50. What does it profit?
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HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH COMPOSITION
PART 1
ANALYSIS, TRANSFORMATION AND SYNTHESIS
CHAPTER 1
ANALYSIS OF SIMPLE SENTENCES
1. We have learnt that a Sentence is a set or group of words which makes complete sense.
We have also learnt that the first stage in the analysis of a sentence is to divide it into two
main parts - the Subject and the Predicate; as,
No. -- SUBJECT -- PREDICATE
1. Dogs -- bark.
2. The sun -- gives light.
3. The child -- is dead.
4. The boys -- made Rama captain.
5. My father -- gave me a watch.
6. The flames -- spread everywhere.
7. The flames -- spread in every direction.
8. The hour to prepare lessons -- has arrived.
The subject denotes the person or thing about which something is said.
The predicate is what is said about the person or thing denoted by toe Subject.
We see that the Subject may consist of one word or several words. "Us, in sentence 1 the
subject consists of one word, viz., the Noun dogs; in sentence 8 the Subject consists of
five words of which the most important word is the Noun hour.
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We also see that the Predicate may consist of one word or several words. Thus, in
sentence 1 the Predicate consists of one word, viz., the
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Verb bark; in sentence 5 the Predicate consists of four words of which the essential word
is the Verb gave.
Exercise 1.
In the following sentences separate the Subject and the Predicate:-
1.The cackling of geese saved Rome.
2. Stone walls do not a prison make.
3. All matter is indestructible.
4. No man can serve two masters.
5. A sick room should be well aired.
6. I shot an arrow in the air.
7. A barking sound the shepherd hears.
8. Up went the balloon.
9. The naked every day he clad,
10. Into the street the piper slept.
11. Sweet are the uses of adversity.
12. Dear, gentle, patient, noble Nell was dead.
2. When the Subject of a sentence consists of several words, there is always one word in
it which is more important than the other words. This chief word in the complete Subject
is called the Subject-word or
Simple Subject. Thus, in the sentence,
The little child, tired of play, / is sleeping,
the Noun child is the Subject-word.
The Subject-word is always a Noun, or a word or group of words that does the work of a
Noun ; as,
He /tried his best.
The rich / are not always happy.
Talking overmuch / is a sign of vanity.
To err /is human.
To find fault I is easy.
3. In the complete Subject, the Subject-word is qualified by an Adjective or Adjective-
equivalent (A word or group of words which does the work of an adverb is called an
Adverb - equivalent) called its Enlargement or attribute; as,
1. New brooms / sweep clean.
2. Barking dogs / seldom bite.
3. Hari's father / is an engineer.
4. My views / are quite different.
5. Firdousi, the poet, / wrote the Shah Namah.
6. A desire to excel / is commendable.
7. A stitch in time / saves nine.
No. -- SUBJECT (Subject word -- Attribute) -- PREDICATE
1. brooms -- New -- sweep clean.
2. dogs -- Barking -- seldom byte.
3. father -- Hari’s -- Is an engineer.
4. views -- My -- are quit different.
5. firdousi -- The poet -- wrote the Shah Namah.
6. desire -- (1) A, (2) To Excel -- is commendable.
7. stitch -- (1) A, (2) In Time -- saves nine.
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It will be noted that-
in 1, the Attribute is an Adjective;
in 2, the Attribute is a Participle (or Participial Adjective);
in 3, the Attribute is a Noun in the Possessive or Genitive Case;
in 4, the Attribute is a Possessive Adjective;
in 5, the Attribute is a Noun in Apposition;
in 6, the Attribute (to excel) is a Gerundial Infinitive;
in 7, the Attribute (in time) is a group of words doing the work of an Adjective.
Note:- A or an and the are really Attributes, but they are sometimes treated as parts of the
Subject-word.
Exercise 2.
In the following sentences pick out the complete Subject; then separate Subject-word
from its Attributes:-
1. The boy, anxious to learn, worked hard.
2. A burnt child dreads £he fire.
3. Birds of a feather flock together.
4. The attempt to scale the fort was an utter failure.
5. The days of our youth are the days of our glory.
6. Ill habits gather by unseen degrees.
7. The dog, seizing the man by the collar, dragged him out.
8. The streets of some of our cities are noted for their crookedness.
9. A house divided against itself cannot stand.
10. Deceived by his friends, he lost all hope.
11. The man carrying a hoe is a gardener.
12. One man's meal is another man's poison.
13. My days among the Dead are past.
14. With his white hair unbonneted, the stoul old sheriff comes.
4. We have seen that the Predicate may consist of one word or several words.
When the Predicate consists of one word that word is always a Verb, because we cannot
say anything without using a saying-word, i.e., a Verb. (See sentence 1 in § 1).
When the Predicate consists of several words, the essential word in the Predicate is
always a Verb. (As the Verb is the essential word in the Predicate it is sometimes called
the Predicate-word).
5. Just as the Subject-word may be qualified by an Adjective or Adjective-equivalent, the
Verb in the Predicate may be qualified by an Adverb or Adverb-equivalent(A word or
group of words which does the work of an adverb is called an Adverb - equivalent),
called, in analysis, its Extension or Adverbial Qualification ; as,
1. The flames spread everywhere.
2. He went home.
3. He rose in go.
4. The flames spread in every direction.
5. Spring advancing, the swallows appear.
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No. -- SUBJECT (Subject-word -- Attribute) -- PREDICATE (Verb --
Adverbial Qualification)
1. flames -- The -- spread -- everywhere
2. He -- -- went -- home
3. He -- -- rose -- to go
4. flames -- The -- spread -- in every direction
5. swallows -- The -- appear -- Spring advancing
It will be noted that:-
in 1, the Adverbial Qualification is an Adverb;
in 2, the Adverbial Qualification is an Adverbial Accusative;
in 3, the Adverbial Qualification is a Gerundial Infinitive;
in 4, the Adverbial Qualification is a group of words doing the work of an Adverb;
in 5, the Adverbial Qualification is an Absolute Phrase.
Exercise 3.
Point out the Adverbial Qualification in each of the following sentences and say whether
it is an Adverb, an Adverbial Accusative, a Gerundial Infinitive, a group of words doing
the work of an Adverb, or an Absolute Phrase:-
1. She spoke distinctly.
2. He spoke in a distinct voice.
3. The boy ran a mile.
4. The postman called again.
5. He has come to stay.
6. Wait a minute.
7. The book is printed in clear type.
8. I recognized your voice at once.
9. Help a lame dog over a stile.
10. The tide having turned, the ship set sail.
11. He sold his horse below its value.
12. He leaves two children behind him.
13. He gets his living by trade.
14. He made his money by trade.
15. The enemy disputed the ground inch by inch.
16. He saw a new world spread about him.
17. The village life suited him in all respects.
18. Him will I follow to the ends of the earth.
6. When the Verb in the Predicate is an Intransitive Verb, it alone can form the Predicate;
as,
1. Dogs / bark.
2. Black clouds / are gathering.
3. The boys / have been reading.
Note:- In sentence 1, the Verb consists of only one word. Often the Verb itself consists of
a group of two or more words, as in 2 and 3.
7. Sometimes the Verb in the Predicate is an Intransitive Verb of Incomplete Predication,
that is, an Intransitive Verb which requires Noun, or an Adjective, or a Pronoun, etc,
added to it to make the Predicate complete ; as,
The baby seems/happy.
If I simply say 'The baby seems' I do not make complete sense., The Intransitive Verb
seems requires some word or words to make trtf | Predicate complete.
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What is thus required to complete the Predicate is called a Complement.
The Complement of an Intransitive Verb serves to describe the Subject, and is therefore
called a Subjective Complement.
Now examine the Predicates in the following sentences:-
1. The sky grew dark.
2. Venus is a planet.
3. It is me.
4. The man seems worried.
5. Your book is there.
6. The house is to let.
7. The building is in a dilapidated condition.
No. -- SUBJECT (Subject-word -- Attribute) -- PREDICATE (Verb -- Complement)
1. sky -- The -- grew -- dark
2. Venus -- -- is -- a planet
3. It -- -- is me
4. man -- The -- seems -- worried
5. book -- Your -- is -- there
6. house -- The -- is -- to let
7. building -- The -- is -- in a dilapidated
It will be noticed that:-
in 1, the Complement is an Adjective ;
in 2, the Complement is a Noun ;
in 3, the Complement is a Pronoun ;
in 4, the Complement is a Participle ;
in 5, the Complement is an Adverb ;
in 6, the Complement is an Infinitive ;
in 7, the Complement is a group of words doing the work of an Adjective.
Note:- When the Predicate is completed by an Adjective, such an Adjective is said to be
used Predicatively or to be a Predicative Adjective.
When the Predicate is completed by a Noun, the Noun is said to be a Predicative Noun.
Exercise 4.
Pick out the Complement in each of the following sentences, and say whether it is a
Noun, an Adjective, a Pronoun, etc.:-
1. John became a soldier.
2. Roses smell sweet.
3. The child appears pleased.
4. The workman seems tired.
5. The earth is round.
6. He looks happy.
7. Sugar tastes sweet.
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8. The old woman is dead.
9. The weather was cold.
10. He became unconscious.
11. The old gentleman is of a gentle disposition.
12. The child is there.
13. The children look healthy.
14. To-day she seems sad.
15. The cup is full to the brim.
16. His grammar is shocking.
17. He is a good type of the modern athlete.
18. Ugly rumours are about.
19. Gentle Evangeline was the pride of the village.
20. This morning he seemed in good spirits.
21. Giving to the poor is lending to the Lord.
22. The matter appears of considerable importance.
23. Every man is the architect of his own fortune.
8. Sometimes the Verb in the Predicate is a Transitive Verb, that is, a Verb which
requires an Object to complete its sense.
For example, if I say 'Cats catch' I do not make complete sense. You want to know what
the cats catch. The verb catch requires an Object, such as mice to form a complete
Predicate.
Now examine the Predicates in the following sentences:-
1. Birds build nests.
2. I know him.
3. All good children pity the poor.
4. The Gurk has love fighting.
5. The foolish crow tried to sing.
6. Our soldiers tried to scale the cliff.
No. -- SUBJECT (Subject-word -- Attribute) -- PREDICATE (Verb --
Object)
1. Birds -- -- build -- nests
2. I -- -- know -- him
3. Children -- (1) All (2) good -- pity -- the poor
4. Grukhas -- The -- love -- fighting
4. crow -- (1) The (2) Foolish -- tired -- to sing
5. soldiers -- Our -- tired -- to scale the cliff.
It will be noticed that:-
in 1, the Object is a Noun ;
in 2, the Object is a Pronoun ;
in 3, the Object is an Adjective used as a Noun ;
in 4, the Object is a Gerund or Verbal Noun ;
in 5, the Object is an Infinitive ;
in 6, the Object is a group of words doing the work of a Noun.
9. The Object-word may have Attributes, just like the Subject-word; as,
He shot a big panther.
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SUBJECT -- PREDICATE (Verb -- Object -- Attribute)
He -- shot -- panther -- (1) a (2) big
Exercise 5.
In the following sentences point out the complete Object; then separate the Object-word
from its attributes (if any):-
1. The world knows nothing of its greatest men.
2. We should learn to govern ourselves.
3. Her arms across her breast she laid.
4. The architect drew a plan for the house.
5. Serpents cast their skin once a year.
6. God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb.
7. By their fruits ye shall know them.
8. Rock the baby to sleep.
9. He enjoys his master's confidence.
10. I recognized your voice at once.
11. Cut your coat according to your cloth.
12. The Eskimos make houses of snow and ice.
13. I had no answer to my letter.
14. The curfew tolls the knell of parting day.
15. Fear no more the heat of the sun.
16. Evil communications corrupt good manners.
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10. Sometimes the Verb in the Predicate is a Transitive Verb that takes mw Objects - a
Direct Object and an Indirect Object.
If I say 'Rama gave a penknife1, the noun penknife is the Object of the verb gave.
I may, however, by way of further information, say to whom Rama gave a penknife.
Rama gave me a penknife.
The word me is called the Indirect Object of the Verb gave to distinguish it from the
Object penknife, which is the Direct Object.
Now examine the Predicate in the following sentences:-
I promised him a present.
He teaches us Geometry.
Father bought Mini a doll.
SUBJECT -- PREDICATE (Verb -- Indirect Object -- Direct Object)
I -- promised -- him -- a person
He -- teaches -- us -- Geometry
Father -- bought -- Mini -- a doll
11. Some Transitive Verbs require a Complement in addition to the Object; as,
The boys made Rama captain.
Here the Noun Rama is the object of the Transitive Verb made which here requires a
word (e.g., captain) to make the sense complete.
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If I say 'The boys made a snow-ball' the sense is complete. But it would be nonsense to
say 'The boys made Rama.' The boys did not make Rama: they made Rama captain. The
verb made is here a Transitive Verb of Incomplete Predication, because in the sense in
which the verb made is here used, it cannot form a complete predicate unless it has a
Complement besides an Object.
The Complement (captain) here refers to the Object Rama. It is therefore called an
Objective Complement.
Now examine the Predicates in the following sentences:-
1. The jury found him guilty.
2. His parents named him Hari.
3. He kept us waiting.
4. Nothing will make him repent.
5. His words filled them with terror.
No. -- SUBJECT (Subject-word -- Attribute) -- PREDICATE (Verb --
Object Complement)
1. jury -- The -- found -- him -- guilty
2. parents -- His -- named -- him -- Hari
3. He -- -- kept -- us -- waiting
4. Nothing -- -- will make -- repent
5. words -- filled -- them -- with terror
Exercise 6.
In the following sentences separate the Predicate from the Subject and then point out the
different parts of the Predicate.
1. Abdul called his cousin a fool.
2. Exercise has made his muscles strong.
3. This will make you happy,
4. The Nawab appointed his own brother Vizier.
5. The Court appointed him guardian of the orphan child.
6. Time makes the worst enemies friends.
7. Sickness made the child irritable,
8. They elected him secretary of the club.
9. Do you take me for a fool?
10. We saw the storm approaching.
11. I consider the man trustworthy.
12. They kept us in suspense.
13. The jury found him guilty of murder.
14. A thunderstorm often turns milk sour.
12. Let us now review the different forms of the Predicate.
(1) When the verb is Intransitive, the Predicate may consist of the verb alone (§ 6).
(2) When the verb is an Intransitive Verb of Incomplete Predication, the Predicate may
consist of the Verb and its Complement (§ 7).
(3) When the verb is a Transitive Verb, the Predicate may consist of the Verb and its
Object (§ 8).
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(4) When the verb is a Transitive Verb having two objects, the predicate may consist of
the Verb and its two Objects:-
Indirect and Direct, (10)
(5) When the verb is a Transitive Verb of Incomplete Predication, the Predicate may
consist of the Verb, its Object and a Complement. (§ 11).
13. Carefully study the analysis of the following sentences: The table is printed on
pagel78.
1. Abdul, quite pale with fright, rushed into the room.
2. Determination to do one's duty is laudable,
3. Around the fire, one wintry night,
The farmer's rosy children sat.
4. Home they brought the warrior dead.
5. His friends elected him secretary of the club.
6. This circumstance certainly makes the matter very serious.
7. My uncle has been teaching me mathematics.
8. Jaffar, the Barmecide, the good Vizier,
The poor man's hope, the friend without a peer.
Jaffar was dead, slain by a doom unjust.
9. Who are you ?
Exercise 7.
Analyse the following sentences:-
1. A nod from a lord is breakfast for a fool.
2. A good paymaster never wants workmen.
3. Home they brought her warrior dead.
4. Sickness made the child irritable.
5. Gentle Evangeline was the pride of the village.
6. It is easy to find fault,
7. It is a miserable thing to live in suspense.
8. Wounds made by words are hard to heal.
9. Down went the Royal George.
10. Into the valley of death rode the six hundred.
11. Time makes the worst enemies friends.
12. Great is your reward in Heaven.
13. In him India lost a true patriot.
14. The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
15. It is easy to be wise after the event.
16. A man he was to all the country dear.
17. Experience has taught us many lessons. .
18. A man's first care should be to avoid the reproaches of his own heart.
19. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
20. He showed a constant solicitude for his son's welfare.
21. Caesar, having conquered his enemies, returned to Rome.
22. To drive a car requires care and skill.
23. A great fortune in the hands of a fool is a great misfortune.
24. The postman looked very tired at the end of the day.
Note:- In 6, “It” is a provisional subject; the real subject is “to find fault”. “It” should be
entered in the subject-column in brackets.
“It” is provisional subject in 7 and 15 also.
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No. -- SUBJECT (Subject-word -- Attribute) -- PREDICATE (Verb --
Object -- Complement -- Adverbial Qualification)
1. Abdul -- quite pale with fright -- rushed -- -- -- into the room
2. Determination -- to do one's duty -- is -- -- laudable --
3. children -- (1) the farmer's (2) rosy -- sat -- -- (1) Around the fire (2) one wintry night
4. they -- -- brought -- the warrior dead -- -- Home
5. friends -- His -- elected -- him -- secretary of the club --
6. circumstance -- This -- makes -- the matter -- very serious -- certainly
7. uncle -- My -- has been teaching -- (1) mathematics (Direct) (2) me (Indirect) -- --
8. Jaffar -- (1) the Barmecide (2) the good Vizier (3) the poor man's hope (4) the friend
without a peer, -- was -- -- dead -- slain by a doom unjust
9. you -- -- are -- -- Who --
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CHAPTER 2
PHRASES
1. Adjective Phrases
14. We have seen that sometimes a group of words does the work of an adjective (§ 3).
Now examine the following pairs of sentences:-
1. (a) The vizier was a wealthy man.
(b) The vizier was a man of great wealth.
2. (a) The magistrate was a kind man.
(b) The magistrate was a man with a kindly nature.
3. (a) The chief lived in a stone house.
(b)The chief lived in a house built of stone.
4. (a) I like to see a smiling face.
(b) I like to see a face with a smile on it.
5. (a) The coolies belonged to a hill tribe.
(b) The coolies belonged to a tribe dwelling in the hills.
In each of the above pairs of sentences, we have first a single word describing the person
or thing denoted by the noun, and then a group of words describing the person or thing
denoted by the same noun.
For instance, the group of words of great wealth tells us what sort of man the vizier was.
It qualifies the noun man just as an Adjective does. It therefore does the work of an
Adjective and is called an Adjective Phrase.
Def:- An Adjective Phrase is a group of words that does the work of an Adjective.
15.Study the following Adjectives and the Adjective Phrases that are equivalent to them:-
Adjectives -- Adjective Phrases
A golden crown. -- A crown made of gold.
A purple cloak. -- A cloak of purple colour.
A white elephant. -- An elephant with a white skin.
A jungle track. -- A track through the jungle.
A blue-eyed boy. -- A boy with blue eyes.
A deserted village. -- A village without any inhabitants.
A blank page. -- A page with no writing on it.
The longest day. -- The day of greatest length.
