ADVERTISEMENT.

OWING to the distance of my residence from the place of publication, and other circumstances beyond my controul, together with the difficulties incident to the first edition of a work of this nature, some errors have escaped observation. The principal ones are in punctuation; but it is not free from those of a different kind. In the exercises in parsing, at page 89, the is called an indefinite article, instead of definite, &c.

Owing, also, to the omission of the founder, to whom we sent for accented type, to send a full set of accented vowels, we have been obliged to omit the accent in some words to which it should have been appended. Should the work find a sufficiency of patronage to require a second edition, no pains shall be spared to make it entirely correct in the execution; and should any teacher or other person, suggest any alteration in the form, or matter, the alteration proposed will be thankfully received, duly weighed, and, .if deemed of importance, promptly embodied in the work. As my only design is to be useful to the rising generation, any suggestions by which that usefulness may be increased, will always call forth my grateful acknowledgements, and receive merited attention.

All communications addressed to me, at the PostOffice, Nicholasville, Ky. post paid, will receive prompt attention.

REVISER.

TO THE NINTH EDITION.

The eighth edition of this grammar received considerable alterations and additions: but works of this nature admit of repeated improvements; and are, perhaps, never complete. The author, solicitous to render his book more worthy of the encouraging approbation bestowed upon it by the public, has again revised the work with care and attention. The new edition, he hopes, will be found much improved. The additions, which are very considerable, are, chiefly, such as are calculated to expand the learner's views of the subject; to obviate objections; and to render the study of grammar both easy and interesting. This edition contains also a new and enlarged system of parsing; copious lists of nouns arranged according to their gender and number; and many notes and observations, which serve to extend, or to explain, particular rules and positions.

The writer is sensible that, after all his endeavors to elucidate the principles of the work, there are few of the divisions, arrangements, definitions, or rules against which critical ingenuity cannot devise plausible objections. The subject is attended with so much intricacy, and admits of views so various, that it was not possible to render every part of it unexceptionable; or to accommodate the work, in all respects, to the opinions and prepossessions of every grammarian and teacher. If the author has adopted that system which, on the whole, is best suited to the nature of the subject, and conformable to the sentiments of the most judicious grammarians; if his reasonings and illustrations, respecting particular points, are founded on just principles, and the peculiarities of the English language; he has, perhaps, done all that could reasonably be expected in a work of this nature; and he may warrantably indulge a hope, that the book will be still more extensively approved and circulated.

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PART 1ST.

CHAPTER I.

SECTION 1. Of Grammar in General. GRAMMAR is the science of language. Science is knowledge based upon facts. The facts upon which the knowledge of any language is based, must be derived from the correct speakers and writers of that language. Hence the practice of a majority of the best speakers and writers of any language is the standard of accuracy in the use of that language.

Grammar may be divided into general and partic

ular.

General Grammar teaches those principles which are common to all languages.

Particular Grammar applies those general principles to a particular language, and teaches to change them as the genius of that language requires.

Rules of Grammar are intended to produce uniformity in the use of language. Uniformity constitutes correctness in the use of any language.

SECTION 2. Of English Grammar.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR is the art of speaking and writing the English language with propriety: or, English Grammar is a collection of observations, drawn from

Questions. What is Grammar? What is science? Whence are facts concerning language derived? What is the standard of accuracy in the use of a language? How is grammar divided? What does general grammar teach?-Particular grammar? What are the rules of grammar intended to produce? What constitutes correctness in the use of language? What is English Grammar?

B