Expunge the superfluous Articles in the following EXERCISES. 1. Abstract Nouns. The hope is the chief blessing of man. The reputation is a meteor which blazes awhile and disappears for ever. I will not destroy the city for the fifty's sake. In age we have the knowledge and the prudence, without spirit to exert, or motives to prompt them. The poetry, the painting, and the sculpture are sister arts. The palace stood in an island, cultivated only for the pleasure. The charity covers a multitude of sins. The mirth was frighted away. The cheerfulness keeps up a kind of day-light in the mind. The vanity has contributed to this impropriety of style. 2. Nouns used in an unlimited sense. The life is short. The art is long. The gold is corrupting. The iron is a useful mineral. In the youth it is common to measure right and wrong by the opinion of the world. The life cannot keep at a stand. He is an honour to the name of a christian. His manners entitle him to the appellation of a gentleman. The men are born to die. Partitives. We had the tea and the coffee for breakfast, with a plentiful supply of the toast and the buttered rolls. RULE VII. Proper names do not require the article; except 1. The inhabitants of countries; as, The Russians; and the individuals; as, A Russian. 2. When a particular family is alluded to; as, A Stuart; or the family of the Stuarts. 3. Or by way of eminence; as, a Brutus, meaning a patriot. 4. When a common noun is understood; as, The (river) Thames. When titles, merely as such, are mentioned, the article is omitted; as, He is styled marquis. EXERCISES. He was raised to the title of a duke. A duke's wife is styled a duchess. He was consecrated a bishop. Immediately after his father's demise, he was proclaimed a king. On the death of his uncle, he was crowned an emperor. He is chosen a Speaker of the House of Commons. For his eminent ser vices he was created a marquis. To his duty as a dean he was attentive and exemplary. His father has received the title of an earl An earl's wife is styled a countess. RULE VIII. If the article is omitted before the latter of two substantives, when comparison is denoted, they both refer to the same subject; as, He is a better soldier than scholar; that is, He is more warlike than learned. If we say, He is a better soldier than a scholar, we mean, better than a scholar is; or, He would make a better soldier, than a mere scholar would. EXERCISES. Hector will do better for a soldier, than a sailor. My youngest son Jack will make a better sailor than a soldier. Joshua will prove a better painter than a musician. Henry is a better reader than a writer. Hugh is an abler mathematician than a linguist. Mary is a more willing than a judicious You are a better lawyer than a He is a more skilful draftsman than servant. doctor. He is as good a Latin as a Greek scholar. RULE IX. The insertion or omission of the article will sometimes produce a different meaning, thus, "I have a little money," and "I have little money," suggest opposite results. EXERCISES. Charles, considering his opportunities, makes but a little progress in his studies. I have but an indifferent opinion of him, seeing, that even to his parents, he behaves with a little reverence. He gains but a little good, from the persons he associates with. They think but a little of the misfortunes by which we are overwhelmed. Only few seemed to notice them. few. Were any persons present? Yes, 57 SYNTAX OF ADJECTIVES. RULE I. And EVERY adjective, and every adjective pronoun, belongs to a substantive expressed or understood; as, A good man. Few, (persons und.) are happy. sometimes to a phrase, which is the substitute of a noun; as, That he should refuse, is strange. Adjective pronouns must agree in number with their substantives; as, This book, these books, that sort, those sorts, another road, other roads. The phrases, this means, that means, refer to what is singular; these means, those means, to what is plural. EXERCISES, 1. They have left town these fortnight. For this last three weeks I have been in daily |