Rules of Construction in English Grammar, Part 1

Rules of Construction in English Grammar · Part 1

p. 6The firſt Concord.

The first concord.Qu. THeſe things in your Accidence are ſet downe as neceſſarie points generally to be knowen before you come vntounto the concords, the which being after this plaine and eaſie maner run ouer, tell me now which is the firſt concord.

Betweene the nominatiue caſe and the verbe. They agree.An. The firſt concord is betwéene the verbe perſonall and his nominatiue caſe.

Qu. In how many things doth a verbe perſonall and his nominatiue caſe agrée?

In number, and perſon.An. They agrée in theſe two things, that is, in number and perſon.

Qu. In this maner of ſpeaking, what meane you by this word Agrée.

What is meant by this word Agree in the rules of the three concords.An. Where my rule ſaith that A verbe perſonall agréeth with his nominatiue caſe in number and perſon, the meaning is, that looke what number and perſon the nominatiue caſe is, of the ſame number and perſon muſt the verbe be: as if the nominatiue caſe be the ſingular number and firſt perſon, the verbe muſt likewiſe be the ſingular number and firſt perſon. p. 7If the nominatiue caſe be the ſingular number, and ſecond perſon, the verbe muſt be the ſingular number and ſecond perſon. If the nominatiue caſe be the ſingular number and third perſon, the verbe muſt be the ſingular number and third perſon, and ſo foorth of the perſons of the plurall number.

Qu. Make this plaine by ſome few examples.

Examples of agreement.An. When I ſay in Latin, Ego amo, I louelove, the verbe amo is the ſingular number and firſt perſon, bicauſe the nominatiue caſe Ego is the ſingular number and firſt perſon. Tu amas, thou louest, the verbe amas is the ſingular number and ſecond perſon, bicauſe the nominatiue caſe Tu is the ſingular number and ſecond perſon. Ille amat, he loueth, the verbe amat is the ſingular number and third perſon, bicauſe the nominatiue caſe Ille is the ſingular number, and third perſon.

Qu. May I not then ſay in Latin, Ego amas, or Tu amatis &c.

Examples of diſagreement.An. You may not: bicauſe in the firſt example, though amas the verbe be the ſingular number like as the nominatiue caſe Ego, is, yet is it not the firſt perſon, but the ſecond, and therefore is there no true agréement, for that the verbe muſt be the ſingular number and firſt perſon, like as the nominatiue caſe Ego, is. And in the ſecond example Tu amatis, albeit the verbe amatis be the ſecond perſon, as his nominatiue caſe Tu, is, yet is not the verbe the ſingular number, as the nominatiue caſe Tu, is, and therefore there is no agréement.

Qu. Now rehearſe the rule for your firſt concord.

The rule of the first concord.An. A verbe perſonall agréeth with his nominatiue caſe in number and perſon, as Praeceptor legit, vos verò negligitis, The master readeth, and ye regard not.

Qu. How fit you this example to expreſſe the meaning of this rule?

The fitting of the example of the rule of the firſt concord, to ſhew the meaning of the ſame.An. In this example there are two verbs, and two nominatiue caſes. The verbs are legit, readeth, and negligitis, regard not.

The nominatiue caſe vntounto the verbe legit, is praeceptor, master, and the nominatiue caſe vntounto the verbe negligitis, is vos.

In the firſt part of the ſentence praeceptor legit, the verbe legit, is the ſingular number, and the third perſon, bicauſe his p. 8nominatiue caſe praeceptor, is the ſingular number and third perſon, by this rule, A verbe perſonal agréeth with his nominatiue caſe, &c.

In the latter part of this ſentence, vos negligitis, the verbe negligitis is the plurall number and ſecond perſon, bicauſe his nominatiue caſe vos is the plurall number and ſecond perſon, by this ſelfeſame rule.

Obiection.Qu. But how can there be agréement betwéene the verbe and the nominatiue caſe, when as the verbe is many times put without any nominatiue caſe at all?

Anſwer.An. The nominatiue caſe in verbes of the firſt and ſecond perſon, and alſo ſomtimes in verbs of the third perſon is not expreſſely ſet downe alwaies, but yet is it notwithſtanding alwaies to be vnderſtood, and ſo the verbe hath alwaies a nominatiue caſe, either expreſſely, or elſe by vnderſtanding.

The woorthines of the three perſons, one aboue another.Qu. To what end is the rule following added, which ſaith, Héere is to be noted, that the firſt perſon is more woorthy than the ſecond, and the ſecond more woorthy than the third.

An. To make a way vntounto the exception immediately following, which teacheth, when two or mo nominatiue caſes of the ſingular number are ioined togither with a coniunction copulatiue, and are of diuers perſons, with which of them the verbe ſhall agrée, and after what maner.

Qu. In what reſpect then is the firſt perſon ſaid to be more woorthy than the ſecond, and the ſecond more woorthy than the third?

How one perſon is more woorthie than another.An. This woorthines of one perſon aboue another, is not of birth or blood, or wealth, or in any ſuch like conſideration, but rather of priuilege and prerogatiue (as I may ſo terme it) that the one hath aboue the other, in binding the verbe to agrée with him, rather than with the other, that is, in cauſing the verbe to be of the ſame perſon, the which in this reſpect is ſaid to be the more woorthy.

Qu. Make this yet ſomwhat more plainer for the helping of yoong beginners.

The making plaine of the former rule.An. Where my note ſaith, that the firſt perſon is more woorthy than the ſecond, and the ſecond more woorthy than the third, the meaning is, that when two nominatiue caſes one of the firſt perſon, and the other of the ſecond, or one of the p. 9ſecond perſon, and the other of the third, being coupled togither by a coniunction copulatiue comming betwéene them, be ſet before a verbe, that then the verbe referred to the nominatiue caſes of the firſt ſort, ſhall be of the firſt perſon, and not of the ſecond: and referred to the nominatiue caſes of the ſecond ſort, ſhall be put in the ſecond perſon, and not in the third.

Qu. You hauehave ſaid well, and yet ſhall this more plainly appéere in applying of the examples of the next exception vntounto the opening of the meaning of the ſame. But tell me firſt, whether the verbe perſonall doth alwaies agrée with his nominatiue caſe in number and perſon.

The verbe not alwais the ſame number with his nominatiue caſe The nominatiue caſe not alwaies a caſuall word.An. There are certaine exceptions from this rule, and the ſame of two ſorts, the one concerning the verbe, and the other concerning the nominatiue caſe. For the verbe is not alwaies of the ſame number that his nominatiue caſe is of: and the nominatiue caſe vntounto the verbe, is not alwaies ſome one caſuall word, that is, a word declined with caſe, but ſometimes ſome other thing.

Qu. How many are the exceptions concerning the verbe?

Three exceptions for the verb. 1 Exception.An. They are thrée. Wherof the firſt is this: Many nominatiue caſes ſingular with a coniunction copulatiue comming betwéene them, will hauehave a verbe plurall, the which verbe plurall, or of the plurall number, ſhall agrée with his nominatiue caſe of the moſt woorthy perſon: as Ego & tu ſumus in tuto, I and thou be in ſafegard. Tu & pater periclitamini, Thou and thy father are in ieopardy. Pater & praeceptor accerſunt te, Thy father and thy master do ſend for thee.

Qu. What do you learne by this exception?

Two things to be learned by this exception. The first.An. Firſt, that two or mo nominatiue caſes of the ſingular number, ioined togither by a coniunction copulatiue (as et, atque, nec neque, and cum put for et) do notwithſtanding require a verbe of the plurall number.

The ſecond.Secondly, that the ſame verbe muſt in perſon agrée with his nominatiue caſe of the moſt woorthy perſon, that is, muſt be of the ſame perſon, that his nominatiue caſe of the moſt woorthy perſon is, ſo that if among the nominatiue caſes one be of the firſt perſon, and the reſt of any other perſon, yet muſt the verbe be only of the firſt perſon: or if among the nominatiue caſes one be of the ſecond perſon, and the other of the third, then ſhall p. 10the verbe be of the ſecond perſon.

Qu. But what if the nominatiue caſes thus coupled togither, be all of the third perſon?

An. Then muſt the verbe be likewiſe of the third perſon.

Qu. Now ſhew the meaning of this exception by the examples of the ſame.

The ſhewing how the firſt example of the exception before going agreeth with the rule.An. The firſt example is, Ego & tu ſumus in tuto. Héere are two nominatiue caſes Ego and tu coupled togither by this coniunction copulatiue et, comming both of them before the verbe ſumus, and being both of them of the ſingular number, yet do they cauſe the verbe ſumus to be the plurall number, bicauſe that many nominatiue caſes ſingular being ioined togither with a coniunction copulatiue, will hauehave a verbe of the plurall number. And bicauſe the one of the nominatiue caſes namely Ego, is of the firſt perſon, therefore the verbe ſumus doth agrée with him in perſon, rather than with the other nominatiue caſe tu, being of the ſecond perſon, for that the firſt perſon is more woorthy than the ſecond, that is, cauſeth the verbe rather to be of the firſt perſon than of the ſecond, when the nominatiue caſes of the firſt and ſecond perſon are ſo coupled togither.

The applying of the ſecond example vntounto the rule.The ſecond example is, Tu et pater periclitamini. In this example two nominatiue caſes Tu and pater both of the ſingular number, coupled togither by this coniunction copulatiue et, do come before the verbe periclitamini, and therefore they cauſe him to be of the plurall number, bicauſe many nominatiue caſes ſingular coupled with a coniunction copulatiue, will hauehave a verbe of the plural number. And bicauſe the firſt nominatiue caſe tu is the ſecond perſon, therefore the verbe periclitamini rather agréeth with him in perſon, than with pater the nominatiue caſe of the third perſon, that is, is rather of the ſecond perſon than of the third, bicauſe the ſecond perſon is more woorthy than the third, that is, in ſuch kind of coupling togither of the ſecond and third perſon, cauſeth the verbe to be of the ſecond perſon, and not of the third.

The fitting of the third example vntounto the ruleThe third example is, Pater et praeceptor accerſunt te. Héere are two nominatiue caſes ſingular, pater and praeceptor, coupled togither like as the other before mentioned, by a coniunction copulatiue et, and comming before the verbe accerſunt, p. 11which therefore is the plural number, though both the nominatiue caſes be of the ſingular number, bicauſe many nominatiue caſes of the ſingular number being coupled togither with a copulatiue coniunction will hauehave a verbe of the plurall number. And bicauſe theſe nominatiue caſes pater and praeceptor are both of the third perſon, therefore is the verbe accerſunt alſo of the third perſon.

Qu. What is the ſecond exception, where the verb ſéemeth to diſagrée with his nominatiue caſe, that is, ſéemeth not to be of the ſame number with his nominatiue caſe?

The ſecond exception concerning the verbe. This rule is to be vnderſtood of ſuch verbes as are called ſubſtantiues for the moſt part, as Sum, forem, fio, exiſto, &c.An. When a verbe commeth betwéene two nominatiue caſes of diuers numbers (that is, one being of the ſingular number, and the other of the plurall, or one being of the plurall number, and the other of the ſingular) the verbe may indifferently accord with either of them, ſo that they be both of one perſon: as Amantium irae, amoris redintegratio eſt, The falling out of louers, is the renewing of louelove. Quid enim niſi vota ſuperſunt? For what remaineth ſauing only praiers? Pectora percuſſit, pectus quoque robora fiunt, She ſtroke hir breast, and hir breast turned into oke alſo.

Obiection.Qu. There is not one of theſe examples the which can fitly be applied vntounto this ſecond exception.

An. Why ſo I pray you?

Qu. Bicauſe the exception ſpeaketh of a verbe comming betweene two nominatiue caſes, and in all the examples the verbe commeth not betwéene, but after the nominatiue caſes.

Anſwer to the former obiectionAn. This maketh no matter at all: for we muſt hauehave regard how the verbe is placed in the Engliſh and conſtruing of the ſentence, and not how it is ſet in the Latin. For albeit that in the frame of words as they ly in Latin, the verbe do come laſt in theſe and ſuch like examples, yet as you may eaſily ſée by the Engliſh, the verbe in conſtruing is put betwéene the nominatiue caſes according vntounto the rule.

Qu. Go to then, declare by your examples the meaning of this exception.

The applying of the firſt example.An. Hmantium irae, amoris redintegratio eſt. In this ſentence the verbe eſt, in Engliſh, is, being in the conſtruing to be placed betwéene theſe two nominatiue caſes irae, the falling out, and redintegratio, the renewing, the which are of diuers numbers, p. 12for irae is the plurall number, and redintegratio the ſingular: the verbe eſt agréeth with the nominatiue caſe redintegratio, being of the ſingular number as redintegratio is. But you may make it agrée in the plurall number with the nominatiue caſe irae, the which is likewiſe of the plurall number, ſaying, Amantium irae, ſunt amoris redintegratio.

The applying of the ſecond example.In the ſecond example, Quid enim niſi vota ſuperſunt? The verbe ſuperſunt, remaineth, in conſtruing being to be put betwéen theſe two nominatiue caſes of diuers numbers Quid, what, and vota, praiers, Quid the ſingular number, and vota the plurall number, the verbe ſuperſunt (I ſay) is the plural number, and agréeth with the nominatiue caſe vota of the ſame number: but it may alſo agrée with the nominatiue caſe Quid of the ſingular number, if you ſay thus, Quid enim ſupereſt niſi vota?

The applying of the third example.In the third ſentence, Pectora percuſſit, pectus quoque robora fiunt. The verbe fiunt, turned, in the conſtruing comming betwéene theſe two nominatiue caſes of diuers numbers, pectus, brest, and robora, oke, pectus the ſingular number, robora the plurall number, the verbe fiunt (I ſay) agréeth with the nominatiue caſe robora of the plurall number. But it may be made to agrée with pectus the ſingular number, if you ſay thus, pectus quoque fit robora.

Qu. But in theſe and ſuch like examples, when you make the verbe to agrée with the other nominatiue caſe, is it to be counted as good Latin, as the former?

A profitable note.An. It is congrue, or true Latin. But in this behalfe you muſt marke how the beſt writers vſe to ſpeake, and follow them, which is alwaies moſt ſafeſt for you to do, and ſo ſhal you be ſure to ſpeake and write the beſt Latin. And for your better helpe in theſe and ſuch like examples belonging to this rule,As Literae ſunt vera ſtudiorum voluptas. As Omnia pontus erat. vnderſtand you thus much by the way, that when a verb is put betwéene two nominatiue caſes of diuers numbers, the verbe doth moſt commonly agrée with the former nominatiue caſe: but when the verbe is ſet before or after nominatiue caſes of diuers numbers, then doth it moſt vſually agrée with the latter, rather than with the former.

Qu. Now let vsus come vntounto the third exception, where the verbe and his nominatiue caſe are not both of one number.

p. 13The third exception concerning the verbe.An. Many times when the nominatiue caſe comming before the verbe is the ſingular number, and yet is ſuch a word as doth ſignifie a multitude, or company, or more than one perſon, in ſuch caſes the verbe is often put in the plurall number, as Pars abiere, Part of them are gone away. Suo quiſque tempore adierunt, They went vntounto him eueryevery man in his time.

Qu. How frame you theſe examples vntounto this rule of exception?

The applying of the firſt example.An. Pars abiere, Héere the verbe abiere is the plural number, bicauſe his nominatiue caſe pars is a word ſignifying a multitude in the ſingular number.

The applying of the ſecond example.Suo quiſque tempore adierunt, In this place alſo the verbe adierunt is the plurall number, bicauſe his nominatiue caſe quiſque in the ſingular number doth ſignifie more than one.

Qu. Thus much of the exceptions concerning the verbe, where he ſéemeth to diſagrée from his nominatiue caſe. Now tell me how many exceptions there are likewiſe concerning the nominatiue caſe.

Exceptions concerning the nominatiue caſe before the verb.An. It was ſaid before that the verbe muſt hauehave a nominatiue caſe comming before him for the moſt part, if it be a verbe perſonall: but bicauſe that he hath not alwaies a word declined with caſe to ſerue this turne, but hath this ſupplied by ſome other means, therefore héere alſo are certaine exceptions to be marked.

Qu. How many are there of theſe exceptions?

An. There be thrée, whereof the firſt two are ſet downe in the Accidence in theſe words.

Héere note alſo, that ſomtime the infinitiue moode of a verbe, or elſe a whole clauſe afore going, or elſe ſome member of a ſentence may be the nominatiue caſe to the verbe, as Diluculo ſurgere, ſaluberrimum eſt, To ariſe be time in the morning, is the most wholſome thing in the world. Multum ſcire, vita iucundiſſima, To know much is the most pleaſant, or ſweetest life of all.

The firſt exception.Qu. Set downe the meaning of this rule in fewer words, and ſupply the examples from elſewhere, if any be wanting in any part of the ſame.

The infinitiue moode put for the nominatiue caſe.An. Somtime the infinitiue moode before a verbe, is put in ſtead of the nominatiue caſe vntounto the ſame verbe, as Mentiri non eſt meum, It is not my guiſe or property to lie.

p. 14Qu. How ſerueth this example vntounto this rule?

The example applied vntounto the rule.An. Héere the verbe eſt, hath no caſuall word to be his nominatiue caſe, but in ſtead of it, the infinitiue moode mentiri ſupplieth the roome of the nominatiue caſe vntounto the ſaid verbe eſt.

Qu. What is the ſecond exception?

The ſecond exception. A whole ſentence put for the nominatiue caſeAn. Somtimes a whole clauſe, that is, a whole ſentence going before the verbe is the nominatiue caſe to the verbe, and ſomtime ſome péece of a ſentence is put for the nominatiue caſe vntounto the verbe. Of a whole ſentence put for the nominatiue caſe before the verbe, let this example ſerue being borrowed out of the Latin rules of conſtruction: Adde quod ingenuas didiciſſe fideliter artes: Emollit mores, nec ſinit eſſe feros. Adde vntounto the things before ſpoken, that to hauehave learned the liberall arts faithfully, or well and throughly, doth make the maners or behauiour of men to be ciuill, and ſuffereth them not to be rude or barbarous.

The example applied to the rule.In this example the whole ſentence, Adde quod ingenuas didiciſſe fideliter artes, is put in ſtead of the nominatiue caſe vntounto the verbe emollit.

Qu. What are the examples of the other part of this exception, where part of the ſentence ſupplieth the roome of the nominatiue caſe before the verbe?

Part of a ſentence put for the nominatiue caſe The firſt example applied.An. They be two, and expreſſed in theſe words in our Accidence. Diluculo ſurgere ſaluberrimum eſt, where Diluculo ſurgere, part of this ſentence, is nominatiue caſe vntounto the verbe eſt.

The other example is, Multum ſcire, vita iucundiſſima.

Qu. But how will this example frame to this rule, ſéeing there is no verbe at all in this ſentence?

The ſecond example applied.An. The verbe eſt is to be vnderſtood in this ſentence: before which verbe ſo vnderſtood, this part of the ſentence, Multum ſcire, is put for the nominatiue caſe.

Qu. Is there nothing elſe to be noted concerning this rule?

A neceſſarie note.An. Yes truly. For if but one infinitiue moode, or but part of a ſentence be put in ſtead of the nominatiue caſe vntounto the verbe, then ſhall the verbe be of the ſingular number and third perſon. But if (as many times it commeth ſo to paſſe) more than one infinitiue moode, or more than one ſentence, or péece p. 15of a ſentence, eſpecially ioined togither by a copulatiue coniunction, be put for the nominatiue caſe, then ſhall the verbe be of the plurall number, and third perſon.

Qu. Now ſet downe the third exception concerning the nominatiue caſe before the verbe.

The third exception of the nominatiue caſe before the verb borowed from the Latin rules.An. Somtime an aduerbe with his genitiue caſe is in ſtead of the nominatiue caſe vntounto the verbe, and then, if the genitiue caſe gouerned of the aduerbe be the plurall number, the verbe ſhall likewiſe be the plurall number, and third perſon, as Partim virorum ceciderunt in bello, Part of the men were ſlaine in battell. Partim ſignorum ſunt combuſta, Part of the enſignes were burned.

The examples applied. The firſt example.In the firſt of theſe examples the aduerbe partim with his genitiue caſe virorum of the plurall number, is put for the nominatiue caſe before the verbe ceciderunt, and therefore is the verbe ceciderunt the plurall number and third perſon by this rule.

The ſecond example.In the ſecond example alſo, the aduerbe partim with his genitiue caſe ſignorum of the plurall number, is put for the nominatiue caſe before the verbe ſunt, and therefore is the ſaid verbe ſunt the plurall number and third perſon by this rule.

An aduerb with his genitiue caſe ſingular.But if the genitiue caſe gouerned of the aduerbe, and togither with the aduerbe ſupplying the roome of the nominatiue caſe before the verbe, be the ſingular number, then ſhall the verbe alſo be the ſingular number, and third perſon, as Satis pecuniae eſt mihi, I hauehave mony inough. The example applied.In this example the aduerbe ſatis with his genitiue caſe pecuniae of the ſingular number, is put for the nominatiue caſe before the verbe eſt, and therefore is the ſame verbe the ſingular number and third perſon by this rule.