OF

THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE;
OR, AN

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INTROOUCTION TO COMPOSITION;

1·

IN WHICH

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':.·'

SE NT ENCES ARE CLASSIFIED INTO VERBAL

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FORMS AND PHRASES.

,
\I

AUTHOR OF

B Y E D W A R D 'H A Z E N, A. M. •
"
.
u THE SYMBOLICAL SPE LLt NO·B OOK,"
THE SPE Li.E R AND DEl'tNER,''
t1

A ND
~\

41

TllE PANORAM A OF ·PROFES810~S AND TRADES,
OR POPULAR TECHNOLOO Y."

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v·V

Y/

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~ .-· --: ~

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........if.r \: . . __ . ~. .

NEW YORK:
HUNTINGTON AND SAVAGE, 174 PEARL STREET.
1842.

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1 1
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PREFACE.

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IT appeats to be the prevailing sentiment, that English Grammar is not capable of furth er improvement, either in the science
itself, or in the manner of presenting it. Had the author been
L1 of this opinion, he would not have tasked his energies and
patience to prepare another work on this subject. On the contrary, he believed that no branch of learning so much needed
improvement as that of English Grammar. He is sustained in
this belief not only by a careful examination of the subject, but
by the facts that pupils acquire but little know ledge of this science by a long and laborious study, and that what they do acquire,
! commonly remains an inefficient theory.
J
The difficulties which have attended this studv, are attributed
f,;:_ :li to various causes. Some contend that they ure. inherent in the
subject itself, while others insist that they are the result of a.
bad nomenclature and inaccura te definitions. It is evident, however, to the author of this work, that they result chiefly from a
failure to exhibit the construction of the language in a distinct
. and systematic manner, and from a want of practical exe~cise on
the part of learners. It has; therefore, been his principal aim to
supply this deficiency, and to afford the means for effec ting a
change in the method of instruction .
T o ex hibit the constructiort of the language in a distinct and
systematic manner, sent ences have been clas;ified into vf-rbal
form.s and phrases. The author has discover ed that th ere are,
in th e language, but five verbal forn?.s, and jitJe p hrases, which,
in their various combinations, constitute its whole frame-work.
The verbal forms are first presented, then the phrases in com-

\ ' J..i..:
t

E?iTEllED, kccortliug to the Act of Congress, in the year 1842 ,

Bv EDWARD HAZEN,
in the Clerk'• Office uf the District Court of Maryland.

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STEREOTYPED BY REDFIELD & SAVAGE,

13 Chambers Street , New York.

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f. .;

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PllE FACE.

1

bin:i.tion wiLl1 th em, and, lastly, 1.hc pl:rases an<l the verhal forms
are severally connecteu by tl1e conjunctions. The frame-work
of tlie language being thus presc-nted in distinct portions, learners catl direct their whole a ttcn liO!l to a single part at a time.
Every verba l form an d every phr1se, as well as every part of
speech, has bee:1 foll y ill ustrated by examples, which of th emselves constitute a complete synopsis of the langu age, and which
render the subject so plain, that persons possessed of. ·o rdinary
capacity, can und erstand the pri:1c iples, as they occur.
Th ese examples suppl y the means ],y which the wh ole theory
of Gramm:u may be carried in to prac tice ; fur, when pupils have
become familia r with the ety mology and syn:ax of any verbal
fo rm or phrase, they may use it as a m odel for the construction
of oth ers. This exe:·cise will so impress on the mind bot h the
rules and the construction, that th ey can neYer be e!faced from
the mem ory. I t will also induce in tellectual e!fort, by a!fording
adequate motives for exertion.
Th e exercise of constructing verbal forms an d phrases after
model s, w ill liKewise be attended with the incidental advan tage
of learning the meaning and applica tion of word s. If the design
of the anther be full y carried out, pupi.ls will acquire a knowledge
of six or eight th ousa1Hl words.
Hav ing thus obtained a definite kuowledge of th e construction
of sentences, wge ther with the meaning an d application of a suffi cie nt vocab ulary of words, pupils w ill experience Lut little difficulty in expressing their thoughts wi th propriety and elegance,
on any subjec t which they may understan d.
Th e claims of thi s Grammar rest ch iefly on the peculia riti es
• which have just been expl~inetl; n evert h ele~s th e author has
taken un wearied pains to supply correct deliui ti ons and appropria te rul es, as wdl as to afford correct fo rmulas of parsing; an d,
although he may have occasionally failed in accomplishing
J '.1is object, pupils cannot suffer materially from rnch failure,

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u.:n~s:_uch ~s-~~~-~~~~~~~onstructi~/
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PR Er'AC E .

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------f)-11

th e examples for parsing and imitation. \Vhen th e classifi- ·
cation of sentences, or the model sys tem, is fully appreciated,
sligh t devia tions from accuracy in other respects will be regard-

!' ed as unimpor tant.
I

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No essential changes, either in the nomenclature, or in the
general theory of Grammar, have been made, as both have been
deemed, in nearly all respects, sufficiently accurate. A few n ew
term s, however, have been introd uced, which relate chiefly to
the classification of sentences.
E special attention has been bes towed on the conjunction.'
This part of speech has never before been sufficiently explained
and illustrated; and writers who have learned to use words of
this class w ith accuracy, have been guided almost exclusively by
usa,,.e. The same remarks are also applicable to the gerundive,
(pa;ticipial noun.) . The gerundive is often imperfec tly understood by teach ers of Grammar; but here it has been so fully
explained, that no stud ent need mistake its character.
F alse syntax, which occupies $0 prominent a position in the
preniling system of Grammar, has been entirely discarded, because th e practice of writing correct examples after mod els renders it unn ecessary, and even futil e. T eachers will meet with
more fal se syntax in the sentences constructed by their pupils
than would be necessary for any grammar.
Prosody, being an extensive branch of Grammar, cannot b~
treated with success in th e same· volume with etymology and
I syntax, without enlarging the book beyond proper bounds. It
has, th erefore, been postponed , to constitu te a part of a w ork,
which the author may hereafter prepare for publication.
Some teach ers may be deterred from adopting this Grammar
as a text-book, from a fear of encountering insurmountable
di fficu lties ; but th ey are assured, that t hey will find the sys. tern easy and practicabl e throughout, and that th ey will discover,
in the construction of the languagl"., beauties which th ey had never
before seen.

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6
PREFACE.

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In construct ing verbal forms and phrases after models, 1
ers may not be able to call to mind a s.ufficie1~t n un~ber ~f w
to answer·their purposes. To supply tlus deficiency m theu vocabulary, "T1IE SPELLER AND D EFI1''"EH" is proposed as a book of reference. It is peculiarly adapted to thi s purpose, because the words
are there classified according to the parts of speech.
To foreigners who wish to learn the English Language , this
Grammar affords peculiar fucilities, as it conducts the student
directly to a knowledge of its construction. It also supplies the
means of acquiring the meaning of a great number of words in
common use. Having studied the work according to the directions, they will be able to read , by occasional reference IO a
dictiona ry, any well-written production in th e language.
'.Vith th ese explanations and remarks, the author submits his
work to the public, confidently anticipating for it a cordial reception, especially by the instructors of youth, who have long
experienced the difficulties of communicating a competent knowledge of this useful, but difficult branch of learning.
New York, February, 22, 1842.

C O NTENTS.
•'

P.i.OE.

10
13
14
18
19
20
28
3.1
35
38
41
46
49
51

Orthography
Etymology
The Noun, or Substantive
Syntax
The Article
The Noun and the Article
The Adjective
Numeral Adjectives
The Pronoun
The Personal Pronouns
The Adjective Pronouns
The Verb
The Participle
Classification of Sentences
The Intransitive Form
The Intransitive Post-adjeclive Form
The Intransitive Post-substantive Form
The Transitive Form
The Passive Form
Irregular Verbs
Impersonal Verbs
The Adverb
The Interjection
Apposition
The Independent Case

54

.

63
63
74
84
89
95
97
105
106
108, 137

r:,,, ,,,,.,,,,,0, .
I

PAGF>

110

!he Phrases .
Classilicati on of Phrases
Ip
..
. repos1t1ve Pbrnses
Participial Phrases
Gerui1di ve Phrases

111

Prepositive Ge ru ndive Phrases
Iofiniri ;-e Ph rases
Punctuati on
Th e Co11junction
Additional Co njuncti ons
Alternative Co11junct ions
Corresp ondive Cu11jm1ctions
A d versa tive Conjunctions
Causa tive Conju11crions
Inferent ial Conj un ct ions
Adverbial Conjunctions

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•

Com~a.rative Adve rbial Conjunctions

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Cond t twna l Conjuactions

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Pronouns resumed from page 44

The Personal Pron ouns
The Possessiv~ Personal P ronouns
Th e R ela tiv e Pronouns
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The Int erro,:,00 at ive Pron ouns

•

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The Interrogative Adjective Pronouns
The Compound Relative Pronouns
The Adjective Pronouns
Appendi x

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CO NTENTS .

HAZEN' S

111
111
126
139
146
151

PRACTICAL GRAMMAR

165

INTRODUCTION TO COMPOSITION.

171
175
175
175
205
208
209
210
215
216
225
225
226
227
234
235
236
239
240

AND

PA}.\T I.

LANGUAGE.
LA NGUAGE is composed of sounds and ·words, the
import of which has been established by usage.
Langua ge is either oral or written. It is said to be
oral when spoken ; and . written when expressed by
letters or artificial sig ns.
The various languages are usu ally designated by the
name of the people who have used them ; as the Greek
langua ge, the French language, or the English lang uage.

G RAM l\'I AR .
Grammar is the science of language, and the art of
speaking and writing with nccuracy .
It is denominated UN IVER~AL GRAMMAR, when the
principles explained are applicable to all languages; and
P ARTICULAR GRAMMAR, when they are applicable to a
particular lan guage.

!

10

HAZEN'S PRACTICAL GRAl\lfl\IAR.

DIVISIONS OF GRAMMAR.

.j

HAZEN'S PRACTICAL GRAMMAR.

11

- THE ALPHA BET MA y AL S 0 BE CJ, ASS ED AS IN
THE FOLLOWING TABLE.

Grammar is divided into four parts; namely,
ORTHOGRAPHY,
ETYMOLOGY,

SYNTAX,

PROSODY.

ORTHOGRAPHY.
Orthography relates to the nature and power of letters, and to their combination in words.

B

A a

E

e

J >M<

i

0

0

p
~ VOWELS.

l

F

v

: } LABIALS.

f} .

V

Mm}

Ut u

N n

HISSING LABIALS.

NASAI,S.

.

LETTERS.

c

Letters are characters used in writing and printing, to
represent articulate sounds.

In the English alphabet there are twenty-six letters,
some of which have several different sounds.
The alphabet is divided into vowels and consonants.
A vowel is a Jetter, the name of which constitutes a
full, open sound.
The vowels are a, e, i, o, u; and w and y, when they
do not begin a syllable.
A consonant is a Jetter which cannot be distinctly
uttered without combining with it the sound of a vowel.
Wand y are consonants when they begin a syllable.
Consonants are divided into mutes and semi-vowels.
The mutes are b, d, le, p, q, t, and c and g hard.
The semi-vowels are f, j, l, m, n, r, s, v, x, z, and c
and g soft.

L, m, n, r, are also denominated liquids.

c'

H h

L

T

~}

PALATALS.

s
x

x

z

z

s

HISSING DENTALS.

W W} VOWELS OR
y y CONSONANTS.
- • I is a consonant, w h en 1't has the sound of y before anoth·
er vowel; as in union, minion.
t when it has the
t U is both a vowel and a consonan ,
sound of yu, as in useful.

12

HAZEN'S PRACTICAL GRAMMAR.

HAZEN'S PRACTICAL GRA l\'Ii\iAR.

SYLLABLES.

ETYMOLOGY.

A syllable is a distinct sound uttered by a single impulse of the voice; as ba, be, bat.

Etymology relates to
.
d the derivation
hons, an
Words, in regard to

A diphthong is a union of two vowels in one syllable; as ou in mouse.

·
th
. e modificathe classification,
of words.
. ..
£
are either pnm1trve or
orm, '

ot be reduced or
derivative, simple or ~cmpoun~. t
A rimitive word is one t a cann
. trace clpto a more simple word in the language ; as, man,

A triphthong is a union of three vowels in one syllable; as ieu in adieu.
WORDS.

good, cu~·e. .
·<l .s one that h as been formed from a
A derivative wo1 1
..
primitive word by adding one syllable or mo1e' as,

A word is a sound, or combination of sounds, which
is used in the expression of thought.
A monosyllable is a word of one syllable.
A <lissyll able is a word of two syllabl es.
A trissyllable is a word of three syllables.
A polysyll able is a word of four or more syllables.

man-ly, good-ness'. w-rab:~~t is not 'combined with any

A simple word is one
man g· ood cure.
other wor cl i as,
'
'
£
d by a
A compound word is one th~t has been orme'" .
. wor ds '. as ' peace-1nw.e1.
. of t\VO or more entire
.
umon

DI VIS IO N OF WORDS INTO SYLLABLES .

CLASSIFICATION OF WORDS . . .

Words have as many syllables as distinct soun<ls: and
they should genera lly be dividt~tl as the sounds are
heard in pronunciation.

I

In writing or printing, a syllable should never be
divid ed at the end of a line ; nor should a vowel beginning a word ever end a line.
NOTE.-The limited treatise on Orthography here gi,·en is deemed
suffi cient, since this branch of Grammar is common ly learned from
spelling books, and by practice in writing wo rds, without much regard
to special rules for spelling.

. 1anguage may
The words in the English
. be' d!Vlded
into ten classes, called parts of speech ; namel;'

1

ARTICLE.

ADVERB.

ADJECTIVE.

PREPOSITION.

PR ONOUN.

I NTERJECTION.

VERB.

CONJUNCTION.

.
.
a rts of speech here adopted' is the
NoTE.-The clasS1ficat10n of the p
h·losophical one might have
P erha s a more p '
one generally proposed.
p 1
onsent to any considerable
. d
the teac \crs to c
.
ar~ument than it would
been chosen; but to m uce
reqmre more
~
chan(l'e .m t h.lS par ticular ' micrht
::;,
.

I

L'==========!.1

PARTICIPLE.

NouN.

\ . be
\

-

"~orlh, either to the:::.: to the pnbhc .
2

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'\
'
\
\

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/ 14

HAZE N'S PRACTICAL GRAMMA R.

HA.ZEN'S PR ACTICAL GRAMM.AR.

15

COLLECTIVE NOUN.

A noun is the name of any thing that can be separately considered.

.
A collective
noun I's the name of a collection of objects taken as a whole.

Examples.
Animal
H ero
Vessel
Philip

Virtue
Patience·
Goodness
Gravity

Examples.
Motion
Solitude
Admittance
Concealment

Nouns are divided into common, proper, and collective.
COMMON NOUN.

Field
Town
River
Mountain

Paper
Carpet
Music
Farmer

Purity
Magnitude
R em oval
Investment

PROPER NOUN.

A proper noun is a particular name of a thing, applied to distinguish it from others of the same class.
Examples.
Charles
Mary
July
Sunday

Hannah More
Robert Fulton
John Marshall
Peter Little

Nouns are varied in
number, person, and case.

IN

N OU NS ,

or applicatioll by gender,

GENDER.

Examples.
Man
Child
Fowl
Horse

VARIATIONS

ciorm

A common noun is a name applicable to a class of
things.

Library
Company
Multitude
Legislature
Committee

School
Army
Party
Family
Faction

Mob
Clan
Crew
Flock
Gang

Gender is a distinction in nouns with regard to ~e~.
There are three gen ders '. the masculine, the femmme,
and the neuter.
The masculine gender denotes the male sex.
The feminine gender denotes the female sex.
.
The neuter gender denotes that the object is not distinguished by sex.

Examples.
1'fa.sculint .

Europe
Ohio
Hudson
Andes

Man
King
Lord
Stag
Actor

Feminine .

Woman
Queen
Lady
Hind
Actress

Neuter.

Book
Lamp
House
Motion
Lesson

~----I_:I_A_Z_E_N_'_s_P_R_A_c_T_rc_A_L__G_R_A_l\_rn_1_A_R_._ _ _1_1

HAZEN'S PR '~CTJ CA
· L GRAl\Il\JAR.

,/ 16

~lETI!ODS OF EXPRESSING

I

nm

GEND
.
ER OF NOUNS.

3. By a difference of termination

Examples.

There are three method
f
.
of nouns.
s o expressing the gender
Ma sc uline .

Exan!]Jlcs.
Lad
Boy
Son
Beau
King
Lord
Earl
Buck
Uncle
Nephew
Monk
Hart
Stag

Feminine.

1llasculine.

Lass
Girl

Feminine.

Bull

Cow

D aughte r
Belle
Queen
Lady
Countess
Doe
Aunt
Niece
Nun
Roe
Hind

Bullock
Horse
Cock
Drake
Gander
Hu sband
Father
Brother
Master
Sloven
Wizard
Bachelor

Heifer
Mare
H en
Duck
Goose
Wife
Mother
Sister

Witch
Maid

Exam1llcs,
A h e-goat
A he-bear
A cock-sparrow
A man-servant
A male-child

l\Male relations
iale

F emi nine.

A she-goat
A she-bear
A hen-sparrow
A m aid-se rvant
A femal e-child
F emale relations

Feminine.

I

Mistress
Slut

2. BY pre fi xing
· another word.
.i.U asculinc.

ilfo.scuz.ine .

Poetess
Poet
Heiress
H eir
Prophetess
Prophet
Hostess
Host
Tigress
Tiger
Countess
Count
Huntress
Hunter
J
ewess
Jew
Songstress
Songster
Peeress
Peer
Seamstress
Seamster
Princess
Prince
Ar bi tress
Shepherdess Arbiter
Sh epherd
Enchantress
Enchanter
Baroness
I
Baron
Tailoress
Tailor
Deaconess
Deacon
Di rec tress
Director
Li oness
Li on
l\
Vo taress
Votary
Patron ess
Patron
Viscountess
Viscount
Actress
Actor
\
Heroine
Hero
Authoress
Auth or
Landgravine
Landgrave
Tutoress
Tutor
Widow
Widower
Traitoress
Traitor
Sultana
Sultan
Conductor Conductress
Czarina
Czar
Emperess
Emperor
Bride
Brid
egroom
Electress
Elector
Textatrix
Testator
Governess
Governor
Executrix
Executor
Protectress
Protector
Ambassador Ambassadress Admini strator Administratrix

I. By a change in the entire word.
l+fasculine.

Fc11l'inine.

J

descenda.n~=ts=======F=e=n=1=al=e==d=e=sc=e=n=d_a_n_t_s~~

I
I

Many words are applicable to objects which are either male
or female; such as parent, child, teacher,friend, cousin, &c. The
sex of the individuals to which such words refer can often be
1
det er mined by the context; but when this cannot be done, the
epithets masculine or feminine, or masculine al one, may be
used in grammatic solution. "\Vhen two persons of different \
sexes are expressed by one word, th e terms masculine and
f eminine should be used. The words common and doubtful as \
applied to gender are exceptionable.

18

HAZEN'S PRACTICAL GRAMMAR.

HAZEN'S PRACTICAL GRAMMAR.

NUMBER.

'

I

Number is the individual or collective estimate of
objects.
There. are two numbers; the singular and the plural.
The srngular number denotes but one object.
The plural number denotes more than one object.

Man
Foot
Hat
Book

Plural.

81.ng ular.

Men
Feet
Hats
Books

Lash
Brush
Knife
Child

ETYM OLO GY AN D SYN T AX.

THE ART I CL E.
The article is a word placed before the noun to modify its application.
There are two articles, namely, a and the.
.11. is called the indefinite article. It is used to bring
the noun from its widest application to denote a single
object of a class or -kind. .11. becomes an before a

Examples.
Singular.

19

P lural.

Lashes
Brushes
Knives
Children

vowel sound.
The is called .the definite article. It is used to bring
the noun from its widest application to distinguish one
object or more from all others of the same class.

Pers~n and case will be explained where the pupil will be
more hkely to understand their nature.

Ex am p l es.
Singular.

Singular

SYNTAX .
Syntax relates t.o the agreement and government of
words, and to their appropriate arrangement m sen~~

This part of grammar consists chiefly of rules deduced from ~he. customary forms of speech.
A
A rule, m its
· general application, is a definite d.irec t.10n.
.n except10n to a rule is a deviation from it in some
particular case or cases.
·

I

The king
The camel
The farmer
The pyramid
The example
The christian

A wolf
A beaver
An hour
An author
A unit
A eulogy

Plural.

The kings
The camels
The farmers
The pyramids
The examples
The christians

RULES OF SYNTAX .

The article a or an belongs to nouns in the singular
number.
The article the belongs to nouns in the singular or
plural number.

---

20

HAZEN'S PRACTICAL GRA TIDIAR.

THE NOUN AND THE ARTICLE.

Words ending in other consonants form their plural
by adding s to the singular.

METHODS OF F ORMING THE PLURAL

The regul ar method
· b
·
is Y adding s, or es to
When the sing ular
h
t e plural is formed by

Singular.

A tax
A box
A gas
A kiss
A lash'

Examples for Parsing and Imitation.

OF N OUNS,

of forming- the pl 1 f
ura o nouns
the singular.
'
ends in x s
,
' ' ss, sh, or ch soft,
adding es.

Singular.

Examples for Parsing and Imitation.
P lural.

The taxes
The boxes
The gases
The kisses
The lashes

Singular.

P lural.

A brush
A branch
A batch
A crutch
A dish

The brushes
Th e branches
Th e batches
The crutches
The dishes

A Tax -The Taxes.
.!l is the, indefinite article and b e l ongs to tax.
R ULE . 'I he article a or an belonrrs t
•
o nouns m the
0
smg ular number.
-

Tax is a common noun, neuter
d
gen er, and singular
number.
The is the definite article and belongs t o t x
.R
T
a es.
ULE.
he article the belongs to nouns in the sin ular or plural number.

g

Taxes is a common noun, n euter gender, and plural
number.
N OTE.-Parsing is an exercise in which sentences and Jlh r
d I ·, .
. .
ases are arrnyze . m1.utrnn , as applied Ill this wo rk , is the constru c tio
f
tences 0
.
n o sen.
.
. f .
' r parts o sentences, in conformity with the examples dd
d

I

a

uce

Plural.

The slab
Th e sled
The stag
The chin
The scrap

The slabs
The sleds
Th e stags
The chins
The scraps

Si11gular.

The critic
Th e sandal
Th e chicken
The winter
The goblet

P lural .

The criLics
The san dals
The chickens
The winters
The goblets

Nouns ending in y, preceded by a vo wel in the same
syllable, form the plural by adding s to the singular.

Examples for Pursing and Imitation.
Singular .

The
The
The
The

EXAMPLES OF PARSING.

us mo<lels.

21

lTAZEN's P RAC TICAL GRAl\'fll1AR.

clay
dray
key
valley /

P lural .

The clays
The drays
The keys
The valleys

Singular.

The volley
The monkey
The chimney
The attorney

Plurul~

The voll eys
The monkeys
The chimneys
The attorneys

)
The practice of defining the part of speech, and of
every other property of each word while parsing, is
tedious as well as unnecessary. A few questions and
e~planation s in relation to the definitions, du ring the
exercise , or before it, will be found sufficient.
After the pupil has parse d the examples, the teacher
is requested to require him to write others exactly like
them in grammatical c onstruction.
The exa mpl~s
should be first written on a slate, and then copied on
paper to be preserved as specimens of original con-

22

23

HAZEN'S PRACTICAL GRAMMAR.

HAZEN'S PRACTICAL GRAMMAR.

Nouns ending in y, not preceded by a vowel in the
same syllable, form their plural by changing the y
to ies.

Nouns ending in o, neither pronounced like oo in too,
nor preceded by a vowel, form their plur al by adding es
to the singular.

Examples for Parsing and Imitation.
Singular.

A fly
A cry
A berry
A city
A proxy

Plural.

The flies
The cries
The berries
The cities
The proxies

Singular.

A piracy
A lady
A prodigy
A destiny
A liberty

Plural.

The piracies
The ladies
The prodigies
The destinies
The liberties

Nouns ending in o pronounced like oo as in too or in
.
'
o preceded by a vowel, form their plural by adding s to
the singular.

Examples for Parsing.
Singular.

A bamboo
A tattoo
A nuncio
Scipio

Plural.

The bamboos
The tattoos
The nuncios
The Scipios

struction. This exercise should be continued throughout the work, wherever examples for parsing and imitation may be found.
The pupil having been thus carried through a course of
phraseology, will very readily learn to combine sentences on any subject which he may understand. Composition will, by this means, be changed from a difficult
and irksome task, to a comparatively easy and pleasant
exercise.
The author would also remark, that the pupil should

Examples for Parsing and Imitation.
Singula~.

A hero
A tyro
A negro
An echo

Singular.

Plural.

The
The
The
The

A veto
A motto
A portico
A manifesto

heroes
tyroes
negroes
echoes

Plu ral.

The vetoes
The mottoes
The porticoes
The manifestoes

Nouns ending with a, e, u, or w, form their plural
by adding s t~ the singular.

Examples for Parsing and Imitation.
Singular.

An era
A zebra
A spade
A hive
A pie
A hue
A saddle

Plu ral.

The eras
'fhe zebras
The spades
The hives
The pies
The hues
The saddles

Singular.

A formula
A diploma
A medicine
A signature
A swallow
A gnu
A landau

Plural.

The formulas
The diplomas
The medicines
The signatures
The swallows
The gnus
The landaus

learn the meaning of all the words in the various examples. To do this, he should always have a dictionary at hand to which he may refer while preparing his
lessons ; and the teacher should render their meaning
still more distinct by explanations and illustrations.
To determine the part of speech, regard should be
had to the etymological definitions only, as a reference
to the dictionary for this purpose should never be
, encouraged by the teacher.

HAZEN'S PRACTICAL GRAJ\Tl\IAR .

Some nouns ending with the sound off, change
into v in the plural.

HAZE N'S PRACTfCA L GRAi\DIAR.

f
DEFECTIVE NOUNS.
Defective nouns are of several classes.
1. Those which are used only in the singular form

Examples for Pursing.
Singular.

The elf
The shelf
The wolf
The leaf
The loaf
The sheaf
The beef

'

;.j

Plural.

The elves
The shelves
The wolves
The leaves
The loaves
The sheaves
The beeves

S i ngu lar .

The knife
The life
The wife
The thief
The wharf
The half
The calf

Plural.

The knives
The lives
The wives
The thieves
The wharves
The halves
The calves

Staff, a walking-stick, makes staves in the plural; but when
staff is applied as a military t"'rm, it has the regular plural; as
staff, staffs, flagstaff, flagstaffs.

Exceptions to the preceding rules for the formation

and sense.

Examples .
Gold
Love
Pride
Pitch
Wheat

I

l
I
I

Sloth
Sugar

Cotton
Silver
Pity
Hatred
Contempt
Disdain
Humility

Hone sty
Violence
Innoc e nce
T e mp erance
A fflu e nce
Confin e ment
Unconcern

Odium
Heroism
Canvass
Eucharist
·Goodn e ss
Blackness
Laziness

The names of things which are weighed or measurecl, belong
this class; hut they admit of a plura l, when several kinds of
the same sort are referred to; as, wheats, teas, sugars, cottons,

lO

of the plural.

I
I coffees, 0-c.

Examples for Pursiug.
S ingular.

.

:

The man
The woman
The child
The brother
The ox
The foot

P lural.

The
The
The
The
The
The

men
women
children
brethren
oxen
feet

Singular.

P lural .

The to oth
The goose
The louse
The mouse
The die
The penny

The teeth
The geese
Th e lice
The mice
The dice
The pence

Pennies denote real coin; pence, th eir value in computation.
The plural of die, a cube used in gam es, is dice ; but die, a
stamp, has dies in the plural. Brother, a member of th~ same
family, in common discourse has the regular plural; but brother in the Scriptures and in church phraseology, has b,·ethren.
The plural of pea is peas and peas e; th e form er denotes the
seeds as distinct objects; ·the latter,the seeds in a mass.

I ~de~ho,. w::~o:~·:~ead~i~~::.lucal fo~~::~:, "n".
Lees
Lungs
Goods
Dregs
Tongs
Shears
Clothes
Thanks
Downs

Riches
Ashes
Breeches
Bowels
Entrails
Vitals
Victuals
Shambles
Annals

Calends
Filings
Tidings
Matins
Customs
Drawers
Embers
Pincers
Snuffers
3

Vespers
Betters
Fetters
Bitters
Scissors
Mallows
Orgies
Archives
Compasses

26

HAZEN'S PRACTICAL GRAMM.AR.

HAZEN'S PRACTICAL GRAMMAR.

3. Those which have the plural form, and yet are
to be used in the singular sense.

When the principal word in a compound noun
placed first, it is varied to express the plural.

Optics
Phy.sics
Politics
Hysterics

Mechanics
Mathematics
Pneumatics '
Metaphysics

4. Those which have the singular form, and yet
may be used in the singular or plural sense.

Fish
Trout
Shad
Herring
Haddock

Salmon
Cannon
Cattle
Hiatus
Apparatus

5. Those which have the plural form, and yet may
be used either in the singular or plural sense.
Examples.
Alms
Means
Odds

f

Amends
Wages
Series

Species
Gallows
Bellows

'Vhen a title is prefixed to a proper noun to designate a class
of persons of the same name, the name is varied to form the
plural; as, The Miss Hamlins, The two Mr. Smitl1s. But when
the persons are referred to individually, the title is varied and
sometimes also the name or names to express th e plural; as,
Misses Ann and Julia Clifton, llfessrs. Cushing and Sons.

Plural.

S-ingular.

Father-in-law
Court-martial
Commander-in-chief

Fathers-in-law
Courts-martial
Commanders-in-chief

Words adopted into our language, sometimes retain
their original plural, as in the following list.
Singular.

Examples.
Deer
Sheep
Kine
Swine
Hose

is

Examples,

Examples.
News
Billiards
Ethics
Conics

27

P lural.

Data
Datum
Strata
Stratum
Errata
Erratum
Arcana
Arcanum
Effluvia
Effiuvium
Desideratum Desiderata
Animalculum Animalcula
Automata
Automaton
Phenomenon Phenomena
Criteria
Criterion
Genera
Genus
Stamina
Stamen
Foci
Focus
Magi
Magus
Stimuli
·Stimulus
Genii
Genius
{ Cherubs
Cherub
Cherubim
{ Seraphs
Seraph
Seraphim
\ Appendices
Appendix
Appendixes

P lural,

S ingular.

Axes
Axi~
Bases
Basis
Crises
Crisis
Direreses
Direresis
Ellipses
Ellipsis
Emphases
Emphasis
Hypotheses
Hypothesis
Antitheses
Antithesis
Metamorphosis Metamorphoses
Apices
Apex
Calces
Cab:
Indices
Index
Vertices
Vertex
Vortices
Vortex
Virtuosi
Virtuoso
Ignes fatui
Ignis fatuus
Encomia
Encomium
Encomiums
{Memoranda
Memorandum Memorandums

!

28

H AZE N'S PRACTICAL GRAi\I.\lAR.

HAZE!'\'S PRACT! C AL GRAi\DfA R.

THE ADJECTIVE.
An adjective is a word added to a noun to express
some quality, circumstance, or kind.

Examples.
A good man
A timid animal

The latent cause
The brazen vessel

/

An abste mi ous st ud ent
An insatiabl e thirst
A voracious desire

A conj uga l relation
An uxori ous husband
A matrimonial engagement

The fond parent
The tender mother·
The affectionate father
Th e maternal regard
The parental care
The fatherly love

The ardent friend
The filial conduct
The frat ernal act
The amicable agreement
The fri endly neighbor
The mutual friend

A lon ely place

Th e circular th <.>atre

An indigen t woman

The French fashion

A long serm on
A w ooden vessel

The conceited fop

A local attachment

The prominent politician

A travelling agent
A domes ti c life
A permanent abode
An erratic tribe
An errant knight

A h ostile army
A militan t nation
A spiteful serpent
A petulant landlady
A vindictive temper
A pugnacious captain

A ferocious beast
A clamorous mob
A ruthless tyrant
A destructive animal
A murderous robber
A malicious critic

A sly fox
A crafty jockey
A cunning lawyer
An insidious foe
A deceptive enemy
A designing politician

The thievish propensity
The courteous dealer
The avaricious landlord
The selfish merchant
The stingy farmer
The sordid miser

The handy workman
The dex terous mech anic
The ingenious machinist
The operative mason
The mechanical skill
The constructive b eaver

RULE OF SYNTAX.
Adjectives belong to nouns.

THE ARTICLE, THE ADJECTIVE, AND THE NOUN.

Examples for Pal'sing and Imitation.
A hun gry wolf
A ra veno us appeti te

A conn ubial tie

A luxurious li ver

A hymeneal altar

A nuptial day

29

.

EXAMPLES OF PARSING .
.8. hungry wolf.

.Ii is the indefinite article, and belongs to u·olf.
RuLE .

Th e article a or an belongs to noun s in the

singular number.
Hu ngry is an adjective, and belongs to wolf.

I

RULE.

Adj ec tives belong to nouns.

T'Vo lf is a common noun, masculine gender, and singular number.

NoTE.-After the pupil bas learned the nature of comparison, it would
be weU for him to parse the preceding examples again, with a view to
comparing the adjectives .

3*

30

I
:J

·~

'
I

"

HAZEN'S PRACTICAL GRAMMAR.

-

- - - -COMPARISON OF ADJE C TIVES.

Comparison is the variation of an adjective to express
.
a quality or circumstance in different d e~,.rees
0
There are three degrees of comparison; namely, the
positive, the comparative, and the superlative.
The positive degree is the simple state of ·the
adjective.
The comparative denotes a greater or Jess degree.
The superlative denotes the greatest or least degree.
~djectives of one syllable are usually compared by
addmg to the positive r or er to form the comparative,
and st or est to form the superlative.
Exnmples.
Positive.

Tall
Light
Large
Small
Hoarse

Comparative.

Taller
Lighter
Larger
Smaller
Hoarser

Superlative.

Tallest
Lightest
Largest
Smallest
Hoarse st

AdjectiYes of two syllables or more are usually compared by prefixing to the positive, more or less to form
the comparative, and most or least to form the superlative.
Examples.
Positive.

Stupid
Civil
Slender
Clever

Comparative.

More
More
More
More

stupid
civil
slender
clever

Superlative.

Most
Most
Most
Most

stupid
civil
slender
clever

II
/.

HAZEN'S PRACTICAL GRAMMAR.

Stupid
Civil
Slender
Clever

Less
Less
Less
Less

stupid
civil
slender
clever

Elegant
Eloquent
Laudable
Ponderous

More
More
More
More

Elegant
Eloquent
Laudable
Ponderous

Less elegant
Less eloquent
Less laudable
Less ponderous

elegant
eloquent
laudable
ponderous

31

Least
Least
Least
Least

stupid
civil
slender
clever

Most
Most
Most
Most

elegant
eloquent
laudable
ponderous

Least elegant
Least e"ioquent
Least laudable
Least ponderous

Many adjectives of two syllables ending in y or e
mute, may be compared by r, er, st, est, and by more
and most, and less and least.
Examples.
P ositive.

Comparative.

Superlative.

Handy
Jolly
Lofty
Heavy

Handier
Jollier
Loftier
Heavier

Handiest
Jolliest
Loftiest
Heaviest

Handy
Jolly
Lofty
Heavy

More handy
More jolly
More lofty
More heavy

Most handy
Most jolly
Most lofty
Most heavy

Handy
• Jolly

Less handy
Less jolly "'

Least handy
Least jolly

32

l

f
f

HAZEN'S PR ACT I CA L GHAJ\'IMAR.

Lofty
Heavy

Le ss lofty
Less heavy

L east lofty
Least heavy

Able
Nimble
Ample
Simple

Abler
Nimbler
Ampler
Simpler

Ablest
Nimblest
Ampl est
Simplest

Able
Nimble
Ample
Simple

More
More
More
More

Able
Nimble
Ample
Simple

able
nimble
ample
simple

L ess able
L ess nimble
L ess ample
Less simple

Mo st
Most
Most
Most
L east
L east
L east
Least

able
nimble
ample
simple

P ositive.

Comparative.

Superlativ r.

Better
\ Vorse
Le ss
Superior
Inferior

Best
Worst
L east
Supreme or chief
Least

\

I in

Brazen
Golden

Pre sent
Ab se nt

Infinite
Et ernal

Omniscient
Omnipotent
Omnipresent
Pecuniary

A few adjectiYes will admit ish to express diminution
the qua1ity. This is called the diminutive form of

\ the adjective.

I
j

I

., I

Examples .
Dim in utfoe .

Positive .

Comparative.

Superlative.

Whitish
Bluish
Sv;reetish
Saltish

\Vhite
Blue
Sweet
Salt

\ ¥ hiter
Bluer
Sweeter
Salter

\V°hitest
Bluest
Sweetest
Saltest

Under this p art of speech are also included certain
words which merely modify or define the application of
nouns. These words are called numeral adjectives.

\ 1 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~-

NoTF. .-Objects which nrlmit of adme:isurement or numeration, and
quant iti es which call be weighed or measured, may be definitely ·compared; but, as objects of th is description are not num erou s, the precise
amount of a quality or attribu te can seldom be determined; and, since
language corresponds with the weakne ss of our conceptions, it furni shes
us with few defini lP. means of comparison. In expressing degrees of
qualities an d attributes, h owcYer, we are not cxclu si,·ely confiner\ to the
means described in the regubr comparison of arljccti,·cs. There are
other wor ds of si milar inport which arc frequ ently used for this purpose.

Nem· l1 as uearest and next, and late has latest and l t . I
as , III lie

Exnmples of Incomparable Adjectives.

GRA~DIAH.

All-wise
vVooden
Ceaseless
Circular
Endless
Conical
Perpendicular Boundless

1

s uper Lui \"e.

. Th ose ndj ec tives expressing qualiti es wliich cannot be
rn creased or d i mir~sh ed, cannot be compared.

HAZE?''S PRACTICAL

,

able
nimble
ample
simple

IRREGULAR ADJECTIVES.
Good, well
Bad, evil, or ill
Little
E qual
Equ al

I-

'·

EXAM PL E S.

A vei·y good man
A much wiser ma.n
A far greater distance
A great deal whi tcr paper
The words in italics are ad\•orbs,

An in.finitely wise Being
A truly eloquent speaker
An exceedingly happy cou ple
An incomparably splendid object
see page

i

r-

I

!I
t

11~

HAZEN';-~RA_C_T_J_C_AL

GRAJ\'Il\'IAR.

I -NUMERA L ADIE C TIVE S .

,,

N_umeral adjectiv es are of three kinds ; nam ely, the
cardinal, th e ordi nal, and th e multiplicative.

:i

The ordinal are, first , second, third, f ourth, &c.
Th e multiplica tive are, single or alone, double or .twofold, triple or threefold, quadruple or fou 1.fold, &c.
RU L E 0 f S Y N T AX.
Numeral adj ectives agree with th eir nouns in number.

T en horses, 10 horses
Th e first man
Th e seventh year
Th e VI. Ch apter
Th e 10th verse

The 7th ul timo
J anuary 5, 184 1
Th e sin gle instance
The triple allia nce
The threefold cord

I
I

1

~--THE

PRONOUN.

R U LE OF SYNTAX.
Pronouns must agree with their antecedents or the nouns ·

for which they stand, in gender, number, an~ p erson.
VARIATIONS OF THE NOUN AND THE PRONOUN.

I
J

Noun~ and some of the pronouns are varied by gender,
number, person, and case.
PERSON.

Person is the relation which nouns and pronouns sus-

·1

EXAIVTP L ES OF P ARSING .

F ive L adies- T!te '25th I rtstant-Tlte single Instance.
Fiv e is a numeral adject ive of the card in al kind, plural
number, and agre es with ladies.
R uLE . Numeral adj ectives agree with their nouns in
number.
'l5 t!i is a num eral adjec tive of the ordinal kind sirwn' '-'
lar num ber, and ag rees with instant.
R nLE. N umeral adj ectives agree with the ir nouns in
number.
.

\

pound relative.

Exarnplts for Parsin g and Imitation,
The 25th instant

35

A pronoun is a word used instead of a noun .
There are seven kinds of p ro nouns ; name1y, the persona1, the possessive personal, the adjective, the relative, the
interrogative, the interrogative adjective, and the com-

The cardin al are, one, two, three, foitr, &c.

Five ladies, 5 ladies

HAZEN'S PRACTICAL GRAMMAR.

I
J

tain to sentences.
Nouns are of the second or third person.
Pronouns are of the first, second, or third person.
The first p erson denotes the author of the sentence.
The second p erson denotes the person addressed. The
third person denotes the person or thing spoken of.
CASE.

Case is the relation which nouns and pronouns sustain

I

S higle is an adjec tive of .the ~ultipli cative kind, sin- 1
gular nu mbe r, and ngrees with instance.

~~-~Num era l adjectives agree with th eir_ n~ un s, &c.~

to other words in a sentence.
There are four cases; namely, the nominative, the
possessive, the objective, and the independent. .
The nominative case denotes the agency which introduces the verb into the sentence.

36

37

HAZEN'S PRACTICAL GRAJ\Ii\IAR .

HA.ZEN'S PRACTICAL GRA:\ll\IAR.

Th e possessive case denotes possession or ownership.
The objective case denotes the passive relation of the
noun or pronoun in which it is governed by a verb or
preposition.

The possessive case of nouns is formed1. By adding an apostrophe (') and s, when the
noun does not terminate in s.

Th e independent case denotes that the noun or pronoun is free from any constructive dependance on any
other word.
DECLE NSION.

Examples for Parsing anti Imitation.
Peter's vision
Paul 's defe nce
Isaiah 's prophecies
Stephen's martyrd om

Susan's doll
Alfred's top
Edward's form
Frederick's store

Declension is a regular arrangement of nouns and
pronouns by cases and numbers.

2. By ackling an apostrophe only, when the noun terminates ins.

Examples of Declension.

Examples for Parsing mlll Imitation.

Singular.

Nam.
P oss.
Obj .
.Ind.

Man
Man's
Man
lVIan

Singular.

Nam.
Poss.
Obj.
l nd.

Pen
P en's
P en
P en

Singular.

]{om. Senator
P oss. S('nator's
O~j.
Senator
Ind. Senator

Plural.

Nam.
P oss.
Obj.
Ind.

Men
Men's
Men
Men

Plural.

JYom. Pens

Poss. Pens'
Obj. Pens
Ind. Pens
Plural .

Nom.
P oss.
Obj.
Ind.

Senators
Senators'
Senators
Senators

NOTE.-The inclepende11t case has bet•n introduced to a\·oi<l inaccuracy

and conru~ion in the definition :J.Jl(l app li catio n of the nom inati\re case .

Mechanics' institute
Merchants' exchange
Goodness' sake
Righ tcousness,. sake

Boys' hats
Girls' bonnets
Eag les' wings
Objectors' reasons

There are few exceptions to the preceding rul es, and these are
found chiefly in words ending in nee, when the following word
begins with s; as, conscience' sake, appearance' sake.
RU LE OF SYNTAX.

One noun governs another noun or pronoun that depends upon it in the possessive case.
EXAMPLES OF PARSING.

Susan's doll.
Susan' s is a proper noun, feminine gender, singular
number, third person, possessive case, and is governed
by doll.
RuLE. One noun governs another noun or pronoun
that depends upon it in the pos sessive case.
4

HAZEN'S PRACTICAL GRAMMAR.

THE PERSONAL PRONOUNS,

=i
•m

I

The personal pronouns are simple substitutes. There I
are five of them ; namely, I, thou, he, she, and it.
Declension of the Personal Pronouns,
P lura.l .

Singula r.

First
Person

( Nom. I
{Poss. My
Obj.

Me
I

l Ind.

Nom . We
Poss. Our
Obj.

Ind.

P lural,

Singular.

Second
Person

( Nom. Thou
{Poss. Thy

Nom. Ye or you
Poss. Your

, Obj.

Obj.

Thee
Thou

(Ind.

Ind.

( Nom. He
Third ~Poss.
Person i Obj.

His
Him
He

l Ind.

Mas. or Fem.
Gender.

i

Mas. or Fem.
Gender.

J

.N'om. They
Poss. Their
Obj.

Ind.

Them
They

1

~ Mas. Gender.

Them
They

)

S i ng ulm·.

Ind.

Nom. They
Poss. Their

i Obj.

Obj .

l Ind.

It
It

~ Fem. Gender.

Ind.

Them
They

Our
Our
Our
Our

house
friends
cattle
carriage

Thy home
Thy cottage
Thy dwelling
Thy residence

Your office
Your company
Your society
Your association

His
His
His
His

duty
interest
concern
litigation

Their sickness
Their diseases
Their misfortune!
Their disasters

Her
Her
Her
Her

beauty
conduct
deportment
acquirements

Its
Its
Its
Its

population
productions
commerce
magnitude

EXAMPLES OF PARSING.
My hat.

Plural.

( Nom. It
~ Poss. Its

hat
gun
top
ship

The compound personal pronouns are formed by add-

l

Obj.

Examples for Parsing and Imitation.
My
My
My
My

ing self or selves, to my, our, thy, your, him, her, it,
and them.

P lural.

Nom. They
Poss. Their

Her
She

THE POSSESSIVE CASE OF PERSO NAL PRO N OUN:!.

COMPOUND PERSONAL PRONOUN.

S ingular.

Obj.

39

J

( No m. She
{ Poss. Her

lind.

Th ird
Person

You
Ye or you

1J

Plural.

Singular.

Third
Per;o11

Us
We

HAZEN'S PRACTICAL GRAMMAR.

1r

Neu. Gender.

)

My is a personal pronoun, first person, singular number, possessive case, and is governed by hat.
RuLE. One noun governs al!othcr noun or pronoun
that depends upon it in the .possessive case.

I

I

40

HAZEN'S PTI.-ICTICAL GRAJ\IMAR.

-,

HAZEN'S PRACTICAL GH.AMJ\1AR.

ADJEC TIVE PRONOUNS .

Declension of the Compomal Personal Pronouns.
( Nom . Myself
First I P oss . - Person
Obj. Myself
Ind . Myself

t

Adj ecti,·e pronouns are definitive words placed before

P lural.

Sin~ular .

.!tom. Our selves
Po ss.
Obj. Our selve s
I nd. Ourselves

nouns, to modify their application.
\1
They are divided into three classes; namely, the dis-

)
~

J

Mas. or Fem.
Gen~er.

tributiv e, th e definite, and the indefinite.
RULE 0 F SYN T AX.

Adj ectiv e pronouns belong to nouns. ·

P lural.

Singular.

( Nom. Thy self Nom. Yourselves )
Poss.
-~ Mas. or Fem.
Person • Obj. Thy self Obj. Your selves , Gentler.
Ind. Thyself Ind . Yourselves J

DISTRIBUTIVE ADJECTIVE PRO NOUNS .

Second ~·Poss .

The distributive adjective pronouns limit the noun to
They are, each, every, either, and \I
i separate objects.

l

neither.

( Nom.
~Poss
.
Third
Pers011
Obj .
Ind.

l

Nom. Th emsel ves l
I
Poss. - - - Obj . Th emse ] ves •~Mas. Gender.
Him self
Himself Ind. Them selve s )

Himself

r

Person

Nom.
•P oss.
Obj.
l Ind.

l

r

H el'self

-Herself
Hel'self
Singular.

~Vom . It self

Thi rd
Perso11

. Poss. - 1l' Obj . I tself
Ind. Itself

E ach visitor
Each person
Each animal
Every pupil
Every example
Every object

Plural.

Sir.brular.

Thi rel

Examples for Parsing and Imitation.

P lural.

Singular.

Xom. Them selves)
Poss. - -•
Obj . Th emse 1ves r Fem. Gender.
Ind.

The definitive adjecti,·e pronouns point out the noun
in a definite manner. Th ey are, this, that, with th eir
plur als, these and those; furmer, latter, same, said, afore- \

P lural.

The prono un s. on this pa ge ar e a I so d enomma
· ted reciprocal
pronouns. Pupils need not lea rn to decline th em, until they
have advanced to th a t part of the grammar, where their application is illustrated.

I

DEFINITIVE ADJECTIVE PRO N OU NS.

Themselves)

.Norn. Themselves I
Poss. - - I
Obj. Th e m selves r Neu. Gender.
I nd. Themselves )

Either way
Eith er book
Either dilemma
Neither competitor
N eith er conclusion
Neither candidate

I

sa'id, aforementioned, which, and what.

\
i

EXAMPLES OF PARSING .
E ach vis'itor.

I

\

I

Ea ch is a distributive adjective pronoun, and belongsjl

I_i:"_L'-

to visitor.

I

Adj<0ti" p•onoun• b• loog to noun•.

I

HAZEN'S PRACTICAL GRAMMAR.

HAZEN'S PRACTICAL GRAMMAR.
DECLENSION OF ADJECTIVE PRONOUNS.

Examples for Parsing and Imitation.

One and other are sometimes declined by cases.

The former letter
The latter end
The said John Doe
The aforesaid James Carter
The aforementioned Peter 'Wilson

This lion
'.l'h ese lions
That servant
Those servants
The same tiger

Singular.

Nom. One
Poss. One's
Obj. One
Ind. One

INDEFINITE ADJECTIVE PRO NOU NS.

Singular.

The indefinite adjective pronouns point out the noun
in an indefinite manner. The principal words of this
class are, one, no, some, other, another, all, such, any,
many, much, several, few, whole, little, whatever, whatsoever, whichever, and whichsoever.

Examples for Parsing and Imitation.
I

' I

''

One evening
No person
Some news
Other matters
Another speculation
All nations

Such nonsense
Any officers
Many voters
Few lemons
Whole numbers
Little reason

43

Nom.
Poss.
Obj .
Ind .

Other
Other's
Other
Other

P lural.

Nam.
Poss.
Obj.
Ind .

Ones
Ones'
Ones
Ones

Plural.

Nom.
Poss.
Obj.
Ind.

Others
Others'
Others
Others

Another is declined like other, as it is the same word, with
the article an prefixed . . It is used only in the singular number.
THE POSSESSIVE PERSONAL PRONOUNS.

Mine
His
Ours
Theirs
Thine
Hers
Yours
These words represent not only the possessor, but also
the thing or things possessed. They are used only in the
nominative and objective cases.

COMPAIUSON OF ADJECTIVE PRONOUNS.

THE RELATIVE PRONOUNS.

Some, little, several, few, much, and many are compared ; thus,

Who
Which
That
A relative pronoun is a word that represents a prece~
din()' word and introduces a verbal form without the aid

Comparative.

Positive.

Some
Little
Several
Much
I
Many
Few
J
Few has also

l
~

Superlative.

0

'

of a conjunction.
More
Less

DECLENSION OF THE RELATIVE PRONOUNS.

Most
Least

Singul~r and Plural.

Fewest

Nom. Who
Poss. Whose
Obj. Whom

L
I

Fewer

S i ng1llar and Plural.

Nom. Which
Poss. 'Whose
Obj. Which

Singu.1ar and Plural.

Nom. That
Poss .
Obj. That

F~ZEN'S

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I

HAZE!'i'S PRACTICAL

PRACTICAL GRHDIA R.

A sentence is two or more words which express an
affirmation, an interrogation, a command, an exhortation,
a petition, or an intimation.

Examples of Sentences .

THE INTERROGATIVE ADJEC'l VE PRONOUNS.

I reflect.
I am studious.
He is the man.
John wrote a letter.
The lad was punished.

THE COMI'OU.ND RELATIVE PRONOUNS .

NoTE.-Examples illustrating the application oft he severa l kinds of pro.
nouns have not been given, hecause pupils cann ot und ers tand this difficu lt
part of grammar at this sta~e of ad van ccrn ent. T he illustrations will be
introduced herea fter.

i

Do you reflect 1
Art thou studious 1
I s he the man 1
Did John write ~ letter 1
Was the lad punished 1

COMMAND, EXHORTATION, AND PETITIO N.

\Vhat
Whoever
Whatever
Whosoever
Whatsoever
·whoso
. These words are thus denominated, when they include
in th emselves the force of an antecedent and a relative.
They sustain the relations of the words which they represent.

---------·~--------------~

I NTERROGATION.

AFFIRMATION .

Which
What
These words are denominated interrogative adjective
pronouns, when th ey are used for interrogation before
nouns to which th ey belong.

The words ever and soever are frequently added to who, whiclt,
and what; and the words thus formed are classed accordin.2" to
their appl icati on. What, whatever, and whatso~ver, when c-ompound relative pronouns, are used either in th e nominative or
objective case. lV/w, wh en combined with ever or so ever is
declined by cases, as in the preceding page. Ever and soe~er
are the same in every case. Whos o is a contraction of whosoever.

45

A SENTENCE.

HE I NTER R 0 G AT IVE PRON o UN S.

Who
Which
vVhat
These words are denominated interrogative pronouns,
when they are usecl for interrogation without a following
noun to which they may belong.

GRAM~1AR.

Be of good cheer.
Hear our cry.
Forgive our sins.
We beseech thee.
May we find thy favor.

Reflect thou.
Be studious.
Be a good man.
Write a letter.
Be thou punished.

I NTiillATIO N.

When he has av.Jed to the measure, I will advise you.
Should he pay promptly, I will trust him again.
If he will go immediately, he may arrive in time.
Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.
Watch the door ~f thy lips, lest thou utter folly.

The noun or its substitute is the foundation of sentences. But no assemblage of words can constitute a
sentence without a verb, introduced by the direct influ-

I

1 ence of.a nominative case.

46

HAZEN'S PRA CTICAL GRAMMAR.

HAZEN'S PRACTICAL GRAMMAR.

THE VERB .

THE TRANSITIVE VERB.

47

The transitive verb expresses an action which termiA verb is a word which commonly expresses action
or being.
I The verb is usually introduced into sentences by the
/ direct agency of a noun or pronoun in the nominative
case ; and it may b e distinguished from other classes of
words by this peculiarity.

Examples for Imitation.
I am.
James is.
Animals live.
The lady sleeps.
The servants wait.

The cradle rocks.
The horses run.
The ladies chat.
The tree falls.
The people vote.

Farmers raise grain.
Millers grin d corn.
Bakers bake bread.
Brewers brew beer.
Butchers sell meat.

T anners tan hide s.
Tailors make clothes.
Barbers cut hair.
Merchants sell g oods.
Authors write books.

CLASSIFICATION OF VERBS ,

Verbs are divided into transitive, intransitive, and
passive.

Il
I

.,
•'

I

NoTE .-The olcl terms, active and neuter, have been rejec ted in the
classification of the verb, because they do not well express the distinc·
tions proposed. But they can be easily retained, should the teach er
prefer them . It is presumed, however, that the change will be gener·
ally approved , as it has I o n~ been sanctioned by the best writers
on the subj ect of English Grammar.

nates on an object.

Examples for Imitation.
Fishermen catch fish.
Shipwrights build vessels.
Mariners traverse oceans.
Clergymen exhort sinners.

Lawyers plead law.
Physicians cure disease s.
Dentists repair te eth.
Teachers instruct pupils.

THE INTRANSITIVE VERB.

The intransitive verb expresse s being or action which
does not terminate on an object.

Examples for Imitation.
He is.
The horses stand.
The girls blush.
The faces burn.
The interests clash.

The snail crawls.
The oxen walk.
The lamb skips.
The child cries.
The serpents hiss.

THE PASSIVE VERB.

The passive verb expresses action received by the
nominative noun or pronoun which introduces it into
the sentence.

Examples for Imitation.
Grain is raised.
Corn is ground.
Bread is baked.
Beer is brewed.
Meat is sold.

Hides are tanned.
Clothes are made.
Hair is cut.
Goods are sold.
Books are written.

48

HAZEN'S PRACTICAL GRAJ\1l\1AR.

H AZE.!\'S PRACTICAL GRAl\rnTAR.
VARIATIONS OF VER BS .

Verbs are varied by mode and tense, number and
person.
MODE.

Mode is the manner of expressing action or being.
There are five modes; namely, the indic ative, -1:he subjunctive, the potential, th e imperative, and the infinitive.
A verb in the indicative mode, simply indicates 0r
declares a thing.
A verb in the subj unctive mode, by the aid of a co njunction, expresses action or being in a doubtful or con- .
j
ditional manner.
A verb in the potential mode expresses action or
being under a possibility, permission, necessity, ability, /
determination, or obligation; or it asks a question in the I
same form.
A verb in the imperative mode, expresses authority,
exhortation, or entreaty.
A verb in the infinitive mode expresses action or beini?
unlimited by person or number.
TENSE.

Tense is the time in which the verb expresses action
or being.
There are six tenses ; namely, the present, the indefinite past, the present perfect, the prior perfect, the
ind efinit e future, and the prior future.
1

NoTE.-Pupils need not comm it to memorr the definitions of the
titer again meet them in the conjuga-

modes and tenses, until
lI several
tion of the verb to go.

•<

49

The present tense denotes present action or being.
The indefinite past tense denotes action or being as
ind~finitely past.
The present perfect tense denotes action or being as
past at some period of time including the present.
The prior perfect tense denotes action or being as
past at or before some other time specified.
The indefinite future tense denotes action or existence
as indefinitely future.
The prior futur~ tense denotes action or being which
will take place at or before some other futuri time.

T!IE PARTICIPLE.
A participle is a word that partakes of the nature of
a ierb and an adjective.
Participles are derived from verbs. Each complete
verb supplies three participles; namely, the present, the
perfect, and the prior perfect.
N OTE .-The names of fiv e of the tenses have been varied to express
their meaning with greater precision; but, to prevent all inconveniences
which might arise from these changes, the old terms are placed on the
right of the new · in the regular conjugation of the verb . Should the
teach er prefer the old t erms, h e can use them in grammatic solution
without inconvenience.
The names of the tenses here presented have been before proposed
hr authors of considerable note, and it is believed tha t manr more will
·adopt them as soon as it can be done with safctr to their works.

5

II

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50

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------------------51

HAZEN'S PRACTICAL GRAMMAR.

HAZEN'S PRACTICAL GRAMMAR.

CONJUGATION OF VERBS.

CLASSIFICATION OF SENTENCES.

The conjugation of a verb is a regular arrangement
of its several parts in its modes, tenses, and participles.
In every complete verb, there are three principal
parts; namely, the present tense, the indefinite past
tense, and the perfect participle.

In the English language ·there are five distinct verbal
forms ·of construction, to which phra~es are prefixed and
appended; namely, the intransitive, the intransiti,·e postadjective, the intransitive post-substantive, the transitive,
and the passive.

REGULAR AND IRREGULAR VERBS.

THE INTRANSITIVE FORM.

A verb is regular, when it forms the indefif)ite past
tense and the perfect participle by adding d or ed to the
present tense.
I
A verb is irregular, when it does not form the indefi- I
nite p ast tense and the perfect participle by adding d
or ed to the present tense.
AUXILIARY VERBS.

An auxiliary verb is a word used in the conjugation
of other verbs.

The essential elements of the intransitive form are a
nominative case, and an intransitive verb, introdu~ by
it into the sentence.

Examples of the Intransitive form.
I am.
It was.
He went.
She absconded.

Doctors differ.
The horses pranced.
The wolf howled.
The passengers embarked.

THE INTRANSITlVE POST-ADJECTIVE FORM.
LIST OF AUXILIARY VERBS .

May
Can
Shall
Will
Must
Be

Might
Could
Should
Would
Do
Have

D o, be, and_ have are also principal verbs, being comple te in
all the tenses and participles. Explanations of th e m eaning and
application of the auxiliary verbs are unnecessan·, as both can
11 be learned from the examples proposed fo r parsing ~nd imitation.

of

The essential elements
the intransitive post-adjective form are a nominative case, and an intransitive
verb, commonly the verb to be, introduced by it into the
sentence, together with an adjective, belonging to that
nominative case.

Examples of the Intransitive post·adjcctivc form.
I am cautious.
She was fashionable.
He has been indignant.
The lady will be humane.

The boys are obedient.
The servants were honest.
Our .farmers have been rich.
Kings will be despotic.

52

HAZEN'S PRACTICAL GRAMMAR.

HAZEN'S PRACTICAL GRAMMAR.

THE INTRANSITIVE POST·SUBSTANTIVE FORM.

Examples of the Passive form.

The essential elements of the intransitive post-substantive form, are a nominative case, and an intransitive ·
verb, commonly the verb to be, introduced by it into the
· sentence, together with another nominative c;ise having
reference to the same thing.

, He was the person.
I
The man has been a miller.
This girl will be a beauty.

THE TRA NSITIVE FOR!lI.

f

Examples of the Transitive form.
I read history.
He studies grammar.
Farmers plough the soil.
Hunters kill wild animals.
THE

Charles struck William.
Architects plan buildings.
The sheep yields wool.
The orchard affords fruit.

PASSIVE

FOR ~I.

The essential elements of the passive form are a nominative case, and a passive verb introduced by it into tht:
sentence.
I

The note may be paid.
The bill should be allowed.
Children must be taught.
Sinners will be confounded.

NUMBER AND PERSON OF THE VERB.

The number and person of the verb are modifications in
which it agrees with its nominative case. The verb,in
every tense of the indicative, subjunctive, 'and potential
modes has two numbers and three persons. In the im' it has two numbers and one person. In the
perative,
infinitive, it is not distinguished by either number or
person.

We are gardeners.
You were teachers.
They have been butchers.
His brothers will be tailors.

The essential elements of the transitive form are a
nominative case, and a transitive verb introduced by it
into the sentence, together with an obj ective case governed by the verb.

I was accosted.
He was· accused.
She was applauded.
I shall be delighted.

"
!·'

Examples of the lutramitivc post-substantive form.

II am he.

53

1

The English verb, unlike that of many other languages, is
but little varied to express either number or person. No ambiguity, however, arises from this deficiency, as both are easily
determined by the nominative case, when the form of the
verb fails to furnish the indications.

RULES OF SYNTAX.

The agent which introduces the verb' into the sentence must be in the nominative case.
· Tile verb must agree with its nominative case m
nu.m ber and person.
Transitive verbs govern the objective case.
Any verb may have the same case after it as before
it when both words refer to the same thing.

'

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54

HAZEN'S PRACTICAL GRAMMAR.

. rr==:=:::==========================i
55
HAZEN'S PRACTICAL GRAMMAR.
Examples for Parsing o.nd Imitation.

THE INTRANSITIVE FORM.

We fail.
Y-ou grow.

I err.

The essential elements of the intransitive form are a ,.
~o.min?tive case, and ~n intransitive verb introduced by _
it mto the sentence.

Thou comest.

The birds flit.

The seal dives.

EXAMPLES OF PARSING.
THE INTRANSITIVE VERB.

I err.

The .intransitive verb expresses action or being wl:jch
does not terminate on an object. .
'·

I is a personal pronoun, singular number, first per-

Go

Indefinite Past Te-rue.

P erfect Participle.

Went

Gone

I

INDICATIVE MODE.

agrees with I.
\
RuLE. The verb must agree with its n-0minative case

A verb in the in_dicative mode simply indicates .or declares a thing; or it asks-a question in the same fo~m.
/ PRESENT

in number and .Person.

T~NSE •

.The pr'esen~ tense denotes I>r~ent action or being.
Singular.

P lural.

1 Person. We go
1 Person. I go
2 Person. Thou. goest 2 Person. You go
. 3 Person .. They go
3 Person. He goes
. Noni.-Ye, bein.g ·seldom used, is com"ffionly .omitted in the conjuga·twn of ~h~ verb. But pupih can be ma.de to understand its use just . as . . ,
~ell' as if 1t were introdu_ced into every tense. Ye is employed chiefly
m t~e solemn and burlesque styles. .General usage sanctions the application of the prono.un you to a single individual, but; in all cases, the
verb to which it is nominative case,must have the plural form: Tho~ is :
~ut little used for ordinary inter-com!'lunication; but, as it is always used . ·,
m the Sacred Scriptures, and generally in the solemn style, it has been·
retained in the conjugation of the verb throughout.
· ·
· ·

I

I

·
son, and nominative case to err.
RuLE. The agen't which introduces the verb into the
sentence, must be in the nominative case.
Err 1s a• tlreg ular, intransitive verb, indicative
mode, present te.nse, singular number, first person, and [

CONJUGATION OF THE VERB TO GO.

~

:NoTE.-The tenses which are formed by the principal verb alone, are
called .simple tenses,. and those which are formed . by the help of one
'
.auxiliary or more, are called compound tenses.
NoTE.-Beforn · pro~eeding to analyze the sentences for parsing and
imitation according to the -above formula, the teacher is requested to see
that the pupils -~nderstand the meaning of each word, and the class to
which it belongs. They should also be required to decline the nouns
and pronou11s, and conjugate the verbs in their principal parts, to determine whether t.hey are regular or irregular. At this stage of advauce:ment, pupils should begin to learn to .:onjugate the irregular verbs, a
complete list of which.is given a few pages in advance of this. A whole
class might be made to repeat them togJ t11er. In ~his way, they may be
all committed to memory in a few hours. A great number of regular
verbs should alsa be conjugated in the same manner.
NoTE.-The pronoun being a mere substitute for the noun, the adjective belongs to it by the same rule. The word pronoun, however, may ,
introduced into the rule , when it would be applicable.
\

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