RULE VI. The Subject and the Predicate. No point, or pause-mark, is admissible between the subject or nominative and the predicate, or after any word that has a direct bearing on an expression which immediately follows. EXAMPLES. 1. Poetry has a natural alliance with the best affections of the human heart. 2. A grandee on the exchange may be a pauper in God's universe. 3. To be totally indifferent to praise or censure is a real defect in character. 4. The love which survives the tomb is one of the noblest attributes of the soul. 66 REMARKS. a. In the above examples, the words "poetry," "grandee," "to be indifferent" (equivalent to the noun indifference), and "love," are the several nominatives to the verbs "has," "may be," and " is." Such phrases as a grandee on the exchange," "to be totally indifferent to praise or censure," are sometimes called nominative phrases; and such an expression as "the love which survives the tomb,” a nominative clause. (See pp. 21, 22; V., VI.) But, logically speaking, all these are the subjects of what are severally predicated of them. b. In these examples, with a partial exception in the first, the nominatives and verbs are accompanied by certain modifying or limiting phrases, so strictly connected in sense with the former as to be grammatically inseparable from them. In other words, each of the sentences expresses an uninterrupted flow of thought, and therefore allows no marked division. c. There is, however, a class of sentences in which the subject or the predicate is accompanied with expressions, qualifying or expla natory, that are separable from the portions with which they are connected; as, "The weakest reasoners, especially on the subject of religion, are, generally speaking, the most positive."—" Health, which is God's gift, should be preserved." Expressions of this kind are sometimes termed parenthetical or intermediate, and will be particularly considered under Rule VIII. In every such case, two commas must be used, as above, to show the relation of the nominative to its verb, and that of the verb to the chief words in the predicate. d. In the rule, it is said that no pause-mark is admissible under certain circumstances, therein specified. This qualification of the principle laid down will be clearly understood, if the learner bear in mind that pauses are of two kinds: first, those which are marked, or represented to the eye, by the common grammatical points, exhibiting the constituent parts of sentences; and, second, those which are unmarked, such rhetorical pauses as are omitted in writing and printing, but required in reading aloud. Thus, in the examples under the rule, the sense and the construction alike forbid the comma to interfere in separating the nominative or subject from the verb; and yet a correct elocution demands between them a slight pause. e. From want of attending to the distinction between these two kinds of pauses, some writers would place a comma immediately before the verb, when its subject consists of a number of words, or, as it is commonly expressed, when the nominative is accompanied with an inseparable adjunct; as, "The good taste of the present age, has not allowed us to neglect the cultivation of the English language." But unless where, in any given sentence, the length of the subject would give rise to ambiguity or to difficulty in reading it, this mode of punctuation seems to be useless. Indeed the reason assigned on its behalf is a sufficient ground for its rejection; namely, that the nominative is accompanied with an inseparable adjunct. For, if the adjunct cannot be separated from the nominative, and if the nominative is intimately joined in sense with the verb which it governs, surely the relation subsisting between them should not be broken up, except in cases where it is absolutely necessary. That such adjuncts, too, are as intimately and grammatically connected with the verb as they are with the nominative, and that they cannot well stand apart, will be obvious from the example already given, which means that "the good taste of the present age has not allowed us" — and not that "the good taste has not allowed us ". -"to neglect the cultivation of the English language." Sentences of this kind are obviously very different from those in which adjuncts, or modifying words, are separable both from the nominative and from the verb, as in the examples cited in Remark c, where a comma, both before and after the intervening phrase, serves to bring together the parts related to each other. The pointing objected to is based on a theory which cannot be reduced to practice, that every expression, separated from another by the smallest cessation of the voice, should be indicated by a mark; but we again repeat, that only by the sense and the grammatical form of a passage, and not by the rhetorical mode of its delivery, must the art of punctuation be regulated, at least so far as the common points are concerned. f. To the rule here recommended, there are, however, several exceptions, required by the peculiar form in which a proposition is sometimes expressed, and by the fact that the insertion of a comma between the subject and the predicate tends occasionally to a clearer perception of an author's meaning. The exceptions are as follow: -. g 1. When a sentence is so constructed as to leave it uncertain whether a modifying word belongs to the subject or the predicate, as in the passage," The man of talent merely is strong for enterprise and execution," a comma should be introduced where it will best develop the sense. If the aim of the writer was to speak of a man of mere talent, the comma should be inserted after the adverb merely;" but, if of a man of talent who is strong only for enterprise and execution, it should be placed before the adverb. The sentence, indeed, might have been written in accordance with syntactic principles, which would have precluded the necessity of transgressing one of the chief laws in punctuation; but the province of the punctuator is not to change the construction of sentences, but to bring out their meaning in so far as his art will permit him. g 2. When the subject consists of two or more nouns not united by a conjunction, a comma is required before the predicate; as, "Immensity, sublimity, are expressed by a prolongation of the voice." -"Riches, pleasure, health, become evils to those who do not know how to use them." If, however, the nouns are joined by a conjunction, the comma between the subject and the predicate is omitted; as, "Sculpture, painting, and poetry will always have admirers.”. See pp. 33, b; 37, d. g 3. When the nominative is followed by two or more words which belong to it, and between which a comma must be inserted, a comma is required also before the verb; as, "A new feeling of what is due to the ignorant, the poor, and the depraved, has sprung up in society.". "Worlds above, around, and beneath, arch thee about as a centre." g 4. When between the extremities, either of a nominative clause or of its predicate, occurs a word or an expression requiring to be marked off by commas, a comma should also be introduced immediately before the predicate; as, "The success with which Rousseau passed, coarse and selfish as he was, for a man of deep and tender feeling, appears to have been the signal for a procession of writers to withdraw the public attention from their own transgressions.". The evil which is intermixed in human society, serves, without question, to exercise the noblest virtues of the human soul." If, however, the subject is not a clause, but a phrase, it should not be separated by a comma from the predicate, though the latter contains a word or an expression enclosed by commas; as, "A sincere and honest man may, in truth, do such work as shall make him a benefactor to his neighborhood." g 5. When the subject consists of a nominative clause, ending with a noun or pronoun, which is apt to be read so closely with the predicate as to confound the sense, a comma should precede the verb; as, "Who does nothing, knows nothing.". "That a peculiar state of the mere particles of the brain should be followed by a change of the state of the sentient mind, is truly wonderful."-"He that sees a building as a common spectator, contents himself with speaking of it in the most general terms;" a sentence which, if left unpointed, might, unless more than ordinary attention was given, be blunderingly read, "He that sees a building, as a common spectator contents himself with speaking of it," &c. g 6. When a nominative clause contains two verbs, with one of which it ends, a comma is required before the predicate; as, "He that places himself neither higher nor lower than he ought to do, exercises the truest humility." g 7. When the subject ends and the predicate begins with the same verb, or with two verbs of a like form, a comma should be placed between them; as, "Whatever is, is right."—"The defendant served, moved to set aside the summons." 98. When a subject is repeated in a different form before its verb, as sometimes ungrammatically occurs, a comma may be used, in solemn or forcible language, between the two forms; as, "The works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me." But, when these modes of expression are used in familiar kinds of writing, it is better to omit the comma; as, "My flocks they do wander." In another part of the work, it will be seen that a dash (—) is employed in sentences of this construction, when they are highly rhetorical. h. By a colloquial idiom, the subject is sometimes found both at the beginning and the end of a proposition. In such cases, a comma is inserted before the repeated subject; as, "He was a distinguished philosopher, Socrates." i. The above exceptions may appear, from their number, to overthrow the rule; but some of them, it will be seen, are in opposition to it, only because the sentences themselves are contrary to the laws of good or elegant composition. As for the others, it may be remarked, that, if a competent person take up any well-written essay or discourse in the English language, he will perceive that the principle contained in the rule is applicable to so overwhelming a number of sentences as to render the exceptions, were there ten times more than we have pointed out, quite insignificant. j. A comma should not be inserted after any of the forms of the verb to be, when used as a copula, or connecting link, between the subject and the predicate; or before a verb in the infinitive mood, when preceded by another verb; as, "The sole object of importance is the moral development of society."—"It ill becomes wise and good men to oppose and degrade one another." Some writers would insert a comma; but the punctuating of such sentences as these, where the parts are so closely related, is unnecessarily stiff, though between them a correct delivery requires a pause. ORAL EXERCISES. Explain how it is, that, according to the sixth Rule (p. 50), commas are unnecessary in the following propositions :· Nature has given all men some conceptions of immortality. Simplicity of life and manners produces tranquillity of mind. Human affairs are in continual motion and fluctuation. To calculate shrewdly is different from meditating wisely. An Epicurean world makes an Epicurean God. The earth-clod of the globe has been divinely breathed upon. The best monuments of the virtuous are their actions. |