PARTICIPLE 



4518 



PARTNERSHIP 



I prefer riding swiftly to going so 

 the participle riding is the object of 

 prefer, and by virtue of its verbal character 

 is modified by the adverb swiftly. Similarly. 

 going, the noun object of the preposition to, 

 is modified by the adverb slowly. 



Many grammarians call the participle, in cer- 

 tain of its noun u>es. a gerund, and the names 

 verbal noun, verb-noun, noun-verbal and infini- 

 ,1, tin used the latter name 

 bring given because the thought expressed by 

 the participle may be expressed in the same 

 fashion by the infinitive; as, To do nothing is 

 to do ill. This, however, is a much more com- 

 plicated treatment, and those who favor the 

 simplifying of English grammar prefer to con- 

 Mclrr the verbal noun and the gerund as noun 

 uses of the simple participle. 



It is necessary to distinguish between the 

 present participle and the abstract noun end- 

 ing in ing. For instance, in the sentence, "Liv- 

 ing well does not mean simply the eating 

 of three square meals a day," living is a true 

 participle, but eating is an abstract noun which 

 could not take any of the modifiers of a verb. 

 Whenever a word ending in ing is preceded 

 by an article or a qualifying adjective it is an 

 ract noun. By changing the sentence to 

 read, "Living well does not mean simply eat- 

 ing three square meals a day," we make eat- 

 ing a participle, object of a verb and com- 

 pleted by an object of its own. 



Used Independently. The participle has the 

 same independent uses, as the infinitive. It 

 may belong to the sentence as a whole, without 

 modifying any individual word; as, Granting, 

 all that, the mistake still seems inexcusable; 

 speaking of adventures, I once had an interest- 

 ing experience; that being the case, you may 

 proceed with the examination. It may also 

 be used independently in exclamations: Com- 

 ing to-day! Reading Homer! 



Parsing the Participle. To parse the parti- 

 ciple it is necr-siry to tell its f6rm, whether 

 present, past or perfect, active or passive; to 

 explain how it is used, and to name its modi- 

 fiers, if any. 



Type Sentence: Tellhit/ an <iniunhi<i Ntnri/ in a 

 time-honored method of beginning an address, and 

 one that is practiced by nearly all speakers ex- 

 perienced in the handling of audiences. 



Telling is the present active participle, used as 

 a noun, and with its object story serving as the 

 subject of the sentence. Beginning is the present 

 activo participle, used as a noun, object of the 

 preposition of. and having as it,s own objeet the 

 word address. Exi>< >'i><-<<\ is the past p.-issive 

 participle, used as an adjective to modify speak- 



i nd itself modified by an adverbial phrase. 

 (Note: Amusing and time-honored are pure ad- 

 jectives examples of the "fossil participle." 

 rractict-d is not a participle here, but part of 

 the verb is practiced. Handling is an abstract 

 noun.) L.M.B. 



PARTINGTON, MRS. See SHILLABER, BEN- 

 JAMIN PKNH u.i,<>\\ . 



PARTNERSHIP, an association of two or 

 more persons whose object is to carry on busi- 

 ness or trade for gain, but obliged to share 

 losses, as well. The relation must be volun- 

 tary and may be formed by written contract, 

 verbal agreement, or by evidences and acts 

 which tend to prove the existence of a part- 

 nership. If the object of the business is con- 

 trary to public policy, or illegal, the contract 

 is not binding. The rules and laws govern- 

 ing partnership vary under different state and 

 provincial laws, and are the subject of con- 

 flicting decisions in the courts. All the general 

 rules applying to contracts govern contracts 

 of partnership. See CONTRACT. 



After the partnership is formed, the asso- 

 ciation is generally called a firm, and business 

 is transacted under a firm name. The firm 

 becomes a sort of legal individual, having its 

 own creditors, debtors, capital and property. 

 and being responsible to the partners for their 

 shares of the capital which has been contrib- 

 uted by them for the conduct of the business. 

 The firm as such cannot sue or be sued, but all 

 suits must be in the name of the partners 

 individually. 



Kinds of Partnership. A general partn< rxlti/> 

 is an association for the transaction of gen- 

 eral business, or trade. When an association 

 is formed for the prosecution of a single enter- 

 prise it is known as a particular partnership. 

 Limited partnerships are also formed in which 

 there is one general partner liable for the debts 

 of the firm, associated with one or more special 

 partners responsible only to the extent of their 

 contributions to the capital. Some states 

 authorize limited partnership associations, in 

 which the members are all special partners; 

 these associations differ from corporations and 

 joint stock companies chiefly in that their capi- 

 tal stock is not divided into a large number of 

 transferable shares (see CORPORATION). 



Partners, Their Rights and Duties. Exten- 

 sive powers are extended to the members of a 

 firm, and heavy responsibilities rest upon them. 

 One partner has a right to hold all otln i 

 to their agreement, and to have access to all 

 records of the firm's business. Each member 

 of the partnership is responsible for the acts 



