How am I to understand the term subject as applied to a proposition?

The subject of a proposition is expressed by the noun or pronoun in the nominative case.

But what if there be more than one noun or pronoun in the nominative case?

All the nouns or pronouns in the nominative case would be included in the subject of the proposition.

But have I not seen a verb in the infinitive mood, and also part of a sentence used as the nominative case to a verb ?

Yes; and the verb in the infinitive mood, or the part of a sentence which is used as the nominative case to the verb, would be called the subject of a proposition.

Explain the word affirmation.

Affirmation comes from the Latin word, affirmo, to establish; and the affirmation of a proposition is always made by the verb.

What have you to say concerning the part of a proposition called the object?

The word object comes from the Latin word, ob, over against, and jacio, to throw.

As part of a proposition it answers to the objective case, following a verb.

It may consist of one or more nouns, or one or more pronouns.

Give an instance of a complete proposition containing a subject and affirmation.

"Jesus wept," John xi. 35.

..

ward.

Jesus," subject or person concerned or brought for

K

"Wept," affirmation limited to the subject or the thing said concerning Jesus.

Give another instance of a complete proposition.

"I am."

"I," subject or person concerned or brought forward, understood to be the person speaking.

"Am," affirmation limited to the subject, or thing said concerning the person speaking.

Give an instance of a complete proposition containing subject, affirmation, and object.

"Noah opened the window of the ark."

"Noah," subject or person concerned.

Opened," the affirmation or thing said concerning Noah-but as the affirmation leaves the sense incomplete, it passes on to the object.

"Window," the object or the thing affirmed that Noah opened.

Good; but what about the words "of the ark" ? The words "of the ark" properly form part of the object, and are used to give further information.

Have you anything further to say concerning a sentence when considered as a proposition ?

Yes; we may observe that the subject or object may be assisted by

Adjectives expressing quality,

Marking quantity, telling the number,

Showing distinction; and

By means of the articles, limiting the signification. The adverb may also in various ways modify the adjectives of the subject or object.

The preposition is used to show how the object is related to the subject or to some other object.

The affirmation may be qualified in various ways by the

adverb.

Conjunctions serve to join

two or more subjects,

two or more affirmations,

two or more objects,

two or more assisting adjectives,

to unite separate or simple sentences, or

the clauses of a compound or complex sentence.

Now let us proceed with complex sentences; but first explain the word complex.

Complex means folded together, and comes from the Latin word, con, a prefix, signifying with, or together, and plico, to fold.

Why do you apply the word complex to sentences? A complex sentence is two or more simple sentences folded as it were into one, or conjoined together by a conjunction, expressed or understood.

Give me an instance of a complex sentence. "By Me kings reign, and princes decree justice," Prov. viii. 15.

How many simple sentences are there in the complex sentence, "By Me kings reign, and princes decree justice"?

Two simple sentences, conjoined together by the conjunction and.

Separate the complex sentence into its simple sentences or propositions.

By Me kings reign.

By Me princes decree justice.

But you have repeated the words, by me, twice.

Yes;

to show that when the conjunction was used, the repetition was avoided.

When we were speaking of conjunctions, you gave an instance of five sentences—conjoined together by the conjunctive word and-can you repeat that instance ?

Yes; the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell not. Would you call the sentence you have just repeated, a simple or complex sentence?

A complex sentence, because consisting of five simple sentences, or five propositions.

Why would you call the sentence just repeated a complex sentence ?

Because it has several verbs with nouns going before and belonging to them, to express several ideas, conjoined together by the conjunctive word and.

Must the simple sentences of a complex sentence be all of one kind?

No; they may be of different kinds.

If the simple sentences are of different kinds, how can you form a complex sentence?

By using conjunctions or other connecting words, to join nouns to nouns, verbs to verbs, or words of one kind with words of the same kind.

How are the parts of complex sentences divided ? Some complex sentences are divided into Antecedent and

Relative; some into Apposition and Opposition; some into Conditional and Principal; and others into Cause and Consequence.

Do you remember the meaning of the words Antecedent and Relative?

Yes; Antecedent means given, going, or granted before; and Relative, to carry back again.

Give me an instance of an antecedent and relative sentence.

"The man, who is the lord of the land, spake roughly to us," Gen. xl. 30.

Which is the antecedent part of that sentence? "The man spake roughly to us."

Which is the relative part of the sentence? "Who is the lord of the land."

Why did you put the relative sentence in between the antecedent?

Because it makes the sense more plain.

Can you give me another instance of an antecedent relative sentence?

"A certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick and ready to die," Luke vii. 2.

Have you anything else to observe concerning the relative sentence?

Yes; the relative sentence ought to be placed as near as possible to the antecedent noun, to prevent mistakes in the meaning.

You say some sentences are in Apposition and Op position; explain the word Apposition.

Apposition means placed along with, and comes from the Latin prefix, ap, meaning to, and position, from pono. to place.