The institutes of English grammar, methodically arranged :

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~RD.5/4/- THE INSTITUTES OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR METHODICALLY ARRANGED; WITH EXAMPLES FOR PARSING, QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION, FALSE SYNTAX FOR CORRECTION, EXERCISES FOR WRITING, OBSERVATIONS FOR THE ADVANCED STUDENT, AND A KEY TO THE ORAL EXERCISES: .

BY GOOLD BROWN, 1 PRINCIPAL OF AN ENGLISH AND CLASSICAL ACADEMY, NEW YORK. Ne quis igitur tanquam parva fastidiat Grammatices elementa.

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Those rules and modes of speech, which are established by this authority, may be called the Institutes of Grammar. 3. To embody, in a convenient form, the true principles of the English Language; to express them in a simple and perspicuous style, adapted to the capacity of youth; to illustrate them by appropriate examples and exercises; and to give to the whole all possible advantage from method in the arrangement; are the objects of the following work.

He has not laboured to subvert the general system of grammar, received from time immemorial; but to improve upon it, in its present application to our tongue. 4.

This treatise being intended for general use, and adapted to all classes of learners, was designed to embrace in a small compass a complete course of English Grammar, disencumbered of every thing not calculated to convey direct information on the sub ject.

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While some have thus wasted their energies in eccentric flights, vainly supposing that the learning of ages would give place to their whimsical theories; others, with more success, not better deserved, have multiplied grammars almost innumerably, by abridging or modifying the books they had used in childhood.

But what apology is this, for that authorship which has produced so many grammars without originality? Shall he who cannot write for himself, improve upon him who can?

For his own information, he has carefully perused more than fifty English grammars, and has glanced over many others that were not worth reading.

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The only successful method of teaching grammar, is, to cause the principal defi- nitions and rules to be committed thoroughly to memory, that they may ever after- wards be readily applied.

It is the plain didactic method of definition and ex- ample, rule and praxis; which no man who means to teach grammar well, will ever desert, with the hope of finding an other more rational or more easy.

But both should constantly remember that grammar is the art of speaking and writing well; an art which can no more be acquired without practise than that of dancing or swimming.

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Murray evidently intended that his book of exercises should be constantly used with his grammar; but he made the examples in the former so dull and prolix, that few learners, if any, have ever gone through the series agreeably to his direction. The publishing of them in a separate volume, has probably given rise to the absurd practice of endeavouring to teach his grammar with- out them. The forms of parsing and correcting which this author furnishes, are also misplaced; and when found by the learner, are of little use. They are so verbose, awkward, irregular, and deficient, that the pupil must be a dull boy, or utterly igno rant of grammar, if he cannot express the facts extemporaneously in better English, When we consider how exceedingly important it is, that the business of a school should proceed without loss of time, and that, in the oral exercises here spoken of, each pupil should go through his part promptly, clearly, correctly, and fully, we can- not think it a light objection that these forms, so often to be repeated, are badly writ ten.

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These few brief illustrations, out-of thousands that might be adduced in proof of the faultiness of the common manuals, the author has reluctantly introduced, to show that, even in the most popular books, the grammar of our language has not been treat- ed with that care and ability which its importance demands.

And while, in respect to grammar, the evidences of failure are constantly inducing changes from one system to an other, and almost daily giving birth to new expedients as constantly to end in the same disappointment; perhaps the practical instructions of an experien- ced teacher, long and assiduously devoted to the study, may approve themselves to many, as seasonably supplying the aid and guidance which they require. 26. From the doctrines of grammar, novelty is rigidly excluded. They consist of de tails to which taste can lend no charm, and genius no embellishment.

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In truth, not a line has here been copied with any view to save the labour of com position; for, not to compile an English grammar from others already extant, but to compose one more directly from the sources of the art, was the task which the writer proposed to himself.

But so much have the makers of our modern grammars been allowed to presume upon the respect and acquiescence of their readers, that the ancient exactness on this point would often appear pedantic.

Whoever professes to have improved the science of English grammar, must claim to know more of the matter than the generality of Eng ་ 1

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And thus t. e palm of superior skill in grammar, has been borne away by a professed compiler; who had so mean an opinion of what his theme required, as to deny it even the common courtesies of compilation.

If the love of learning supply such a motive, who that has generously yielded to the impulse, will not now, like Johnson, feel himself reduced to an "humble drudge"-or, like Perizo- nius, apologize for the apparent folly of devoting his time to such a subject as grammar? 34. The first edition of this work was published in 1823; since which time, (within the space of nine years,) thirty or forty new compends, mostly professing to be ab- stracts of Murray with improvements, have been added to our list of English gram- mars.

But common sense might dictate, that learning is not encouraged or respected by those who, for the making of books, prefer a pair of scissors to the pea. 36. The real history of grammar is little known; and many erroneous impressions are entertained concerning it: because the story of the systemis most generally receiv ed, has never been fully told; and that of a multitude now gone to oblivion, was never worth telling.

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London, 1770. This is the grammar which bears upon its titlepage: Quam solam Regia Majestas in omnibus scholis docendam præcipit. 38.

If none of our older grammars disprove his assertion, it is time to have a new one that will; for, to expect the perfec- tion of grammar from him who cannot treat the subject in a style at once original and pure, is absurd. He says, "The greater part of an English grammar must necessarily be a compilation ;" and adds, with reference to his own, "originality belongs to but a small portion of it.

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A recent eulogist computes, that "at least five millions of copies of his various school-books have been printed:" par. ticularly commends him for his "candour and liberality towards rival authors;" avers that "he went on, examining and correcting his grammar, through all its forty editions, sill he brought it to a degree of perfection which will render it as permanent as the English language itself;" censures (and not without reason) the "presumption" of those "superficial critics" who have attempted to amend the work, and usurp his honours; and, regarding the compiler's confession of his indebtedness to others, but as a mark of "his exemplary diffidence of his own merits," adds (in very bad English,) "Perhaps there never was an author whose success and fame were more unexpected by himself, than Lindley Murray."

But it is due to truth to correct erroneous impressions; and, in order to obtain from some an impartial examination of the following pages, it seems necessary first to convince them that it is possible, to compose a better grammar than Murray's, without being particularly indebted to him.

Hence there is reason to believe, that the true principles of practical grammar, deduced from custom and sanctioned by

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All praise of excellence must needs be comparative, because the thing itself is 30. To excel in grammar, is but to know better than others wherein grammatical ex- cellence consists.

A KEY to the Orul Exercises in False Syntax, is inserted in the Grammar, that' the pupil may be enabled fully to prepare himself for thas kind of class recitations.

Being a distinct volume, it may be had, bound by itself or with the Grammar. 47. From the first edition of the following treatise, there was made by the author for the use of young learners, a brief abstract, entitled, “The First Lines of English Grammar;" in which are embraced all the leading doctrines of the original work, with a new series of examples for their application in parsing.

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THE INSTITUTES OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR. ENGLISH GRAMMAR is the art of speaking and writing the English language correctly.

An articulate sound, is a sound of the human voice, used in speaking. The letters in the English alphabet, are twenty-six; A a, Bb, Cc, Dd, Ee, F f, G g, Hh, Ii, J j, K k, LI, Mm, Nn, Oo, P p, Q q, Rr, Ss, Tt, Uu, Vv, Ww, Xx, Yy, Z z For the names and powers of the letters, see Appendix L

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16 ENGLISH GRAMMAR. CLASSES OF LETTERS. The letters are divided into two general classes, vowels and consonants.

FORMS OF THE LETTERS. In the English language, the Roman characters are gen- erally employed; sometimes, the Italic; and occasionally, the Old English.

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18 ENGLISH GRAMMAR A proper diphthong, is a diphthong in which both the vowels are sounded; as, oi in voice.

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20 ENGLISH GRAMMAR RULE VII.-FINAL E. The final e of a primitive word, is generally retained before an additional termination beginning with a consonant: as, pale, paleness; lodge, lodgement.

-GENERAL DIVISION. What is English Grammar? How is it divided? Of what does Orthography treat?

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How many letters are there in English? Repeat them. How are the letters divided?

What characters are employed in English? What distinction of form do we make in each of the letters?

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22 ENGLISH GRAMMAR. be employed. The following examples of false orthography are inserted, that they may be corrected by the pupil in writing.

The pedant quoted Johnson's dictionary of the english language, Gregory's dictionary of arts and sciences, Crabb's english synonymes, Walker's key to the pronunciation of pro- per names, Sheridan's Thetorical grammar, and the diversions of pantey.

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$24 ENGLISH GRAMMAR. " EXERCISE IV. SPELLING 1. He is tall enough who walks uprightly.

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26 ENGLISH GRAMMAR. EXERCISE VII-SPELLING. A downhill road may be travelled with ease.

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The Parts of Speech, or sorts of words, in English, are ten; namely, the Article, the Noun, the Adjective, the Pro- noun, the Verb, the Participle, the Adverb, the Conjunction, the Preposition, and the Interjection. 1.

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28 ENGLISH GRAMMAR. adjective, or an other adverb; and generally expresses time, place, degree, or manner: as, They are now here, studying very diligently. 8.

Parsing is the resolving or explaining of a sentence ac- cording to the definitions and rules of grammar. A perfect definition of any thing or class of things is such a description of it, as distinguishes that entire thing or class from every thing else in nature. A rule of grammar is some law, more or less general, by which custom regulates and prescribes the right use of lan- guage.

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ENGLISH GRAMMAR. The setting sun gives a beautiful brilliancy to the western sky.

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The indefinite article is an or a, which denotes one thing of a kind, but not any particular one; as, A boy, an orange. OBS. 1.-The English articles have no grammatical modifications: they are not varied by numbers, genders, and cases, as are those of some other languages.

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32 ENGLISH GRAMMAR. A collective noun, or noun of multitude, is the name of many individuals together; as, Council, meeting, committee, flock.

PERSONS. Persons, in grammar, are modifications that distinguish the speaker, the hearer, and the person or thing merely spoken of.

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But when the sound of s cannot be united with that of the primitive word, the plural adds s to final e, and es to other terminations, and forms a separate syllable: as, page, pages; fox, foxes. OBS. 1.-English nouns ending in o preceded by a consonant, add es, but do not increase their syllables: as, wo, woes; hero, heroes; negro, negroes; potato, potatoes; muskitto, muskittoes; octavo, octavoes.

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84 ENGLISH GRAMMAR, OBS. 3.-The following nouns in f, change f into v, and add es, for the plural; sheaf, leaf, loaf, beef, thief, calf, half, elf, shelf, self, wolf, wharf: as, sheaves, leaves, &c.

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-The different genders are founded on the natural distinction of sex in animals, and on the absence of sex in other things. In English, they be- long only to nouns and pronouns; and to these they are usually applied agreeably to the order of nature.

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36 ENGLISH GRAMMAR. OBS. 4.-The sexes are distinguished in three ways: I.

--The cases are founded on the different relations under which things are represented in discourse, and from which the words acquire correspondent relations, or a dependence on each other according to the In English, these modifications, or relations, belong only to nouns and pronouns.

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38 ENGLISH GRAMMAR. EXAMPLE III.-FOX. Sing. Nom. fox, Plur.

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40 ENGLISH GRAMMAR, OF THE ADJECTIVE. An Adjective is a word added to a noun or pronoun, and generally expresses quality: as, A wise man ; a new book.

A proper adjective is one that is formed from a pro- per name; as, American, English, Platonic. III. A numeral adjective is one that expresses a defi- nite number; as, One, two, three, four, five, six, &c.

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42 * ENGLISH GRAMMAR. long to it; as, worthy, worthier, worthiest.

The following adjectives are compared irregularly good, better, best; bad or ill, worse, worst; little, less, least; much, more, most; many, more, most. OBS. 1.-In English, and also in Latin, most adjectives that denote place or situation, not only form the superlative irregularly, but are also either re- dundant or defective in comparison.

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-44 ENGLISH GRAMMAR. 1. An article is a word placed before nouns, to limit their significa- tion. 2.

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46 ENGLISH GRAMMAR. . OBS. 5.-The personal and the interrogative pronouns often stand in construction as the antecedents to other pronouns; as, He that arms his intent with virtue is invincible."-" Who that has any moral sense, dares tell lies ?"

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$48 ENGLISH- GRAMMAR. teach, that, "Pronouns must always agree with their antecedents, and the nouns for which they stand, in gender, number, and person.”

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50 ENGLISH GRAMMAR. THAT, applied to persons, animals, and things.

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52 ENGLISH GRAMMAR. preterit and the perfect participle by assuming d or ed; as, see, saw, seeing, seen.

A neuter verb is a verb that expresses neither ac- tion nor passion, but simply being, or a state of being; as, "Thou art-He sleeps." OBS. 1.-In most grammars and dictionaries, verbs are divided into three classes only; active, passive, and neuter.

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.* *In regard to the number and form of the tenses which should constitute the subjunctive mood in English, grammarians are greatly at variance; and some, supposing its distinctive parts to be but elliptical forms of the indicative or the po tential, even leny the existence of such a mood altogether.

The early editions of his grammar gave to this mood six tenses, none of which had any of the personal terminations.

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54 ENGLISH GRAMMAR. TENSES. Tenses are those modifications of the verb, which distin- guish time.

The scheme not only confounds the moods, and overwhelms the learner with its multiplicity, but condemns as bad English what the author himself once adopted as the mperfect subjunctive, "If thou lord," &c. wherein he was sustained by Dr.

Alexander Murray very positively declares this to be wrong: "When such words as if, though, unless, except, whether, and the like, are used before verbs, they lose their terminations of est, eth, and s, in those persons which commonly have them. No speaker of good English, expressing himself conditionally, says, Though thou fallest, or Though he falls, but, Though thou fall, and Though he fall; nor Though thou camest but Though, or although, thou came."

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56 ENGLISH GRAMMAR. arises from the want of particular terminations in the verb to distinguish tae different persons and numbers.

It is the language of Scripture, and is consistently retained in all our grammars. OBS. 3.-As most of the peculiar terminations by which the second per- son singular of verbs is properly distinguished in the solemn style, are not only difficult of utterance, but are quaint and formal in conversation; the preterits and auxiliaries are seldom varied in familiar discourse, and the present is generally simplified by contraction.

The simplification of the second person singular, which, to a greater or less extent, is everywhere adopted by the Friends, and which is here defined and explained, removes from each verb eighteen of these peculiar terminations; and, (if the number of English verbs be, as stated by several gram- marians, 8000,) disburdens their familiar dialect of 144,000 of these awkward 99 S.

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We write not for or against any sect, or any man; but to teach all who desire to know the grammar of our tongue. And who is he that will pretend that the solemn style of the Bible may be used in familiar discourse, without a mouthing affec tation?

Such expressions as, thee does, thee is, thee has, thee thinks, &c. are double solecisms; they set all grammar at defiance. Many persons who are not ignorant of grammar, and who employ the pronoun aright, sometimes im- properly sacrifice concord to a slight improvement in sound, and give to the verb the ending of the third person for that of the second.

See also the following, and many more, in the works of the poet Burns; who says of himself, "Though it cost the schoolmaster some thrashings, I made an excel- lent English scholar; and, by the time I was ten or eleven years of age, I was a critic in substantives, verbs, and particles:"-" But when thou pours"- "There thou shines chief"-" Thou clears the head"-" Thou strings the nerves". -" Thou brightens black despair"-"Thou comes"--" Thou travels far"-"Thou paints"-" Unseen thou lurks"-" O thou pale orb that silent shines."

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58 ENGLISH GRAMMAR. the irregular preterits, commonly end in est, pronounced as a separate syllable.

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The other auxiliaries have no participles. OBS. 2.-English verbs are principally conjugated by means of auxili aries; the only tenses which can be formed by the simple verb, being the present and the imperfect; as, I love, I loved.

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60 ENGLISH GRAMMAR. is usually preferred in questions and negations; as, Do you love?

These terms are borrowed from the Latin and Greek grammars, and are of little or no use in English. OBS. 4.

The simplest form of an English conjugation, is that which makes the present and imperfect tenses without aux- iliaries; but, even in these, auxiliaries are required for the potential mood, and are often preferred for the indicative.

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62 ENGLISH GRAMMAR. First-future Tense. This tense prefixes the auxiliary shall or will to the present: thus, 1.

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64 ENGLISH GRAMMAR, IMPERATIVE MOOD. The imperative mood is that form of the verb, which is used in command- ing, exhorting, entreating, or permitting.

-In the Greek language, which has three numbers, the impera- tive mood is used in the second and third persons of them all; and has also several different tenses, some of which cannot be clearly rendered in English. In Latin this mood has a distinct form for the third person both singular and plural.

Imitations of some of these forms are occasional- ly employed in English, particularly by the poets. Such imitations must be referred to this mood, unless by ellipsis and transposition we make them out to be something else.

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66 ENGLISH GRAMMAR. Singular. Pluperfect Tense. Plural. 1.

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68 ENGLISH GRAMMAR. 1 [ Singular. have been, 2. Thou hast been, 3 He has been; Singular. 1.

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70 ENGLISH GRAMMAR. FOURTH EXAMPLE. The irregular active verb READ, conjugated affirmatively in the Compound Form.

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72 ENGLISH GRAMMAR. PARTICIPLES. 1. The Imperfect. Being reading. 2.

FORM OF PASSIVE VERBS. Passive verbs, in English, are always of a compound form; being made from active-transitive verbs, by adding the Perfect Participle to the auxiliary verb BE, through all its changes thus, from the active-transitive verb love, is formed the passive verb be loved.

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74 ENGLISH GRAMMAR. Singular. 1. I Perfect Tense. may have been loved, 2.