Owen—Hybrid Parts of Speech. 
239 
other, neither differs from the latter in rank, to the degree 
that either differs from “strike,” or from any adjunctive lateral 
element which might be added. Imitating Grammar, which 
does not differentiate the two as parts of speech, I rank the 
two as essentially on a footing of structural parity, the forma¬ 
tion of the mental march of them and striking being compar¬ 
able to a wedge. 
My motive in adopting the last exhibited structure might 
have been the actual mental pre-eminence of the striking, while 
in the two preceding structures the motive might have been 
the respective pre-eminence of the express and the freight. It 
is possible however that no one of these three elements be pre¬ 
eminent—that I merely regard the three as coequal elements 
of the collision. In this case I am still compelled by linguis¬ 
tic limitations to adopt some one of the already noted modes 
of structure; and in actual practice, as indicated on page 183, 
I regularly adopt the one exhibited by “I saw the express 
strike the freight.” 
(d) Again, as indicated on pp. 152-156, occasions arise on 
which the structure assumed by thought requires in expression 
the use of a verbal adverb, as in “Catherine sang the song 
heart-rendingly.” 
Without a repetition of what has been said of this verbal 
hybrid, it appears that thought may be constructed on either 
of three plans, respectively expressed by the aid of a verbal 
noun, a verbal adjective, a verbal adverb. 
Of the thoughts which these cooperate in expressing, I do 
not assume that they are absolutely alike in content. For in¬ 
stance, “striking” suggests a time duration which is not sug¬ 
gested by “strike.” (And “I saw birds singing their songs” 
suggests a seeing different from that suggested by “I saw birds 
sing their songs.”) So far as such duration be intended by the 
speaker, its examination belongs in the preceding section, the 
influence of thought-content obviously extending beyond the 
initial double possibility of assertive or unassertive expression, 
and taking into account whatever contribution to thought-con¬ 
tent may be offered by the varieties and sub-varieties of un- 
