Grammar of the English sentence

Front matter

Class _ p£ Book_

Copyright JJ?.

COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT.

Preface To The Thirtieth Thousand. 1

Since the Grammar of the English Sentence appeared, twelve years ago, the author has used it as a text in sixty different classes, aggregating nearly ten thousand students. There could have been offered no better opportunity to determine what positions are tenable, what points need further elaboration, what statements should be modified, and what matter may be omitted. The opportunity has not been allowed to pass unused. The book has been entirely rewritten. Not every sentence has been changed, but every one has been carefully examined.

The fundamental ideas of the old book — that grammar is the science of the sentence, that the sentence is determined by the thought it expresses, that English grammar should be an exposition of present usage, and that a knowledge of it is indispensable to ability to speak and write correctly — remain fundamental in the new one. The historical feature has received no attention, — partly because others have done it so much better than the writer could do it, but chiefly because it is regarded as unessential to the purpose of this book. It has been estimated that of every hundred pupils now studying English grammar not more than one will ever read a page of English earlier than the age of Elizabeth. This book is for the ninety and nine. The one must find elsewhere the exhaustive study of historical English accidence.

Conspicuous among the new features are : —

(1) More attention to the thought foundations of grammar. The Introduction will afford the teacher an opportunity to work out with his class the essential relations between thought forms and their verbal expressions. This work will require care and patience, but it must be thoroughly mastered. Yet an effort has been made not to overdo this phase of the work, for it is well to keep constantly in mind that grammar is grammar and not logic or psychology.

1 The Preface to the First Thousand may be seen on page 282.

VI PREFACE TO THIRTIETH THOUSAND.

(2) An earlier and fuller explanation of some fundamental

distinctions, among which are, — (a) subject of a verb, subject of a thought, and subject or agent of an act; (b) object of a verb, object of a thought, and object of an act ; (c) a verb, the thought relation it expresses, and the action related in thought. Any express or implied identification of these closely related, but widely different, things ends in everlasting confusion.

(3) A systematic series of reviews. It is not possible for a class to master the matter contained in these reviews without being well grounded in English grammar and abundantly able to apply its principles in correct expression.

(4) More exercises in the construction of original sentences to illustrate the principle under consideration. Of all grammatical exercises, this is the best.

(5) A fuller discussion of all grammatical difficulties, such as Transitive and Intransitive Verbs; Attributive and Copulative Verbs; Voice, Mode, and Tense; Infinitives and Participles; Conjunctive or Relative, Direct Interrogative, and Indirect Interrogative Pronouns; Ordinary Conjunctive Adverbs, Relative Conjunctive Adverbs, Direct Interrogative Adverbs, and Indirect Interrogative Adverbs.

Purpose of the Book. — In its present and final form the Grammar of the English Sentence is intended to serve as a text-book for high schools and normal schools, and as a handbook for teachers that want something more than the essentials of English grammar. Except in the hands of a master, it is not well adapted to the needs of beginners. The author's Grammar for Beginners and Grammar for the Common Schools are better suited to those not yet ready for this book ; and any one that cares for a more extended study of Diagrammed Analysis will find it in the Analysis of the English Sentence with Diagrams.

To the many thousands that have spoken kindly of the Grammar of the English Sentence in its original form, the author wishes to use this opportunity to express his gratitude, together with the hope that they will find this book more accurate, more interesting, and in every way more helpful.

JONATHAN RIGDON.

Central Normal College, Juue 1, 1908.

Part I. Introduction. Page

SOME THOUGHT FOUNDATIONS OF LANGUAGE . . 1 PARTS OF SPEECH DEFINED 6

Properties of the Parts of Speech . „ . .12

PARSING OF THE PARTS OF SPEECH .... 13

SUBJECTS, AGENTS, VERBS, ACTIONS, AND OBJECTS . 14

COMPLEMENTS 16

SENTENCES 17

Classes of Sentences 18

PHRASES 20

Classes of Phrases 20

CLAUSES .22

Classes of Clauses 22

CAPITAL LETTERS -23

GENERAL REVIEW .25

Part II. Parts Of Speech. The Noun 28

Classes of Nouns 28

Sub-classes of Nouns 30

Person 32

Number 33

Gender 37

Case 40

vii

CONTENTS.

Declension of Nouns Parsing of Nouns .

Review of Nouns

THE PRONOUN

Classes of Pronouns Personal Pronouns

Declension of Personal Pronouns

Parsing of Personal Pronouns

Filling Blanks with Personal Pronouns

Interrogative Pronouns

Declension of Interrogative Pronouns .

Parsing of Interrogative Pronouns Eelative or Conjunctive Pronouns Classes of Relative Pronouns Comparison of Relative and Personal Pronouns Declension of Relative Pronouns .

Kinds of Relative Clauses ....

Relative to be preferred in Each Kind of Clause Connective Use of Relative Pronouns .

Parsing of Relative Pronouns Filling Blanks with Relative Pronouns and Interrogative Pronouns Outline of Substantives Syntax of Substantives .

Review of Pronouns

THE ADJECTIVE .

Classes of Adjectives .

Sub-classes of Adjectives Comparison of Adjectives Parsing of Adjectives .

Outline of Adjectives .

Syntax of Adjectives Review of Adjectives .

CONTENTS. IX

PAGE

Classes of Verbs ......... 114

Properties of Verbs ........ 132

Voice 133

Mode 135

Tense 138

Person and Number .. 143

Inflection of Verbs . 143

Parsing of Verbs 157

Outline of Verbs ......... 159

Syntax of Verbs 160

Review of Verbs . . . 162

Classes of Adverbs ........ 165

Sub-classes of Adverbs 165

Comparison of Adverbs 170

Parsing of Adverbs . . . . . . . .170

Outline of Adverbs ........ 172

Syntax of Adverbs . . . . . . . . .172

Review of Adverbs . .174

Classes of Prepositions ........ 175

Parsing of Prepositions 177

Outline of Prepositions ........ 179

Syntax of Prepositions ........ 179

Review of Prepositions ........ 181

Classes of Conjunctions ....... 183

Parsing of Conjunctions ....... 184

Outline of Conjunctions ....... 186

Syntax of Conjunctions 186

Review of Conjunctions ....... 189

X CONTENTS.

PAGl

THE INTERJECTION 190

Syntax or Interjections . . : . . . . 190

Review of Infinitives and Participles .... 223

RULES OF SYNTAX 22 4

Classification of Sentences 228

Classification of Elements . . . . . . .231

Connectives 236

DIAGRAMS AND ANALYSES 238

Sentences for Diagrams and Analysis .... 260

Review of Sentences and Elements ..... 281

Preface To The First Thousand 282

GEAMMAE OP THE ENGLISH SENTENCE.