WHAT IT DENOTES

69

Sometimes we are able to tell cause or reason by means of a phrase, as, He trembled from fright, The wind must be blowing by the sound. But the usual way is by means of the subordinate proposition; thus, Peter the Great caused his heir to be tried and sentenced to death, because he was a sot, a liar, and a fool." - Lord.

What the Causal Clause denotes. 1. It may denote the natural or physical cause of some physical effect either in nature or in man; as, "Journeys by individuals could not be undertaken without much risk, for there was scarcely a moor or a forest that had not its highwaymen.” - Draper.

This clause answers the question why? One variety of it, often called a clause of motive, denotes something that determines man's choice, something that leads him to pursue a line of action; as, "He discouraged commerce, not because it was in itself demoralizing, but because it brought the Jews too much in contact with corrupt nations."- Lord.

A clause of motive answers the question why? or what made him do it? It can be used only to modify a statement about a human being or perhaps one of the higher animals — something that can act from a motive.

2. The causal clause may denote the cause of our knowledge of a fact, the evidence from which we draw a conclusion, but not the cause of the fact itself; as, "The other bird probably grew to maturity, as it disappeared from the vicinity with its parents after some days." Burroughs. This clause, sometimes called a clause of reason, answers the question how do you know? or what makes you say so?

Notice that all these causal clauses denote something that was true or in operation before what is in the principal proposition was true or in operation. In other words, the causal clause denotes the source from which something proceeds; the outcome or result is found stated in the principal proposition.

Connectives.

The commonest connective of the causal clause is the subordinating conjunction because, but we often find for, as, or since used in its place. Sometimes that is used; as, "And we wept that one so lovely should have a life so brief." - Bryant. When for or because introduces a clause, we know that the clause is causal, but as, since, and that may introduce clauses used in other relations, so the nature of the clause in question must be determined by its meaning.

There are several phrases that may be used as conjunctions to introduce causal clauses. These are seeing that, now that, considering that, in that, inasmuch as, forasmuch as. These phrases should be considered as one word, having the function of the word because.

The connective is often dispensed with entirely when the relation of cause is very plain; thus, "One man goes four thousand miles to Italy, and does not see it, he is so short-sighted." - Curtis.

What the Causal Clause modifies. When the verb in the principal proposition denotes action, the clause modifies the verb, or it may modify some participle or infinitive denoting action; as, "Work is a thing done because it ought to be done, and with a determined end." Ruskin.

When the verb is a copula, the clause modifies the verb and its complement, as the verb has not in itself sufficient meaning to be modified. In the sentence, In the sentence, — " To John Inglesant, who had always been devotedly attached to his brother, this display of affection was delightful, cut off as he had been so long from all sympathy and friendliness," the clause modifies was delightful. In this clause the position of the subordinating conjunction as is usurped by cut off in order to give prominence to those words. The clause may be transposed, however, so that as, meaning because, comes first.

Usually the causal

Position of the Causal Clause. clause follows the principal proposition. When it comes first, being in an unusual position it becomes more prominent and therefore more impressive, and the principal proposition is also rendered more forcible by being placed at the end of the sentence; for example, “And as they still continued to multiply, there came forth the dreadful edict that every male child of the Hebrews should be destroyed as soon as born.".- Lord.

Exercise 13

Tell

Select causal clauses in the following sentences. what they denote, what they modify, and specify the connective.

1. The modern schoolmaster is expected to know a little of everything, because his pupil is required not to be entirely ignorant of anything. - Lamb.

2. If we dilate in beholding the Greek energy, the Roman pride, it is that we are already domesticating the same sentiment. Emerson.

3. Vulgarity is an eighth deadly sin, worse than all the others put together, since it perils your salvation in this world. — Lowell.

4. The top of Blomidon is not the abode of storm winds alone, for two houses stand upon it, and the laughter of children rings cheerily among the evergreen groves. Bolles.

5. But when I arose, and felt it, and knew it to be a culverin, I was somewhat reassured thereby, inasmuch as it was not likely that they would plant this engine except in the real and true entrance. Blackmore.

6. He is certainly in correspondence with people on the continent, for his letters have all sorts of odd stamps on them. Collins.

7. Because you are king of a nation, it does not follow that you are to gather for yourself all the wealth of that nation. — Ruskin.

9. The waters of Shirwa are brackish to the taste, and undrinkable; but the saltness must have a peculiar charm for game, for nowhere else in Africa did I see such splendid herds of the larger animals as here. — Drummond.

10. The fury of the water which surrounds us was marvelous, considering that there were no great waves, and no storm to make waves. - Bolles.

II. And these, now that they had no longer anything to fear from their great Italian adversary, commenced partisan warfare on each other. — Draper.

12. His black coat shines as if it had been polished; and it has been polished on the wearer's back, no doubt, for the arms and other points of maximum attrition are particularly smooth and bright. - Holmes.

13. As Cæsar found no reason for supposing that there was a life beyond the grave, he did not pretend to expect it. - Froude.

14. Its discovery by myself and dog probably opened the door for ill-luck, as one day, when I peeped in upon it, it was empty. Burroughs.

2

FINAL CLAUSES

73

CHAPTER XIV

CLAUSES OF PURPOSE AND RESULT

THE preceding chapter treated of clauses bearing the relation of cause to the principal proposition and denoting something true or operative before the thought in the principal proposition was true or operative. We have

now to consider clauses which are the reverse of causal clauses, namely, final clauses. These denote something that is true or will be true after what is stated in the principal proposition is true. In other words, they denote an end or a consequence realized or to be realized as a result or outcome of the statement in the principal proposition. According to their relation to the principal proposition, they may be classified as clauses of purpose and clauses of result.

I. The Clause of Purpose. The purpose clause denotes an intended consequence, which is to follow from the action or condition expressed in the principal proposition; as, "If natural death seemed to be coming on, they would cut wounds in their flesh, that Odin might receive them as warriors slain." - Carlyle. This sentence shows that the clause of purpose answers the question what for? and is put into a sentence to explain or justify the act in the principal proposition.

It is evident that, since a clause of purpose denotes an intended consequence of an act or condition, that act or condition must be performed or brought about by some being capable of forming an intention, hence the principal