199 



The statement of the construction of the preterite phrases, as laid 

 down by Gilchrist, Shakespear, Eastwick, and Forbes, is, in Eorbes's 

 words C^Gram.," p. 103, ed.l860) : The verb agrees with the object in 

 gender and number ; unless it be deemed requisite to render the object 

 definite by the addition of ho, in which case the verb remains in the 

 simple form of the third person singular masculine." 



This rule is exactly adapted to the appearances, but gives a false 

 account of the process by which they are produced. If you follow it in 

 writing, the principles, though erroneous, will eventuate in correct 

 results. 



That the object indicated here is the object of the preterite as an 

 Active tense, has been shown at 3, supra ; but that the question may 

 be more clearly comprehended, it is better to examine a few sentences, 

 on this supposition, and this will be doing no more than following the 

 exact words of Dr. Porbes's rule. 



In the sentence — 



(A) (^.to Si ^ us ne larhi mart, " He beat the girl," 



we are told that larh'i is the object ; if so, us is the subject of mdri. 

 Here we have an inflected nominative, and the verb,, instead of agreeing 

 with it in the masculine, agreeing with the object in the feminine. 

 lis is the singular inflection oiwuh, "he," and governed by the post- 

 position ne ; which is the most frequent termination of the instrumental 

 case in the Sanskrit. Our unmerciful authorities, then, force on us the 

 casus ohliquus as the casus rectus, and confer on the object the governing 

 powers of the subject or nominative. 



This ablative-nominative is fatal to the theory of the rule ; it is 

 opposed to all our cognizances, and subversive of all grammatical prin- 

 ciples. It so bewildered Gilchrist, that, at one time, he calls ne an 

 expletive, and at another he incorporates it with the agent, as part of 

 the nominative. This leaves no doubt whatsoever as to his views. 



In Hindustani there are two forms of the Accusative : one is the 

 same as the [Nominative,; the other is associated with the postposition 



; Ico, and therefore in an inflected state, whether it show itself so or not. 

 jN^ow, taking larTd as a nominative, and mdri as passive, we can, in 

 accordance with every known principle of general grammar^ translate 



, the above sentence thus : — 



If ^0 be introduced into the construction, the phrase becomes — 



The girl was beaten by him." 



(B) 



US ne larU ho mdrd, "He beat the girl;" 



and, making larhi plural, 

 , (C) us ne larh'iyon ho mdrd, " He beat the girls ;" 



