Talks on grammar

Preface

The business college man who tries to equip his students to meet their responsibilities finds the weak places in the common school work of the different communities.

The English grammar seems to be the most neglected study. Students have been given so little help in English grammar, spelling, word-building, etc., that I have sought to find some simpler methods than are usually employed. We must teach in one-tenth the time generally allowed to teachers in the other schools. It has for a long time been the custom in uncommercial sections to give children from eight to fifteen years in literary schools, but only three or four months in the vocational schools. Why this awful mistake was made need not be discussed here; but its bad results are being seen all the time. Poverty is the outcome of it in many cases. When an evil is seen by enough people, a remedy is sooner or later found and applied. Business colleges will in future be allowed more time than hereto¬ fore. Wisdom is demanding it.

In trying to overcome deficiencies in English, I have given talks to the Georgia-Alabama students, and discussed with them the errors found in their compositions, allowing them to ask questions freely. These talks or lectures grad¬ ually attracted the attention of the public, until I was in¬ duced to admit the public to hear them. During 1916 this

Preface was done, and I also accepted invitations to lecture before grammar schools and the Army Y. M. C. A. The people who heard the talks in the Georgia-Alabama were for the most part college graduates, club women and other cultured people, and their commendation encouraged me to write the main points of the lectures and print them in this book form. The work is simple. I am seeking to give in a read¬ able way the things that might have escaped your memory or attention. I hope they will stimulate your interest in the study of a great language.

Eugene Anderson

Table Of Contents

Preface.3

When to Begin Grammar.7

How Grammar Starts.8

Noun.10

Adjective.11

Pronoun.15

Verb.22

Pronouns with Verbs.29

Adverbs.31

Prepositions.'.38

Conjunctions.42

Interjection .43

Part II—Punctuation.45 Commas—Three Rules for.46

Comma—Rule II.47

Comma—When It Cannot Be Used.53

Comma—Rule III.54

Semicolon.56

Period .59

Interrogation.59

Exclamation.59

Abbreviations.60

Quotations.61