Higher Lessons in English A work on english grammar and composition by Kellogg, Brainerd, Reed, Alonzo, 1899-

+Direction+.--_Justify the punctuation of the participle phrases in Lesson_ 37.

+Caution+.--In using a participle, be careful to leave no doubt as to what you intend it to modify.

+Direction+.--_Correct these errors in arrangement, and punctuate, giving your reasons:--_

1. A gentleman will let his house going abroad for the summer to a small family containing all the improvements. 2. The town contains fifty houses and one hundred inhabitants built of brick. 3. Suits ready made of material cut by an experienced tailor handsomely trimmed and bought at a bargain are offered cheap. 4. Seated on the topmost branch of a tall tree busily engaged in gnawing an acorn we espied a squirrel. 5. A poor child was found in the streets by a wealthy and benevolent gentleman suffering from cold and hunger.

+Direction+.--_Recast these sentences, making the reference of the participle clear, and punctuating correctly_:--

+Model+.--_Climbing to the top of the hill the Atlantic ocean was seen._ Incorrect because it appears that the ocean did the climbing.

_Climbing to the top of the hill, we saw the Atlantic ocean_.

1. Entering the next room was seen a marble statue of Apollo. 2. By giving him a few hints he was prepared to do the work well. 3. Desiring an early start the horse was saddled by five o'clock.

+Direction+.--_Compose sentences in which each of these three participles shall be used as an adjective modifier, as the principal word in a prepositional phrase, as the principal word in a phrase used as a subject or as an object complement, as a mere adjective, as a mere noun, and in an absolute phrase_:--

Buzzing, leaping, waving.

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LESSON 40.

VERBS AS NOUNS--INFINITIVES.

+Introductory Hints+.--_I came to see you_. Here the verb _see_, like the participle, lacks asserting power--_I to see_ asserts nothing. _See_, following the preposition _to_, [Footnote: For the discussion of _to_ with the infinitive, see Lesson 134.] names the act and is completed by _you_, and so does duty as a noun and as a verb. In office it is like the second kind of participles, described in Lesson 37, and from many grammarians has received the same name--some calling both _gerunds_, and others calling both _infinitives_. It differs from this participle in form, and in following only the preposition _to_. Came _to see_=came _for seeing_.

This form of the verb is frequently the principal word of a phrase used as a subject or as an object, complement; as, _To read good books_ is profitable; I like _to read good books_. Here also the form with _to_ is equivalent to the participle form _reading_. _Reading good books_ is profitable.

As this form of the verb names the action in an indefinite way, without limiting it to a subject, we call it the +Infinitive+ (Lat. _infinitus_, without limit). For definition, see Lesson 131. The infinitive, like the participle, may have what is called an _assumed subject_. The _assumed subject_ denotes that to which the action or being expressed by the participle or the infinitive belongs.