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you or I is in the wrong-neither you nor I is in the

wrong.

2. Whenever the disjunctive is simple (i. e. unaccompanied with the word either or neither) the verb agrees with the first of the two pronouns.

I or he am in the wrong.
He or I is in the wrong.
Thou or he art in the wrong.

He or thou is in the wrong.

§ 631. The Syntax of that gives what is called the succession of tenses. Whenever it expresses intention, and, consequently, connects two verbs, the second of which denotes an act which takes place after the first, the verbs in question must be in the same tense.

I do this that I may gain by it.

I did this that I might gain by it.

In the Greek language this is expressed by a difference of mood; the subjunctive being the construction equivalent to may, the optative to might. The Latin idiom coincides with the English. A little consideration will show that this rule is absolute. For a man to be doing one action (in present time) in order that some other action may follow it (in past time) is to reverse the order of cause and effect. To do anything in A.D. 1851, that something may result from it in 1850 is a contradiction; and so it is to say I do this that I might gain by it. The reasons against the converse construction are nearly, if not equally, cogent. To have done anything at any previous time in order that a present effect may follow, is, ipso facto, to convert a past act into a present one, or, to speak in the language of the grammarian, to convert an aorist into a perfect. To say I did this that

may gain by it, is to make, by the very effect of the expression, either may equivalent to might, or did equivalent to have done.

I did this that I might gain.

I have done this that I may gain.

§ 632. No conjunction can govern a case. A word that governs a case, be it ever so like a conjunction, is no conjunction, but a preposition. Than follows adjectives and adverbs of the comparative degree. This is sharper than that. I see better to-day than yesterday.

Than, in respect to its etymology, is neither more nor less than then. It is not difficult to see the connection in sense between such sentences as, I like this better than I like that, and I like this—than (afterwards or next in order) I like that.

Than is sometimes treated as a preposition when it governs a case.

he

=

Thou art a girl as much brighter than her,

As he is a poet sublimer than me.—PRIOR.
You are a much greater loser than me.-SWIFT.

It is better, however, to treat it as a conjunction, in which case the noun which follows it depends upon the verb of the antecedent clause. 1. I like you better than I like you better than he likes you. 2. I like you better than him I like you better than I like him. § 633. But, in respect to its etymology, is be-utan be-out. It is not difficult to see the connection in sense between such sentences as all but one, and all without (or except) one.

But, then, is a Preposition and an Adverb, as well as a Conjunction. Prepositional construction.-They all ran away but me, i. e. except me. Conjunctional Construction. -They all ran away but I, i. e. but I did not run away. § 634. Conditional Conjunctions govern the Subjunc

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tive Mood.

The chief Conditional Subjunctive is if. To say if the sun shines the day will be clear is inaccurate. The proper expression is, if the sun shine, &c.

Although the word if is the type and specimen of the conditional conjunction, there are several others so closely related to it in meaning as to agree with it in requiring a subjunctive mood to follow them.

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2. Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord our God lest he fall upon us with pestilence.

3. Let him not go lest he die.

4. He shall not eat of the holy thing unless he wash his flesh with water.

5. Although my house be not so with God.

6.

-revenge back on itself recoils.

Let it. I reck not so it light well aimed.

7. Seek out his wickedness till thou find none.

And so on with before, ere, as long as.

§ 635. On the other hand, if itself is not always conditional; conditional conjunctions being of two sorts :

1. Those which express a condition as an actual fact, and one admitted as such by the speaker:

2. Those which express a condition as a possible fact, and one which the speaker either does not admit, or admits only in a qualified manner.

Since the children are so badly brought up, &c.This is an instance of the first construction. The speaker admits, as an actual fact, the bad bringing-up of the children.

If the children be so badly brought-up, &c.-This is an instance of the second. The speaker admits as a possible (perhaps, as a probable) fact the bad bringing-up of the children; but he does not adopt it as an indubitable one.

Now, if every conjunction had a fixed unvariable meaning, there would be no difficulty in determining whether a condition were absolute and beyond doubt, or possible and liable to doubt. But such is not the case.

Although may precede a proposition which is admitted as well as one which is doubted.

(a) Although the children are, &c.

(b) Although the children be, &c.

If, too, may precede propositions wherein there is no doubt whatever implied: in other words, it may be used instead of since.

Hence we must look to the meaning of the sentence in general, rather than to the particular conjunction used. It is a philological fact, that if may stand instead of since.

It is also a philological fact, that when it does so, it should be followed by the indicative mood.

As a point of practice, the following method of determining the amount of doubt expressed in a conditional proposition is useful:-Insert, immediately after the conjunction, one of the two following phrases—(1) as is the case; (2) as may or may not be the case. By ascertaining which of these two supplements expresses the meaning of the speaker, we ascertain the mood of the verb which follows.

When the first formula is the one required, there is no element of doubt, and the verb should be in the indicative mood. If (as is the case) he is gone, I must follow him.

When the second formula is the one required, there is an element of doubt, and the verb should be in the subjunctive mood. If (as may or may not be the case) he be gone, I must follow him.

§ 636. Between the relative pronouns and conjunctions in general there is this point of connection,-both join propositions. Wherever there is a relative, there is a second proposition. So there is, for the most part, wherever there is a conjunction.

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Between certain relative pronouns and those particular conjunctions that govern a subjunctive mood there is also a point of connection. Both suggest an element of uncertainty or indefinitude. This the relative pronouns do, through the logical elements common to them and to the interrogatives: these latter essentially suggesting the idea of doubt. Wherever the person, or thing, connected with an action, and expressed by a relative is indefinite, there is room for the use of a subjunctive mood. Thus"he that troubled you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be."

By considering the nature of such words as when, their origin as relatives on the one hand, and their conjunctional character on the other hand, we are prepared for finding a relative element in words like till, until, before, as long as, &c. These can all be expanded into expressions like until the time when, during the time when, &c. Hence, in an expression like seek out his wickedness till thou find (not findest) none, the principle of the construction is nearly the same as in he that troubled you, &c., or vice versâ.*

CHAPTER XXVI.

THE RECIPROCAL CONSTRUCTION.

§ 637. In all sentences containing the statement of a reciprocal or mutual action there are in reality two assertions, one that A. strikes (or loves) B.; and another that B. strikes (or loves) A. Hence, if the expressions exactly

*Notwithstanding the extent to which a relative may take the appearance of a conjunction, there is always one unequivocal method of deciding its true nature. The relative is always a part of the second proposition. A conjunction is no part of either.

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