(c) A word which connects the subject with the predicate:-COPULA or VERB, 15 In joining these three words we produce a sentence; as Affirmatively: Das Haus ist grosz. Negatively: Das Haus ist nicht grosz. RULE 40.-The subject or nominative case is generally: (A) A substantive: DER MENSCH denkt. (B) A pronoun: ER denkt. (c) An adjective: WEISZ ist nicht schwarz. (D) An infinitive: REGIEREN ist eine schwere Kunst. RULE 41.-The predicate is usually : as (A) A verb adjective; as— Der Mensch DENKT (is denkend). Die Vögel FLIEGEN (sind fliegend). (B) An adjective with the copula IST or WIRD; Der Knabe IST grosz. Er WIRD bescheiden. (c) A noun with the verbs IST or WIRD; as— Er IST ein Kaufmann. Wir WERDEN Soldaten. RULE 42.-Sentences are either simple or compound. Simple, if consisting only of a subject, a predicate, and a copula; as Das Feuer brennt. Der Mensch ist sterblich. REMARK 15.-There is only one verb or copula in the German language, viz.: sein; every other verb is a mere verb adjective, consisting of its present participle and the verb sein, thus: Der Mensch denkt, Gott lenkt, is a contraction of Der Mensch IST denkend, Gott IST lenkend. Compound, if containing several subjects or predi cates ;16 as Vater und Mutter sind todt. Er schreibt und spricht zu gleicher Zeit. RULE 43.-Compound sentences are of three kinds : (A) Sentences in which occur several subjects or predicates in the following manner : 1. Several subjects with only one predicate; as VERSTAND, GEDÄCHTNISZ, PHANTASIE, &c., sind einzelne 2. One subject and several predicates; as Die SONNE ERLEUCHTET und ERWARMET die Erde. 3. Several subjects and several predicates; as— MENSCHEN, THIERE und PFLANZEN ENTSTEHEN, WACHSEN und VERGEHEN. (B) Sentences in which there is comparison or gradation; as Der redliche Arbeiter ist MEHR WERTH ALS der reiche REMARK 16.-As regards the compound sentences, their study is one of the most difficult and most complicated theories in existence; it can only be fully understood and appreciated by advanced pupils and with the practical assistance of a master. Constant reading of good authors, comparing and imitating their various ways of expression, are the only ways of attaining, if not perfection, at least a tolerable proficiency of the logical construction of the German language. Dr. Theodore Heinsius says, in a note on this subject: "It is incomprehensible how some elementary grammars have pages filled up with rules and explanations on the different kinds of compound sentences, although the primary schools have neither the time nor the mind to study them nor to follow them up." (c) Sentences in which the predicate is joined to the subject exclusively, or under an especial condition; as Unter allen Geschöpfen der Erde ist der Mensch allein vernünftig. This sentence contains three sentences: Es gibt mehrere Geschöpfe, (unter allen Geschöpfen). And, Der Mensch ist das einzige vernünftige Geschöpf. (allein vernünftig). RULE 44.-Sentences are also: (A) Narrative: Die ersten Bewohner der Erde haben in Asien gelebt. (B) Imperative: Erst überlege, dann handle. (E) Exclamative: Möchte er sich doch bessern ! (F) Conditional: Wenn est wahr ist, so sind wir verloren. RULE 45. All sentences are either principal or accessory: the former are substantial and independent, whereas the latter are subordinate and dependent; as— Die Erde ist die Mutter aller lebenden Wesen, WEIL sie alles ernährt. The first half of this period is a principal, the second an accessory or subordinate sentence, beginning with the conjunction weil. Illustrate this rule in the following periods : Wir werden siegen, WENN wir zu sterben wissen. Wir besuchen eine Schule, DAMIT wir etwas lernen. RULE 46.-Consider as accessory or subordinate every sentence beginning with one of the relative pronouns, der, welcher, was, wo, or the conjunctions wenn, denn, weil, als, dasz, damit, &c., serving to indicate the subjective, objective, or attributive idea of time, place, motive, or condition of the principal sentence. Illustrate it in: Der Mensch, WELCHER DENKT, bildet seinen Geist. Ein Mann, DER WEISE IST, handelt auch tugendhaft. RULE 47.-If two sentences are connected in such a manner that the latter explains the meaning of the former, they are called a period." The first is the antecedent (Vordersatz), and the second the conclusion (Nachsatz). The first begins usually with the conjunctions als, da, wie, wenn, nachdem, indem, weil, &c.; and the second with so, expressed or understood. Illustrate it in: Nachdem der König die Schlacht gewonnen hatte; (so) rückte er in des Feindes Land ein. The order of these sentences need not be always the same; it can be altered in the following way without altering the meaning: REMARK 17.-Long and complicated periods produce confusion and obscurity of style, therefore they ought to be avoided as much as possible. We must also avoid introducing matter into a period which is foreign to it, as the period must contain ONLY such sentences as have a strict and immediate connection with one another. To form well sounding and elegant periods we must read attentively good books; as well sounding periods and a harmonious change of expression form the beauty of every language. CHAPTER VII. OF THE CONTRACTION AND ABBREVIATION OF RULE 48.-Contracted or abbreviated sentences are (A) In which the conjunction or the relative pronoun and the auxiliary verb is left out, as— instead of Ehre verloren, Alles verloren. Wenn die Ehre verloren ist, ist Alles verloren. (B) In apposition, as Der Vater, ein rechtschaffener Mann, instead of Der Vater, welcher ein rechtschaffener Mann war, (c) In participial construction, in which two sentences are joined into one by means of the participles or adjectives18 (observe they both must have the same object); as So redend, starb er. (Als er so geredet hatte, Weinend kam er zu mir. (Indem er weinte, . .) REMARK 18. The participial construction, however, not being of a German origin, and being merely borrowed from Latin and Greek, must be used very carefully, so as not to produce a double meaning. For instance, in the following sentence Ich sah ihn, tief gebeugt, in Fesseln liegen. we do not know, who was bending down, I or he. If it be he, we must say: Ich sah ihn, den tief Gebeugten, in Fesseln liegen. if it be I, we must say: Indem ich mich tief beugte, sah ich ihn in Fesseln liegen. |