OUR VERBS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 50, 27 February 1880, Page 4

OUR VERBS.

An educational journal thus describes the trouble a Frenchman had with the verb *' break:" " I begin to understand your language better," said my French friend, M. i)ubois, to me, "but your verbs trouble me sfe'll ; you mix them up so with prepositions." " I am sorry you find them so troublesome," was all I could say. " I saw your friend Mrs. Murkeson just now," he continued. "She says, she intends to break down housekeeping. Am I right there ? " " Break up housekeeping, ehe must have said." " Ob, yes, I remember ; break up housekeeping." " Why does she do that ?" I asked. " Because her health is broken into." "Broken down." " Broken down ? Oh, yes, and indeed, since the small pox has broken up in our city — " " Broken out." " She thinks she will leave ifc for a few weeks." " No, she is afraid that her house will be broken—broken — how do I saythat ?" " Broken into." " Certainly, it is what I meant to say." "Is her son to be married soon ? " : "No; that engagement is broken—broken^—" "Broken off." " Yes, broken off." " Ah, I had not heard that." "She is very sorry about it. Her? son only broke the news down to her last week. Am I right. lam anxious to speak English well." ; "He merely broke tbe tieWß £no preposition this time." "It is hard to understand. That young man, her son, 1 is a fine young fellow ; a breaker, I think." " A broker, and a very fine young fellow, Grood day." So much for the verb " to break."