How to parse. ...

Par. 332, 333.]

"IT))

203

In the earliest English (Anglo-Saxon) version of
the Gospel, ' it," or rather the Saxon equivalent of
" it," is not placed first, and we find St. John vi. 63
in this form:(14) " Spirit is it that giveth life."
But as early as Wickliffe the it had been separated
from its Relative, and had been placed at the beginning of the sentence.
(15) " It is the Spirit that quickeneth."
332 In consequence of this change of position, the
Verb agrees with the Preparatory Subject "it."
Thus, instead of(16) " You were it that he laughed at,"
we say(17) "It was you that he laughed at."1
333 A Noun is sometimes used as the Subject or
Object of some Verb understood, connected with
another Verb by " and ":(1) (There were) "A few more struggles, and all
was over."
(2) (We must walk) " A mile further, and we shall
be at our journey's end."
t See Pars. 158-61. This construction is said not to be found in
the earliest English, Mltzler, ii. page 25.