alytical practical grammar - Toronto Public Library

154 ENGLISH GRAMMAR.
dark, and found our friends sitting comfortably around the fire.
-The boat glides slUooth over the lake.- (685) Magnesia feels
smoothly.--Open the door widely.--The door is painted greenly.
(688) Hand me that there pen, for this here one is the worst
of all.-Them books were sold for a lesser price than they cost.
(69~) I, For beast aDd bird;
These to their grassy cuuch, those to thtil' Dests, repair."
" Night's shadows lJeuce, from theDce the lIlorning's shine;
That bright, this dark, til is eartilly, that divine."
(69:!') That very subject which we are now discussing is still
involved in mystery.-This vessel, of which yoa spoke yesterterday,
sailed in the evening.
(698-700) That merchant is the wcalthiest of aa his neighborB.-China
has a greater populatioll than any nation on
earth.-That ship is larger than any of it~ class.-There is
more gold in California than in any part of X orth A merica.­
The birds of Brazil are more beautiful th:lIl any in South America.-Phibdclphia
is the most regulat' of :my city in Europe.
-Israel loved Joseph more than all his children.-Solomon
was wiser than any of the ancient kings.
(701, 702) A morc worthier Illan you can not find.-The
nightingak's voicc is the most s'.Ycetcst in the groyc.-A worseI'
evil ,Yet awaits us.-Tlw rumor h:18 not spread so llniversaIIy
as we sllPposed.-Dnt,y that line Jl1ure perpendicular.-This
figur'e is a mure perfect circle than that is.-IIe is far from
being so pcrfcct a~ hc thinb he is.
THE ~\RTICLE AND ITS NOUN.
707. RULE 111.-1. The article A or AN is put before
common nouns in the singular nwnb, r when used INDEF­
INITELY (185); a>" ".:1 man"- "An apple;" that is,
"any man "-" {(IIY apple" (186, 187).
8. The article THE is put before common nouns, eithe1'
singular or plural, when used DEFINITELY (191); as,
"The sun rises "-" The city of New York."
[See Etymology of the Article 183.J:
708. A common nOUD, in tLc singular number, witilout an article or
limiting word, is usually taken in its widest sense; ao, " Nan is mOl'lal ,,_
" Anger is a short madness."