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The other Conjunctions in this, and in other Exercises may be similarly parsed.

How to Parse a Verbal Noun.

A Verbal Noun is a Noun formed from a Verb by adding -ing to it, e.g. "I like walk-ing."1

A Verbal Noun resembles other Nouns in being the Subject of some Verb, or Object of some Verb or Preposition; but it differs from other Nouns in often taking an Object of its own, e.g. –

"I like eating beef."

Here "eating" is the Object of "I like," but also has for its object "beef."

Hence in a Verbal Noun you may state

1. Whether it is used as Subject or Object.2 2. (a) Of what Verb it is Subject, or (b) of what Verb or Preposition it is Object.

3. What is its Object, if it has one.

EXERCISE XIII. (SPECIMEN).

Parse the Verbal Nouns in the following Exercise:

On reaching the shore, Mr. Barlow pointed to a speck far off on the horizon, and asked Tommy what it was. After observing it attentively, Tommy replied that it must be a very small boat. "What can the boatmen be doing so far out at sea?" asked Mr. Barlow. "They must be 1 Verbal Noun Phrases may also be formed, such as, "I do not like being deceived," "He does not like having been deceived," &c. As to spelling, see Par. 267-73.

2 Verbal Nouns are generally in the Singular, so that the Number need not be stated.

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engaged in catching fish," said Tommy. "Look again," said Mr. Barlow a few minutes * afterwards; and, before replying, note whether the speck has changed." “Yes, indeed!” cried Tommy, “instead of appearing a boat,* it now seems to be a small vessel,* sailing this way." A half * an hour* afterwards, Mr. Barlow bade Tommy look* once more. "Why," said Tommy, "the vessel by coming nearer, seems to have changed into a ship, and, on looking more closely, I see that it has three masts." 'Then," replied Mr. Barlow, smiling, "I trust you will now believe, without being very much surprised, that the sun is really larger than the earth, and only appears to be smaller, because of its being-so-far-off. And when you hear people saying that 'seeing is believing,' remember for the future, that, though you may see rightly, your reasoning may be wrong. You said you saw nothing but a speck at first, and there you were right; but you were wrong in inferring that the speck was a boat."

I" Appearing

"does not take an Object after it; for you cannot

ask "appears whom?" See Par. 147.

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For the same reason, believing" is not the Noun-Object after "is" for "is" cannot be followed by "him." We say, "it is he," not "is him."

EXERCISE XIV.

Parse the italicized Verbal Nouns in

The Sun and the Wind were one day disputing which was the stronger. On seeing a traveller approaching, "Cease your bawling," said the Sun to the Wind, "and let us decide the question by doing and not by talking. Whoever can succeed in taking away that traveller's cloak shall be confessed to be the conqueror: what do you say to deciding thus ?" "I agree," cried the Wind: "but would you mind my trying first?" "Not a bit," said the other; and straightway the Wind set to work First he tried blowing quietly, then more furiously; and at last he blew so loud that you could not have heard yourself speak for his howling; but all his blustering was in vain. So far from giving up his cloak, the traveller only drew it closer round him. Now it was the Sun's turn to try. He began by driving away the clouds that the Wind had gathered; then he warmed the air with his bright face till the traveller was forced to loosen his cloak because of the heat. On seeing this, the Sun redoubled his efforts, till at ast, fainting with the heat, the weary traveller flung himself on a bank to rest, after stripping himself of cloak and coat as well.

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CHAPTER IV.

USES, FORMS, AND INFLECTIONS

OF THE VERBS.

Transitive and Intransitive Verbs.

WHEN you hear a person say "I struck

you are led to ask "struck whom?" for the action passes across, as it were, from the Verb to the Object of the Verb. In "I walk," the action is confined to the walker, and you are not led to ask "walk whom or what?"

Hence "strike" is called a Transitive Verb (trans, across; itive, passing): "walk" is called an Intransitive Verb.

The following Definitions are usually given :I. Transitive Verbs are those that denote an action not confined to the agent, but affecting something else.

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II. Intransitive Verbs are those that denote (1) being" or (2) "becoming," or (3) some action confined to the agent, and not affecting anything else.

Most Transitive Verbs can take a Noun-Object or Pronoun-Object after them, e.g. "I love, hate,

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strike Thomas, them :" and, as a rough test, it may be said that if a Verb cannot take “them” after it, it is not a Transitive Verb.

But a few Transitive Verbs take a Noun-Phrase or a Noun-Clause as Object, and rarely or never a Noun or Pronoun, e.g. “I think, hope, that he will come." Here" that he will come is the Object of the Transitive Verbs think or hope.

These Verbs are very seldom followed by a Noun-Object,

Caution. Some Verbs seem to be (but are not) used Transitively. The apparent Object is really kind of Adverb; it might be made the Object of an inserted Preposition, but it is not the Object of the Verb. See Par. 131.

(1) "He ran (for) a mile."

(2) "She waited (for) an hour."

(3) "We slept (during) the whole morning."

The Verbs is, seem, appear, remain, become, &c., are Intransitive Verbs (see Par. 147).

Active and Passive Forms.1

When the Object of a Transitive Verb, e.g. "John wounds Thomas," is made the Subject, e.g." Thomas

1 These forms are usually called Voices, but the Latin term (Madvig) seems to have been" forma or "genus."