In some instances an active verb, which we are in the habit of connecting with nouns by means of prepositions, is used to form a transitive verb, by being compounded with a preposition governing the accusative, and evidently derives its transitive power from the preposition. Such a verb, like others which govern the same case, may be used in the passive voice. In Latin we have such words as initur, " it is entered on." In English the same thing takes, place, though the two words continue separate. The phrase thus formed is treated like a compound word, and made to pass through variations similar to those to which entire words are subjected. Such are the phrases " to laugh at," and " to trifle with :" the preposition and the verb coalesce to form a sort of compound verb, which is used passively in the phrases " to be laughed at," and " to be trifled with." This species of coalescence of words into phrases, subjected to a peculiar inflection, even takes place in instances in which an active verb go. verns a noun in the accusative, and then leads to an other by means of a preposition : as in the phrase " to make a fool of ;" for we do not say in the passive " a fool was made of him," but " he was made a fool of." We have many analogous examples ; as, " to be made game of," " to be evil spoken of," " to be taken notice of," " to be taken care of." Some even say, " to be paid at tention to." This last expression is inelegant, because it spews an unsuccessful grasping at a variety of accom modation.
On the diversity of regimen of verbs, see our account of the cases of the noun. The subjects are inseparably connected, and under that head such observations as ap peared necessary have been delivered.
r little remark is required on the meaning attached to the Persons and Numbers of the verb. But the nature of their connection with this part of speech may be illustrated by their etymology.
In those languages in which verbs receive separate ter minations for distinguishing the first, second, and the third persons, such terminations are pronouns, and are equally complete as if they were separate words. The termina tions o in amo was probably derived from ego, the s in amas co, the t in amat from a:Ros, the amiss in antamus from Vcer5. These terminations show traces of being the same pi oaouns slizhtly modified. Some philologists who fin• themselves at one time dazzled by Mr Tooke's plau sible etymologies, are at another startled on finding instances to which his principles cannot be applied, and on this ground rashly become disposed to condemn the whole as fanciful. A person under these impressions might per haps stop us short in the inflections of amo, with asking the etymology of the terminations -atis and -ant in the second and third person plural. Otis affords no vestige of the Greek iii.t.r/c, npr -ant of ao7or. It would be too bold to maintain that they are derived from words so dissimilar to themselves, unless we were able historically to point out the intermediate steps of their transmutation. But
difficulties of etymology do not in the least invalidate the general position, that such terminations are real pronouns. ?tis and ant have exactly the same meaning with f;f.t.tic and ao7or. Whether they were derived from words sub sequently forgotten, or were applied in the first instance as terminations, they are to be considered as complete signs, equally significant with separate words, and differ ing from the latter only in being placed not before but after the radical letters of the particular verb, and 'written in closer connection with them. The resemblance of some of the terminations to the separate pronouns is in fact happily adapted to corroborate the identity of their signi fication; but though no such resemblance existed, just reflection would lead to the same conclusion.
In speaking of the personal pronouns, we observed that they have all the characters of nouns, and that their whole peculiarity consists in their frequent use, which has occa sioned a convenient brevity in their form. It is to the same cause that they owe the further distinction of being attach ed to many important words in the shape of terminations. In Greek and Latin we find them attached to the verb. In the Hebrew and Arabic they are attached in the same manner to nouns. Ism, the Arabic word for " a name," receives the terminations -i, -ek, and -ou for signifying " my name," " thy name," and " his naine." The inflections of the English verb possess a character somewhat different from those used in the Latin language. They do not supply the place of nominatives, but are used along with them. We say " I love," " thou lovest," " he loveth" or " loves." We never say " love" for " I love," lovest" for " thou lovest," nor " loveth" and " loves" for " he loveth" and " he loves." The terminations in Eng lish therefore are not complete pronouns, as in Latin ; they are only accompanying signs, denoting that a particular sort of word is the nominative to the verb. They might be represented as redundancies, but they arc not destitute of meaning and utility. Though not absolutely necessary to guard us against mistake, they contribute to precision. They enable us to expatiate on a variety of circumstances in connection with the object exhibited in the nominative case, before we introduce the verb ; and then the form of the verb shows its connection with the person mentioned in the nominative. But as the terminations in English are not so essential as in Latin, they are fewer and less varied. The first person singular, and all the three persons plural, consist of the simple verb with the pronoun prefixed. " I love, we love, ye love, they love." For this, among other reasons, our language admits of less inversion in the order of the words.
The same observations apply to the Numbers as to the persons of the verb. The use of them in the imperative mood is conducted in the same manner as in the indicative. In the passive voice they follow similar analogies as in the active.