LANGUAGE LESSONS
AN ELEMENTARY TEXT-BOOK

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

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EDITED BY

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PERKINS.

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IVISON, BLAKEMAN & COMPANY,
PUBLISHERS,

NEW YORK AND CHICAGO.

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7 ' ?' lx11.so71 Bla k eman, Taylor & Co.

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A 0 E.

1-iHE series of grammars by SrnoN KERL bas attained
a wide and well-deserved popularity; but in some
large cities the prescribed course of study calls for a book
differing in arrangement from either of "Kerl's Grammars" as hitherto published: and this volume bas been
prepareB. to meet the requirements in these cases of special
grading.
The design of this compilation is to present a practical
elementary text-book for class-room work. .
The arrangement of topics, the frequent reviews, the
suggested methods, and the indicated exercises in com-·
position will, it is believed, meet with the approval of
experienced instructors in English Grammar.
To the great body of earnest workers in the teacher's
profession, this book is respectfully deiicated.
S. M. P.

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INDEX.

PAGB

A and An ...................................... . ... 14, 101, 105
Adj ectives ... .. .......... ... ..... ... ... .... . ... 15, 101, 102, 107
Adjuncts .•••.....•••....•..................•••..... 57, 58, 59
A,Pverbs ... . ............••................. . ... 19, 42, 163-167
Analysis . .. ...... . .•... ... . . .. . .. ........... . .. . . . . . . ...... 57
Exercises in 58-69, 80, 82, 90, 93, 95, 97, 98, 105, 129, 158, 159, 181-186.
Articles . . ... .• • ..... .. ...•.. . . . . . .. ... . ... . . .....•. 14, 101 , lOU
Attributes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • . . . . • . • . • . . • . . . . . . . . . ..... . . .. . . 5'1
Auxiliary Verbs ..•. . . • .•••• . .....•......... . ... . . . . .. .. 113, 11'.f
Capital Letters ...... ~ ...... .. ...... .. .... ..... . . 9, 18, 20, 51, 52
Cases . .... . ................... . . . .... ..... . . .. . .. .. ... . .. 89-95
Clauses........•. . . . .••• .. ..... • . •... ....•• •... . . .. . 9, 56, 65, 66
Comparison. . .. .... . . .. . .• . ..... . •. . ..• . ..... •.... 103, 104, 165
Complex Sentences .•.•.••...•.••••.••• . ....... . .... . . .... 6~7
Cornpo 1md Sentences ...• .. •. . ..•.•.... .• .....••••....... . . 68, 69
Conjugations .. .. . .... .. ... ........ . .........•.... . ... .. 135-149
Conjunctions......... . ...................... . . 22, 23, 43, 172-176
Declensions .....•••••••.......•..•..••• . .. . .•• •.. .. ... . . . 96, 97
Etymology.. ......••.•..... ... ......... .. ................ 10, 55
False Syntax .•••..•... . .48, 82, 95, 106, 107, 108, 160-163, 186-191
Gender . .••• ••• ••• •...• ... ... . ......... . ... .......... . . .. 84-86
Infinitives ........••••. . ....... . .. .. ..•.• ; ......... .41, 119, 120
, Interjections . . • • . ........•• . ..... . .... • .• .. .. .. .. . .. 24, 43, 177
Irregular Verbs ........ .. .. . .. ...... . . . ........ 111, 150-155
Moods .. . ....... .. .. . ..........••••...• ... ........ .... . 116, 118
Models for Notes and Letters .... . ... . . . .......... .... .. 49, 50, 72

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vi

l NIJEX.

Nouns .............. ; ... ' ·.
PA.GE
Nouns Absolute ...... ... .. " ·" .. ll, 32, 33, 34, 35, 73, 74, 89-96
" Explanatory.. ...
· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · . ... 35 90
"
I
.. ... .
'
ndependent.
" .. "· · " · · " · ·" .. " · · .... 35 89
N umber
.... "·
........ .... .. .
'
p
.
. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. ....... 35, 90
arsmg 36, 38, 39, 42, 43, 44, 55 74 . ... .... ~ . .. ... . .. .. ... . ... 8, •89
86 9
Participles... ... ........ . . ' ' • o, 9<>, 97, 105, 118, 120, 128,129
Parts of Speech
·"" · · ·" · · · · · · · · · .. 35 40 192 123
Persons, ........· ....
· · · ·............
· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ···. . . . . . .. ............
' ' ""' ' 11
Phrases
.. . . .... . .•...... .. .... . . 85 86
Predicat~ ..... .•. .. . · · · ·' · · · · · · · · • · · · · · · · · · • · · · . .... 9, 42 56' 60

ENGLISH GRAMMAR~
PART I.

Prepositi~~~ .... :: .· .'.': • .. · • • · · · ·" · · · · ·" · · · · · · · · · · 7, 29, 56: 58~64
Pronouns

·

.. · · · · · · '" .. " ... " · .. .. 20 21 43 167 171
.. "" · "· " "" · .. {2 ~3 ~3 7~-81
Relations
28, 29'.
52'.
54
Re·
........................
'
3
views. "" ...... . 26 46 70 71
: .. .... .. ·" . 2-43
82
Sentences .. ..... .. , . .. ' ' ' ' • S3, 99, 109, 156, 157, 178, 179
Subject ........... ~· ·" ·" "· · · · .8, 27, 29, 31, 56, 57, 58- 69
Syntax........ .
· · · ·· · · ··· · · ·
· · · · · · .. .... 7, 29 56

Punctuatio~ ....... ..... .. "

of~~~~~'. · ····· ······ ··· · ·· · ······

35: 5~

s~: ~o.' ~;: ~;. ~O~. ~~O .... '". ·.. ··.. ··.. ··.32:

Rules of
56
12
Tense . . . . . .. .. . . .. . . .. . . '
'
' 3, 125, 167, 168, 173, 180, 181
"· ... "" "" " .. · .. · · · . . 124, 125, 126
Verbs... .....
.... · · · · · · · · · · · · · • · · · · · · · · · · · · • · · .17, 40, 12'155
Voice
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
'±•.••••• •• ••••.••.•.••...... 114, 115

LESS 0 N I.
THOUGHT AND ITS EXPRESSION.
1. We have thoughts.

2. We express om thoughts by means of words.
3. Words are either spoken or written.
4. Every saying or statement implies at least two things
-something of which we speak, and what we say of' it.
J ohn I studies.
Snow I is falling.
Who studies ? What is falling?
What do we say about John? What about snow?
5. Subject.-The word or expression denoting 'that
of which something is said, is called the subject. In
the statement," John studies," John is the subject.
6. Predicate.-The word or expression denoting
what is said of the subject, is called the predicate.
In the statement, Mary is writing, is writing is the
predicate, because it denotes what is said of Mary.

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ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

Mention the su~jects and predicates in the followi"ng
statements, and tell why:

Birds / sing.
The sun I shines.
The dew / has refreshed the .flowers.
Some rivers / flow swiftly.
'rhe Niagara River j flows towards the North.

THE SENTENCE.

9

.
w neck of land.
.
An isthmus IS a narro
th .A erica from .Asia.
Behring Strait separates Nor
m
.

. p redicates, so as
Supply sui"table •subjects .to the following
ke complete sentences .
to ma - - have
. . rem"t ed our lesso_n. ,,.

- - __ is plowing his fields.
-- - -·-aresold in the market.

LESSON II.
THE

SENTENCE.

We combine words into sentences to express our
thoughts. We write and talk in sentences.

7. A Sentence is a combination of words making
complete sense. A sentence is a thought expressed in
words.
.A sentence must lrnve a subject and predicate.
The sentence, "Tlze wind glides in waves over tl1e
meadow," expresses a beautiful thought. Tlze wind is the
subject, becanse it denotes that of which something is
said; glides in waves over tlze meadow, is the predicate,
because it denotes what is said of the wind; and the entire expression is a sentence, because it is a combination
of words making complete sense, or beca,use i.t is a
thought expressed in words. In the followi_ng statements,
Say tltat tlte expressz"on is a sentence, and tell why,
mention tlze su~jects and predi"cates, and why:

Life passes away rapidl_y.
The good pupil st udies diligently.

Supply suitable predicates: - - .

The frost· - -. - --__
- - --.
Our neighbor--·. - - - - - - - - - .
A flock of blackbirds --_- - - - - .
Pinks, lilies and roses - hould
·d
1·
every
sentence
s
rst
wm
o
I-?.ule.- Tlie fi . l l tter.
"tl a capita e
begin wi i
words properly put
. two or more
t
8. A Phrase lS
.
osition or statemen ..
b t not making a prop
together, u
..
.
b. ect com. .
9 A Proposition
or Statement, lS a su J
bl.n~d with its predicate.
. a pr oposition that makes only a
10. A Clause lS
.
d is a proposition or
· h ll possible spee '
. 1 ll
I will come wit . a .
b" t. will come witti a
I . h I IS the su ~ec '
b n
statement, of w nc
. t
It is also a sentence w ~
vossible speed, is the pred1cla e. ht of the speaker. With
'it expresses tie
l com pletc t 10ug
. . the words are prop erly
d is a phrase'
all possible spee '
ke a proposition.
put together but do not m~bl peed when he sends for rne
I will come with all possi e s

part of a sentence.

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ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

is .a sentence' cons1Stmg
· . of two r
..
will tJome with all possible
p opos1t10ns or clauses : 1
speed, and when he sends Ji
Suppl
,
or me.
y s_uc1t words as will
k .
<",J?nplete sentences :
ma e the following phrases

-~

- -· on the 4th of Ma i.
- - - - on the 22d
rcu-- _
of February 173 2
tu th . over the river
'
.
e City of New York
.

If

----

n resh water and in salt

Add smtable
·
·
phrases to the foll .
Tea . .
owmg expressions .
is imported - - .
Th e camel is a beast sti:awberries gro w wild ·= - .
Ships sail ___
· -We ca~ ocro - - -----

,----

NOUNS.

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To express our thoughts, we use nine classes of words,
which are therefore called Parts of Speech.

12. The Parts of Speech are Nouns, Prorwuns, Articles, Adjectives, Verbs, Adverbs, Prepositions, Conjunc. • andlnterJections.
.
tions
NOTE.-Articles may be properly classed with Adjectives, and In· .
terj ections scarcely deserve to be called a Pe.rt of Speech; still we
give the above classification as the.t most generally used.

NOUNS.
Wherever we look-at J;iome, in the street, in schoolwe are surrounded by objects or things. We see persons,
animals and things. We hear sounds. We talk of love,
beauty, sweetness, and many other things that we cannot
see.
Write the words: John, New York, tree, slate, bird,

LESSON

III.

ETYMOLOGY
p ARTS OF SPEECH.

11. Etymology treats of th

properties and mod1"fi

t'
e classes of words their
ca 10ns.
'
The expressing of our
ca11Le d zanguage or speech. thoughts by means of words is
anguage consists of m
they can all be divided int any thousands of words, but
. o a small number of classes.

borse, apple, desk, goodness.
· Are these words that you have written the things them·
selves,or the names of things ?
They are names.

13. All words that are names of objects are called
nouns.

14. A Noun is the namo of anything.
Tell what flowers grow in gardens. What things c~n
boys eat ? What objects did you see this morning on your
way to school ? Who are your classmates?
What would you call the words you have mentioned?

12

ENG LISH G RAllIMAR.

'PRONOUNS.

All words are nouns that d t
hear, taste, smell feel or th : nko e anything you can see
·
'
rn of as b emg
· a person or'
· '
th mg.
Tell wlticli words are nou
.
and wliy :
ns in tlie following sentences,

The cradle rocks Th
.The farmer raises .' .
e baby sleeps. The tree
giam and c ttl
.
Merchants sell goods T
a :· Bakers bake bread.
.eachers Instruct pupils. John
tells the truth H .
Write twen;y no:::~ty is the best policy.

?en

.13

15. Pro-noun means/or a noun.
16. The words I, my, mine, me, we, our, ours, us, tho·u,
thy, thine, thee, you, your, yoitrs, he his, li°irn; she, her, hers,
it, its, they, their, theirs, them, myself, ourselves, yourself,
yourselves, himself, herse{f, itself, themselves, who, which,
what, whoever; whosoever, whichever, whatever, and sometimes that and as are pronouns, because in speaking we
often use them in place of the names of the persons or
~hings that we speak of.

17. A Pronoun is a word used instead of a noun.
LESS 0 N

IV.

PRONOUNS.
If I. say' "I se e you, ,, I represen ts th
not his name. an d
e speaker, but it is
.
'
yoit represents th
Wlthont being his
e person spoken to
name. If I say "w:·zz·
'
Miary that William would 1 d Mi '
t iam promised
th a t mu·ary mi ()"ht t d
on
ary Wi'll iam
' ' s grammar
o
s u y tlze grammar "
,.
' you can easily see
t i1at the sentence . l
JS C umsy and d'
have so often repeated th
isagreeable, because I
e words ur.·zz ·
yrammar B t1 t i' f I
rri iam, J"Jfary and
.
say "Will'
'
he would lei1d lier 1r· · .'
iam promised Mary that
i;s grammar t hat J.
·
you notice t hat t i
.
s te might study it "
'
le sentence 1
h
'
agreeable, because I h
s mu c more simple and
it for th e noun s 1·v· 11 ~ve uM
sed the little words he, site and
' r 1 iam
ary d
'
repeating these nouns. ' .. 'an _grammar, instead of
Words th at are used Jor
-r. nouns or · t d
ca11 ed p ronouns.
'
ins ea of nouns, are

P u t suitable pronouns for the woras in italics :
J ohn has learned John's lessons. Mary has torn Mary's
book. Lucy is pretty, and L u cy knows it. Thomas was
disobedient, and therefore Tlwmas's teacher punished
Thomas.. Joseph and Mary went to meet Joseph and
Mary's father, but Joseph and Mary' s f ather came another

way.
Tell which words in the fallowing sentences are pronouns, and why:
I hope you will not lose the pencil wMch I lent you.
As he entered the woods there flew up, a few yards from
him, a large bird. The man who spoke to us owns the
boat which we hired.
Write ten sentences, each of which shall contain a noun
and pronoun.
Ex.-I picked a rose for you.

14

.ENGLISH GRAMNAR.

LESSON

V.

ARTICLES.

When we speak of on! one b.
.
pa,rticular one, we gener:il Io Ject of a kmd, but of no
the name. as a tr
y p ace the word a or an before
.
' '
ee, an apple • if w
' . e mean some parbcular object or ob. t
Jec s, we place the b £
th
as, the trees, the apples~
e ore e names;

18. These little words
the, w h"ich are used ·bef ' a or an (meaning one)' and
. ore nouns, are called Artides.
19. An Article is the word ti;
placed before a noun to Ii "t "t ie, a, .or an, which is
m1 I s meamng.
20. .A_ is used when the foll .
a consonant sound .
owmg word begins with
' as, a man a hor
.A_ •
when the following word begm·'s .th se.
n is used
as
WI
a vowel s
d
oun ;
, an ox, an orange.
21. .A_ or an is used onl befo
things; the is used b f y
re the names of single
than one.
e ore names denoting one or more

Place a or an before each of the foll . .
the : ~an, egg, people, almond, island o:~:; no~ns; then
Write ten short sentences eacli
' . nen .
one of the follow .
'.
of wliich shall contain
Do
ing nouns witli an article prefixed .
.
g, hotel, rose, hour' star·s, rivers, ocea .
d
sc Iio Iars, flowers othe. h
. n, woo s,
~
'
rs, ouses.
Ex.-James has ad og. The houses were burned.

.ADJEOTIVES.

15

LESSON VI.

ADJECTIVES.
We notice every day that objects are not all alike, even
when of the same general kind. Some roses are red, some
are white, and some are yellow. An apple may be large or
small; red, green or yellow ; hard or mellow ; mealy or
juicy. Sometimes we notice several things of interest in
the same object. A river may be deep, broad, clear and
swift. These words that show the qualities of objects or
describe them, are called adjecti'Ues.
Sometimes we use worG.s that do not express the qualities of objects, but t1at still serve to show what objects
are meant.
Such words art. this, that, each, every, either, first,
second, one, two,.three, etc.
These words are also called adjectives.
In the sentence, "A good pupil will be industrious,"
good and industriQus are adjectives, because they describe
the pupil. And in the sentence, "This tree bore five
bushels of apples," this is an aojective, because it makes
the indefinite word tree mean a particular one ; and five
is an adjective, because it limits the noun bushels, expressing with it a definite number of bushels.

22. An Adjective is a word used to qualify or limit
the meaning of a noun or pronoun;
,
Tell which are the adjectives in the following sentences,
and why:

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17

ENGLISH GRA.JIMAR.

VERBS.

The dark clouds indicate rain.
The bright stars are shining.
Those tall trees are old oaks.
Yonder white clouds are beautiful.
Those large, red apples are sour.'
Dear, patient, gentle Nell was dead.
Write ten sentences, each of which shall contain an article and one of the following adfectives :
White, pink, sour, good, tall, large, round, long, slow,
young, beautiful, attentive.
Ex.-A white rose is beautiful.

what the, tree does; and if I say, "The tree was struck by
lightning," was struck tells what was done to the tree.
"The rive~ washes away the soil;,, here washes is a verb,
_ because it tells what the river does. "The river is deep;"
here is is a verb, because it tells something of the river, or
helps to show in what state it is. Sometimes we say that
the verb affirms· or predicates something of its subject.
This is nearly the ·same as to tell you that it says something of that about which we are talking.
Verb means word. Verbs are called so by pre-eminence,
because they are the chief words in the cons~-ruction of
sentences.

LESSON

VII.

VERBS.

Wh.en. we spe~k of any object, we generally tell either
what 1t is, what 1t does, or what is done to it.
1. Flowers are beautiful. The ant is an insect.
2. Birds sing. Boys play. Carpenters build houses.
3. Fields are plowed. The corn was ground.
The words are, is, sing, play, build, etc., by means of
which we say things of the subjects, are called verbs.
Such words as walk, run, leap, swim, study, work, fly,
read, eat, fall, flow, blow, and break, are verbs, because they
tell w~at persons or things do, or they are used to express '
assertions, as, "The child walks," "The sun rises," "Birds
fi.v.'' If I say, "The tree is green," is is used to assert the
Rtate of the tr..)e; if I say, "The tree waves," waves tells

•

23. A Verb is a word used to express the act or
.state of a subject.
Tell which is the noun, and which the verb, in the following sentenc~s, and define each:
Frogs
Fishes swim. The wind whistles. The
thu~der rolls.
The lightning :flashed. Clouds were
moviiig. He recited his lesson. The door creaked. The
snake crept into the grass. Out flew the partridges.
Lilies and roses were blooming together.

le;p.

Put a suitable su~ject to each of the following predicates :
Is happy; ·knows nothing; am sick ; art released ; grew
rapidlj;
was neglected; were neglected; went away ;
1
., ~poke sensibly; replied ; stepped forth ; retreated; should
obey their parents; was a great man.
Say something of each of the following_obfe,gts, by telling
'flJhat they are :

18

19

ENGLISH GRAlifMAR.

ADVERBS.

Street, grass, bay, ice, stars, mountains, room, table.
Ex. The street is dusty.

25. Ad-verb means to a verb. Adverbs are generally
used to express 'manner, place, time, or degree, with
reference to some act or state.

\.

Say sometiting of each of the following obfects, by telling
what they do:
Horse, farmers, trees, servant, dogs, tailor, teacher,
scholar.
Say sometking of each of the following~ obfects, by telling
what is.done to them:
.Lesson, b?nnet, }?ridge, yard, window, J.ohn, new~paper.
24. Rule.-All proper names, and words derived
f'rom proper names, should be.Jin with a capital
letter.

Write ten sentences, and underscore the subfect of each
sentence with one line, the predicate-verb with two, thus:
Th e trees in the Park are growing finely.
The battle of Waterloo was fought on the }8t.h of June,

"The water fim;s rapidly;" rapidly is an ad verb, because it tells bow the water :flows. "It rained here
then "' here is an ad verb, because it tells where it rained,
and ~hen is an adverb, because it tells when it rained.
" The water is very deep;" very is an ad verb, because it
teUs how deep the water is. "The water flows very
rapidly< very is an adverb, because it tells how rapidly
the water :flows. If I say, "He reasons correctly, speaks
fluently, and persuades earnestly; " " Walk up, walk
down, walk in; exceedingly tall, surprisingly abrupt,
more ingenious, most eloquent, very powerfully, quite
fast;" you see that all of these italicized words tell how,
where, when, or in what degree ; and they are therefore

adverbs.

1815.
26. An Adverb is a word used to modify the meaning of a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.
LESSON

VIII.

ADVERBS.
People do not all walk alike, nor talk alike, nor write
alike. Hence we often use such' words as well, badly,
. f'lst, s!owly, gracefully, awkwardly, sweetly, harshly, ltashly, etc., to describe the actions of persons or to distinguish their actions from one another. These words are
called adverbs, because they are generally added to verbs.

Mention the adverbs in the following sentences, and
why: Walk rapidly. Write slowly. You are playing
• rudely. He is not going. The letter is well written.
She visits us very often. The furnace is remarkably bot.
He is sleeping soundly. The army fought very. bravely.
You have behaved improperly. The water flows swiftly
through tbe dam. Speak distinctly. The dogs barked
furiously.
Rapidly is an adverb, because it tells how to walk.

20

ENGLISH GRAM.MAR.

PREPOSITIONS.

Complete the following sentences by adding an adverb to
each:
·

Tb e weather is - - - hot. A fox can run - .
know - - - deep it is. Tell.me - - - the lesson is.
He was burned - - - .
- - - was he burned.
You know - -- it was done.
He fought - --.

I

27. Rule.-The words I and 0 should ulways be .
capitals.
'
Wfite ten sentences, each of wltich shall contain one of
these adverbs: Swiftly, here, hereafter, too, quite, very,
quickly, steadily, noisily, sweetly, early, soon.
· Ex.-The horse is too o,ld to run swiftly.

LESSON

IX.

PREPOSITIONS .

Houses are on the gronnd; cellars are under houses;
and trees grow around houses. Boats run up and down
rivers, and rivers flow between hills. The morning star
rises before the sun, and night comes after 'sunset.
The words on, under, around, up, down, between, before,
and after, link the parts of the sentences together, and
show the position or relation of things to one another.
Such words are called prepositions, because they are
generally placed before the nouns or pronouns with
which they muke descriptive phrases. Preposition comes

21 .

from pre, before, and positio, placing; the word, therefore,
means placing bejore.

28. A Preposition is a word used to show the r elation between a following noun or pronoun and some
other word.
Ex.-A school is kept in the house on the hill.
Where? I n what house?
In is a preposition, and shows the relation between llousJ and is

ke~;i is a preposition, and shows the relation between hill and house.
Tell the prepositions, and what nouns they are placed

The branches bend
before:
The bird sings on the branches.
before the wind.
We write with steel pens. The dogs chase each other
round the yard.
.
He comes to school too early. The burglar climbed
into the window.
The cat jumped upon the table. Rolla was under the
table.
He was amongst bis friends. They are going towards
home.
We ran across the road. The wagon ran over a little
girl.
.
t .
r
Write ten sentences, each of which shall con ain one o
more of the .following prepos1:tions :
In, into, on, upon, between, underneath, over, along,
for, about, to, towards, with, aro nnd.
Ex.-He went aroimd the house/or a ladder.

I
i

22

ENGLISH GRANMAR.

29 . A Conjunction is a word used
wotds, phrases, clauses, or sentences.

LESSON

X.

CON JUNCTIONS.
I

We frequ ently use certain words simply to connect
words, phrases, clauses, or sentences, and to show the dependence of the parts thus connected. When you hear
such w'Urds as and, but, because, you at once know that
something more is to come, and that it bears a certain relation to wh at has been said. If I say, "John writes and
ciphers;" " John spilt his ink on the desk and on the
floor;" "J 01111 ·writes every day, and I generally look at
his writing;" you see that the word and adds something
more to what has been said, or joins two words, two
phrases, or two propositions together.
Uon:junction is derived from con, together,'and junctio,
joining; and it th erefore means joining together, or something that fains together.
Such words as and, or, b!tl, than, ,because, for, if, and
though, are called conjunctions, becanse they serve to connect the parts of a1·
s urse. "Silks and jewels are showy
but dear."
'
·
And connects silks
jewels, and bu.t connects showy and dem·;
hence and and but are conjunctions.

"He rides ~f he is sick;" '"He rides, though he is
sick;" "He rides because he is sick."
Here if, though, and because are conjunctions, because each con.
nects two clauses.

•

23

_CONJUNCTIONS.

connect

Tell which words in the fallowing sentences are conjunctions, and why:
The trees are "budding, and the birds are singing.
He is brave, but he is cautious.
I shall go out if it does not rain.
.
I am not acquainted with him, nor do I WISh to be.
You must study, or you will not learn.
He studied that he might learn.
We blamed him because he did wrong.
Frauk is taller than John.
James and Henry will study French or German.
As the hon~ has come we will commence.
Supply conjunctions:·
James - - John must do it.
You must go home - y o u are sick.
You will fail - - you study.
you will fail - - you do not study.
The rose is more fragrant the peony.
Tell of whdt part of speech each word is, and why:
The cork-tree sheds its bark every ten years.
Ex.-The is an article, because it is placed before the
word cork-tree to show that a particular object is meant.
Gork-tre.e is a noun, because it is the name of an object,

and so on.
A snake crept through the fence into the grass.
The meadow is covered with grass and flowers.

•

'
24

SEKTENCES.

ENGLISH GR.A.MM.AR.

25

Tell what part of speech each word is in the fallowing

LESSON

XI.

INTERJECTIONS
When we see, hear, or in an ~th .
.
our feelings are often s dd 1 y . er way notwe things,
d
u en y excited
' an we utter, almost unconsciously certain l"ttl
emotions. Words ~f ti . k " d1 e words that show these
ns m are such
0
tut, aha, whew etc '"I . I
as ' oh, ah, pish
'
., ' uc l you ha d b 1
'
Th ey generally expr
.
ve ou t ess often heard.
.
ess surprise wo d
or contempt.
'
n er, Joy, grief, anger,
Interfection means throwin b
words are loosely tl .
g etween . and since these
.
u own between other words
mg, th ey are called inter7·ectio
in speak.
ns.

30 .. An Interjection is a word that expresses an
emot10n ' an d is
· not connected
·
in construction with
any other word.

-w

" Day broke ; but then oh '
field!." Olt is an in terj ec;io
tion of th e speal· er
d . n,
' , an 1uo
the sentence.
..

l

'
t ~ spectacle was that battlese It expresses the sudden emo· ted t 0 any of the other words of

In the fallowing sentences tell the
. .
tions, and inter7·ec#ons
d 7
prepositions, conjunc- .
Th
.
, an w 11y:
e water ran around t h b ··a
There is a walk a1 d
~ II ge and over the brid 0ue.
1
a
carnaO'e
ro·a d f rom the church to
0
the college.
.
Alas• ! no hope ,.101. me remams.
He
in appearance, yet h e is sickly.
We is
1 stout
t
os the battle, notwith stand.
.
mg we did our utmost
to win it.
This p up1·1 w1·11 learn because he i·s att.en t"ive.

sentences:
Good order is the foundation of a1l good things.
God reared the mountains with their pine-clad spires.
tl1is stream we found magnolias and cedars.
If it continues to rain, the river will rise.
Thunder rolled in every quarter of the h eavens.
H a, h a, ha! he is a fine gentleman truly.
H er eyes looked into eve-ry eye that fell upon them.
The grapes were sour, but the peaches were de1icious1y

on'

ripe.

~

THE LITTLE BIRD'S COMPLAINT.

H ere in this wiry prison caged, I sing,
And think of sweet green woods, and long to tly;
Unable once to stretch ·my feeble wing,
Or wave my feathers in the clear blue sky.

Day after day, the self-same things I see,
The cold white ceiling, and this wiry house;
Ah! how unlike my healthy n ative tree,
Rocked by the winds, that whistled through the boughi!.
Oh ! how I long to stretch my weary wings,
.A.nd fly away as far as eye can see;
And from the topmost bough where Robin sings,
Pour my wild songs, and be as blithe as he.

2

26

ENGLISH GRANllfAR.

LESSON

XII.

REVIEW OF DEFINITIONS.

· a ~vord or expression denoting that
f 1. A
. hSubje ct I~
o whic somethrng is said.
2. A Predicate is a word or
.
.
what is said of th
b"
expression denotmg
<
e su Ject.
3. A Sentence is a combination of words mak·
complete sense, or it is a th
ht
mg
words.
oug
expressed in
4. A Phrase i8 two or more words
. .
to D"ether but not
k"
properly JOmed
0
ma rng a statement.
'
5.·d. A Pro_position i s a su b"Ject combined with i"ts
pre 1cate.

14. An Adverb is a word used to modify the meaning of a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.
15. A Preposition is a word used to show the relation between a following noun or pronoun and some
other word.
16. A Conjunction is a word used to connect words,
phrases, clauses, or sentences.
17. An Interjection is a word that expresses an
emotion, and is -not connected in construction with
any other word.
18. Etymology treats of the derivation, classes, and
properties of words.

6. A Clause is a 2sition that makes onl
of a sentence.
Ya part
. 7. The Parts of
· ch are classes of words h.. h
we use to express ou~houghts.
w ic
8.
The
Parts
of
h
t• l
. . .
eec are nouns, pronouns a·ic es, adJect1ves verbs ad b
. . .
' I
·
t"
. ' .
'
ver s, prepositions conJ Unc wns, and mterJ ections.
'
9. A Noun is the name of anything.
.

~~- AA Pron~un ~s a word used instead of a noun.
. n Ar ticle is the word th
.
·
e, a, or an, which is
placed bef
ore a noun to limit its meaning
· a word used to qualify
.
the12 . An . Adj ec t"rve ~s
or limit
meanmg of a noun or pronoun.
13, A Verb is a
·d
d
state of
b"
wor use to express the act or
a su Ject.
·

-

27

SENTENCES.

LESSON

XIII.

SENTENCES.

When we speak or write to a p~rson, we usually do so
either to tell him something, to ask him something, or to
bid him do something. And sentences are accordingly
either declarative, interrogative, or imperative.

31. A declarative sentence is an assertion.
32. An interrogative sentence is a question.
33. An imperative sentence is a command or r equest.
Declarative.
Tbe soldier rests.
John goes to school.
She went home.

Interrogative.

JmperaU,,;e.

Does the soldier r est?
Soldier, rest.
Does Jo1m go to school? John, go to school
Go home.
Did she go hom e?

28

ENGLISH GRAMMAR •

SENTENCES.

29

•

Rule.-,;l declarative or imperative sentence

should be follow ed by a period; a,n interro_ta,tive
sentence by an interrogation-point; and a sent ence used as an exclamation by an exclamationpoint.
Tell whetlter the following sentences are declarative, in·
fgrrogative, or imperative, and why; also mention the subject and predicate of eaclt :
He is honest. Is be honest ? Be honest. The summits of the Rocky Mountains are covered with snow.
Take away these books. Why are we here idle? Go to
the ant, thou sluggard! The wind is never weary. Is
it rai~ing ? Work, boy~, wor~lves were once common m every part of th1S co~ Were you in time for
the train ? 'l'he lone sheep is in danger of wolves. Wake
not a sleeping lion. War bri. scars. Weeds do not
need sowing or culture. Do not· count chickens before
they are hatched. Is dinner ready? A bird in the hand
is worth two in the bush.' Are you hurt ? Time devours all things. What comes from the heart, goes to
the heart. Do not say, go; but go thyself.

34. In imperative sentences, the subject is thou or
you, understood.
Write .five declarative, five interrogative, and five impera·
tive sentences. Underscore tlte subjects in the declarative
and interrogative sentences with one line; underscore all
f:e predicate-verbs with two lines.
Ex~-Oranges are brought from Florida.

Will you lend me a pencil?

=-=

John, bri11 g .me a glass of water.

=

LESSON

XIV.

SENTENCES.
An assertion can be made of one thing, or of two o:r
more distinct things; and one assertion, or two or more
distinct assertions, may be made of the same subject. In
the sentence, "'l'he boy-._is__.going--to--school/' the subject
and the predicate are simple; in the sentence, "The boy
and his sister are going to school," the subject is compound; and in the sentence, "The boy studies and
plays," the predicate is compound.
35. The subject of a sentence may be either simple
or compound.
36. The predicate of a sentence may be either
simple or compound.
Mention the subfects and predicates in the following sentences, and tell whether they are simple or compound:
John and James study. John reads and writes. Winds
and storms are but currents of air. He lighted bis lamp,
and sat down by the table, but soon slept with all his
mirrht. Beauty is a blossom. Time and distance tame the
str~ngest grief. Books, music, and gardening are_bis deligb t; After clouds comes fair weather. Apples, peaches,
plums, and melons grow in most parts of our country. I
tnust either sell or borrow. The lark soars and sings.

37. Rule ..- When two words in a series of
nou,ns, adjectives, verbs, or adverbs, are not connected by a conjunction, they should be separated
by a comma.

30

ENG LISH G RA.If.MAR.

Ex. 1.:--Joh~, James, an d H enry brought their grammars, arithmetics, spellers, and blank-books to school.
Ex. 2.-The wind was strong, keen, fitful, and boisterous.
Ex. 3.-The horse reared, kicked, plunged, and at last
broke loose from the carriage.
Ex. 4.-They positively, repeatedly, and angrily denied
the charge.
In the following expressions, mention the phrases and
sentences, and define eacli ; change phrases into sentences;
resolve composite sentences into their clauses ; resolve sentences or clauses info subj~ predicates, and define
these parts :
~

A clear an d beautiful stream ran along the bluffs.
~~der a s~ady ~aple. ~er eyes wert!Puc, like blossommo flax. rh e ~Htmond JS the most precious gem. Blown
down by the 'vind. Palm-t rees grow in .Asia:, .Africa and
South America. Some boys and girls are very car:less.
To study diligently. The thunder burst in tremendous
explosions. The peals were echoed from mountain to
mo~n tain . The storm seemed to have brought all the
art1ll~ry of heaven into action.
Williams, the barber.
When I had re_cited ~y lessons: Literature is a garden,
books are parti cular vrnws of it, and readers are visitors. '
How soon are we forgotten when we are gone! Set a
frog on a golden chair, and he will leap back into hi.
dir ty pool. Springs flow from natural reservoirs unde.
groun~. Lakes are supplied with water by rivers, brooks,
or sprmgs. H e _that has ill luck, gets ill usage. Eagles
do not catch fli es. Men, like pillars, are strong only

SENTENCES.

SYNTAX.

31

while they are upright. The purest water comes from
hardest rock.
Make sentences, . and embody in thern the following
phrases:
Under the snow. Decked with flow ers. To study
more diligently. By the brook. Plauted in rows. To
8ee the sun rise. In the deepest pool. Glowing with
heat. To spend tlie day. Over field and forest. Having
nothing to do. To play with his dog.

LESS 0 N

XV.

SENTENCES. SYNTAX.
Change each set of the following statements into one sentence; mention the s1tbject and predicate, and all the parts
of speech, and define each :
1. The tree was struck. It was an oak tree. The tree
was old. It was a fine tree. It grew in the Park. The
lightning struck it. It was night when it was struck.
The night was Thursday . night. It was twelve o'clock

when it was struck.
How much more briefly and elegantly is all this information expressed in one sentence! The fine old oalc
tree in the Park was struck by lightning at 12 o'clock or.
Thitrsday night.
2. Banks were overflowed. They were the b:inks cf the
Mississippi. This was on the 15th of last J nne.
3. A boy came. He was pretty. He was little. He

·1

I

32

ENGLISH GRAllfllfAR.

was blue-eyed. He had rosy cheeks. He came with a
young, "':hite rabbit. He had it in his pinafore. He
brought it to his mother.
·
4. 'l~he girl wrote a letter. £he was a good girl. She
:wrote it to her mother. It was a long letter. She wrote
it on her mother's birthday. ·She wrote in the morn1·
~-izab eth haranrrued her troops EI" b tl
~
b
.
1za e 1 was . a
q~een. She harangued them with much spirit. It was at
Tilbury Fort. It was before the Spanish Armada arrived
It was only a li ttle time before.
·

RELATIONS OF WORDS.

33

39. A noun or propoun may be the o'l{ject of a verb.
Ex.-The fisherman catches fish. (Catches what?)
The boy broke the 'looking-glass. My mother spins flax.
The carpenter mended the door. The caterpillars devoured the buds. The weaver weaves 'lfarn into cloth.
The barber shaved me. I invited him. They hid themselves. The sun is warming the garden. Snow has covered the hills. She sang us a song.
Song is

11.

noun, and is the object of the verb sang; it tells what

she sang.

37. Syntax treats of the relations and arrangement
of words in sentences.

t'fJll*

LESSON

••

XVI.

RELATIONS OF WORDS.

38. A ~oun or pronoun may be the subject of a verb.
Ex.-Tne
tree fell · (What fell?)
· un-.
.
. Thejlower Is
foldmg. The
partridges flew away. Th e s!.tip
· moves.
.
The bell rmgs. The storm roars. Slie laucrhed. (Wb .
I
h d ?)
·
b
·
o.
aug e . H e is reading. I shall return soon. The
boys skate. ~he trees wave. The fire crackles and flames.
_. map IS
. beau. The ocean is blue. (What is blue .?) Tlus
tiful. T~e we~l was deep. Her dress was white and neat.
The ~ark is a smging bird. A thief is also a liar. Our
c~rn is gathered. The bread is baked. Brass is made of
zmc and copper.

40. A nolin or pronoun may be the ol>ject of a
preposition.
Ex.-I was going down the street.' (Down what ?) The
Mississippi river rises in Minnesota. The book lay on the
table. The child fell into the well. The bridge extends
over the river. There is a plank-road from the clmrch to
the college. Several railroads run through Pennsylvania.
The garden lies behind the house. The swallows flutter
about the eaves.
The whirlwind passed around the asylum and destroyed the church.
.Asylum is a noun, the object of the preposition around; church is
a noun, the object of the verb destroyed.

41. A noun or pronoun may be a possessive, or word
denoting possession or ownership.
Ex.-Here is the boy's book. H,~re are the boys' books.
This is the man's hat. These are the men's hats. I have
cleaned my desk. We have cleaned our desks. You h11ve
broken your slate. He has bruised his thumb. She has

34

35

ENGLISH GRA1ll1lfAR.

SYNTAX.

torn her book. They had lost their way. This is mine;
that is yours; and the other is he;s. Yours are better
than ours. My brother's estate belongs to one person
only. My brothers' estate belongs to two or more persons.
My f riend's request come.;; from one person only. My
friends' request comes from two· or moi·e persons. It is
our duty, not tMirs, to supply the people's wants. Fo 1
goodness' su,ke, help me out of my troubles. He resides
near St. James's Place.

Rule. - Explanatory
nouns, pronouns, or
phrases, following the principal terms, should
be separated from such terms and from the rest
of the sentence by commas.
Ex.-1'he pupils of the school, bright-ey ed boys and
gir ls, were singing "America."

Boy's is a possessive noun, governed by book. Book is the word
that leads to the use of th e pos• •rm of boy.
Hence the possessive is said
verned by the name of the
thing possessed.

42. A noun or pronoun may be explanatory of another noun or pronoun denoting the same person or
.thing.
Ex.- Webster, the orator and statesman, was not related
to Webster, t he author.
Cortez, the conqueror of Mexico, was a brave man.
H e was elected Governor.
Th ey called her Mary.
It was he. It is L
Write five sentences, each of which shall contain a po~­
sessive noun or pronoun, and five which shall contain an
explanatory noun or pronoun ; 1inderscore as in the ex{l!11ples.

Ex.-J ane and M~ saw their~ house in the dis·
tance.
Mary was the most studious pupil in her class.

-=

-

LESSON

XVII.

SYNTAX.
RELATION.S OF WORDS.

43. A noun is inde'{Jf3n<lent when it has no dependence on any other word in the sentence .
Ex.- William , you may recite your lesson.
You · is the subject of t he verb may recite; your is a possessive,
governed by lesson ; lesson is the object of the verb may recite ;
William is an independent noun.

44. A noun is said to be absolute when joined with a
participle, but not connected with afinite verb.
45. A finite verb is a verb used to predicate (say)
something of its subject.
46. A participle is a form of t.he verb that expresses
the act or state, without predicating it of a subject,
and generally h as the sense of a17,adjective.
Ex.-The train having started, we were obliged to wait
another day.
Train is a noun, absolute with the participle having started.

\

.,
. I

36

37

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

SYNTAX.

The storm havi"ng burst upon us, we took refuge in
the nearest hut.
The storm being over we continued our journey.

that is INDEPENDENT, or that is ABSOLUTE, with a participle; underscore as in the examples.
Ex.~ and ~entlemen, you are welcome.

' -

The leader having fallen, his troops fled.

47. A pronoun refers to the noun or term which it
represents.
Ex.-J ames saw his mistake.
His is a possessive pronoun; it refers to James, and is governed
by mistake.

hils

'rhe father and
bad purchased.
To what does his

LESSON

cultivated the farm, which they

r?

XVIII.

RELATIONS OF WORDS.
Which?

They?

Tell the parts of speech in the following sentences, and to
what the JJronouns refer :

Henry's brother has brought my horse.
Our sweetest songs are those which tell of saddest
thought.
I will meet you at Smith's, the bookseller.
Her brother weut to the doctor, who quickly removed
the cause of his annoyance.
My mother ! when I learned that thou wast dead,
Say, wast thou conscious of the tears I shed?
Hovered thy spirit o'er thy sorrowing son?
Wretch even then, life's journey just begun!
I heard the bell tolled on thy funeral day ;
I saw the hearse that bore thee slow away;
And, turning from my nursery window, drew
A long, long sigh, and wept a last adieu !-COWPER.
Write ten sentences, each of which shall contain a noun

48. Articles and adjectives relate to nouns and pronouns.
'!

They relate to the words they point out, limit or.describe.
times we use the word modify to convey the same idea.

Some-

Ex.-It was a gusty, playful wind, frolicking with leafy

trees.
.A is an article, relating to wind; gusty and playful are adjectives,
r elating to wind.

Tell the articles and adjech'ves in the fallowing sentences,
and the nouns to which they relate :

Africa is the native land of the negro race.
The young grass covers the dark ground like a delicate
green carpet.
·
In Winter the prairies are gloomy and desolate.
.
Scarlet and golden maples waved below million-fingereri
pines.
In this nook, we saw four or five squirrels, some
turkeys, and man,y partridges.

In. the temperate zones, people are most healthy, happy,
and mtellectual.
The pleasant artisan has made a beautiful box for the
noble Italian bdy.
The sweet, gentle young girl watched by t4e couch
of her suffering brother.
49. Phrases and clausesAe often used as adjectives, to show who, what, ~hat kind is meant.
Ex.-There is no place of safety for him.
What kind of place ? Of safety is an adjective phrase, and relates
to or modifies place.

A man of perseverance generally succeeds.
What kind of man ? Man is the subj ect, modifi ed by the article a
and the adj ective phrase of perseverance ; succeeds is the predicateverb, and is modified by t!ie adverb generally.

The people who flritter you are not your friends.
What people? P eople is the subject, modified by the article tM
aud the adj cctive clause, who flatter you.

Tell the ad:Ject,ive phrases and adjective clauses hi the
follo wing sentences, and the nouns or pronouns to which
they relate :

The rain which fell yesterday has been very refreshing.
In this sentence, rnin is the subject, m odified by the article
the, the adjective clause wltich f ell yesterday, and the adjective
phrase very 1·rfre.1hing. vVbat has been very refreshing? The predicate-verb is has been, and the entire predicat e is has been very refre8hing. W e see from this that the predicate may contain words
and phrases tlrnt att1·1'.bute or ascribe conditions and qualities to the
subj ect.

Adjectives and adjective phrases that complete the

39

SYNTAX.

ENGLISH GRAMil'IAR.

predicate are called attributes, or attrib·ute words and
phrases.
He was without home and without friends.
The path through the meadow is the nearest.
People then wore buttons of brass and buckles of silver.
'rhe garments scorched by fire are worthless.
Knives made from steel are the best.
The people who flatter you are not your friends.
The lady who sings so well came from Italy.
We respect those who respect themselves.
"The night comes swiftly, like a hunted man who
cloaks his sin."
"Among the hills of Spain there stands
A fabric reared by holy hands."
"King Robert, who was standing near the throne,
Lifted his ~yes, and lo! be was alone !

*

*

*

*

And when his courtiers came they found him there,
Kneeling upou the floor, absorbed in prayer."
Write five sentences, each of which shall contain an
adjective phrase, and five which siwll contain an adjective
clause. Underscore the adjective phrases with one line, the
adjective clauses with two.
Ex. The productions of our soil furnish the wealth

of the country.
We should take care of the soldiers who fought our
b::l,ttles.

-====-

40

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

LESSON

XIX.

RELATIONS OF WORDS.

50. A verb relates to some noun or pronoun as its
subject.
Ex.-Each flower expands its little leaves.
Expands is a verb; it tells what the flower does, and relates to
flower.

Jldl/I and sunk.

SYNTAX.

41

The cfouds, touched by the sun, seemed to glow with
fire.
What is said of the clouds? T(YUChed is a participle, and relates
to clouds. Touched is the principal word in the adj ective phrase

touched by tl!e sun.

The sun having arisen, we proceeded on our way.
Having arisen is a participle, relating to sun. Sun is absolute
with the participle having arisen, n.s it is not the s~bject of any

The vessel struck a hidden

finite verb.

Struck and sunk are verbs, an~ to their subject, vessel.

52. An Infinitive is a form of the verb that begins
with to, but does not predicate. ·It relates to an expressed or indefinite subject, and generally depends
upon some other word; it may, besides, have the
sense of a noun, adjective or adverb.

Mention the verbs in the following sentences, and to what
subjects they relate:
The breeze blows cool; the waters quiver under it; and
softened sunbeams pour around a fairy light.
We walked the deck, and gazed upon the billows.
Our work was done, and we were seated under tile old
elm.
"Down the hills of Angostura still the storm of battle
rolls;
Blood is flowing, men arc dying; God have mercy on
their souls!"

51. A participle is a form of the verb that expresses
an act or state but does not predicate; that is, a participle alone, with a subject, does not make a complete statement, and it may, besides, have the Bense
of a noun or adjective.
Ex.-The birds, awaking, burst into a song. ·
Awaking is a participle, and relates to birds; it expresses a state,
~ut does not predicate. What do the birds do? Burst is the predicate-verb, and relate» to 'llirds.

E x.-The clouds, touche~y the sun, seemed to glow
with fire.
•
To glow is an infinitive. Seemed what? What to glow? To
glow relates to clouds, and depends upon seemed.

The bee brought his honey to sweeten the feast.
Why? What to sweeten?

He was anxious to return.
To retu1·n relates to lie, and depends upon anxious.

Write five sentences each of which shall contain a participle, and five which shall contain an infinitive. Underscore the participles with one line, the infinitives witlt two.

Ex.-We saw two kittens playing in the garden.
To ride is pleasant. Most people love ~

42

ENGLISH GRAJDlIAR.

LESSON

43

SYNTAX.

XX.
LESSON

XXI.

RELATIONS OF WORDS.
RELATIONS OF WORDS.

53. An Adverb relates to a verb, an adject.ive, or
another adverb.

55. A Preposition shows the relation of a following
noun or pronoun to some other word.
56. A Conjunction connects words, phrases, clauses,

~Ment ion

the adverbs i n the following sente1ices, and to
what they relate :
~
The eagle flies swiftly. Go~erywhere.

or sentences.
57. Interjections, apd nouns or pronouns, in ad-

Swiftly is au ad verb, it t ells how the eagle fli es, and relates to
fl ies. Adverbs are fo und by !¥lking H ow ? When? Where?
I ri what degree ? etc.

dreis, are u sed independently.
Mention the prepositions in the following sentences, and
between what they ~how the relation; the con,jimctions,
ancl what they connect; the in'ter,jections and other words,

They softly lie, and sweetly sleep, low in the ground.
N e\·er before did I see her look so pale. How pale?
He has n,lready been th ere very frequently.
You are yet young enough to learn quite easily.
Your book is more beautiful, but mine is more useful.
P erhaps I ham been rather idle hi therto ; but henceforth I will certainly try t o study more diligently.
England is so highly culti vati::d that it locks like one
vast garden.
54. Phrases and clauses are often used as adverbs.
Ex.-We played in the meadow. Where?
He remained till morning.
The family emigrated from SjJain to Cuba, during the
last cr,ntury.
The last example is a simple sentence ; the subj ect is tlw family;
the predicate is emigrated f?·om Spain to Cuha during tlw last ce11r
titry. The subject-noun is family, which is modified by the; tha
predicate -verb is emigrated, which is modified by the three adverbial
phrases, from Spain, to Cuba, and during the last r.entury.

ANALYSIS.

u sed independently :
The surface of the earth consists of land and water.
Of is a preposition, showing the relation of earth to surface.
(What su \ face? Wllat of the earth?) An~. conjunction, connecting land and water. ·

Stream s of water generally flow into lakes, anfl from
them.
Alas ! my noble boy, that thon shouldst die!
The earth, or globe on which we live, is not perfectly
~

..

round.
The people are healthy, though the climate is severe.
Glide on, 0 Moon! fairer than a silvery boat in the
,,
upper deep.
If you deal with a fox, think of his tricks.
Watch the door of thy 1ips, lest thou utter folly.
The dog meant play; but, hoity-toity! how the cat
\

,I
11

44

SYNTAX.

ENGLISH GR.AMMAR.

ra! sed h er back, ancl growled, notwith standing be was so
friendly!
H e upbraided them because they repented no t.
B ecaw:e is ~ conj unction, connecting the clause preceding and· the
one commg after.

"Why was I taken from my waving nest .
From flow ery fi elds, wild woods, an d ~edges green?
Torn fr?m my ~10tb er's warrn and downy breast,
.In this sad pnson-house to die unsfJiiilJ!#
Krnd lady, corne, with gentle, pityin~d,
Unbar my priso n-door, and set me free.
Then o~ the white-thorn bush I'll take m~ stan d,
And srng sw~et songs to freedom and to thee."

Resol~e the follow'in,q sentences into as ;,any statements
as possible; resolve these into tlteir su1Jjects and predi~ates ; tell wltat part of speech each word is, and to wltat

it relates or what its use is:
TUE LONELY PRISONER.

"For more than fo ur long years
I've gazed on p1·ison walls,
From morning's earlies t dawning light,
'Till shade of evening falls.
.
In dreams I visit oft
That dear, fam iliar hom e·
My wife and children gather' round,
Right glad that I am come.
Th e lovely little ones,
Sit prattling on my knee;
'Father, what made you stay so long?
Have you been o'er the sea ? '

45

The tears of joy flow fast,
And quite bedim ni.y eyes;
0, is there happiness like this,
Except beyond the skies ?
But, ah! th e illusion breaks 1
Who shall my fate_ bemoan?
The wretched prisoner awakes,
To find himself alone .
Y e wlio have never known,
How lonely prisoners live,
Unless your hearts be made of stone,
A sigh of pity give."
"Faded is Alva's noble race,
And gray her towers are seen afar;
No more her heroes urge the chase,
Or roll the crimson tide of war."-BYRON.

"In the chiIT?-neys of the disused rooms, swallows had
. buil t their nests for many a long year, and from •
est
spring to latest autumn, whole colonies of sparrows
chirped and twittered in th e eaves. Th ere were more
pigeons about the dreary stable-yard and outbuildings
t han anybody but the landlord .c ould reckon up."DroKENS.

"The Judge looked back as be climbed the hill,
And saw Maud Miiller standing still:
'A form more :!'air, a face more sweet,
N e'er hath it been my lot to meet.
And bar modest answer and graceful air,
Show her wise and _good as she is fair.'"

46

ENG LISH GRAJJMAR..

LESSON

XXII.

REVIEW.
I.
2.
3.
4.

A declarative sentence is an assertion.
An interrogative sentence is a question.
An imperative sentence is a command or request.
The subject of an imperative sentence is thou or
yon understood.
5. The subject of a sentence may be either simple
or compound. Give an example.
6. 'rhe predicate of a sentence may be either simple
or compound. Give an example.
7. Syntax trea ts of the relations and arrangement
of words in sentences.
8. A noun or pronoun may be the subject of a verb.
Give an example.
9. A noun or pronoun may be the object of a verb.
Give an example.
10. A noun or pronoun may be the object of a
preposition. Give an example.
11. A noun or pronoun may be a possessive, or word
denoting ownership. Give an example.
12. A noun or pronoun may be explanatory of
another noun or pronoun, denoting the same person
or thing. Give an example.
13. A noun is independent when it has no dependence on any other word in the sentence. Give
an example.
14. A noun 0r pronoun is said to be absolute when

REVIEW.

47

joined ,with a participle, but not connected with any
finite verb.
15. A finite verb ilserb used to predicate something of its subject.
16. A participle is
m of the verb that expre~ses
the act or state, without predicating it of a subJect,
and generally has the sense of an adjective.
17. A pronoun refers to the noun or term which it
represents.
18. Articles and adjectives relate to the nouns and
pronouns that they limit or describe.
.
19. Phrases and clauses are often used as adJeCtives, and are then called adjective phrases, or adjective clauses.
20. A verb relates to some noun or pronOUJil as its
subject, or to some phrase .or clause us12d in ~ sense
of a noun.
21. An infinitive is a form of the V':lrb that begins
with to, but does not predicate. It relates to an
expressed or indefinite subject, and generally depends
. .
.
upon some other word.
22. An adverb rnlates to a verb, adjective, or other
adverb.
23. Phrases and clauses are often used as adverbs.
24. A preposition shows the relation of a following
noun or pronoun to some other word.
25. A conjunction connects words, phrases, clauses,
or sentences.
26. Interjections, and nouns or pronouns, used in
direct address, are used independently.

48

LESSON

XXIII.

INCORRECT EXPRESSIONS.
The teacher sh ould keep a list of incorrect expressions in common
use, and t rain th e pupils by precept and example to a correct use of
language, even t hough they are not prepared to understand the technical rules of grammar.

Correct the fo llowing expressions :
You aint going home yet. I aint ready. It ai nt so.
H e ltan't got it. You ltadn't oitglit to go. H ave you got
a knife. We have got a horse. J ohn done it. We do ne
the sums. I didn't do n othing. I come to school early.
J ames come to school yesterday. I han't got n othing. · I
don't know nothing about it. J ohn laid down on the
sofa. We saw the book lay ing on t he table. Rover has
laid down. After lay'ing awhile he raised up. The
t each er learned me to cipher. I seen him yester day.
Y ou seen him coming up the street. Set down in that
chair. I saw him setting on the steps. Go into the
setting room. Si't the lamp upon the table and let it set
there. She's went home. H e's went down stairs. Give
me t!tern books. Did you see thern birds ? Are thern two
girls going with us ? T hem is my sentiments. This here
slate is broken. T hat there pencil is mine. It is rne.
J ohn and me went to th e house. It was him and me.
I knew it was him. Between you and I. H~ call ed h er
and I. You may have either of the four apples. N eith er
of t he six books was the one I wanted. N eithe?· of the
six books were h ere. Divide the apple between us three.
Eit her, neith er, and betw,Jen should b e used where only two objects are spoken of.

/

49

SYNTAX.

E N GLISH GRA.Al.JfA R.

Give' each girl thei~ hats. She was the youngest of ihe
He ha~ok my hat. The river is froze.

~wo sisters.

I

To be written at the dictation of the teacher.

/a"'?·

rJ/-;nuui.a4
.-f s, 4 &'7 &' •
~a4 ~n-1 ol#teda .·
~a-lh1e-t -t4 v.e1y- auh, ancl '1.k
·WU4ea ,y-aa .lo Ca#te .lo V-4 ad. d.aan <td.
can.
c§'!/eaae .lo co.'14'1.e .lo aa, a!ea-t. aan'I,
and alay- -wPd ~M / ; . / / .-;n.Jh1e-t. -t4 kde-t.
~nd ua -eu.o.-td
,/h1e ne;1;-/ -;nad -tde?fet
yu can ca-Pne, and -eu.hen -eu.e -;na7
;y-aa.

ru

4

+J

<fj/o.a-t a#d.t.O.nak . ~ce,
~";/ c!f"d/on

ofe-eu. <fj/0-1.h, ;farn. .!f,
~&£ ~«ta Nada-eu.ay- ..
~ h1av.e -tf'een a-tc4.

--tJ'7t.

/ci't aev.e-ta.I

a ay-a, ~a! a'ln no.£ ye.I -eu.ed!enaur ,t, ca-;ne
./o dad cffXe doc.lo.-t aa;?d. h1e -eu.-t:d! ..&£ me

t.O

'}UJ ~Mich.JI..

<glo.ta ~~'anak juf";(
r//mt·~ d. &ue.

fiO

ENGLISH G.RAM11fAR.

~1.v. o/

~ ~uu, &e·d.
~- d /{je-iec/d>(
..{tltl

.!/ife-ct·t ~a cfa-;n,

CAPITAL LETTERS• .

..,,

51

N/J'.

LESSO . . XXIV.
CAPITAL LETTERS .

~0-a-c/e.ua7, c;f' <!JI.

o/

<fjlau-t hv,,zdr -uo-t
-?,(e .2.2c/ ud
h-aa /«al co-nu /o 4'and cf a-;n h#y /o
~a~ / /,·:,,/ cJ1 a4'a -t!/ a!cu/ /a-t de~ ~Mh /.;_

(l!y~ 1.~~/
ol ~ & und.

1. The first word of every sentence should begin
'V ith a capital letter.
Ex.-Learning makes a man a fit companion for himself.
\.

2. The first word of every direct quotation. should
begin with a capital letter.
Ex.-He said "Knowledge is power."

She answered "Yes. "

~- @/£d-on 1.e7tt~ /£e ji-/eaau1.e
~t. o16wua? ~ co-nyfany- . -a-I c.ftnne.z,

3. The first word of every line of poetry should
begin with a capital letter.
4. The words I and 0 should always be capitals.
5. Every word denoting the Deity should begin
with a capital letter.

c(f;;{.u,tac/r,,:f. ·n e.z / a/ 6 o ~ch.

Ex. -The Most High ; the Supreme ; Divine Providence ; th e
Holy Ghost.

(Note of Invitation.)

'7'

~¥ 0%t-le <Ch', ~anda;y-, s./-£ (}c/.
(Reply.)

~t. of@,.,,<1.1.a;y accc;fv6. -ttlt:./Lji--/rxut., tte c/@.z. ·
@~:dan ~ -en-u-e-t a -hO.n -lo ~nne-t an cff:{'UA.d..,
da~ ne-z../ -cv! 6 o ~ch.
/

7 .2

ol~on-l7ue <ffi7!', df:.te,;-c/a7, t./4' (}cL

Write a letter to yom' t each()r, and be particular about
th e p lace of tlte date, the address, the f orm of closing, tho
punctuation, and tho u se of caP'itals.

6. Every proper noun, or each chief word of a
proper noun, arid all words derived from proper
nouns, should begin with a capital letter.
E x .-George Washington; A. B. Merton; the Duke of W ellington ;-the United States; American; English.

7. Every title, whether used alone or in connection
with a proper noun, should begin with a capital.
E x.-Mrs. E . C. Stanton ; Maj. Holt ; Gen. Barlow; Hon. Robert
W ells ; James E . Smith, E sq.; Col. Dodge.
"The Doctor now heard the approach of clattering hoofs."

8.

A common noun,

applied to a personified object,

I

I

52

PUNCTUATION.

often becomes a proper noun in sense, and should then
begin with a capital letter.

4. Quotation-Marks (" ") are used · to in close words
·
taken as the exact language of another person.
"Single quotation-marks inclose 'a qu.tion within a
quotation.'"
5. A Hyphen (-) is used to1join the parts of a compound word; it is also plaCed at the end of a line, when
one or more syllables of a word are carri<::d to the beginning of the next line.
6. The Comma (,) should be used to separate words in
a series of nouns, adjectives, verbs, or adverbs, when not
connected by a conjunction; to set off words in apposition, words or phrases used independently, and parenthetic words, phrases, or clauses.
The comma is used to set off a modifying word, phrase,
or clause that is not closely connected with what it modifies, or that is removed from it by inversion; it is also
used between a word and its repetition; and, generally,
the comma should be used whenever it will prevent
ambiguity, or help to present more clearly the thought
contained in the sentence.

Ex.-" The Wind and the Sun loved the Rose,
But the R ose loved but one;
For who re~ks the wind where it blows,
Or loves not tha sun?"-BULWER.

9. The first word of an important clause, titles of
books, topics, and words deserving special emphasis,
should begin with a capital letter.
Ex.-" Resolved, That we protest," &c. ; The vVar Department.

I

53

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

LESSON

xxv.

PUNCTUATION.
58. Punctuation treats 0£ certain points or marks
used in writing and printing.
1. A P eriod (.) shou1d be placed after every sentence
that is not interrogative or exclamatory.
Also after a word or phrase complete by itself; and after .
an abbreviation.
2. An Interrogation-Point (?) should be placed after
every direct question.
3. An ExchLmation-Point (!) should be placed after
every sentence or shorter expression that denotes great
snrprise or other emotion.
Hence it is generally placed after interjections or unusually earnest adclresscs.

Ex. 1.-Hedges, groveR, orchards, and gardens were in bloom.
It was a dark, desolate region.
Our captain then went to the camp, called upon the officer in com·
' mand, and informed him who we were, whence we had come, and
whither we intended to go.
Ex. 2.-The great novelist, "George Eliot," is a lady.
Ex. 3.-This book, Mriry, is yours. 0, yes, lfir, I do know.
Shame being lost, all virtue is lost.
Ex. 4.-You will then, however, be in no better condition.
Moral culture, especially in youth, is of the greatest importance.
They set out early, and, bf/ore the dawn of day, reached the place.
Columbus, wlio was a Gcnoese, discovered America.

54:

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

~x. 5.~In a central region, midway on this continent, at an elevat10n of seven thousand five hundred feet, lies the remarkable
valley of Mexico.
Ex. 6.-Sweet, sweet home t ,
Ex. 7.--The troops landed, and killed a hundred Indi
"T~
ans .
.,,,,, ie troop~ landed and killed a hundred Indians," may have a
wuerent m earung.

7. The Semicolon (;) is used to separate parts that have
the comma, or parts that require a point greater than the
comma and less than the colon.
Ex.-Though deep, yet clear; though gentle, yet not dull.
Ons. - -Hen ce the semicolon is frequently placed before and but
for, though, yet, 7101', n(ly, hence, therefore, or a similar conne~tive'
when this unites t wo cla11ses that are ratller long, and make but on;
sentence ; a nd it is also frequently pl aced before an appositive phrase
that is s ubdivided by the co mma.

8. The Col~n (:) is used as an interm ediate point between th e semicolon and the period.
Ex.- " I have not room to illustrate thes.e rules fully: let them
be
. remembered ; and they. will exemplify themselves , with ex pe_
n ence_and practice." " Do not expect perfect happiness in this life :
there is no such tlting on earth." The colon, in this sense, is frequently used instead of a. semicolon and conjunction; as, •· Do not ·
ex pect perfect happiness in this life; for there is no such thing on
earth." "The Bible gives us a beautiful description of the Deity, in ·
tbe~e wor~s : 'God is love I'" " 'l'ERMB : Three Dollars a year, invariably m advance." "Mr. Evarts then rose, and delivered the
following add ress:'Ladies apd Gentlemen :
'It is now just t en years since,'" etc., etc.

.

9. The Apostroph e (') is used to denote the omission
of one or more letters of a word. Ex. : 'tis for it is .
t'.w', for though; call'd, for called. It is also 'used as th~
sign of the possessive case of nouns.

PART II.
LESSON

I.

DEFINITIONS.
1. Grammar is the science which teaches how to

speak and write correctly.
2. English Grammar is the science which teaches
how to speak and write the English language correctly.
3. Language may be divided into word,s and sentences ; and grammar, accordingly, treats of word,s and

sentences.
4. The basis of grammar, or the t est of correctness
in the use of language, is the usage of the best writers
and speakers.
5. English Grammar is divided into five parts:
P ronunciation, Orthog1raphy, Etymol'ogy, Syntax, and

P ros1ody.
6. Pronunciation treats 9f the sounds and classification of letters, and of the sounds and stress of syllables in uttering separate words.
7. Orthography treats of the forms of letters, and
teaches how to spell words correctly.
8. Etymology treats of the derivation, classes, and
properties of words.

I

,I

56

. DEFINITIONS.

ENG LISH GRAJIJMAR.

9. Syntax treats of the relations and arrangement
of words in sentences.
10. Prosody treats of :figures, versification, utterance, and punctuation.
Etymology and Syntax comprise nearly all that is
required in an elementary text-book on English
Grammar.

LESSON

II.

DEFINITIONS.

11. A Subject is a word or expression denoting
that of which something is said.
12. A Predicate is a word or expression denoting
what is said of the subject.
13. A Proposition or statement is a subject combined with its predicate.
14. A Sentence is a combination of words making
complete sense. A sentence is a thought expressed
in words, and must contain a subject and predicate.
15. A Phrase is t wo or more words properly put
together, but not making a proposition.
·
16. A Clause is a proposition that makes but a
part of a sentence.
17. Sentences, with r egard to their manner of
predication, are divided into three classes:
D eclarative, Interrogative, and I mperative.

57

18. Sentences, with regard to their form, are
divided into three classes:
Simple, Complex, and Compound.
19. A Simple Sentence is a sentence that contains
but one proposition.
20. An Adjunct is a word, phrase, or clause, used
to modify any word in the sentence.
Ex.-A wave of salt water swept over the vessel.
The riyer rises in the mountains.
H e was a man more Sinned against than sinning.
I have found the sheep which was lost.
Supply proper adjuncts:
The fox leaped - - - -.. The trees - - are growing.
He gave - - - the picture - - --.
We started - - -, -- -----.
We reached the village -- -- ---.
The trees - are bending - - - - - - .

21. An Attribute is an adjective or explanatory
term, relating to the subject, that completes the
predicate.
Ex.-He was fortunate. H e seemed to be sleeping.
The apple is sweet. The Doctor is a kind-hearted man.
22. Analysis is the separation of a sentence into
the p arts of which it is composed.
The parts of a simple sentence are the subject, predicate, object,
adj ective adjuncts, adverbial adjuncts, connectives, and independent
words.

1

l

l86

187

ENGLISH GRA.ltfMAR.

FALSE SYNTAX.

. Night's cand.les are burnt out and jocund day standn
tiptoe on the mISty mountain's top.
Wheat is worth a dollar a bushel.

but when they relate to different nouns, the .article should be placed
before each one. Therefore the old and new should be the old and

the new.

I have both a large and small dictionary. ·
Them that study will learn.
He and me will study from the same book.
We saw the soldiers, they that were marching down

signifies of the value of; it is an adjective in sense
but involv~s the id~a o'. a preposition, and a noun following it ma;
be parsed m the obJective case ajier worth, or if preferred.in the ob.
NOTE.- Worth

jeaive case without a p reposition.

'

Broadway.

· "What ·w onder when
Millions of fierce encount'ring angels fought
On either side, the least. of whom could wield
These elements, and arm him with the f~rce
Of all their regi?ns ? "

Tfiey should be tfiem.

An explanatory noun or pronoun is put by

apposition in the same case.

Books of these sort are quickly reac1.
These should be this, to correspond with the number of the noun.
This and that, plural these and those, must agree in number with the

"Now came still evening on, and twilight gray
Had in her sober livery all things clad."

nouns to which they relate.

That scissors were imported.
Which is the greatest of the two ?
Which is the more important island, Cuba, Hayti, or

"The thunder rolls : be hushed the prostrate world
While cloud to cloud returns the solemn hymn."

Jamaica?
Russia is more extensive than any European state.
Any European state should be any other European state; s'.nce
Russia could not be more extensive than itself. When two thmgs
are compared, the former term of comparison should not be included

FALSE SYNTAX.
/'M;r~Jf tl4e fo.llowing sentences and give tlie reasons:
WJJ,§ supfrmtendent of an hospital for the insane.

.

Israel loved Joseph more than all his children.
They met agreeable to their engagement.
You can have neither of these three books.
You may choose either of the ~ays of the week for ar

A should b(..uged before nouns beginning with a consonant sound .
therefore an hospital should be a hospital.

The man was a hostler.
James told us an humorous story.
What is the difference between the old and new book.
When two or more adjectives connected by and, relate to the
same noun, the article should be placed before the first adjective;

in the latter.

..

holiday.
I am exceeding glad to meet you.
The copy was uncommon well written.
He acted much wiser than he thought.

--

188

- -

- -----

We cauirht
them fish i'n the river.
.
~
,

FALSE SYNTAX.

ENG LISH G RA1lfJlfAR.

NOTE.-T!tem is never an ad'JOOW~
t'
and should not be used

ior these or tltose.

The poor cannot have the luxuries the rich enjoy but
we need not conclude that those are happy and these'· .
erable.
·
m1sTranspose those and tl~ese. In contrastin"'
.
tltese, that and tltose refer to th
d.
"' that and this, tltose and
the nearer.
.
e more istant ter~s, tltis and these to

Let either of them speak in their turn.
. 1ier, and neither are singular (each
oneTheir
'ti should be !tis
. . E ach • e1t
• ei 1er one, neither one). and
nouns which the . .
.'
pronouns must agree with the
Y iepiesent Ill person and number.

Are eith er of these men known ?
Each of them wrote their exercises.
Some offenses are deserving punishment.
Of should be inserted before punishment .
.
,
A participial adj ective or partici ial
or pronoun in the ob' t'
p . noun cannot govern a nouit
~ ec 1ve case
A part'1c· · 1 d'
h.. .
iprn a Jective has thE>
form of a participle b t .
• u rejects t e idea of time.

Every one must choose their own way.
Wh
th em. en we· se.e a person prosperous we are apt to envy
Every man should provide for their famil.
Those which desire to learn should b d'l~es. t
1.
e l igen .
Se d th
n
e mu titude away that it may go and b
't lf
food.
uy l se
is mver
·
t ed ' ob'.Jects seen through it will be
d
. If. a. thelescope
.
dlffi!DI S e ,
We have done no more than it was our duty to have
"
done.

189

If he understands the lesson and study it he will not be

deficient.
N OTE.-When two or more verbs relate to the same subject, they

~hould agree in mood, tent;1e, and form, or have separate nominatives.

Honesty is universally commended, and would be practiced if men were wise. (It wanld be, etc.)
All their neighbors were not invited.
Not all their neighbors were invited.
Adverbs should be so placed in the sentence as to make it correct,
clear and elegant.

I only recited one lesson during the day.
I only bought the horse and not the buggy.
The farmers sell their produce generally to the merchants.
He rode to town and drove twelve cows on horseback.
There was another pupil still who did not know his
' lesson.
I will never do so no more.
NOTE.-Avoid double negatives ; they contradict each other.

We didn't find nobody at home.
You don't know nothing· about it.
He wondered that none of the teachers had never seen
it.

The council were not unanimous, and therefore it separated without accomplishing anything.
The multitude was so great that we made our way
with difficulty through them.
The army was badly cut up, but made good their retreat.

190

ENGLISH GRAMMAR,

The president or secretary will favor us with their
presence.
The committee were unanimous in its action.
Neither of us is wi1Iing to give up our claim.
·Every flower and every animal shows the wisdom of
him who made it.
Envy and hate manifested itself in his countenance.
Let every governor and legislature do as it thinks be.st.
John or James will fayor us with their company.
T!teir should be his to agree iu number with the antecedents John
or James.
'

The House of Representatives were called to ortler.
The number of inhabitants in the United States now
amount to over forty millions.
Neither Mary nor Sarah were there.
If he was to be elected, he would disgrace the party.
There was no bench, nor no seat of any kind that was
not crowded with people.
He could not deny but what he borrowed the money(deny tliat).
·
I have tl:ie same opinion of the matter with my friend
-(as).
Why do you not study like I do-(as).
The book is not as accurate as I wished it to · be-(so
accurate) .
William's and Mary's reign.
Men, women, and children's shoes.
While still the busy world is treading o'er
The paths they trod five thousand years before,
These clothes does not fiL me.

. FALSE SYNTAX.

191

'rhe girls' writing is neater than the boys.
The woman learnea my brother to knit.
Who do yoi. think I met ']esterday.
They are all remarkable studious.
I have been studying since I come to school
James or John seen him coming this way.
Let us lie our books on the table, and they will lay there
till we return.
Many people never learn to speak correct.
Keep what I have told you a secret between yon and I.
Neither the crew nor the passengers was saved.
The Board of Education published their proceedings.
I saw the three first examples that were given.
Him and me saw the boat whe~ it capsized.
The whole human race suffers for the sins of their
ancestors.
The men of property are those who we generally find
' most negligent of their political duties.
Was you there when John come.
There are not many children in our country whose
education have been entirely neglected.
There was more than one of them that I seen playing.
I done my work quick, and he done his.
John, James and I was in the field when the horses run
away.
They were the men who was making a disturbance.
The. government will changJ :heir policy.

