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-OX.

THE ARTICLES.

Before we leave the nouns we'll try
The articles again-lest I

Have not been quite explicit.
You've not forgot the article,
That easy little particle

You learned in half a minute.

When a is used before a word,

You'll hear how strange and how absurd
To say a ear, a eye.

These words begin with vowels, dear,

Now notice to put an in here,

An eye, an ear—now try.

An is used instead of a when the word which it precedes begins with a vowel or a silent h, as an egg, an hour.

CORRECT

An horse-a essence-an window-a article- -an butterfly-a adverb-an writing-desk-a hour ago-a idiot-an minister-a enemy-an purse--a animal— a adjective-an drawing-room-a honest man—a easychair-a exhibition-a empty box.

INDEFINITE AND DEFINITE ARTICLES.

Now an and a are used for one,
An eagle or a fife, a drum,

But the is used for both.

"I see the tree," and all the trees;
"We watch the bee, and all the bees,”
Their honey's so much worth.

The word define means mark it out,
Then the is definite-no doubt,
The Queen's our own dear queen.
To her we all should deference pay,
Because the Holy Scriptures say,
"Fear God," " Honour the king."

Can you tell us

largest orange.

Insert the proper articles in the following space :— Show me the size of shilling. amusing story. Robert liftedHe might have taken smaller one. -present. I would like much if gold watch. Do bring baby Poor Tom has lost

me

me

you can find.

Pharisees liked.

good-I can see

hour ago.

Mamma gave

papa could give prettiest toy "The

-uppermost seats."
smallest speck.

amiable child. The gardener is.

bell rang

-eye.

My sight is

The

Emma is

honest man.

It may have been observed that we have omitted the case of nouns. We think it cannot be properly-at all events easily comprehended by the child till the noun forms the subject of a verb.

CASE.

"Tis hard to understand case now,

But when you older grow you'll know
What I'll explain to you.

Case is a certain noun's position
Placed to a verb or preposition;
Pronouns have cases too.

But case we must take

up again,

When placed beside a verb- and then
You'll understand it soon.

You'd think it very hard, I'm sure,
If told to play an overture

Before you knew a tune.

[THE ADJECTIVE.

to show

What

Has it no

An adjective is put before or beside a noun the quality or kind of noun, as A tight coat. kind or quality is the coat? A tight coat. other quality? Yes, it is good, but coarse. good, and coarse are each called? An adjective.

AN ADJECTIVE.

'Tis put before the coat, to show
What sort of coat it is you know,
To tell the coat is tight;

Good, coarse, and homely too it is,
But not a bit the worse for this,
Well-lined and warm, yet light.

The tight,

That boy is stout, or lean, or lame,
Or gentlemanly-all the same
Each is an adjective.

A pretty, little, bustling town,

These words all stand before the noun,
Or next it, you perceive.

Point out adjectives in the following sentences:-
The Scotch are cautious, prudent, and often pious.
The English are active, loyal, and orderly.
The Irish are shrewd and witty, but turbulent.
The French are sprightly, ingenious, and polite.
The Spanish are proud, slow, and indolent.

The Dutch are cleanly, industrious, and fond of making money.

The Germans are plain, quiet, and affectionate. The Prussians are intelligent, polite, and social. The Italians are musical, tasteful, and contented. The Swiss are simple, sober, and well-behaved. The Norwegians are honest, handsome, and contented. The Laplanders are simple, primitive, and well-informed.

Insert an adjective in the following spaces :

The adjective is not always close to the noun.
flowers. Flowers are

Mary has made a wreath of

Tigers are - Baby is

The thunder is very

Mr.

is

likes

and

to give hima

This thread

Thomas gave the man a penny. John milk better than butter-milk.

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Do lay aside that

The feathers are

The sun is

hat. My

nephew presented me with a -book. Mamma intends

dressing-case. The water is most

COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES.

Some adjectives almost the same,
Are made quite different in name
When we compare them thus.
Now this is good, and that is better,
And Jane's is best-I mean the letter
Your sister wrote to us.

The positive is first, you see,

Then when we change it one degree

"Tis called comparative

For we compare it with the first.

And then this third one, or the last,
Is called superlative.

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REGULAR COMPARISON.

You think these rather odd, don't you?
Now here's a regular method too,

By er and est, you see;

Thus John is big, Tom bigger, biggest,

This bread is thick, or thicker, thickest.
Then this will easy be.

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