44. When we speak directly to persons, we often call them by name; as,—

Anne, sister Anne, do you see any one coming?

We do this for several reasons,—sometimes for politeness, sometimes to show clearly just whom we are speaking to. This name is not necessary to the structure of the sentence; that is, it forms no part of the subject or the predicate. We say, therefore, that it is independent. We call it a term of address.

45. Sometimes, instead of using a person’s name, we invent a term of address, as when the Arab said to his horse,

“We are far from home, O racer with the swiftest winds, but God is with us.”

What noun is the base word of this term of address?

46. A term of address may come at the beginning of a sentence, or at the end, or somewhere within the sentence. It must be set off by commas to show that it is independent.

47. Sometimes a noun or a noun with modifiers is used as an exclamation; thus,—

A rainbow! it is too late in the day for that.

Joy to the world! the Lord has come.

A noun used like rainbow and joy is called an exclamatory noun. What feeling does the exclamatory noun in the first sentence express? in the second?

Summary.—A term of address is a word or a group of words used as a name to show to whom a remark is made.

The base word of a term of address is usually a noun.

An exclamatory noun is a noun used to express strong or sudden feeling. It may be modified or unmodified.

When a word or a group of words is no part of the subject or the predicate of a sentence, it is said to be independent.

A term of address and an exclamatory noun are independent elements in a sentence.

A term of address is set off from the rest of the sentence by a comma.

An exclamatory noun is set off by an exclamation point.

Exercise.—Select the terms of address in the following sentences. Find the base word of each. Select also the exclamatory nouns, and tell what feeling they express.

1. Little brother, canst thou raise me to my feet?

2. “Now, my dears,” said old Mrs. Rabbit one morning, “you may go into the fields or down the lane, but don’t go into Mr. McGregor’s garden.”

3. Indeed I was seeking thee, Flathead, but each time we meet thou art longer and broader by the length of my arm.

4. Come, Lillie, it is time to go to bed.

5. Sweet, sweet home! there’s no place like home.

6. Why, Father, you are rather old to play cat’s cradle.

7.

Sail on, sail on, O ship of State!

Sail on, O Union strong and great!

8. Sir, I humbly beg your pardon.

9. I understand, noble lord, that you have lost two of your men.

10. Jefferson, I think I will go down into the kitchen and bake a pie.

11. A horse! a horse! my kingdom for a horse!

12. There is none like thee in the jungle, wise, old, strong, and most beautiful Kaa.

13. Our price, your royal highness, is three shillings.

14. Grand old outlaw, hero of a thousand lawless raids, in a few minutes you will be but a great load of carrion.

15.

Brood, kind creature, you need not fear

Thieves and robbers while I am here.

16. Catch me, cowardly knaves, if you can.

17. The stately homes of England! how beautiful they stand!

18. O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells.