_The order of parsing a_ CONJUNCTION, is--a conjunction, and
why?--copulative or disjunctive, and why?--what does it connect?
"Wisdom _and_ virtue _form_ the good man's character." _And_ is a
conjunction, a word that is chiefly used to connect sentences; but in
this example it connects only words--copulative, it serves to connect
and continue the sentence by joining on a member which expresses an
addition--it connects the words "wisdom and virtue."
_Wisdom_ is a noun, the name of a thing--(You may parse it in
full.)--_Wisdom_ is one of the nominatives to the verb "form."
_Virtue_ is a noun, the name, &c.--(Parse it in full:)--and in the nom.
case to the verb "form," and connected to the noun "wisdom" by and,
according to RULE 33. _Conjunctions connect nouns and pronouns in the
same case_.
_Form_ is a verb, a word which signifies to do, &c.--of the third
person, _plural_, because its two nominatives, "wisdom and virtue," are
connected by a copulative conjunction, agreeably to RULE 8. _Two or more
nouns in the singular number, joined by_ copulative _conjunctions, must
have verbs, nouns, and pronouns agreeing with them in the_ plural.
"Wisdom _or_ folly _governs_ us." _Or_ is a conjunction, a word that is
chiefly used to connect sentences: it sometimes connects
words--disjunctive, it serves not only to connect and continue the
sentence, but also to join on a member which expresses opposition of
meaning--it connects the nouns "wisdom and folly."
_Governs_ is a verb, a word that signifies, &e.--of the third person,
singular number, agreeing with "wisdom or folly," according to
RULE 9. _Two or more nouns singular, joined by_ disjunctive
_conjunctions, must have verbs, nouns, and pronouns agreeing with them
in the_ singular:
If you reflect, for a few moments, on the meaning of me last two Rules
presented, you will see, at once, their propriety and importance. For
example; in the sentence, "Orlando _and_ Thomas, _who study their
lessons, make_ rapid progress," you notice that the two singular nouns,
_Orlando_ and _Thomas_, are connected by the copulative conjunction
_and_, therefore the verb _make_, which agrees with them, is plural,
because it expresses the action of _both_ its nominatives or actors. And
you observe, too, that the pronouns _who_ and _their_, and the noun
_lessons_, are _plural_, agreeing with the nouns _Orlando_ and _Thomas_,
according to RULE 8. The verb _study_ is plural, agreeing with _who_,
according to RULE 4.
But let us connect these two nouns by a disjunctive conjunction, and see
how the sentence will read: "Orlando _or_ Thomas, _who studies his
lesson, makes_ rapid progress." Now, you perceive, that a different
construction takes place, for the latter expression does not imply, that
Orlando and Thomas, _both_ study and make rapid progress; but it
asserts, that either the one _or_ the other studies, and makes rapid
progress. Hence the verb _makes_ is singular, because it expresses the
action of the one _or_ the other of its nominatives. And you observe,
too, that the pronouns _who_ and _his_, and the noun _lesson_, are
likewise in the singular, agreeing with Orlando _or_ Thomas, agreeably
to RULE 9. _Studies_ is also singular, agreeing with _who_, according to
RULE 4.