i'

A CATECHISM
OF

ENG LI Sil GRA~l~fAR;
Olt

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EASY LESSONS FOR BEGI NNERS,
COMPRISING

THE PRINCIPAL DEFINITIONS, &o.,
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USED ON TUE SUBJECT OF ENGLISII GRAMMAR.

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PREFACE.

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'l'he ohjcct of this work is to give the learner a clear conception of
the st,udy of English Grammar and its use, and as a knowledge of
English Grammar is an imlispcnsable part of an English education, it is
highly necessary that the snbject should be made as interesting and
comprehensive ns posRihlc. 'l'o this encl the catcchetieal style has been ·
adopted, which is well calculated to make tho suhject one of delight to
the youthful mind, rather then an irksome task.
The work is ent.irely new in its arrangement, but will be easily understood by the learner, it is 110 simple as to need no explanation, and will
be stndied with pleasnrn.
~
'l'cachcrs arc not obliged to conliue thcmsclvc8 entirely tothe1111e,;tions
in the book, but will find it beneficial to vary their qncstions, and by so
doing, will gd lite definitions niore Ht.rongly fixed in the mimls of their
pupils.
This l1cing an iutrodndory work, im<l consisting chiefly of definitions,
all should be commitcd to memory, oven tho notes should be learned
and 1·emembercd, as they will be of great use to the learner hereafter.
Sufilcient is said on the suhjcet of analysis for a work of this kind,
and with tho aid of the skilful teacher, a good foundation may be laid
for the future success of the learner.
Examples for analysis and parsing may I.Jc hlkcn from any common
reading book, and be treated similar to those in the catechism.
Sounds of tho letters, rules for spelling, lists of irregular verbs, &c.,
will lJO foutul in tho appendix.
As this work has l.Jcen carefully ~ompilcd from some of the best
authors, it will afford a I.Jetter assortment of definitions than any now
in use. It will not only be found beneficial to the youth, but also
to the teacher, and if skilfully managed will unquestionably prove
to 1Jc of infinite bcnt'fit.

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CONTENTS.

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INTRODUCTION ••• , • , •• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
DIVISIONS OF G11.UOIAR. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

I-ORTHOGRAPHY...................................
Letters ... , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Syllables and 'Vords. .. . .. . . . . .. . . . . . .. . . .. . . . . . .. . ... .. .
Spelling .....• ..•.. ........................•.. ! • • • • • • • •
Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . .
PART IL-ETYMOLOGY.....................................
Parts ofSpcech ... : .................••..•...•..•....•• ..
Noun ............... , ............. ·.•....................
Exercises , •..... , . . . . • . .. . . . . • . . . . • . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . .
Inflection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . • . . . . . . . • . . • . . . . . . . • . . •
Verb ... , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. • . .. . . . . . •.. . . •• . . . . . ••
Inflection ...... , . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . •
Coujugatiop. ofVcrbs...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Exercises .................... , , . . . . . • . • . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pronoun ...... .. .. , . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . .
Inflection .......•... , .......................••.•... , . . .
Exercises .... , .................•..... , ..... , . • . • . . . • • . • .
Adverb.................................................
Comparison .............••........... : .•...........•. ·. .
Exercises ...........•...•....•.... ·• . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . .
./I djcctive . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . • . . • . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . • . . . . .
ticles............ .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Comparison ............ ......•...... ................. : .
Ezcrcises . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . • . . . • . • . . . • . . . . . . • . . . . . . .
Preposition .. , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . •
Exercises ... . ..... ... .......... , , ..... , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Conjunction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interjection ................... , . . . . . . • • . . . • •. , .• , • . . . .

PART

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. II.

CON'l'F.NTS •

Etymological parsing .................... · .. · · · · · · · · · · · · ·
Exercises .. .. . •....... .... · ·. · · · · · · · · · · • · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·
l'ART III.-SYN'J'AX........ .. . . .. .. .. . .. . .. . .. . .. .. . . .. . . ..
ltnfon of Kyntax .•......•.. • ..•.. · · · · · · · · · • · • · · · • · · • · · · · ·
l~Ili11sis ............................................ • • ..
Analysis and Parsiug ....... • .•..• · • • · •. · · • · · • · • · • • · · • • · ·
Exercises •...•......... · ..... ·. · · • · · · · · · · · • • · • · · • · · · · · ·
PART IV. PROSODY............. . . . . . . . . • . . • . . . . • . . . . • . . . . .

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•••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • '· ' · ' • '· • • • ·' • ' ' ' ' ' ' ' • '· • • • •

Rules for Spelling ........ . . ...... · . · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·
FigurnR of Speed1 .......... . ........ .. . · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·
Final lists ................. . .. . . · · · · · · ··· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

CHAPTER I.

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Poetic Feet •............ . .. · .. · . · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·
ArrENDIX

ENGLISII GRAMMAR.

INTRODUCTION,

Q. How do mankind communicate their thoughts?

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A. Mankind communicate their thoughts by spoken and.
written language.

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Q. What is language ?

A. Language, (derived from the Latin, lingua, the tongue,)
is a succession of mental ideas expressed in words,
and may be either spoken or written.
Q. What are the elements of spoken language ?

A. The elements of spoken language are articulate sounds.
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Q. What are the elements of written language?

A. The element}! of written language are characters or
letters which represent articulate sounds.
Q. Into what are letters formed?

A. Letters are formed into syllables.
Q. Into what are syllables formed?

A. Syllables are formed into w~rds.
Q- How are sentences formed?

A. The combination of words form sentences.
Q. What is Grammar?

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A. Grammar is that science which teaches the proper use
'.of letters, syllables, words and sentences, (Greek
gramma, a letter.)

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ENGLil'!II GRAMMAR.

9

PART I.-ORTHOGRAPHT.

Q. What ls tho object of English Gmmmar?

A. The object of English Grammar is to teach those who

use the English language to express their thoughts
correctly, either in speaking or writing.
Q. What iH n Grammarian 7

A. A Grammarian fo oue who understands the relatio11

existing between letters, words and syllables:

Q, What is tho meaning of the word Etymology ?

A. The

wor~

Etymology is derived from the Greek words,

etimwn, a trne root, and wgos, a word and signifies
the derivation of words.

'

Q. What is Syntax?

A. Syntax is that branch of Grammar which treats of the

proper arrangement and connexion of words in
sentences.
Q. What is the meaning of the word Syntax 'l

A. The word Syntax is derived from the Greek words syn

C H AP

•.r E

together, and tasso, to arrange, and signifies' the'
arranging of words iu a sentence.

H. I I .

Q. What is Prosody ?

Dl VIS IONS Ol!, GRAMl\lAR.

A. Prosody is that.branch of Grammar which treats of the

accent and pronunciation ot words and of the different
.
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k mds of verse.

Q. Into how many parts is English Grammar divided?

A. English Grammar is divided into four parts.
Q. What are the four parts into which English Grammar is divided?

Q. What is the meaning of tho word Prosody?

A.

A. The word Prosody is derived from the Greek words,
p1•os, about, or p-rosodio, 'about poetry, and ode, song
or poetry, and signifies song or poetry.

0RTHOORAl'HY, RrYJ\lOLOGY, SYNTAX AND PROSODY.

Q. What is Orthography ?

A. Orthography is that branch of Grammar which treats

of the different characters or letters used in language;
and the manner of uniting them to form syllables and
words.
Q. What is the meaning of the word Orthography ?

PART I.

•

A. The word Orthography is derived from the Greek words,

o-rthos, correct, and grapho, to write, and signifies
writing or spelling correctly.
Q. What is Etymology ?

A. Etymology is that branch of Grammar which treats of

the various classes of words or parts of speech, their
derivation and classification.

CHAPTER III.·
ORTHOGRAPHY.
Q. What is Orthography?

A. Orthography is that branch of Grammar which treats

of the different characters, or letters used in language,

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PART !.-ORTHOGRAPHY.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

and the manner of uniting them to form syllables and
words.

Q. What is an Improper Diphthong?
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LE'l'TERS.

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Q. What are letters?

A. Letters are marks or characters used in writing, and

A. An improper Diphthong is one in which only one of
the vowel sounds is heard, as oa in boat.
Q. What is a Triphthong?

A. A Triphthong is the union of three vowels in one so:und,
as eau in beauty.
. '
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represent sounds of the human voice.
CAPITALS.

Q. How mony letters docs the English alphabet contain?

A. The English alphabet contains twenty-six letters.

Q. What are Capitals?

Q. Into how many classes are letters divided?

A. Capital letters are certain large characters used in
written language, in certain situations-the following

A. Letters are divided into two classes, viz: VOWELS
and CONSONANTS.

of which are the principal: The first word of every
sentence ; the first word of a line of poetry ; the first
word of a quotation ;. names of the Deity ; proper
nouns and adjectives derived from them, as Europe,
European; names of objects personified, as O, Grave,
refuge of the weary I the pronoun I, and interjection O, &c.

Q. What is a Vowel?

A. A Vowel is a letter which can be perfectly sounded

when uttered alone.
sounded.)

(Latin, vocalis, that may be

Q. What is a Consonant?

A. A Consonant is a letter which cannot be perfectly
sounded without the aid of a Vowel. (Latin, consonans,
sounding together.)

CHAPTER IV.

Q. Which are tho Vowels ?

.A. The Vowels are a, c, i, o, u, and w and y when they do
not begin a word or syllable.

SYLLABLES.

Q. What is a Syllable?

Q. Which are the Consonants?

A. A Syllable is a single sound, represented ·by one or
more letters, as a, an, ant.

A. The Contionants are b, c, d, f, g, h,j, k, 1, m, n, p, q, r, s, t,
v, x and z.

Q. How many vowels must each syllable contain?

Q. What is a Diphthong?

A. Each sylhble must contain at least one vowel.

A. A Dipthong is the union of two vowels in one sound.
Q. What is a proper Diphthong?

WORDS.

A. A proper Diphthong is one in which both the Vowel

sounds are heard, as ou in loud.

.Jo.
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Q. What is a Word?

A. AW ord is an articulate sound, used as a sign of an idea.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

12

Q. Into how many classes a.re words divided, with regard to

PART 1.-0RTHOGRAPHY.

th~ numbe1

of syllables ea.ch one contains?

A. Words are thus divided into four classes.

Q. What is a Compound word 1

A. A Compound word is one which is formed of hvo or
more united. together, as man-kind, watch-man, &c.

Q. What are the four classes into which words are thus divided 7

SPELLING.

A. Monosyllable, Dissyllable, Trisyllable and Polysyllable.
Q. What is a Monosyllable 7

A. A Monosyllable is a word of one syllable, as jUJJt.
Q. What i3 a. Dissylla.ble 1

•

.

A. A Trisyllable is a word of three syllables, as J16s-ti;fy.
Q. What is a Polysyllable 7

·

A. A Polysyllable is a word of four or more syllables, as
jw;-ti;fy-ing, jus-ti-fi-ca·tion.
Q. How a.re words divided with reference to their origin 7

A. Words are thus divided into two classes, viz. :
PRIMITIVE and DERIVATIVE.
Q. What is a Primitive word 7

Q. What is Spelling?

A. Spelling is the art of expressing words by their proper
letters.
Q. How is this art to be acquired 1

A. A Dissyllable is a word of two s~llablcs, asjus-tice.
Q. What is a Trisyllable?

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A. A Primitive word is one wh1ch canno.t be traced to a
simpler form in the language, as man, g1·eat, &c.
Q. What is a Derivative word 1

A. This i:i.rt will be best acquired by means of the spellingbook or dictionar1, and by observation in reading,
rather than by the study of written rules.
EXERCISES.

Point out the vowels, consonants, proper and improper diphthongs
and tripthongs, in the following words:

Boy, many, rail, tail, ·vein, sign, decoy, road, against,
mountain, royal, ground, pigeon, beau, beauty, review,
million, adieu, yeoman, prey, avoirdupois, poor, town,
tune, knowledge, brought, lieutenant, myrrh, aisle,
youth.
Divide the following words into · syllabics, and name the class of
words to which each one belongs, (whether monosyllable, dissyllable,
trisyllable, or polysyllable) :

A. A Derivative word is one which can be traced to a
simpler form, as ma1ily, happily, _&e.
.

Compound, misconduct, association, augment~tion, insen- ·
sibility, complication, copipensation, communicate,
prognosticate, preponderate, draw, fair, er.ow, burden,

A. Words are thus divided into two classes, viz. : SIMPLE

Correct tl1e Cl'rors in the ·use of the capital letters in the following
sentences:

Q. How are words divided with reference to their form~t1on 7

and COMPOUND.
'Q. What is a Simple word?

•
•
A. A Simple word is one which is not combmed with
any other as use, kind, watcli, man, &c.

.

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william gave the Book to me, and i now give it to you.
My Brother and i went to london to see the queen•;
hut found, on arriving there, that she had gone to
edinbmgh.

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PART II-ETYMOLOGY.

ENGLI2H GRAl\lMAR.

Q. What le a

PA R'l' II.

CHAPTER V.
ETYMOLOGY.
Q. What is Etymology ?

.A. Etymology is that branch of Grammar which treats of

the various classes of words or. parts of speech, their
derivation and classification.

PRONOUN?

A. A PRONOUN is a word used instead of a Noun; as
James went to Toronto; he says that it is a fine city.
·(Latin, pro, for, and nomen,, a name.)
Q. What is an

ADVERB?

A. An AnvERB is a word joined to a Verb, Adjective, or
to another Adverb, to modify its meaning; as she
writes well; he is 'remarkably diligent; they read
ve1·y correctly. (Latin, ad, to, and verbum, a word.)
Q. What is an

PAR'fS

OF

SPEECH.

Q. What are !-'arts of Speech?

.A. Parts of Speech are the different kinds of' words used

in language.
Q. How many classes of words or Pl\rtR of Speech are there in the

English language ?

A. There are :1<::IGHT classes of words or Parts of Speech in
the English language.
Q. What are the eight

Part~

of Speech ?

A. The Noun, Verb, Pronoun, Adverb, Adjective, Preposition, Conjunction ~n<l Interjection.
Q. What is a NoUN?

A. A N ouN is the name of anything, as William, Toronto,
apple, truth, (Latin, nomen, a name.)

15

ADJECTIVE?

A. An ADJECTIVE is a word added to a Noun or Pronoun
to express a quality; as a good boy, a wise man,
&c., (Latin, ad to, andjungo, to join.)
Q. What is a

PRF.POBITJON?

A . A PREPosrrION is a word placed before a Noun, to show

the relation (or grammatical connection) bet~een it
·and some other word ; as James went to Toronto.
(Latin, pre before, and positum, to place.)
Q. What is a

CONJUNCTION?

.A. A OoNJUNCTI~N is a word used to connect words
together and sentences together; as My brother and
sister are come, but I have not seen them. (Latin,
con together, andjungo, to join.)

Q. What is a V11mn?

Q. What is an

A. A VERB is a word which makes an assertion, or asks a
question, as J ohu .~trikes the desk; do you liear the
noise? (Latin, ve1·bum, a word.)

A. An INTERJECTION is . a word used to express sudden
emotion ; as Ah I there he comes ! Alas ! what shall
I do! (Latin, inter between, andjacio, to cast.)

lNTEllJECTION?

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ENGL18H GRAll[MAR.

PbT II-ETYMOLOGY.

17

Q. What is a CoLLEOTIYE NouN I

PARSING.
Q. What is p ARSING?

A. Parsing is the art of explaining the Grammatical
circumstances of the words used in a sentence.

CHAPTER VI:
I.-OF THE NOUN.
Q. ·what is a N ouN?

A. A NOUN is the name of anything, as Janies, To'ronto,
Tree, &c.
Q. How many kinds of NouNs are there, with regard to their application?

A. There are two kinds, viz: Prope'I' and Common.
Q. What is a PROPER NOUN?

A. A PROPER NOUN is the name of some particular person,
place or thing ; as Henry, Toro1ito, .April.
Q. What ls a COMMON N ouN t

A. A Oo?ttMON NOUN is the name of a whole class of
individuals, places or things ; as Boy, Oity, .Month,
Fish, Insect, &c.
Q. How are NouNR divided with regard to the things of which they are
the nnmesY

A. Nouns are thus divided iuto 1•eal an<l abstract.
Q. What are REAL NOUNS'

A. REAr, NouNs are the names of things which actually
exist in Nature; as .ilfount(tin, River, Tne.
Q. What are ABSTRACT NouNs I

A. ABSTRACT N ouNs are uames of particular qualities; as
Goodne.Ys, Ohee1:fulne8.~, Vanity, J11·ai"lty.

A. A Oor.LEOTIVE N ouN is a name applied to a collection

of individuals; as People, Council, Assembly, Flook,
&c.
Q. What is a VERBAL NouN1

•

.A . A VERB.AL N ouN is a word that partakes of the nature
of a Verb and also of a Noun ; or which is the name
of an action or state of being ; as " The sinuing of
birds," 'c The oheerit~ of the multit\1de."
N OTE.-Such Nouns are called verbal, because they are derived
from verbs; they are also called participal . nouns, from
having the form of certain words called Participles, which
sometimes partake of the nature of a verb and noun, and
sometimes of a verb and adjective ; the latter are called
verbal adjectives.
Q. What is a COMPOUND NouN?

A. A COMPOUND N ouN is a name composed of two or
more words ; as Rail-road.
EXERCISES.
Point out the nouns in the following sentences, and to what class each
one belongs.

John is a good boy. A mountain is a high elevation of
land. A river is a long stream ·of water. After a
march of eight days, the army reached the city of
Washington, where they remained for two days, and
· then proceeded southward. Tall trees of the forest
grow rapidly in summer. The cheering of the multitude was very great. The triumphing of the wicked
is short.

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ENGLISH

GRAMMAR.

CHAPTER VII.
MODIFICATIONS.
Q. How are NouNs modified.

A. NouNs arn modified hy Person, Number, Gender and
Case.

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PART II-ETYMOLOGY-NOUNS.

19

Q. How many NUMBERS have NouNs?

A. NoUNs have two NuMBERs, viz: the singular and the
plural.
Q. What does the Smaur...11t NUMBER denote?

A.. The SINGULAR NUMBER denotes but one ; as the boy
learns.
Q. What does the PLURAL NUMBER denote?

PERSON.

A. The PLURAL NUMBER denotes more than one ; as the
boys learn.

Q. What is PERSON?

Q. How is the plural of NouNs generally formed?

A. PERSON is that Modification which distinguishes the
speaker, the hearer, and the person or t11ing spoken of.

A. The plural of Nouns is generally formed by adding s

Q. How many PERSONS have NOUNS?

A. NouNs have three PERSONS, viz: the First, the Second,
and the Third.
Q. What does the FIRST PERSON denote?

A. The FmsT PERSON denotes the Speakm'; as I, John,
went to London.
Q. What does the SECOND PERSON denote?

to the singular; as book, books ; hat, hats, &c.
NOTE I.-Most nouns ending in f or fe, form their plurals by
changing for fe into ves ,· as wife, wives, loaf, loaves.
NOTE II.-Nouns ending in y after a consonant, change the y
into ies to form the plural; as body, bodies. But nouns
ending in y, after a vowel, have their plurals regular ; as
valley, valleys, boy, boys.

A. The SECOND PERSON denotes the person or thing
spoken to; as Robert, go to school.
Q: What does the THIRD PERSON denote?

A. The TmRD PERSON denotes the person or thing spoken
ef; as Jolin has gone to Toronto.

NUMBER.
Q. What is NUMBER?

A. NUMBER is that Modification which distinguishes one
thing from more than one.

EXE RO IS ES.
Give the plurals of the following NOUNS?

Tax, brush, gas, berry, prodigy, hero, negro, portico, fly,
lady, monkey, wolf, leaf, brother, penny, handful,
thief, valley, lady, index, knife, life, mother-in-law,
city.

