1. It may be readily shown by simple illustration—

(1.) That every word is the sign of an idea.

(2.) That related ideas are expressed by related words.

(3.) That a judgment of the mind may be put into the form of a proposition, and that such proposition is expressed by a sen

tence.

Every sentence consists of two parts-(1.) The word or phrase that -names the subject of thought; (2.) The word or form of words that affirms or tells something of the subject; and this is a universal law

After a clear exemplification of this by a sufficient number of examples, the pupils may have practical exercises in framing sentencessecond parts for given first parts; and first parts of which given second parts may be predicated.

2. It will be found of interest, not only as leading to a more critical understanding of the use of language, but as a preparation for the classification of verbs, to show the three forms of sentences, by the nature and use of their principal verbs, thus

(a.) "Horses eat grass.”—(b.) "Birds fly."-(c.) "Sugar is sweet.” In the first of these, the meaning of the affirming verb is such that the act can not be done without involving the existence of some person or thing as receiving it. (590).

In the second, the meaning is satisfied by naming the actor and the act.

In the third, the chief office of the verb is to connect an attribute, expressing some quality or circumstance of the subject. See Syntax, Classification of Sentences.

III. The relation of words in a phrase or sentence follows the order of the relation of the ideas which they express.

1. Words may be united without any sign; as, good boy. horse runs.

2. In a few instances the inflection is the sign of relation as children's shoes.

3. When words have no natural relation, they may be put in rela tion by another word; as, "love of country," grass is green," "John and James study," etc. At the proper time, a classification may be made of these distinctions.

IV. It should always be borne in mind, that, in order to the intelligent study of Grammar, whose office it is to teach "to speak and write correctly," pupils must be constantly exercised in this practical use, that the principles which the Grammar teaches may be practically exemplified, and power be gained in their application.

ENGLISH

GRAMMAR.

1. Language is the means by which we express our thoughts.

2. Grammar treats of the laws of language, and the right method of using it.

Grammar is both a Science and an Art.

As a Science, it investigates the principles of language in general: as an Art, it teaches the right method of applying these principles to a particular language, so as thereby to express our thoughts in a correct and proper manner, according to established usage.

3. English Grammar is the art of speaking and writing the English language with propriety.

4. Language is either spoken or written.

5. The elements of spoken language, are vocal and articulate sounds. (25 and 26).

6. The elements of written language are characters or letters which represent these sounds.

7. Letters are formed into syllables and words: words into sentences; and by these, properly uttered or written, men communicate their thoughts to one another.

8. Grammar is divided into four parts: Orthography, Etymology, Syntax, and Prosody.

9. Orthography treats of letters and syllables; Etymology, of words; Syntax, of sentences; Prosody, of elocution and versification.

PART I.

ORTHOGRAPHY.

10. Orthography treats of letters, and of the mode of combining them into syllables and words.* 11. A Letter is a mark, or character, used to represent an elementary sound of the human voice.

12. There are Twenty-six letters in the English Alphabet. 13. Letters are either Vowels or Consonants.

14. A Vowel is a letter which represents an unobstructed sound (25); and, in a word or syllable, may be sounded alone. The vowels are a, e, i, o, u, and w and y not before a vowel sounded in the same syllable, as in law, bay.

15. A Consonant is a letter which represents an obstructed sound (26); and, in a word or syllable, is never sounded alone, but always in connection with a vowel. The consonants are b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, x, z, and w and y before a vowel sounded in the same syllable, as in war, youth.

[Properly speaking, i and y are always vowels, and represent respectively the sounds of ōō and é, as wish (ōō-ish), yet (ē-et). They are sometimes called coalescents].

16. A Diphthong is the union of two vowels in one sound, as oi, in oil; ou, in found.

17. When a letter in a word is not used in pronunciation, it is called a Silent letter, as h in hour; a in bread; e in mate.

*Orthography is properly a part of Grammar, as it belongs to "the art of speaking and writing a language with propriety." Yet as the whole subject is treated more fully in the spelling-book and dictionary, a brief synopsis of its principles only is here given, rather as a matter of form, than with a view to its being particularly studied at this stage. The teacher may therefore, if he thinks proper, pass over PART I. for the present, and begin with PART II.

18. A union of two vowels in the same syllable, only one of which is sounded, is called a digraph, and sometimes, an improper diph thong, as oa in boat; ou in court.

19. A Triphthong is the union of three vowels in one sound, as eau in beauty.

The Powers of Letters.

, 20. In analyzing words into their elementary sounds, it is necessary to distinguish between the name of a letter and its power. 21. The name of a letter is that by which it is usually called; as A, bé, sẽ, de, etc.

22. The power of a letter is the effect which it has, either by itself, or combined with other letters, in forming a word or syllable.

23. Each of the vowels has several powers. Several letters have the same power; and certain powers or elements of words are represented by a combination of two letters.

24. The elementary powers or sounds in the English language are about forty-three, and are primarily divided into unobstructed sounds or Vocals, represented by vowels and diphthongs; and ⚫obstructed sounds (Subvocals and Aspirates), represented by consonants, single or combined.

25. Vocals or tonics are unobstructed sounds produced by the organs of voice, with the mouth more or less open, and with no change, or but slight change, of position in the organs of speech.

26. Subvocals or subtonics are sounds produced by the organs of voice, obstructed or modified by certain changes in the position of the organs of speech.

27. Aspirates or atonics are mere whispering sounds without vocality, but which still have an audible effect in the enunciation of words. They are all obstructed except h.

28. The elementary powers of letters can not be exhibited to the eye, but must be learned from the living voice.

29. The name of a vowel is always one of its powers (except w and y), and if from the name of a consonant, we take away the vowel sound, what remains is generally the power of that consonant.

30. A full view of the elementary powers of letters in the forma

tion of words, is exhibited in the following table. In the words an nexed as examples, the letter whose power is indicated is printed in Italic. By pronouncing the word distinctly, and then leaving out all but the power of the Italic letter, and uttering that alone, we have the power of that letter.

31. Elementary Sounds in the English Language.

The following analysis exhibits the nature of the different sounds: 1. Classified by the ear; 2d. By the position of the organs in forming

them.

* Some make a in care a distinct element. It is only long a modified by the following.

+ R before a vowel has a hard or trilling sound; as, rat, rough; after a vowel, a soft and liquid sound; as, arm, far.

Wh is a combined sound, nearly equivalent to h-ōō, and is classed here only for convenience.