English grammar: a simple, concise, and comprehensive manual of the English language. Designed for the use of schools, academies, and as a book for general reference in the language. In four parts

Front matter

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ENGLISH GRAMMAR:

2 SIMPLE, CONCISE, AND COMPREHENSIVE

Preface

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The " hundred and one" English Grammars now in use have not diminished the demand among Teachers for a new Grammar. This demand has induced the Author to offer the following work, which has grown under his hand in an experience of more than thirty years in the education of English youth. "Whether this is the right tMng, the Author assumes not, except for himself, to decide. Time and opportunity, which " overthrow the illusions of opinion, establish the decisions of nature" Sensible that his Grammar will stand or fall by this test, the Author dismisses it, on probation, to the Publishers and the Public. To those who may use it, the following considerations are earnestly addressed : —

1. The classification of the Parts of Speech, in the following treatise, is Tripartite: embracing, 1. The Subject- Noun ; 2. The Verb; 3. The Particles.

2. This classification is preserved through Part I. and Part II. It simplifies the subject to the mind of the learner. It magnifies the two leading parts of speech, the noun and the verb, attaching to these the other parts of speech and the adjuncts, as subsidiary or connective.

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IV PREFACE.

S. The Rules are arranged under a similar division — 1. The Noun; 2. The Verb; 3. The Particles. With a Table of Contents prefixed, the learner is able to find and apply the appropriate rule to each particular case with great readiness.

4. Part I. is limited to the Simple Elements of Grammar, embracing only general rules, omitting exceptions and complex forms. The definitions are concise, yet full, and should be thoroughly committed to memory once for all. Simple examples are cited for illustration. The pupil should be first exercised in these, without a critical parsing of complex and difficult sentences. The details of Grammar are numerous and complicated. If these details are too soon, or too variously, forced on the attention of the young learner, he becomes confused, and with difficulty comes to distinguish the principles from the accidents, the philosophy of language from its conventional forms. Let exceptions and idioms be left to a subsequent time. They should be introduced and recognized as belonging to the family, but secondary in the plan of its organization. After parsing the examples which are cited, the entire text may be profitably used for parsing-lessons. Extended parsing-lessons have been excluded, because they are rarely used by teachers, and because it is believed the common reading-books are best for this purpose. "McGuffey's Series" have been used by the author. These books furnish the most appropriate sentences for parsing, from the most simple to the most complex, and of every variety in prose and poetry.

5. Part II. , which is subjectively the same as Part I., and elaborated in the same order of arrangement, should next occupy the particular attention of the pupil. Everything committed to memory in the First Part, will be found here repeated — if repeated at all — in the same words, so that no confusion may occur. Attention is particularly cited to the chapter on Language, to that part of the second chapter which treats of Modes and Tenses, and to the

PREFACE. V

three cliapters on the Rules, embracing remarks, critical, comprehensive, and capable of solving all difficulties likely to occur.

6. Part III. embraces a list of Idioms and Difficult Phrases, which have been collated with great care. These, in some instances, are repetitions of difficulties solved under the Rules, but here brought into review that they may be easily found, be more fully explained, and be made familiar.

7. The Reviews at the close of each chapter or subdivision, are deemed to be of great importance, and should be practised by the learner till he is perfectly familiar with what he has committed to memory.

8. The whole method of parsing is analytic, rather than synthetic, but truly philosophic and inductive. As soon as the pupil has learned the definition of the noun, he may profitably be put to selecting the nouns of sentences in his Grammar, in his Reader, or in any other book — or to designating this class of words in the names of things around him. So with the verb, the nature of which he will arrive at by induction before he arrives at the division which treats of it in his Grammar. The noun and verb, two words which form the basis of language, will then stand out to his view in bold relief, occupying always their proper and leading places in the construction of sentences. He will then be led to see the need, the use, and the proper office, of other words to aid in the expression of every variety, and every shade of thought.

9. Repetition should be required till all which belongs to the memory is made perfectly familiar. Some memories are rapid in the process of acquisition — others are more retentive. Both equally need repetition — these, to acquire; those, to retain, knowledge. Reasoning on principles is a higher exercise of the intellect than memory. The former should be superinduced, and gradually brought into exercise on those elements of knowledge which the

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VI PKEFACE.

memory has treasured. Observation, early awakened, introduces the incipient exercise of reason. Attention should be directed, and distinctions made the subject of observation cotemporaneously with the earliest capabilities of the mind. A leading office of the teacher is to awaken the mind of the pupil and keep it awake. Unless he does this, he does nothing.

10. The learner is referred, for constant use, to the copious Table of Contents, at the beginning of the book, and at the beginning of each separate part and each important division, to enable him to find readily any thing for which he may be seeking. An Alphabetical Index, as a reference-table, will be found at the close of the volume.

The Table of Contents refers to sections.

The Index refers to the pages where the subjects are treated

11. Part HI. embraces also Rules to aid the beginner in Composition : the Rules of Punctuation — with brief, but comprehensive, suggestions for forming a good style of writing, with a ready command of language — a list of Obsolete terms still retained in our translation of the Scriptures, and a list of the most important works for study or reference in this important department of learning.

12. Part IV. comprehends a treatise on Prosody and on Orthography. No teacher should dismiss an English student without a knowledge of the Rules of Prosody — and also the Rules of Orthography, so far as these have been omitted in their regular order in the Spelling-book.

13. "We have sought to aggregate, and classify in a perspicuous form, whatever a Grammar should contain.

First, — Everything necessary to teach the Grammatical structure of the Language.

PREFACE. Vll

Secondly, — A classification, simple and natural, with the essential principles so separated and stated that they may not he confounded with tke less important details.

Thirdly, — The arrangements and references are such that the learner may easily find what he wants.

Hence this Grammar should be all studied, — every part of it, closely, fully, accurately. The student is never a good Grammarian till he understands his Grammar, and no Grammar is suited to its object unless it embraces the principles of the science, clearly expressed, and a solution of all the difficulties of interpretation in minute detail. It is then a Grammar for the child and for the philosopher ; — both must have the same.

14. Most of the published Grammars and Treatises on the English Language have been consulted, and have had their influence, in the construction of this Grammar. Without referring to them by name, the Author has thought it sufficient to give the results of his own judgment, enlightened by all the helps he could reach — all of which he has made a free use of, as common property — none of which has he copied, as a careful examination of this work will plainly show. He has not hesitated to agree with all in some things, and to differ with each in other things.

He has also been influenced by the authority of the proper expounders of the language, and felt controlled by their expositions so far as they have been fully and fairly expressed in the English and American Classics. To save room and simplify the work, he has limited himself to simple examples for illustration, without citing quotations from these authorities. He believes, however, that the principles laid down in this Grammar will be found to accord with good usage, so far as standard writers are authorized to prescribe rules.

Vlll PREFACE.

To the Young — among whom he has lived even now to old age, and whom he desires to serve so long as such a class shall exist to need a Manual of English Grammar —

To Teachers — whose arduous labors he desires to encourage and alleviate —

To the Scholars of the present day — interested in the use, the preservation and transmission of a pure English —

The Author — now excused from the labors of the Schoolroom — presents this as his literary contribution and valedictory.

R. W. Bailey.

Staunton, Va., 1853.

ADVERTISEMENT

TO LIPPINCOTT, GRAMBO & CO.'S EDITION.

A call for the tenth thousand of the " Manual of English Grammar," within one year from the time of its first publication, has fully endorsed the author's estimate of his own work. The approbation of teachers and scholars, extensively expressed, has inspired the hope that this book may be found to supply the desideratum, long felt, of a practical discussion of the principles of the English language suited to common-school instruction. In this edition will be found a thorough correction of former typographical errors, some slight verbal alterations in several definitions, and a new classification of the irregular verbs. None of these alterations, however, will interfere with the use in classes of the present with former editions.

CHAPTER I. Grammar — what it treats of Section

Etymology +

Prosody

English Grammar 2

Of Etymology and Syntax 3

English "Words 4

Three classes of words 5

First class of words — Nouns defined 6

Adjectives defined 6

Article defined 6

Pronoun defined 6

Second class of words — Verb defined 7

Predicate and Participle defined 7

Third class of words — Adverb defined 8

Preposition defined 8

Conjunction defined 8

Interjection defined 8

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X CONTENTS-— PART I.

Eight parts of speech, enumerated 9

Three declined — Noun, Adjective and Verb 9

CHAPTER II. Nouns — varied by Person, &c . 10

" by Persons 11

V by Numbers 12

" " by Gender 13

" " by Cases 14

Declension of Nouns 15

Adjectives — Degrees of Comparison 16

Rules of Comparison 17

Irregular comparisons 17

Articles a and the 18

Pronouns —Classes 19

Personal Pronouns 19

Declension of Pronouns — 7, thou, he 20

Mine, thine, hers, ours, yours, theirs 21

You used for thou — your for thy, &c. .. 22

Compounds — ourselves, yourselves, &c 23

Self a Noun 23

Relative Pronouns 24

Declension of Relatives 24

Compound pronoun — what 25

Compounds — whoever, &c - 25

Interrogative Pronouns 26

Adjective Pronouns 27

Four classes — Distributive, Demonstrative, Possessive,

Indefinite 27

Few, many, &c. 28

Other 29

CONTENTS — PART I. XI

Own 31

None 32

Review.

Verbs 33

Conjugation 34

Regular 35

" Irregular. ; 36

" Defective 37

Intransitive 38

Transitive 39

Active 40

Passive 40

Active form 41

Passive form 42

Number and Person 43

Mode and Tense 44

Indicative 45

Potential T. 46

Subjunctive 47

Imperative 48

Infinitive 49

Tenses of Verbs — Present, Past, Future 50

One Present — three Past — two Future 50

Perfect 53

Pluperfect 54

First Future 55

Second Future 56

Tenses of the Indicative and Subjunctive Modes 57

" of the Potential .58

Xll CONTENTS — PART I.

Tenses of the Imperative 59

of the Infinitive 60

Three Participles 62

Auxiliary Verbs . 63

Do, he, have 84

Principal parts of the Verb . . . 65

Conjugation of Regular Verb Love . , , , 66

Formula of Regular Verb Love f .. . 67

Variations of verb in solemn discourse , 67

Thou for you 67

Hath for has and for have . 68

Use of Auxiliaries 69

Principal parts of Verb Love 70

Conjugation of Indicative Mode 71

of Potential Mode 72

of Subjunctive Mode 73

of Imperative Mode 74

of Infinitive Mode 75

Passive Form 76

Conjugation of Irregular Verb Am 77

Principal parts 78

Conjugation of Indicative Mode 78

of Potential Mode 79

of Subjunctive Mode 80

of Imperative Mode 81

of Infinitive Mode 82

Defective Verbs 83

Quoth 84

Ought 85

Beware 86

CONTENTS — PART I. X1I1

Review.

Particles 87

Adverbs * 88

Compared by er 89

" by more and most 90

Irregularly compared 91

Known by questions — how, &c 92

Prepositions 93

Prepositions show relations 94

Simple Prepositions 95

Prepositions compounded by a 96

" " hybe 97

" by Prepositions 98

" " variously 99

Conjunctions 100

Interjections 101

Interjections qualify 102

Review.

SYNTAX.

CHAPTER I.

Summary of Rules 103

CHAPTER II.

Syntax of First Class of words 104

Nouns nominative 104

^Touns nominative to Verb 104

" following Intransitive Verb 105

" in apposition 106

" names of persons addressed 107

" joined with Participles 108

XIV CONTENTS — PARTS II., III.

8eet!<m Pronoun relative, nominative 109

Nouns objective . 110

Pronoun relative .-. 110

Noun, object of Transitive Verb r Ill

" object of Participle Ill

Two Nouns objective to a Verb 112

** " latter retained in Passive Form 113

Nouns objective to Preposition 114

" of time, place, &c , 115

" Possessive. , 116

Adjectives, Pronouns, Participles. , 117

Article a and the , 117

Chapter I

Sect. 1, Grammar is the Science of Language, b teaches the art of speaking and writing correctly. It treats,

I. Of Letters — their form, force, and formation into

words, called Orthography.

II. Of Words — their classification, derivation, and modifications, called Etymology.

III. Of Sentences — the arrangement , agreement , and

government of words in a sentence, called Syntax.

IV. Of Utterance — especially of the harmony of num-

bers in versification, including measure, quantity, accent, pause, &c, called Prosody.

§ 2» English Grammar treats of the principles and right construction of the English Language.

§ 3« The English scholar has acquired the elements of

Orthography in the Spelling-book. Attention is now to b«

principally directed to Etymology and Syntax, comprising

the Grammatical Structure and Analysis of Language.

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18 CLASSIFICATION OF WORDS.

§ 4« The English language comprises 75,000 words. § 5» All words may be divided into three classes.

1. The Noun, or name of a particular thing or subject.

2. The Verb, which predicates or declares something

of the subject or thing.

3. The Particles, or words used for connecting the

principal words, or for qualifying them, or showing relations between them.

FIRST CLASS OF WORDS.

§ 6« The JVoun includes the Adjective, the Article, and the Pronoun.

1. The JVoun, sometimes called the Substantive, is the name of any thing which can be made the subject of discourse. As, Man, house, justice, virtue. §10 — 15,159 — 166, 254—267.

2. The Adjective is that part of the noun which qualifies the simple name, or helps to describe it, and it is therefore called the Adjective-noun. As, A good man ; the grey horse ; exact justice. § 16 — 18, 167 — 8, 268.

The Article is that form of the adjective which is used to designate some particular person, place, or thing. As, A man; the man; a vice; the vice. § 18, 268, obs. 10.

3. The Pronoun is a form of the noun used to avoid the too frequent repetition of the same word. As, A man should pray, while he lives. § 19—32, 169—173, 259—261.

SECOND CLASS OF WORDS. § 7« The Verb is a word used to assert or express something of the noun or subject. As, A man walks. § 33 — 86, 174—219, 269, 70.

CLASSIFICATION OF WOEDS. 19

The Predicate is that form of the verb which employs two or more words in assertion. As, John is studious ; John {5 studying ; John is a student. § 206.

The Participle is a part of the verb, and takes its name from its participating the properties of a verb and an adjective. As, John is studying. § 208, 9.

THIRD CLASS OF WORDS.

§8, There are four Particles — the Adverb, Preposition, Conjunction, and Interjection.

The Adverb is a word used to qualify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. As, John walks rapidly — very rapidly ; he is very nimble. § 87—92, 218—28, 271.

The Preposition is placed before a noun, which it governs, and shows a relation between it and some other word. As, Live in charity with all men. § 93—99, 229, 272.

The Conjunction is used to connect words and sentences together. As, Men and women die, but the soul lives. § 100, 230—236, 273.

The Interjection is an exclamation, expressing passion or emotion. As, Oh! ah! alas! § 101, 237, 274.

§ 9« There are, then, commonly reckoned eight parts of speech, viz. : —

r Noun, First Class — < Adjective, I Pronoun.

Second Class — The Verb, with its compounds. Adverb, Preposition, Conjunction, Interjection.

Three of these — the Noun, Pronoun, and Verb are declined. The others are undeclined.

Third Class-