An elementary grammar of the English language

Front matter

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Preface

This book is, as its name designates, elementary iu design and execu« tion. It has been prepared with special reference to the abilities and the wants of those commencing the study of Grammar, Therefore only definitions and principles of primary importance are given, while the illustrations, and the exercises for explaining and inculcating them, ar« of a simple and famUiar character.

The definitions are expressed in the same language as that used ij» the larger work to which this is intended to be preliminary. By tills means, a progressive and consistent series is established, and, in passing from the lower and simpler to the higher and fuller, the learner's first efff'Tt of memorizing will also be the last, as it will not be necessary to unlearn in one that which will have been learned in the other : thus the teacher's labor in explaining the more extended application of the principles in the advanced work, will be materially lightened.

The " Introduction" is intended mainly, for oral instruction, being designed for such pupils as are not fully prepared to enter into the details of the science. In this part, therefore, all technicalities are avoided, the object being to show the distinctions in the meaning and the ise of words, and to derive therefrom appropriate names and a proper classification.

It is desirable, and it is earnestly recommended, that the attention of those commencing the study ot Grammar should be directed to material objects, their names, their qualities, their actions, their relations, etc; pupils will then be prepared to deduce from what will have been thus learned through the senses, those principles which apply to what is abstract.

The treatment of the Sentence in the Introduction will, it is hoped, be found adapted to the understanding of the beginner.

In the main body of the work the division of Grammar into four parts Ls maintained, but Punctuation and Figures are omitted in Syntax, and all of Prosody is excluded, as not necessary to the ?cope and the design >f this book.

Contents

GrRAMMAR, Definition and Division of - . . . 34

PART I. — ORTHOGEAPHY. Letters, Classes of .35

Words 38

Spelling 38

Eulesof 39

PART II. — ETYMOLOGY. Classes of Words 41

Parts of Speech, Definitions of 41

Nouns, Classes of 44

Properties of 45

Number 45

Formation of the Plural 45

Person . . .48

Gender 49

Case 50

Declension of .51

Parsing, Exercise in 53

Pronouns 54

Personal - 55

Compound Personal 56

Relative 58

Compound Relative 59

Interrogative ,60

Articles 61

Adjectives .62

Pronominal .64

Comparison of . , 65

CONTENTS. 7 PAea

Verbs 68

Classes of, according to Meaning 69

Properties of 70

Voice 70

Mode 72

Tense 73

Number and Person 76

Classes of, according to Formation 78

List of Irregular Verbs 79

Auxiliary, Uses of 83

Conjugation of 84

To Be 84

To Love, Active Voice 87

To Love, Passive Voice 90

Adverbs 94

Comparison of 95

Prepositions • 97

Conjunctions 99

Interjections 100

PART III. — SYNTAX. Sentences, Definition of 101

Classes of, according to Use 101

Classes of, according to Form 102

PivisioNs OF Syntax 104

Analysis . . 105

Distinctions of Subject and Predicate .... 106 Simple Subject and Simple Predicate . . 106 Complex Subject and Complex Predicate . . 107 Compound Subject and Compound Predicate . 107

Secondary Parts 108

Connecting Parts 108

Independent Parts 108

Qualifications of Simple Subject . . . 110

Qualifications of Simple Predicate . , , 110, 111 ', Phrases and Clauses ...,.,. 113

CONTENTS.

Synthesis

Eule I.— The Subject of a Finite Verb . Eule II. — The Nominative Case Indepenflent Kule III. — The Possessive Case Eule IV.— The Objective Case Eule V. — Apposition Eule VI. — Same Case after Verbs .

Eule VII. — Personal Pronouns .

Eule VIII. — Eelative Pronouns Eule IX.— Articles ....

Eule X. — Adjectives Eule XI. — Pronominal Adjectives Eule XII. — Agreement of Finite Verbs Eule XIII.— Infinitives .

Eule XIV.— Participles , Eule XV.— Adverbs ....

Eule XVI. — Prepositions Eule XVII. — Conjunctions Eule XVIII. — Interjections .

General Eule

General Exercise .

114 . 114

115 . 117

119 . 120

122 . 123

125 . 127

129 . 130

132 . 135

137 . 139

141 . 142

144 . 144

AN

ELEMENTAKY

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.