The analytic and synthetic English grammar

Front matter

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THE

Preface

English Grammar is generally regarded an important branch of education, and efforts are made to learn it in nearly all the schools throughout our vast country. Nevertheless, pupils fail, in nearly all cases, to acquire a tolerable knowledge of the science, and a still greater number fail to apply in practice what they learn of the theory.

Many grammarians have seen the futility of the usual grammatic course, and have endeavored to make improvements. Some have proposed a new nomenclature ; others have made a new arrangement of the several parts, and have introduced new definitions and new formulas of parsing. Enterprising teachers have again and again changed their text-books, in the hope of better success. Still, no subject is so badly taught, and no subject is so heartily despised by pupils of every grade.

Notwithstanding these numerous failures, the author has had the hardihood to risk the best portion of his life in preparing and publishing another work on this subject. He has endeavored to make improvements everywhere ; but he has done more by adding new principles, than in improving the modes of presenting the old.

That the author may be precisely understood, he will give a general outline of the principles in the science of grammar, and point out those which are peculiar to his own work.

IV PREFACE.

There are three leading principles in the science of grammar.

1. Language is composed of distinct parts of speech.

2. The parts of speech are associated in groups, called structures.

3. In these structures, some of the parts of speech are subject to modifications, called accidents, and all have a mutual dependence, indicated by the rules of syntax.

The prevailing system of grammar comprises the classification of words by the parts of speech, a description of the accidents, and the rules of syntax ; but it leaves learners to infer from them the structures. A few persons, out of a great number, may make out the inference ; but the rest are ever bewildered in the mazes of verbiage.

In this work, the structures are definitely named and described, so that they may be known as distinctly as tangible objects. In every case the elements suggest the name, and the name suggests the elements. Of these structures there are thirty-six in the English language, all of which are named by a combination of thirteen terms, taken chiefly from ordinary grammar.

As much of the claim of this work to public favor is founded on the peculiarities just described, it is necessary for the author to state in some detail what good this addition to the old system has enabled him to accomplish.

1. It has enabled the author to display the whole subject in a systematic manner.

2. It has enabled him to present the language in distinct portions, and to explain and illustrate the principles, without distracting the minds of learners with too many points at a time, and without anticipating their knowledge.

3. It has enabled him to present the theory and the illustrations in such a manner, that learners may apply the theory in elementary composition at every step of their progress.

4. It has enabled him to devise a mode of synthetic analyzation, by which may be expressed as much in one or two

PREFACE. V

minutes as can be done in one hour by the ordinary formulas of parsing.

5. It has enabled him to afford definite directions for applying the conjunctions.

6. It has enabled him to give a vast number of examples of verbal associations, in such a manner, that they may become the foundation of the style of all who may thoroughly study his work.

7. It has enabled him to supply a series of reading lessons by which teachers of taste and good judgment may bring their pupils to read with exact precision and great elegance.

By the preceding statements, it will be perceived that the author has prepared a work for teaching the English language generally ; that his book is at once a Grammar, an Elementary Rhetoric, and a Reader.

The theory of the structures constitutes the chief part of the philosophy of the language ; yet, the whole of it can be learned by pupils who can form clear conceptions of the nature of case in parsing. A grammarian of the old stamp can learn the names and elements of all the structures in one or two hours, and he could teach the whole system without a moment's study on a single lesson before the class is before him ; provided he commence at the beginning, and hear every recitation.

The chief objection made to a new grammar is founded on the difficulty of learning new formulas of parsing or analyzation. To relieve teachers from vague apprehensions on this account, the author states that his ordinary forms of analyzation by parts of speech and by structure, amount to about one hundred lines once told. Pupils should learn these formulas by concert repetition, under the correct vocal lead of the teacher. While conducting the exercises in this manner, even aged teachers could learn the formulas as rapidly as* their pupils.

The author has made these explanations and declarations in the hope, that those who may read his preface, may be induced to examine his work with care and candor ; and that, in forming an opinion in relation to its merits, they will not mistake the recoil of the mind from new principles and new modes of instruction, for the decisions of an unbiased judgment.

EDWARD HAZEN.

New York, July 15, 1853.

DIVISIONS OF THE WORK.

The work is divided into Three Parts.

Part First comprises a short treatise on orthography, the etymology and syntax of the noun, the article, the adjective, the pronoun, the adjective pronoun, and the verb.

These classes of words are discussed as they occur, as far as it would be expedient for young learners to study them. They receive further attention in other parts of the work.

Part Second comprises the etymology and syntax of the adverb, the preposition, the participle, the gerundive, [participial noun], the verb in the infinitive mode, and a full explanation of the structures of the language.

Part Third comprises the etymology and syntax of the conjunction, and the different classes of pronouns not before fully discussed.

Part First is published in a separate volume as an introductory grammar. The Three Parts bound together in 12mo. form, constitute the grammar complete for the use of the higher classes.

* # * — No examples of false syntax have been introduced, inasmuch as correct examples answer a far better purpose as guides to correct practice. The instructor can easily make false syntax out of the correct examples, by making that part of them incorrect to which the rule under consideration is applicable.

GENERAL CONTENTS. VU

GENERAL CONTENTS

ORTHOGRAPHY.

Letters, 10 Diphthongs,

Syllables, 11 Triphthongs,

ETYMOLOGY.

The parts of speech,

The substantive or noun,

Gender, 14 Person,

Number, 18 Case,

27,44

ETYMOLOGY AND SYNTAX.

The article,

The adjective,

Descriptive adjectives, 34 Numeral adjectives, 37

Proper adjectives, 36 Comparison of adjectives, 38

1. The personal pronouns, 5. The relative pronouns, 288

48, 277 6. The interrogative pro-

2. The compound personal noun, 297

pronouns, 49, 278 7. The interrogative ad-

3. The adjective pronouns, jective pronouns, 298

50, 280 8. The compound relative

4. The possessive personal pronouns, 300

pronouns, 286

The verb, 53

The transitive verb, 53 Defective verbs, 68

The intransitive verb, 53 Auxiliary verbs, 68

The passive verb, 54 Number and person, 69

Modifications of verbs, 54 Synopsis of the verb, 76

Regular verbs, 55 Forms of conjugation, 82

Irregular verbs, 60 Illustrations of the verb, 86

Vlll GENERAL CONTENTS.

THE STRUCTURES, 109

The intransitive predica- The intransitive post-sub-

tion, 113 stantive predication, 118

The transitive predication, 114 The passive post-adjec- The passive predication, 115 tive predication, 119

The intransitive post-ad- The passive post-substan-

jective predication, 116 tive predication, 120

The participle, 14S

The interjection, 158

The independent case, 160

Apposition, 163

The gerundive, 166

The gerundive predicates, 166

The prep, gerundive predicates, 175 The infinitive predicates, 185

Synopsis of the structures, 204

1. The additive conjunc- 6. The inferential con-

tions, 213 junctions, 254

2. The alternative con- 7. The adverbial conjunc-

junctions, 214 tions, 255

3. The correspondive con- 8. The comparative ad-

junctions, 214 verbial conjunctions, 261

4. The adversative con- 9. The conditional con-

junctions, 247 junctions, 269

5. The causative conjunc-

tions, 252

THE

ANALYTIC AND SYNTHETIC ENGLISH GRAMMAR