are those which denote that quality of bodies arising from their figure as when we say, "A circular table; a quadrangular court; a conical piece of metal," &c. The reason is, that a million of things participating the same figure, participate it equally, if they do it at all. To say, therefore, that while A and B are both quadrangular, A is more or less quadrangular than B, is absurd. The same holds true in all attributives denoting definite quantities, of whatever nature. Thus the two foot rule C cannot be more a two-foot rule, than any other of the same length. For as there can be no comparison without intension or remission, and as there can be no intension or remission in things always definite these attributives can admit of no comparison. By the same method of reasoning, we discover the cause why no substantive is susceptible of these degrees of comparison. A mountain cannot be said more to be, or to exist, than a molehill; but the more or less must be sought for in their qualities.

CHAPTER V.

OF PRONouns.

A PRONOUN is a word used instead of a noun, to avoid the too frequent repetition of the same word: as, "The man is happy; he is benevolent; he is useful.”*

There are three kinds of pronouns, viz. the PERSONAL, the RELATIVE, and the ADJECTIVE Pronouns.

SECTION I.

Of the Personal Pronouns.

THERE are five Personal Pronouns, viz. I, thou, he, she, it; with their plurals, we, ye or you, they.

The pronoun is also used to represent an adjective, a sentence, a part of a sentence, and sometimes even a series of propositions; as, "They supposed him to be innocent, which he certainly was not." "His friend bore the abuse very patiently; which served to increase his rudeness; it produced, at length, contempt and insolence."

Personal Pronouns admit of person, number, gen

der, and case.

The persons of pronouns are three in each number. viz.

I, is the first person

Thou, is the second person

He, she, or it, is the third person

We, is the first person

Ye, or you, is the second person
They, is the third person

Singular.

Plural.

THIS account of persons will be very intelligible, when we reflect, that there are three persons who may be the subject of any discourse: first, the person who speaks, may speak of himself; secondly, he may speak of the person to whom he addresses himself; thirdly, he may speak of some other person: and as the speakers, the persons spoken to, and the other persons spoken of, may be many, so each of these persons must have the plural number.

The numbers of pronouns, like those of substantives, are two, the singular and the plural: as, I, thou, he; we, ye or you, they.

Gender has respect only to the third person singular of the pronouns, he, she, it. He is masculine; she is feminine; it is neuter.

THE persons speaking and spoken to, being at the same time the subjects of the discourse, are supposed to be present; from which, and other circumstances, their sex is commonly known, and needs not to be marked by a distinction of gender in the pronouns; but the third person or thing spoken of, being absent and in many respects unknown, it is necessary that it should be marked by a distinction of gender; at least, when some particular person or thing is spoken of, that ought to be more distinctly marked: accordingly, the pronoun singular of the third person has the three genders, he, she, it.

Pronouns have three cases; the nominative, the possessive, and the objective.

The objective case of a pronoun has, in general, a form different from that of the nominative or the possessive case.

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THE propriety of admitting his, hers, ours, yours, &c. as possessive cases of the personal pronouns, has been disputed, though the nature and meaning of these words, and the concurrent practice of our first grammarians, have assigned them this rank and denomination. It has been alleged, that these supposed possessives are actually used in the nominative and objective cases; and that therefore our classification must be erroneous. The instances offered in support of this allegation, are such as the following: "My pleasures are past; hers and yours are to come:" They applauded his conduct, but condemned hers and yours." A little reflection will, however, show that these pronouns, in the examples produced, are not in the nominative and objective cases, but in the possessive case. The following appears to be the true construction of these sentences: "My pleasures are past; the pleasures of her and of you are to come;" 'They applauded his conduct, but condemned the conduct of her and of you." That this is the right construction will more clearly appear, if we substitute nouns for the pronouns: "My pleasures are past; Mary's and Ann's are to come:" "They applauded his conduct, but condemned Mary's and Ann's:" that is "Mary's and Ann's pleasures; Mary's and Ann's conduct."

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The objection too, that the phrase, "An acquaintance of yours," supposes the same word to admit of two different signs of the case, seems to be of no validity. Instances of a double genitive, as it is called, are not uncommon in our language, and they are far from implying any absurdity. We

properly say, "An acquaintance of Peter's;" "A soldier of the king's."-See Syntax, Rule x. Note 6.

The possessives under consideration, like other parts of grammar, may indeed have some properties peculiar to themselves; and may not, in their present form, be readily accommodated to every circumstance belonging to the possessive cases of nouns: but they should not, on this slight pretence, be dispossessed of the right and privilege, which, from time immemorial, they have enjoyed.

SECTION II.

Of the Relative Pronouns.

RELATIVE Pronouns are such as relate, in general, to some word or phrase going before, which is thence called the antecedent: they are, who, which, and that: as, "The man is happy who lives virtuously."*

What is a kind of compound relative, including both the antecedent and the relative, and is equivalent to that which: as, "this is what I wanted; that is to say, "the thing which I wanted."

Who is applied to persons, which to animals and inanimate things: as, "He is a friend, who is faithful in adversity;" "The bird, which sung so sweetly, is flown;" "This is the tree, which produces no fruit."

That, as a relative, is often used to prevent the too frequent repetition of who and which. It is applied to both persons and things: as, "He that acts wisely deserves praise;" "Modesty is a quality that highly adorns a woman."

Who is of both numbers, and is thus declined:

The relative pronoun, when used interrogatively, relates to a word or phrase, which is not antecedent, but subsequent, to the relative. See Note under the VI. Rule of Syntax.

Which, that, and what, are likewise of both numbers, but they do not vary their termination; except that whose is sometimes used as the possessive case of which: as, "Is there any other doctrine whose followers are punished?

"This is one of the clearest characteristics of its being a religion whose origin is divine."

BLAIR.

By the use of this license, one word is substituted for three: as, "Philosophy, whose end is to instruct us in the knowledge of nature," for, "Philosophy, the end of which is to instruct us," &c.

Who, which, and what, have sometimes the words soever and ever annexed to them: as, "whosoever or whoever, whichsoever, or whichever, whatsoever or whatever :" but they are seldom used in modern style, except whoever and whatever.

The word that is sometimes a relative, sometimes a demonstrative pronoun, and sometimes a conjunction. It is a relative when it may be turned into who or which without destroying the sense: as, "They that (who) reprove us, may be our best friends;" "From every thing that (which) you see, derive instruction." It is a demonstrative pronoun when it is followed immediately by a substantive, to which it is either joined, or refers, and which it limits or qualifies: as, “That boy is industrious;" "That belongs to me;" meaning, that book, that desk, &c. It is a conjunction, when it joins sentences together, and cannot be turned into who or which, without destroying the sense: as, "Take care that every day be well employed." "I hope he will believe that I have not acted improperly."

Who, which, and what, are called Interrogatives, when they are used in asking questions: as, "Who is he?" "Which is the book?" "What are you doing?"

as,

Whether was formerly made use of to signify interrogation: "Whether of these shall I choose?" but it is, now seldom used, the interrogative which being substituted for it. Some grammarians think that the use of it should be revived, as, like either and neither it points to the dual number; and would contribute to render our expressions concise and definite.