was not unfrequently the case, I endeavored to improve them. The arrangement of the illustrations, both in Etymology and Syntax, is essentially different, and will, it is hoped, be considered a manifest improvement. It will be seen, however, that in a system of grammar so concise as what is here presented, much is necessarily left to be supplied by the verbal instructions of the teacher. He should be a living grammar before his pupils, supplying every vacancy, remembering that on him, after all, is the student mostly dependent for instruction.

In conclusion, I may remark that the system of grammar here introduced was designed mainly as a text-book to guide my own classes, in this important branch of study; and if it should be found to be of any use to others, so much the greater will be the gratification.

NEWBURY SEMINARY, Aug. 22, 1838.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

English Grammar is the art of speaking and writing the English Language correctly.

Its general divisions are four, viz; Orthography, Etymology, Syntax and Prosody.

I. ORTHOGRAPHY.

Orthography teaches the nature and powers of letters, and the just method of spelling words. A letter is the first principle or least part of a word.

The letters of the English Language are twenty six.

Letters are divided into vowels and consonants. A vowel is an articulate sound of itself, as a, e, o, which can be fully sounded without the help of any other letter.

A consonant cannot be perfectly uttered without the help of a vowel, as b, d, f, l, which require a vowel to express them fully.

The vowels are a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes w and y.

W and y are consonants when they begin a word or syllable; otherwise they are vowels.

Consonants are divided into mutes and semivowels.

The mutes cannot be sounded at all without the aid of a vowel. They are b, p, t, d, k, and c and g hard.

The semi-vowels may be partially sounded without the aid of a vowel. They are ƒ, l, m, n, r, v, and c and g soft.

s, z, x,

Four of the semi-vowels, l, m, n, r, are also called liquids, from their readily uniting with other sounds.

A diphthong is the union of two vowels, pronounced by a single impulse of the voice, as ou in sound.

A triphthong is the union of three vowels pronounced in like manner, as iew in view.

A proper diphthong has both the vowels sounded, as oi in voice.

An improper diphthong has but one of the vowels sounded, as oa in boat.

Clothes, Shears, Thanks, Bellows,
Breeches, Scissors, Vitals, Folks, &c.

4. Some nouns are the same in both numbers,

as

Deer,
Sheep,

Swine,
Apparatus,

Series,
Species, &c.

5. Some nouns have the singular form, but include several individuals.

These are called Nouns of multitude. Such words as Army, People, Congress, School, Court, Family, &c. are of this class.

IV. OF CASE.

Case means condition; and as applied to nouns, case means the condition or state of nouns with regard to other words.

There are three cases, namely, the Nominative, the Possessive, and the Objective.

The Nominative case is the subject of the verb; or it is that concerning which something is asserted, denied, commanded or inquired; as, Charles is gone; Charles is not gone; Go, Charles; Is Charles gone?

The Nominative case usually comes before the verb.

The Possessive case denotes possession or property, and is easily distinguished from the other

cases by being always marked with an apostrophe, and followed immediately by another noun, expressed or implied; as, Edward's book; This book is Edward's.

The Objective case has its name from its being the object on which the action of a verb or participle terminates; or the object of a preposition; as, John loves study; Be mindful of duty.

The noun or pronoun next following an active verb, an active participle, or a preposition, is in the objective case, unless it be possessive; if it be possessive, then the noun following the possessive is in the objective.

ARTICLE.

An article is a word placed before nouns to limit their signification; as, A horse; The men. There are two articles; a, or an, and the. A, or an, is called the indefinite article, because it does not precisely point out any particular noun. The is called the definite article, because it precisely points out, or distinguishes the noun.

The indefinite article admits after it nouns of the singular number only; as, A man.

The definite article admits after it nouns of either the singular or plural number; as, The man; The

men.