rm ceased, the grove was a ruin_.

=Conjugation.= The inflectional changes in the verb to indicate
person, number, tense, voice, mode, and modal aspect.

=Declension.= The changes in a noun, pronoun, or adjective to
indicate person, number, or case.

=Ellipsis, elliptical expression.= An expression partially
incomplete, so that words have to be understood to complete the
meaning. An idea or relation corresponding to the omitted words
is present, at least vaguely, in the mind of the speaker.
Elliptical sentences are usually justifiable except when the
reader cannot instantly supply the understood words. Examples
of proper ellipses: You are as tall as I [am tall]. Is your
sister coming? I think [my sister is] not [coming]. I will go
if you will [go]. [I give you] Thanks for your advice.

=Gerund.= A verbal in _-ing_ used as a noun. (I do not object to
your _telling_. His _having deserted_ us makes little
difference.) The gerund may be regarded as a special form of
the infinitive.

=Infinitive.= A verbal ordinarily introduced by _to_ and used as
a noun (_To err_ is human). In such sentences as "The road to
follow is the river road," _follow_ may be regarded as the noun
of a phrase (compare _the road to Mandalay_), or the entire
phrase may be regarded as an adjective. Similarly, in "He
hastened to comply," _comply_ may be regarded as a noun or _to
comply_ as an adverb. After certain verbs (_bid_, _dare_,
_help_, _make_, _need_, etc.) the _to_ is omitted from the
infinitive group. (He bids me _go_. I need not _hesitate_.)

=Inflection.= Change in the form of a word to show a modification
or shade of meaning. At a very early period in our language
there was a separate form for practically every modification.
Although separate forms are now less numerous, _inflection_ is
still a convenient term in grammar. Its scope is general: it
includes the declension of nouns, the comparison of adjectives
and adverbs, and the conjugation of verbs.

=Modify.= To be grammatically dependent upon and to limit or
alter the quality of. In the expression "The very old man,"
_the_ and _old_ modify _man_, and _very_ modifies _old_.

=Participle.= A verbal used as an adjective, or as an adjective
with adverbial qualities. In the sentence "Mary, being old