Entroduction.

THE Compiler of "English Grammar, adapted to the different Classes of Learners," having been frequently solicited to publish an Abridgment of that work, for the use of children commencing their grammatical studies, he hopes that the epitome which he now offers to the publick, will be found useful and satisfactory.

His chief view in presenting the book in this form, is, to preserve the larger work from being torn and defaced by the younger scholars, in their first study of the general outline which it prescribes; and, consequently, to render their application to each part both new and inviting. If a small volume is better adapted to the taste of children than a large one; and more readily engages their attention, from the apparent shortness of the road they have to travel, the Abridgment will thence derive additional recommendations To give these arguments the greatest weight, the book is neatly bound, and printed with a fair letter, and on good paper.

A SLIGHT inspection of the manner in which the work is executed, will show that it is not intended to supply the place, or supersede the use, of the original Grammar. If, however, the teachers of such children as can devote but a small part of their time to this study, should think proper to make use of it, they will not, it is imagined, find it more defective than abridgments commonly are. It exhibits a general scheme of the subjects of

Grammar; and contains definitions and rules, which the Compiler has endeavoured to render as exact, concise, and intelligible, as the nature of the subject would admit.

THE tutors who may adopt this abridgment, merely as an introduction to the larger Grammar, will perceive in it a material advantage, which other short works do not possess; namely, that the progress of their pupils will be accelerated, and the pleasure of study increased, when they find themselves advanced to a grammar, which exactly pursues the plan of the book they have studied; and which does not perplex them with new definitions, and discordant views of the subject. The scholars also, who, in other seminaries, may be confined to this epitome, will be more readily invited afterwards to pursue the study of Grammar, when they perceive, from the intimate connexion of the books, the facility with which they may improve themselves in the art.

Ir may justly be doubted, whether there is any ground for objection to the following compilation, on account of the additional cost it will occasion The preservation of the larger Grammar, by using the Abridgment, may, in most instances, make amends for the charge of the latter. But were this not the case, it is hoped the period has passed away, in which the important business of education was, too often, regulated or influenced by a parsimonious economy.

THE Compiler presumes that no objection can properly be made to the phraseology, from an idea that, in books of this kind, the language should be

brought down to the level of what is familiar to children. It is indeed indispensable, that our words and phrases should, without requiring much attention and explanation, be intelligible to young persons; but it will scarcely be controverted, that it is better to lead them forward, and improve their language, by proper examples, than to exhibit such as will confirm them in a feeble and puerile mode of expression. Children have language, as well as other things, to learn and cultivate; and if good models are set before them, instruction and diligence will soon make them understood, and habit will render them familiar and pleasing. Perhaps there is no method by which this advantage may, in general, be more readily and effectually produced, than by accustoming children to commit to memory, sentences in which the words are properly chosen, and the construction and arrangement correct. This was one object which the Compiler had in view, when he composed the Grammar of which this is an epitome; and he hopes that he has not altogether failed in his endeavours to attain it.-But on this point, or on any other part of the work, it belongs not to him to determine: the whole must be referred to the decision of the impartial and judicious reader.

Holdgate, near York, 1797.

THE ninth and eleventh editions of this work have been much enlarged and improved. Exercises adapted to the rules have, in many instances, been copiously supplied. In particular, the exercises in parsing have not only been very considerably augmented; they have also been moulded into a new form and arrangement, which the author hopes will facilitate to young persons the acquisition of this fundamental part of grammatical knowledge.

An Abridgment must necessarily be concise, and it will, in some points, be obscure. Those teachers, therefore, who do not make use of the author's larger Grammar, in their schools, will find an advantage by consulting it themselves. Many of the rules and positions are, in that work, supported and illustrated by particular disquisitions; and the connexion of the whole system is clearly exhibited. The sixteenth edition of the duodecimo Grammar has, in these respects, received considerable improvements. The Grammar and Exercises, in two volumes octavo, may be consulted with still greater advantage.

Holdgate, near York, 1803.

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ADVERTISEMENT

TO THE BOSTON SECOND STEREOTYPE EDITION.

THE principal object of this edition of Grammar, has been to supply some of the defects, which have been experienced in the use of Mr. Murray's Abridgment, and so to enlarge it, that it may the more effectually assist the pupil in parsing and in the correction of the English Exercises.-All that is important, in the large Grammar, concerning Syntax and Punctuation, has been carefully condensed within the compass of this volume.

Care has also been taken to preserve the "Abridgment" entire, and not to violate nor distort, in the enlargement, any principle of the author, but to give his own rules and principles, as nearly in his own language, as the nature of the work would admit.

The list of Questions, it is believed, will give value to the book, and prove a useful incitement to application and correctness in the pupil. It is also believed, that this book will be found not only more convenient for use than a larger one; but, likewise, sufficiently copious to answer the purpose of teachers and pupils generally, and thereby prevent the neces→ sity and expense of another book. Persons desirous of obtaining an extensive and critical knowledge of grammar, it is not expected, will content themselves simply with the use of a compendium.

Boston, Jan. 1824.

N. B. TO THE SECOND EDITION.

As the plates of the first edition of this work were destroyed by fire, a second has been prepared with additions, and other improvements, interspersed through the book, which, it is believed, will render it much more useful and valuable than were former impressions. The Rules, Appendages, and Notes, in this Grammar, are numbered to correspond to the English Teacher, and the "Boston Stereotype Edition of Murray's Exercises" prepared by the

EDITOR.

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ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR is the art of speaking and writing the English language with propriety.

It is divided into four parts, viz. ORTHOGRAPHY, ETYMOLOGY, SYNTAX, and PROSODY.

ORTHOGRAPHY.

LETTERS

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, called the English Alphabet, are twenty-six in number.

These letters are the representatives of certain articulate sounds, the elements of the language.. An articulate sound, is the sound of the human voice, formed by the organs of speech."

Letters are divided into vowels and consonants. A vowel is an articulate sound, that can be perfectly uttered by itself; as, a, e, o; which are formed without the help of any other sound.

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

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