John is
here connected with the neuter verb _sits_, which expresses simply the
state of being of its nominative, therefore _John_ is a neuter
nominative.
I will now illustrate the active, passive, and neuter nominatives by a
few examples.
I. Of ACTIVE NOMINATIVES; as, "The _boy_ beats the dog; The _lady_
sings; The _ball_ rolls; The _man_ walks."
II. Of PASSIVE NOMINATIVES; as, "The _boy_ is beaten; The _lady_ is
loved; The _ball_ is rolled; The _man_ was killed."
III. Of NEUTER NOMINATIVES; as, "The _boy_ remains idle; The _lady_ is
beautiful; The _ball_ lies on the ground; The _man_ lives in town."
You may now proceed to the conjugation of passive verbs.
Passive Verbs are called _regular_ when they end in _ed_; as, was
_loved_; was _conquered_.
All Passive Verbs _are formed_ by adding the _perfect participle_ of an
active-transitive verb, to the neuter verb _to be_.
If you place a perfect participle of an active-transitive verb after
this neuter verb _be_, in any mood or tense, you will have a _passive_
verb in the same mood and tense that the verb _be_ would be in if the
participle were not used; as, I am _slighted_; I was _slighted_; he will
be _slighted_; If I be _slighted_; I may, can, _or_ must be _slighted_,
&c.
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