alytical practical grammar - Toronto Public Library

190 ENGLISH GRAMMAR.
THE PARTICIPLES.
890. RULE XV I.-Participles have the construction
of nouns, adjectives, and verbs (452, ~c.)
891. The participle as a noun, in the nominative case, may be the
subject of a verb (762), or the predicate.nominative after it (798); as,
.. Sayin9 is'not doin9." In the objective case, it may be the object of a
transitive verb (80~), or preposition (819); ns, "Avoid doin9 evil."­
(, There is pleasure in doing good."
892. In a sul)stantive phrase, a noun following the present or perfect
participle (ns well as the infinitive 799) of a copulntiv.e verb (604), is in
the predicate·nominative; as, "His being ao expert dancer "-" The crime
of being a young man," &c.
893. The participle, as an adjeotive, expresses nn attribute, of a noun
or prononn, without affirmation; as, (, The sword hangs rusting on the
wall.
894. The participle, while used as a r:oun or adjective, may be modified
in all respects as the verb (630).
895. To participles used iu theile ways. the rules of syntax for nouns,
arljectives and verbs, mr.y of course be applied.
SPECIAL RULES.
896. RULE 1.-Wilen tlte present or perfect participle is uMd a& a
nOlin, a nOun b'fore it is put in tlte pos8essive caBe (841); RS, "Much
depends on the pupil's composing frequently."-" Joltn's having done so is
evidBnt."
897. But a pronoun, in this construction, must be the possessive pronoun,
and not the posse,s;ve case; as, "~Iuch depends on your compo·
~i og," .xc.; not yours.
898. In mauy ca~es, the nominati ve or the objective before the present
participle DS an adjective, will express nearly the same idea. Thus,
"Much will depend on the pupil'. composing," and" Much will depend
on the pupil composing," mean substantially the same thing. Still, the
?onstruction i~ d.iffercnt: in the first, tbe dependence is on the composing,
~u the second It IS ull tbc p"pil " and though in .these examples Ihe sense
I~ nearly ~he same, yet there arc often examples in which the Bense is
entirely different. Thus," What do you think of my horse', running today?"
implies he has run, and asks, "How do you think he ran? " But
.. What do you think of my !torse 1"llllning to·day I " implies he Itas not run,
and Dsk~, « Do you think be should run i"
899. RULE 2.- lVhen tlte pu,ent participle, used as a noun, !tas an
ARTICLE or ADJRCTn E before it, tile preposition OF follows; as, "By t/.e
observin~ oj