o
that a _number_ could be "_put in the objective case without a governing
word_," (see his Sec.828,) the plural word _times_, since it denotes no
particular aggregate of units, could never be an example of it. It is true
that _times_, like _days, weeks_, and other nouns of _time_, may be, and
often is, in the objective case without a governing word _expressed_; and,
in such instances, it may be called the objective of _repetition_, or of
_time repeated_. But the construction of the word appears to be such as is
common to many nouns of time, of value, or of measure; which, in their
relation to other words, seem to resemble adverbs, but which are usually
said to be governed by prepositions understood: as, "Three _days_ later;"
i.e., "Later _by_ three days."--"Three _shillings_ cheaper;" i.e., "Cheaper
_by_ three shillings."--"Seven _times_ hotter;" i.e., "Hotter _by_ seven
times."--"Four _feet_ high;" i.e., "High _to_ four feet."--"Ten _years_
old;" i.e., "Old _to_ ten years."--"Five _times_ ten;" i.e., "Ten _by_ five
times;" or, perhaps, "Ten _taken till_ five times."

NOTE TO RULE XV.

A collective noun conveying the idea of unity, requires a verb in the third
person, singular; and generally admits also the regular plural
construction: as, "His _army was_ defeated."--"His _armies were_ defeated."

IMPROPRIETIES FOR CORRECTION.

FALSE SYNTAX UNDER RULE XV.

UNDER THE RULE ITSELF.--THE IDEA OF PLURALITY.

"The gentry is punctilious in their etiquette."

[FORMULE.--Not proper, because the verb _is_ is of the singular number, and
does not correctly agree with its nominative _gentry_, which is a
collective noun conveying rather the idea of plurality. But, according to
Rule 15th, "When the nominative is a collective noun conveying the idea of
plurality, the verb must agree with it in the plural number." Therefore,
_is_ should be _are_; thus, "The gentry _are_ punctilious in their
etiquette."]

"In France the peasantry goes barefoot, and the middle sort makes use of
wooden shoes."--HARVEY: _Priestley's Gram._, p. 188. "The people rejoices
in that which should cause sorrow."--See _Murray's Exercises_, p. 49. "My
people is foolish, they have not known me."--_Jer._, iv, 22; _Lowth's
Gram._, p. 75. "For the people speaks, but does not write."--_Philological
Museum_, i, 646. "So that all the people that was in the camp,
trembled."--_Exodus_, xix, 16. "No company likes to confess that they are
ignorant."--_Student's Ma