Practical lessons in the use of English : for grammar schools : with supplement

Book I. For Primary and Intermediate Grades. PRACTICAL LESSONS IN THE USE OF ENGLISH

Book II. For Grammar Grades. Covers such technical Grammar as is essential to a correct use, of English.

IN PREPARATION.

A COMPOSITION FOR UPPER GRAMMAR AND HIGH SCHOOL GRADES.

D. C. HEATH & CO., Publishers,

Boston, New York, and Chicago,

Typography by J. S. Cushing & Co., Boston.

Preface

PUPILS whose school-life ends with the common school or the grammar school should receive such training in those schools as will best fit them for every-day life. Pupils who are to receive a more extended course of instruction should have a good foundation laid for future work. The following; lessons in language have been planned with reference to the future needs of both classes.

Careful attention should be given to the language used by the pupil in all recitations — every lesson, in fact, should be a language lesson. But special training must also be given upon certain points.

Throughout this work the aim is to lead the pupil to see for himself — to cultivate his powers of observation at every step.

From the first, the learner's attention is directed to the use of language as the expression of thought. His study is not confined to detached sentences. Selections from some of the best writers are introduced, that, from the study of these selections, he may learn certain facts about the English language, and at the same time form a taste for good literature. Many of the lessons are designed to awaken a love of nature or to deepen some moral impression.

iv PREFACE.

Each new topic is brought out by means of oral instruction. This is followed by a written exercise, aiding the pupils to remember the facts learned, and also training them to habits of independent work.

In every lesson, a definite task is laid out for the pupil. As the child remembers best that which interests him most, care has been taken to bring each exercise as near as possible to the child's own experience.

The reasons why certain forms are right and others wrong are, for the most part, omitted. The aim is to lead the pupil to use habitually the right expression.

Incorrect forms for correction are not given. It is believed that incorrect forms should not be placed before children. The child is led tc avoid common errors by being trained from the first to use the correct forms.

While nearly every lesson is a lesson in oral or in written composition, or in both, special lessons in composition are also given. In these lessons, the pupil is led to see clearly, before he is required to express his thoughts in writing.

Special attention is given to letter-writing and to business forms. Care has been taken to make this part of the work practical.

Thanks are returned to all who have aided, by suggestion, in the preparation of this work, and to the several publishers who have kindly permitted selections from their publications to be used. Particular acknowledgments are offered to Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin, & Co. for permission, by special arrangement, to use selections from the works of Longfellow, Whittier, and Lucy Larcom.

M. F. H.

Albany, N.Y., April, 1888.

SUGGESTIONS TO TEACHERS.

IT is not expected that the exact amount of work laid out in each lesson will be all that is required for every class. Such additional exercises should be given as the needs of the class may demand. Much of the work, particularly in composition, is meant to be suggestive merely. All school studies afford material for good work in composition. Whatever the pupil is interested in, whether it be a topic connected with his reading, geography, history, or some other lesson, will afford him a good subject for composition. Topics of local or of general interest will have a new meaning to the pupil if he writes about them.

Never ask a pupil to express a thought in writing until he sees clearly what he is trying to express. If one is trained from the first to express only those thoughts which are clearly seen, he will acquire greater accuracy of expression.

In dictation exercises, read each sentence slowly once, then require the class to write. Pupils must be trained not only to write correctly, but also to hear correctly.

Require all written work to be carefully done. Accept nothing but the pupil's best work.

The sentences in large type are to be used in developing the various subjects. The pupil should read these sentences from

SUGGESTIONS TO TEACHERS.

the book, and should answer orally such questions on them as may be asked. The questions in smaller type are for the use of the teacher, but they should not be followed too closely. The teacher should add such questions of her own as may be needed to make the subject clear. After the pupil has been led, by means of questions, to see the truth presented, he should, without assistance, write the exercise which follows.

The two books of this series are intended to cover the work from the third year of school to the High School.

PART THIRD. Page

Kinds of Sentences .

I

Subject and Predicate

Nouns .....

When to Use Capital Letters

IO

Words Derived from Proper Names

II

Study of Selection. — Continued .

Composition ....

.

Pronouns .

Adjectives .

.

Choice of Adject ves .

Comparison

.

The Paragraph

.

.

Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

. • • • 36

Active and Passive Forms .

Adjectives that Complete Predicates

Nouns that Com]

ulete Predicates

CONTENTS.

XXIII. Composition

XXIV. Study of Selection XXV. Review

XXVI. Adverbs

XXVII. Negatives

XXVIII. Position of Modifiers

XXIX. When to Use Adjectives

XXX. The Comma .

XXXI. Review

XXXII. Study of a Description

XXXIII. Composition .

XXXIV. Composition .

XXXV. Prepositions .

XXXVI. Choice of Prepositions

XXXVII. Conjunctions

XXXVIII. Interjections .

XXXIX. Simple and Compound Sentences

XL. General Review

XLI. Singular and Plural Forms of Nouns

XLII. Possessive Forms of Nouns .

XLIII. Compound Possessives .

XLIV. Masculine and Feminine Nouns

XLV. Composition

XLVI. Personal Pronouns

XLVII. Gender Forms of Pronouns .

XLVIII. Nominative Forms of Pronouns

XLIX. Objective Forms of Pronouns

L. Possessive Forms of Pronouns

LI. Adjective Pronouns

LII. Review .

ix

Page

LIII.

LIV.

Composition .

LV.

Singular and Plural Forms of

. 98

LVL

. Time Expressed by Verbs

LVIL

Regular and Irregular Verbs

LVIII.

• io 3

LIX.

Composition .

LX.

Forms of Write

LXI.

Blow ; Do ; Come ; See in

LXII.

Break; Go; Hear; Know

LXIII.

LXIV.

LXV.

LXVI.

Composition .

LXVIL

Lay and Lie .

LXVIII.

Sit and Set .

LXIX.

LXX.

Shall and Will .

. 127

LXXI.

Should and Would

LXXIL

Learn and Teach .

LXXIII.

May and Can

LXXIV.

Think ; Guess ; Expect

LXXV.

Stop and Stay

*33

LXXVI.

Love and Like

. 134

LXXVII.

Review .

• 135

LXXVIII.

Composition .

LXXIX.

Manner of Asserting

• 137

LXXX.

LXXXI.

LXXXII.

CONTENTS.

Page

LXXXIII.

LXXXIV.

Clauses ....

LXXXV.

Relative Pronouns

LXXXVI.

Forms of Who

LXXXVII. .XXXVIII.

Interrogative Pronouns Review ....

LXXXIX.

*53 xc.

XCI.

Explanatory Expressions

XCII.

Intermediate Expressions

XCIII.

Transposed Expressions

XCIV.

Quotation Marks xcv.

Indirect Quotations

XCVI.

XCVII.

Study of Selection. — Continued

XCVIII.

XCIX.

Dictation Exercises c.

Analysis of Sentences .

CI.

CII.

Review ....

Rules for Capital Letters Rules for Marks of Punctuation Rules for Plurals Rules for Possessives .

179 180 181 184 185

CONTENTS.

xl

PART FOURTH. Page

I.

The Parts of a Letter . .... 187

The Heading ....

III.

The Salutation .

IV.

The Conclusion

V.

The Address

VI.

The Body of a Letter

VII.

The Superscription

VIII.

A Business Letter

IX.

Letters Ordering Periodicals

X.

Change of Address

XL

Letters Ordering Books

XII.

Miscellaneous Orders

XIII.

Miscellaneous Applications

XIV.

XV.

Bills ...

XVI.

Receipts .....

XVII.

Advertisements for Articles Lost

XVIII.

Advertisements for Articles Found

XIX.

Advertisements for Help

XX.

Advertisements for Situations

XXI.

Notices of Public Meetings

XXII.

Telegraphic Despatches

XXIII. Invitations

List of Abbreviations

CONTENTS.

PART FIFTH. Lesson I

Kinds of Sentences .

II.

Kinds of Nouns

III.

Number Forms of Nouns .

IV.

Gender Forms of Nouns .

V.

Case Forms of Nouns

VI.

Uses of Nouns .

VII.

Uses of Nouns. — Continued

VIII.

General Review of Nouns .

IX.

Review of Pronouns .

X.

Correct Use of Pronouns .

XI.

Review of Adjectives .

XII.

Review of Verbs

XIII.

Mode . . .

XIV.

The Infinitive . . .

XV.

The Participle

XVI.

Tense ....

XVII.

Person and Number Forms

XVIII.

Auxiliary Verbs

XIX.

Conjugation of the Verb Choose

XX.

Passive Forms of the Verb Choose

XXI.

Progressive Forms of the Verb Choose

XXII.

Forms of Verbs ....

XXIII.

Forms of Verbs. — Continued .

Compound Sentences

3°7

XXXVI. Miscellaneous Sentences for Ai lalysis

3°9

Selections for Thought Analysis.

I.

The Birthday of Washington .

II.

The Constitution ....

• 3*3

III.

What Constitutes a State?

IV.

Duties of American Citizens .

V.

Patriotism

• 3*5

VI.

America

Exercises in Composition Summary of Definitions and Rules Abbreviations ....