond example, Tibi licet, thou maiest, the imperſonal maiest, hath neither it nor there, before it, and therfore the word thou, which in the Engliſh ſéemeth to be the nominatiue caſe, is in the Latin put into the datiue, by this rule, bicauſe licet will hauehave a datiue caſe after him.
Intereſt, refert, and eſt.Theſe imperſonals, intereſt, it behooueth, refert, it belongeth, or appertaineth, and eſt ſet for intereſt, require a genitiue caſe of all caſuall words, that is, words declined with caſe, except Mea, tua, ſua, noſtra, veſtra, and cuia, the ablatiue caſes of the pronounes poſſeſſiues: as, Intereſt omnium rectè agere, It behooueth all men to do rightly. Tua refert teipſum noſſe, It appertaineth vntounto thee, or it is thy part to know thy ſelfe.
The examples applied.In this rule are two examples. In the firſt, Intereſt omnium rectè agere, the imperſonall intereſt hath the genitiue caſe omnium, by this rule.
In the ſecond, Tua refert teipſum noſſe. The imperſonall refert hath tua the ablatiue caſe of the pronoune poſſeſſiue tuus, by this rule.
Imperſonals with a datiue.Certaine imperſonals require a datiue caſe: as, Libet, it listeth, licet, it is lawfull, patet, it is manifest, liquet, it is euident, conſtat, it is certaine, placet, it pleaſeth, expedit, it is expedient, prodeſt, it profiteth, ſufficit, it is ſufficient, vacat, it hath leiſure, accidit, it chanceth, conuenit, it is meete, contingit, it happeneth, and ſuch other like.
Imperſonals with an accuſatiue caſe. Imperſonals with an accuſatiue caſe, and a genitiue.Some will hauehave an accuſatiue caſe onelyonly: as, Delectat, it deliteth, decet, it becommeth, juuat, it deliteth or helpeth, oportet, it behooueth.
Some beſides the accuſatiue caſe, will hauehave alſo a genitiue: as, Noſtri noſmet poenitet, We are wearie of our owne estate. Me ciuitatis taedet, I am wearie of the citie. Pudet me negligentiae, I am aſhamed of my negligence. Miſeret me tui, I take pitie on thee. Me illorum miſereſcit, I hauehave pitie on them.
The examples applied.Héere are fiue examples in this rule. In the firſt, Noſtri noſmet poenitet, the imperſonall poenitet beſide the accuſatiue caſe nos, hath the genitiue caſe noſtri, by this rule.
In the ſecond, Me ciuitatis taeder, the imperſonall taedet beſides the accuſatiue caſe me, hath alſo the genitiue caſe ciuitatis, by this rule.
In the third, Pudet me negligentiae, the imperſonall pudet beſides the accuſatiue caſe me, hath the genitiue caſe negligentiae, by the ſame rule.
In the fourth, Miſeret me tui, the imperſonall miſeret beſides the accuſatiue caſe me, hath the genitiue caſe tui, by this rule.
Me illorum miſereſcit. In this fift example the imperſonall miſereſcit, beſides the accuſatiue caſe me, hath alſo the genitiue caſe illorum, by this rule.
Imperſonals paſſiues, comming of verbes neuters.Verbes imperſonals of the paſſiue voice being formed of neuters, do gouerne ſuch caſe, as the verbs neuters which they come of: as, Parcatur ſumtui, Let cost be ſpared, where the paſſiue imperſonal parcatur, comming of the verbe neuter parco, to ſpare, hath the datiue caſe ſumtui, bicauſe the neuter parco will hauehave a datiue caſe, as when we ſay, Parcamus pecuniae, Let vsus ſpare monie.
Verbes perſonali paſſiuesA verbe imperſonall of the paſſiue voice hath like caſe as other verbs paſſiue hauehave: as, Benefit multis à principe, Many are pleaſured by the prince.
The example applied.In this example, the verbe imperſonall benefit hauing the paſſiue ſignification, hath an ablatiue caſe after him of the dooer, with a prepoſition à principe, like as other verbs perſonals paſſiues hauehave, by the firſt rule of verbs perſonals paſſiues, in their place ſet downe before.
The caſe vnderstood.Yet many times this caſe is not expreſſed, but vnderſtood: as, Maxima vi certatur, (ſubaudi vnderſtand) ab illis, They fight with most great force, where the ablatiue caſe with the prepoſition, ab illis, is vnderſtood, by this rule. And the like is to be ſaid of all other ſuch ſpéeches.
A deed ſignified to be doone of many by a verbe neuter.When a déede is ſignified to be done of many, the verbe being a verbe neuter, we may well change the verbe neuter into the imperſonall in tur: as, The example applied.In ignem poſita eſt, fletur, She was put into the fire, they wept. In this example when I ſay they weepe, there is a déede ſignified to be done by many, and bicauſe that the verbe weepe is a verbe neuter, in Latin flent, it may be turned into the imperſonall in tur fletur, by this rule.
A Participle, and his caſe.
Participles hauehave the caſes of their verbes.PArticiples gouerne ſuch caſe as the verbs that they come of: as, Fruiturus amicis, one that will vſe his friends. Conſulens tibi, one giuing counſel vntounto thee. Diligendus ab omnibus, one to be beloued of all men.
The examples applied.There be thrée examples in this rule. In the firſt example the participle fruiturus hath the ablatiue caſe amicis, bicauſe the verbe fruor of which he commeth, will hauehave an ablatiue caſe.
In the ſecond example, the participle Conſulens hath the datiue caſe tibi, bicauſe his verbe conſulo will hauehave a datiue caſe.
In the third example, the participle diligendus hath an ablatiue caſe with a prepoſition, namely ab omnibus, bicauſe his verbe diligor by the rule of paſſiues, will hauehave an ablatiue caſe with a prepoſition.
Participles 4. waies turned into nounes.Héere note that participles may fower maner waies be changed into nounes, and ſo, oftentimes gouerne not the caſe of their verbs.
The firſt way is, when the voice of a participle is conſtrued with another caſe than the verbe that it commeth of: as, Appetens vini, greedie of wine, where appetens is a noune and not a participle, bicauſe it hath a genitiue caſe, when as his verbe appeto will hauehave an accuſatiue caſe.
The ſecond, when it is compounded with a prepoſition, which the verbe it commeth of cannot be compounded withal: as, Indoctus, vnlearned, Innocens, innocent, or giltles, both which words are nounes and not participles, bicauſe their verbs doceor and noceo, cannot be compounded with the prepoſition in, as they are.
The third, when it formeth all the degrées of compariſon, as, Amans, louing, amantior, more louing, amantiſſimus, most louing.
The fourth, when it hath no reſpect or expreſſe difference of time: as, Homo laudatus, a man laudable, where laudatus, bicauſe it ſignifieth no time preſent, paſt, or to come, is a noune and not a participle. Puer amandus, a child woorthy to be loued, where amandus is a noune, bicauſe it hath no expreſſe difference of time. And all theſe are properly called nounes participials.
Participles turned into nounes require a genitiue caſe.Participles when they be changed into nounes, require a genitiue caſe: as, Fugitans litium, auoiding ſtrife. Indoctus pilae, not skilfull to play at the baull. Cupientiſſimus tui, most deſirous of thee. Lactis abundans, hauing ſtore of milke, all which fower words are knowen héereby to be nounes and not participles, bicauſe they gouerne a genitiue caſe, by this rule.Fugitans, 1. Indoctus, 2. Cupientiſſimus, 3. Abundans, 4. Exoſus, peroſus, pertaeſus, hauehave alwaies the actiue ſignification, namely when they gouerne an accuſatiue caſe. But exoſus and peroſus ſignifiyng paſſiuely require a datiue caſe.
Theſe participiall voices, Peroſus, hating deadly, exoſus, detesting or lothing, pertaeſus, wearie or lothing, hauehave alwaies the actiue ſignification, and gouerne an accuſatiue caſe: as, Exoſus ſaeuitiam, hating crueltie. Vitam pertaeſus, wearie of life.
Héere are two examples in this rule. In the firſt, Exoſus ſaeuitiam, this participiall voice exoſus hath the actiue ſignification, and doth gouerne the word ſaeuitiam in the accuſatiue caſe, by this rule.
In the ſecond example, Vitam pertaeſus, this participiall voice pertaeſus ſignifieng actiuely, doth gouerne the word vitam in the accuſatiue caſe, by this rule.Borowed of the latin.
Natus, prognatus, ſatus, ortus, cretus, creatus, editus.Héere note, that theſe participles, Natus, borne, prognatus, comming of ſome ſtocke or linage, cretus, borne, ortus, borne, editus, ſproong or begotten, ſatus, borne, creatus, created, will hauehave an ablatiue caſe.Borowed of the latin.
The Aduerbe, or what caſe Aduerbes do gouerne.
Aduerbas with a genitiue caſe.ADuerbs of quantitie, time, and place, require a genitiue caſe: as, Multum lucri, much gaine. Tunc temporis, at that time. Vbique gentium, in all places.
The examples applied.This rule hath thrée examples. In the firſt, Multum lucri, the aduerbe multum being an aduerbe betokening quantitie, hath the genitiue caſe lucri after him by this rule, but multum indéed is rather a noune than an aduerbe, as hath béene ſéene before, yet are there many other aduerbes of quantitie which do gouerne a genitiue caſe.Theſe aduerbes En and Ecce will hauehave a nominatiue caſe, and ſometime an accuſatiue. Borowed of the latin.
Tunc temporis. In this ſecond example the aduerbe of time tunc doth gouerne the genitiue caſe temporis by this rule.
In the third example, Vbique gentium, the aduerb of place vbique doth gouerne gentium in the genitiue caſe by this rule.
Aduerbes with a datiue caſe.Certaine aduerbs wil hauehave a datiue caſe, like as the nounes that they come of: as, Venit obuiam illi, He came to meete him. Canit ſimiliter huic, He ſingeth like vntounto him.
The examples applied.In this rule are two examples. The firſt is Venit obuiam illi, where the aduerbe obuiam doth gouerne the datiue caſe illi, by this rule, bicauſe the noune adiectiue obuius whereof the aduerbe obuiam commeth doth gouerne a datiue caſe.
Canit ſimiliter huic. In this ſecond example the aduerbe ſimiliter, doth gouerne the datiue caſe huic, by this rule, bicauſe the noune adiectiue ſimilis, whereof ſimiliter commeth, will hauehave a datiue caſe.
Tempori, luci, veſperi, vſed like aduerbes.Theſe datiue caſes Tempori, In time, Luci, In the day time, Veſperi, At night, are vſed aduerbially, that is, like as if they were aduerbs: as, Tempori ſurgendum, We muſt ariſe in time. Veſperi cubandum, We muſt lie downe at night. Luci laborandum, We muſt worke in the day time.
Aduerbes with an accuſatiue caſe.Certaine aduerbes will hauehave an accuſatiue caſe, like as the prepoſitions which they come of: as, Propius vrbem, Neere to the citie. Proxime caſtra, Next to the tents.
The examples applied.Héere are two examples in this rule. In the firſt whereof propius vrbem, the aduerbe propius doth gouerne the accuſatiue caſe vrbem by this rule, bicauſe the prepoſition prope, whereof propius commeth, will hauehave an accuſatiue caſe.
In the ſecond example proxime caſtra, the aduerb proximè doth gouerne the accuſatiue caſe caſtra by this rule, bicauſe the prepoſition prope wherof the aduerbe proximè commeth wil hauehave an accuſatiue caſe.
How prepoſitions are turned into aduerbes.Where note, that prepoſitions, when they be ſet without a caſe, or elſe do forme the degrées of compariſon, be changed into aduerbes.
The aduerb plus, more, may hauehave a genitiue, an accuſatiue, or an ablatiue caſe.A note borowed from the latin.
Aduerbes of the comparatiue and ſuperlatiue degree.Aduerbes of the comparatiue and ſuperlatiue degrée, will hauehave ſuch caſe as the nounes adiectiues which they come of, of the ſame degrée will hauehave.Borowed from the latin.
Of the conſtruction of coniunctions.
Coniunctions copulatiue, and diſiunctiue.COniunctions copulatiues, and diſiunctiues, with theſe fower, Quàm, then. Niſi, except, or vnles. Praeterquam, beſides. An, whether, do couple like caſes: as, Xenophon & Plato fuere aequales, Xenophon and Plato were equall.
In this example bicauſe Xenophon is the nominatiue caſe before the coniunction copulatiue &, therefore doth the ſaide coniunction cauſe Plato likewiſe to be the nominatiue caſe by this rule.
Exception. Where the word after the coniunction, by ſom other rule is not ſuffered to be the ſame caſe with the word before the coniunction.
And ſomtimes the coniunctions aforeſaid are put betwéene diuers caſes: as, Studui Romae et Athenis, I ſtudied at Rome, and at Athens. Eſt liber meus et fratris, It is my booke and my brothers. Emi fundum centum nummis et pluris, I bought the ground for a hundreth peeces of monie, and more.
The examples applied.This rule hath thrée examples. In the firſt Studui Romae et Athenis, the coniunction et is put betwéen diuers caſes, namely, Romae the genitiue, and Athenis the datiue by this rule.
In the ſecond, Eſt liber meus et fratris, the coniunction et is put betwéene liber the nominatiue caſe, and fratris the genitiue caſe, by this rule.
In the third example Emi fundum centum nummis et pluris, the coniunction et is put betwéene nummis the ablatiue caſe, and pluris the genitiue caſe by this exception.
Like moodes coupled togither.Coniunctions copulatiues and diſiunctiues moſt commonly couple like moodes and tenſes togither: as, Petrus et Ioannes precabantur et docebant, Peter and Iohn did preach and praie.
Sometimes diuerſe moodes are coupled togither. The example applied.In this example the coniunction copulatiue et doth ioine theſe two verbs precabantur and docebant, in the indicatiue moode and preterimperfect tenſe, by this rule.
Diuerſe tenſes ioyned togither.And ſometime diuers tenſes are coupled togither: as, Et habeturet referetur tibi à me gratia, I do both thanke you, and will alſo requite you.
The example applied.In this example the coniunction et doth ioine habetur, the preſent tenſe, and referetur the future tenſe togither by this rule.
The prepoſition and his caſe.
SOmetime this prepoſition In, is not expreſſed but vnderſtood, and the caſuall word neuertheles is put in the ablatiue caſe: as, Habeo te loco parentis, I hauehave, or account thee in ſteed of my father.
In this example the prepoſition in, is not expreſſed before the word loco, but vnderſtood, and yet loco be put in the ablatiue caſe by this rule.
Not only In. but any other prepoſition of the ablatiue caſe being vnderſtood, may cauſe the word whereunto it is vnderſtood, to be the ablatiue caſe.
A verbe compound with a prepoſition. Somtime beſides the verbe compound, the prepoſition alſo wherwith he is compounded, is added before his caſe.A verbe compound with a prepoſition, ſometime requireth the caſe of the prepoſition that he is compounded withall: The examples applied.as, Exeo domo, I go from home. Praetereo te inſalutatum, I paſſe by thee vnſaluted. Adeo templum, I go to church.
In the firſt example exeo domo, the verbe exeo compounded with the prepoſition ex, doth gouerne domo, in the ablatiue caſe by this rule, bicauſe the prepoſition ex, wherwith he is compounded, will hauehave an ablatiue caſe.
The prepoſition In, being engliſhed by any of theſe words, To, towards, or againſt will hauehave an accuſatiue caſe: and without theſe, an ablatiue caſe for the most part.In the ſecond example praetereo te inſalutatum, the verbe praetereo doth gouerne te in the accuſatiue caſe, being compounded with the prepoſition praeter, the which out of compoſition will hauehave an accuſatiue caſe, by this rule.
In the third example adeo templum, the verbe adeo being compounded with the prepoſition ad, doth gouerne templum, in the accuſatiue caſe, by this rule, bicauſe the prepoſition ad out of compoſition will hauehave an accuſatiue caſe.
An interiection, and his caſe.
This interiection hath alſo an accuſatiue, & a vocatiue caſe. The example applied. The …ection V… or Veb, hath alſo a datiue caſe, and ſomtime is put alone without any caſe. The interiections Eheu and Ah, hauehave alſo an accuſatiue caſe. Proh hath alſo a nominatiue caſe ſomtime. The interiection Hem, hath a nominatiue, a datiue, an accuſatiue, & a vocatiue caſe.CErtaine interiections require a nominatiue caſe: as, O feſtus dies hominis, O ioyfull day of man.
In this example the interiection ô doth gouerne dies in the nominatiue caſe by this rule.
Certaine interiections require a datiue caſe: as, Hei mihi, we is one, where mihi is the datiue caſe gouerned of the interiection hei, by this rule.
Certaine interiections hauehave an accuſatiue caſe: as, Heu ſtirpem inuiſam, Alas the hated ſtocke, where the interiection heu doth gouerne the accuſatiue caſe ſtirpem, by this rule. And this heu hath ſometimes alſo a nominatiue caſe.
Certaine interiections hauehave a vocatiue caſe: as, Probſancte Iupiter, O holie Iupiter, where Iupiter is the vocatiue caſe gouerned of prô, or proh, by this rule.
And this proh will hauehave alſo an accuſatiue caſe: as, proh deûm atque hominum fidem, O the faith of gods and men, wher proh gouerneth fidem in the accuſatiue caſe by this rule.
The reſt of the interiections for the moſt part do gouern no caſe at all.
Qu. Hauing thus gone through all the Engliſh rules of conſtruction, tell me now in a word, how the little Punies of the Grammar ſchoole, in examining and parſing their leſſons may finde out the rules to ſhew them the caſe of eueryevery part of ſpéech in the ſame?
How to find the rules for the caſe of a word.An. They muſt firſt learne perfectly what part of ſpéech eueryevery word of their leſſon is, and then conſider of what word he is gouerned, and alſo what part of ſpéech the ſame is, and ſo ſhall he eaſily turne to the rule, that ſheweth the caſe of his word.
As for example, if the word gouerning (which for the moſt part is the word that in conſtruing goeth next before the word gouerned) be a ſubſtantiue, turning to the rules of ſubſtantiues, you ſhall there finde what caſe he gouerneth: if he be an adiectiue, looke among the adiectiues: if a verbe, looke among the rules for verbes, and ſo of all other parts of ſpéech accordingly.
Generall rules of conſtruction.Qu. Nowe to make an ende of this Treatiſe, ſet downe ſome fewe generall rules to be marked of yoong beginners, in conſtruction, as you finde them elſe where.
An. Looke what caſe the ſingular number will hauehave, ſhe ſame alſo hath the plurall: as, Memor praeteriti, Memoros praeteriti.
Looke what caſe the nominatiue caſe hath after him, the ſame may all the reſt of the caſes hauehave.
Looke what caſe the poſitiue degrée hath, the ſame hath the comparatiue, and the ſuperlatiue.
Looke what caſe the indicatiue moode hath, the ſame all the other moodes may hauehave alſo.
Looke what caſe the verbe actiue hath, the ſame may the verbe paſſiue likewiſe hauehave, except the accuſatiue caſe of the ſufferer.
To God alone be laud and praiſe,
Who muſt direct in all our waies.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Stockwood, Rules of Construction in English Grammar (1590)