Introduction to the analytical and practical grammar of the English language

Preface

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This little work has been prepared to serve as an Introduction to the Author's "Analytical and Practical Grammar of the English language," The definitions and rules are the same, throughout, as in that work, and are arranged in the same order.

The work is divided into Lessons, each of which is devoted to some one topic. The arrangement in each Lesson, is the same throughout ; except that the Questions on each Rule of Syntax are left to be framed by the teacher. That order is the following : The Definitions and Rules belonging to the Lesson, and intended to be committed to memory, are placed first, in large type. Next to these, any subordinate matter regarded as proper for so brief a compend, is subjoined in a smaller type, to be carefully read and sticdied with the Lesson. Then, a series of Questions so framed that correct answers will bring out all the leading facts contained in the preceding text. And lastly, practical Exercises are subjoined, for the purpose of reducing immediately to practice, the knowledge acquired, and fixing it, in the easiest and most effectual manner, in the understanding.

The Exercises in most of the Lessons, are capable of being used in a variety of ways ; and ample directions are given, as to the manner in which they are intended to be used.

In Etymology, "Illustrations" are occasionally thrown in, to show in what manner important principles in Grammar may be simplified to the young learner; and, in Syntax, a plain and familiar i% Explanation" is subjoined to each Rule, for the same purpose.

Prefixed to the Rules of Syntax, there has been introduced a number of Lessons on the Analysis of Sentences. This useful exercise is presented in such a way as to be easily understood ; and to an extent sufficient for beginners ; and the whole illustrated by a number of Models of Analysis, which will serve as a guide to the pupil in preparing his lessons in this department.

As it is of great importance to keep the acquisitions of pupils already made, always at hand, and to impress them indelibly on their iv PREFACE.

minds by repeated reviews of previous Lessons, it will be seen that directions are given at the beginning of each Lesson, for carrying this useful practice into effect.,

Another feature in this work is, that with the principles of Grammar, at every step, are combined instructions and exercises in the elementary principles of Composition. Analysis and Composition are carried on together. Directions for parsing each part of speech, with accompanying examples for practice, are given as soon as it has been treated of. And, in like manner, the proper method of combining words for the purpose of expressing our ideas, is pointed out, and Exercises are devised, as soon as the pupil has been made acquainted with the classes of words capable of being combined. One Exercise of this kind, sometimes more, is connected with almost every Rule of Syntax, as at once an exercise on the Rule, and a praxis on Composition.

As Orthography belongs more strictly to the Spelling Book, and Prosody is a study for more advanced pupils than those for whom this work is intended, they are introduced here only for the sake of form, and of course little is said respecting them. Though this work is not intended to be a complete treatise on English Grammar, no pains have been spared to render it useful so far as it goes. It contains as much as any work of its size, presented in a neat and perspicuous manner ; and moreover, possesses some new and peculiar features, which claim the candid attention and examination of all who feel an interest in simplifying the process of education to the youthful mind, and doing the most good in the shortest time, in the simplest and most pleasing manner, at the earliest period, and at the least expense.

Those who commence the study of Grammar after the age of twelve or fourteen, stand in no need of this work. They should commence at once with the Analytical and Practical Grammar, which contains a complete course of English Grammar, without any other book, and is sufficiently simple for pupils of that age. But young pupils, by going through this, will enter, even at an earlier period, on the study of the larger Grammar with great advantage.

N. B. The numbers in parentheses, as (109) p. 10, refer to the current numbers in the Analytical and Practical Grammar, where the subject is more fully treated.

Troy, N. Y., August, 18G2.

Contents

Lesson.

1 Definition and Division,

PART SECOND.— ETYMOLOGY. 3 Division of Words

4 Of Nouns, . .

5 Of Person, ....

6 Of Gender,

7 Of Number,

8 Of the Cases of Nouns,

9 Of the Article,

10 Of the Adjective,

11 Comparison of Adjectives, .

12 Of the Pronoun,

13 Of Relative Pronouns,

14 Of Adjective Pronouns,

15 Exercises on Nouns, Articles, Adjectives, and Pronouns,

16 Of Verbs,

17 Division of Verbs, .

18 Inflection of Verbs,

19 Of the Moods,

20 Of Tenses, or Distinctions of Time,

21 Of the Participles, .

22 Of Number and Person,

23 Of the Conjugation of Verbs,

24 The Verb u To Love," .

25 Negative Form of ^he Verb,

26 Interrogative Form of the Verb,

27 Progressive Form of the Active Voice

28 Passive Voice, .

29 Of Irregular Verbs,

30 Defective and Impersonal Verbs,

31 Of Adverbs,

32 Of Prepositions,

33 Of Interjections,

34 Of Conjunctions,

35 How to Distinguish the Parts of Speech

36 Parsing,

37 Model of Etymological Parsing,

38 Exercises in Parsing, .

VI

CONTENTS.

51 Rule I.

PART THIRD.— SYNTAX. 39 General Principles of Syntax

40 Analysis of Sentences, — Simple Sentences,

41 The Subject; . ,

42 Modifications of the Subject,

43 Modification of the Modifying Words, .

44 The Predicate, ....

45 Modifications of the Predicate,

46 Compound Sentences,

47 Connection of Clauses, .

48 Abridged Propositions,

49 Directions for Analysis, — Models,

50 Construction of Sentences, — Parts of Syntax, Substantives in Apposition, An Adjective with a Substantive, The Article and its Noun, Personal Pronouns, .

The Relative and its Antecedent, The Subject Nominative, The Nominative Absolute or Independent, The Verb and its Nominative, Special Rules under Rule VIII., The Predicate Nominative, &c, The Objective Governed by Verbs, The Objective Governed by Prepositions, Prepositions used after certain Words, The Possessive Case, .

The Subjunctive Mood, .

The Infinitive Mood, .

The Participles, .

Connection of Tenses,

XVIII. Construction of Adverbs,

Construction of Conjunctions, Interjections, . . o

72 General Rule of Syntax, ....

73 Ellipsis, Rule 1. — An Ellipsis admissible,

74 " « 2. — Ellipsis not allowable, .

75 Model of Syntactical Parsing, .

76 Promiscuous Exercises for Correction,

77 Punctuation, .

Part Fourth.— Prosody

79 Prosody. Elocution, Versification,

80 Composition, .....

136 137

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

Lesson 1 • — Definition and Division.

[Commit Definitions and Rules accurately to memory,]

English Grammar is the art of speaking and writing the English Language with propriety.

It is divided into four parts ; namely, Orthography, Etymology, Syntax, and Prosody.

PART FIRST.— ORTHOGRAPHY. lesson 2. — Letters and Syllables. [Review the preceding Lesson.]

Orthography treats of letters, and the mode of combining them into syllables and words.

A Letter is a character representing a particular sound of the human voice.

There are Twenty-six letters in the English Alphabet.

Letters are either Vowels or Consonants.

A Vowel is a letter which represents a simple inarticulate sound ; and, in a word or syllable, may be sounded alone. The vowels are a, e, i, o, 7i, and w and y not before another vowel sounded in the same syllable, as in law, bay.

A Consonant is a letter which represents an articulate sound ; and in a word or syllable is never sounded alone, but always in connection with a vowel. The consonants are b, c, d, /, g, h, j, k, I, in, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, x, z, and w and y before a vowel sounded in the same syllable, as in war, youth.

A Diphthong is the union of two vowels in one sound ; as, oit in out ) oi in oil . They are of two kinds, Proper and Improper.

A Proper Diphthong is one in which both the vowels are sounded ; as, oy in boy, ou in round, oi in oil, ow in cow.

An Improper Diphthong is one in which only one of the vowels is sounded ; as oa in boat.

A IHphthong is the union of three vowels in one sound ; as eau in beauty.

A Syllable is a distinct sound uttered by one impulse of the voice, and represented by one or more letters ; as, farm, farm-er, ea-gle, a-e-ri-al.

A word of one syllable is called a Monosyllable.

A word of two syllables is called a Dissyllable.

A word of three syllables is called a Trisyllable.

A word of more than three syllables is called a Polysyllable.

Spelling is the art of expressing a word by its proper letters.

QUESTIONS.

What is English Grammar ? Into how many parts is it divided ? Mention them. What is Orthography ? What is a letter? How many letters are there in English ? How are they divided ? What is a vowel ? — a consonant ? Name the vowels. When are w and y vowels ? When, consonants ? What is a diphthong ? — a proper diphthong ? — an improper diphthong ? — a triphthong ? — What is a syllable ? What is a word of one syllable termed ? — of two ? — of three ? — of four or more ? What is spelling ?