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Title: A Short System of English Grammar

For the Use of the Boarding School in Worcester (1759)

Author: Henry Bate

Release Date: October 22, 2008 [EBook #26991]

Language: English

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A SHORT SYSTEM OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR ***

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A

Short System
OF

English GRAMMAR.

For the use of the

BOARDING SCHOOL

In WORCESTER.

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By HENRY BATE A. B.

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Worcester: Printed by R. LEWIS,

Bookseller, in High-Street.

THE
PREFACE.

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USAGE and Custom are the Rules and Measures of every Language, and the
Rules of GRAMMAR have nothing more to do, than to teach it. The GRAMMAR is to
be fashioned from the particular Language, it treats of, and not the Language
from the GRAMMAR. For want of following this regular Plan, our Modern
GRAMMARIANS have introduced the GRAMMAR Rules of other Languages into
their own; as if all Language was founded on GRAMMAR, and the Rules in one
Language would serve the same End and Purpose in another.

The Latin, for Instance, has only eight Parts of Speech, and the Writers of
English GRAMMAR have unthinkingly adopted the same Number; whereas with
the Article, which the Latin has not, and which is of great Service in a Language,
we have no less than nine. The Latin admits of Cases; but as different Cases,
properly speaking, are nothing more than the different Inflections and
Terminations of Nouns, English Nouns have no Cases. It is not agreeable to the
Principles of GRAMMAR to say that—of a Rose—is the Genitive Case of—Rose,
or—to a Rose, the Dative; for of and to are no Part of the Word Rose, but only
prefix Particles or Prepositions, which shew the different Relation of the Word
Rose. So likewise when we say Alexander's Horse, the Word Alexander's is not
the Genitive Case of Alexander; for strictly speaking the 's is no Part of the Word
Alexander but the final Letter of the Pronoun Possessive his, and without the
Apostrophe we shou'd read it thus; Alexander his Horse. If any of the Parts of
Speech have Cases, the Pronouns have, and some of the Pronouns may perhaps
have two; but for the Sake of making every Thing as easy as I can to the Learner,
I have taken the Liberty of distinguishing such Pronouns into Prefix and
Subsequent, and entirely laid aside Cases as useless and unnecessary. The Latin
has Genders, the Adjective in that Language always varying to correspond with
the Substantive; but ourAdjectives never vary, and therefore the Distinction of
Genders has nothing to do with English GRAMMAR, but is idle, trifling,
impertinent.

EXPERIENCE shews, that this Sort of pedantick Ignorance and Folly, has made that
dark and obscure, which it was intended to elucidate, and unhappily puzzled and
perplexed a great many more, than it has ever instructed. Every attempt to make
English easy must be fruitless, that is not formed upon a different Plan, and such
is the following short System of English GRAMMAR.

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Short System

OF
English GRAMMAR.

Of GRAMMAR and it's DIVISIONS.

GRAMMAR is the Science of Letters or Language, and is the Art of Speaking

and Writing properly.

It's Divisions are four;

ORTHOGRAPHY ANALOGY
PROSODY SYNTAX

Of ORTHOGRAPHY.

ORTHOGRAPHY comprehends Writing, and Articulation. Articulation treats

of Simple Sounds, which are made by the Organs of Speech, and by which we
communicate our Ideas and Sentiments to one another. Writing represents the
Living Speech, and makes as it were these Sounds and Sentiments visible.

Of PROSODY.
PROSODY treats of Pronunciation with respect of Accent, Time, and Quantity.
But as the Science of Letters, Sounds, and Pronunciation is instilled into the
Minds of the English Youth very early in Life, and as this GRAMMAR is not
intended for the Use of Foreigners, but for them; I shall not trifle away their
Time, in teaching them, what they cannot be supposed to be unacquainted with;
but proceed to the third Part of GRAMMAR called Analogy.

Of ANALOGY.

A NALOGY is the mutual Relation, or Agreement of Words with one another,

and treats of all the Parts of Speech, which in English are nine.

Article Verb Conjunction

Noun Participle Preposition
Pronoun Adverb Interjection

Of An ARTICLE.

AN Article is a Part of Speech put before Nouns to ascertain and fix their
Vague Signification. There are three Articles, a, an, and the. A and an are
Indefinite Articles and applied to Persons or Things indifferently; as an Oyster, a
Prince. The Article the distinguishes individually or particularly; as the Oyster,
the Prince.
Of a NOUN.

A NOUN is a Part of Speech which expresses the Subject spoke of; as Ink,
Paper, Witness.

A Noun is either Substantive, or Adjective.

A Noun Substantive is the Name of a Thing considered simply in itself, and

without any Regard to it's Qualities; as a Man, a Woman, a Child.

A Noun Adjective is a Word added to the Noun Substantive, expressing the

Circumstance or Quality thereof; as a good Man, an old Woman, a young Child.

Of a PRONOUN.

A PRONOUN is a Part of Speech substituted in the Place of a Noun, to avoid

the frequent and disagreeable Repetition of the same Word; as the Bird is joyous,
he chirps, he sings; which without the Pronoun wou'd be thus; the Bird is joyous,
the Bird chirps, the Bird sings.

PRONOUNS PERSONAL.

I He Myself I myself
Me Him Yourself You yourself
You She Thyself Thou thyself
Thou Her Himself He himself
Thee One's self Herself She herself

PRONOUNS RELATIVE.
Who, whose, whom, what, which.

PRONOUNS DEMONSTRATIVE.

This, that.

PRONOUNS POSSESSIVE.

My Ours Your Theirs

Mine Thy Yours Her
Our Thine His Hers

Of NUMBER.

NUMBER expresses the Difference betwixt one Thing and many, and is either
Singular or Plural.

When a Thing is considered as single, or a Multitude of Things considered as

united together, it is of the Singular Number; as a Man, a Troop.

When several Things are considered as distinct from each other it is of the Plural
Number, as Men, Soldiers.

The Plural is usually formed in Noun Substantives by adding s to the Singular;

as Article Articles, Noun Nouns.

But when the Pronunciation requires it, or when the Singular ends in s, x, sh, or
ch, the Plural is usually formed by adding the Syllable es; as Ass Asses, Fox
Foxes, Sash Sashes, Church Churches.
When the Singular ends in f or fe, the Plural is usually form'd by changing the f
or fe into ves; as Wife Wives, Self Selves.

Sometimes the Plural is formed by adding the Syllable en; as Ox Oxen;

sometimes by changing the Vowel; as Man Men; and sometimes the Vowels and
Consonants; as Penny Pence, Mouse Mice, Louse Lice.

Some of the Pronouns form their Plural very irregular; as I We, Me Us, Thou Ye,
Thee You, He They, Him Them, She They, Her Them.

Some Nouns have no Singular Number; as Scissors, the East-Indies, the West-
Indies.

Some have no Plural; the Names of Kingdoms for Instance; as England, Ireland,
Portugal.

Cities, Towns and Villages; as Worcester, Kinver, Hagley.

Seas, and Rivers; as the Mediterranean, Severn.

Wheat, Barley, Gold, Silver, Pewter, and a great many Words, that cannot be
reduced to any Rule want the Plural Number; as Ale, Beer, Bread, Butter,
Honey, Milk, Hunger, Thirst, Drunkenness.

The Termination of some Nouns is the same both in the Singular and Plural; as a
Sheep, a Swine, a Flock of Sheep, a Herd of Swine, &c.

Of COMPARISON.

COMPARISON is the comparing the different Circumstances of Persons or

Things with each other, and serves to alter the Signification of a Word, either by
a gradual Increase, or a gradual Diminution; as long longer longest, short shorter
shortest.
ADJECTIVES, Adverbs, and Substantives, have three Degrees of Comparison, the
Positive, the Comparative, and the Superlative.

The Positive lays down the Natural Signification simply and without excess or
Diminution; as long, short, often.

The Comparative raises or lowers the Positive in Signification, and is formed of

the Positive by adding the Syllable er; as long longer, short shorter, often
oftener.

The Superlative raises or lowers the Signification as much as possible, and if

formed of the Positive by adding the Syllable est; as long longest, short shortest,
often oftenest.

Sometimes they are compared by the Adverbs very, infinitely; and the Adjectives
more, most; less, least; as long, very long, infinitely long; short, more short, most
short; commonly, less commonly, least commonly.

These Adjectives deviate from the general Rule, good better best, bad worse
worst, little less least, much more most.

SUBSTANTIVES are compared by the Adjectives more, most, the Words than, or
that, always following; as a Dunce, more a Dunce than I or me, the most a
Dunce that ever I did see.

Of a VERB.

A VERB is a Part of Speech, which serves to express, what we affirm of, or

attribute to any Subject, and is either Active or Passive.

A Verb Active is that which expresses an Action; as I kick, I see.

A Verb Passive is that which receives the Action or expresses the Passion; as I
am kick'd, I am seen.
A Verb has two Numbers the Singular and the Plural; and three Persons in each
Number; as I am, thou art, he is. We are, ye are, they are.

The same is to be observed in every Mood and in every Tense but in the
Infinitive, which has neither Number nor Person.

Of MOODS.

A MOOD is the Manner of conjugating Verbs agreeably to the different

Actions or Affections to be expressed.

There are four Moods, the Indicative, the Imperative, the Conjunctive, and the
Infinitive.

The Indicative Mood expresseth the Action or Passion simply directly and
absolutely; as I love, I have loved, I will love.

The Imperative commands or forbids; as come, go, begone.

The Conjunctive expresses the Action or Passion conditionally and is always

joined with the Indicative, or the same Mood; as I will love you, if you wou'd
love me; I wou'd dance, if you wou'd dance.

The Infinitive expresses the Action or Passion indeterminately without any

Regard to Time, Place, Number, or Person; as to love, to be loved.

Of the TENSES.

TENSE is an Inflection of Verbs, whereby they are made to signify, and

distinguish the Circumstance of Time.

There are five Tenses, the Present Tense, the Preterimperfect, the Preterperfect,
the Preterpluperfect, and the Future.

1. The Present Tense expresses the Time, that now is; as I sup.

2. The Preterimperfect Tense denotes the historical Relation of a past Action, but
yet not perfectly compleated, when joined to another Action that is perfectly
compleated; as when or while I supped he came in.

3. The Preterperfect Tense expresses the Time Past perfectly; as I have supped.

4. The Preterpluperfect Tense expresses the Time Past doubly; as I had supped.

5. The Future Tense expresses the Time to come; as I shall sup, I will sup.

Of the CONJUGATION.

CONJUGATION is the Variation of Verbs through all their Moods and Tenses;
and the English Verbs are chiefly conjugated by auxiliary Signs; as to love; or by
auxiliary Verbs; as I am loved, I have loved.

Decoration

Of the AUXILIARY SIGNS.

T HE auxiliary Signs are Words that serve to express the Variations of the Verb.
The Imperative Mood has the Signs do, let; as—do thou love, let him love.
The Infinitive Mood has the Signs to, about; as to love, about to love.

The other Moods have the auxiliary Signs following.

Singular

{ I do, did, must, may,
1st Person { can, might, wou'd, cou'd,
{ shou'd, shall, or will.

{ Thou do'st, did'st, must,
2d Person { may'st, can'st, might'st,
{ wou'd'st, cou'd'st, shou'd'st,
{ shalt or wilt.

{ He does, or do'th, did, must,
3d Person { may, can, might, wou'd,
{ cou'd, shou'd, shall, or
{ will.

Plural

{ We do, did, must, may,
1st Person { can, might, wou'd, cou'd,
{ shou'd, shall, or will.

{ Ye do, did, must, may,
2d Person { can, might, wou'd, cou'd,
{ shou'd, shall or will.

{ They do, did, must, may,
3d Person { can, might, wou'd, cou'd,
{ shou'd, shall or will.
Of the AUXILIARY VERBS.

THE auxiliary Verbs are only two, to Have and to Be; which cannot be
conjugated without the auxiliary Signs, and without the reciprocal Assistance of
each other.

To HAVE.
INDICATIVE MOOD.

Present Tense.

Sing. I have; thou hast; he hath, or has. Plur. We have; ye have; they have.

Preterimperfect Tense.

Sing. I had; thou hadst; he had. Plur. We had; ye had; they had.

Preterperfect Tense.

Sing. I have had; thou hast had; he hath, or has had. Plur. We have had; ye have
had; they have had.

Preterpluperfect Tense.

Sing. I had had; thou hadst had; he had had. Plur. We had had; ye had had; they
had had.

Future Tense.

Sing. I shall, or will have; thou shalt, or wilt have; he shall, or will have. Plur.
We shall, or will have; ye shall, or will have; they shall, or will have.

IMPERATIVE MOOD.

Present and Future.

Sing. Let me have; do thou have, or have thou; let him have. Plur. Let us have;
do ye have, or have ye; let them have.

CONJUNCTIVE MOOD.

Present Tense.

Sing. I may, or can have; thou may'st, or can'st have; he may, or can have. Plur.
We may, or can have; ye may, or can have; they may, or can have.

Preterimperfect Tense.

Sing. I must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd have; thou must, might'st, woud'st,
coud'st, or shoud'st have; he must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd have. Plur. We
must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd have; ye must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or
shou'd have; they must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd have.

Preterperfect Tense.

Sing. I must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd have had; thou must, might'st,
wou'd'st, cou'd'st, or shou'd'st have had; he must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd
have had. Plur. We must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd have had; ye must,
might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd have had; they must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or
shou'd have had.

Preterpluperfect Tense.

Sing. I must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd had had; thou must, might'st,
wou'd'st, cou'd'st, or shou'd'st had had; he must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd
had had; Plur. We must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd had had; ye must, might,
wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd had had; they must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd had
had.

Future Tense.

Sing. I shall, or will have had; thou shalt, or wilt have had; he shall, or will have
had; Plur. We shall, or will have had; ye shall, or will have had; they shall, or
will have had.
INFINITIVE MOOD.

Present —— to have
Perfect —— to have had
Future —— about to have.

PARTICIPLES.

Present —— having
Preterperfect —— having had.

To BE.
INDICATIVE MOOD.

Present Tense.

Sing. I am; thou art; he is. Plur. We are; ye are; they are.

Preterimperfect Tense.

Sing. I was; thou wast; he was; Plur. We were; ye were; they were.

Preterperfect Tense.

Sing. I have been; thou hast been; he hath been. Plur. We have been; ye have
been; they have been.

Preterpluperfect Tense.

Sing. I had been; thou hadst been; he had been. Plur. We had been; ye had been;
they had been.

Future Tense.

Sing. I shall, or will be; thou shalt, or wilt be; he shall, or will be. Plur. We shall,
or will be; ye shall, or will be; they shall, or will be.
IMPERATIVE MOOD.

Present and Future.

Sing. Let me be; do thou be, or be thou; let him be. Plur. Let us be; do ye be, or
be ye; let them be.

CONJUNCTIVE MOOD.

Present Tense.

Sing. I may, or can be; thou may'st, or canst be; he may, or can be. Plur. We may,
or can be; ye may, or can be; they may, or can be.

Preterimperfect Tense.

Sing. I must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd be; thou must, might'st, wou'd'st,
cou'd'st, or shou'd'st be; he must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd be. Plur. We
must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd be; ye must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd
be; they must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd be.

Preterperfect Tense.

Sing. I must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd have been; thou must, might'st,
wou'd'st, cou'd'st, or shou'd'st have been; he must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or
shou'd, have been. Plur. We must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd have been; ye
must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd have been; they must, might, wou'd cou'd,
or shou'd have been.

Preterpluperfect Tense.

Sing. I must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd have had been; thou must, might'st,
wou'd'st, cou'd'st, or shou'd'st, have had been; he must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or
shou'd have had been. Plur. We must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd have had
been; ye must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd have had been; they must, might,
wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd have had been.

Future Tense.

Sing. I shall, or will have been; thou shalt, or wilt have been; he shall or will
have been. Plur. We shall, or will have been; ye shall, or will have been; they
shall, or will have been.

INFINITIVE MOOD.

Present —— to be
Preterperfect —— to have been
Future —— about to be.

PARTICIPLES.

Present —— being
Preterperfect —— having been.

Of REGULAR VERBS.

REGULAR Verbs are those that are conjugated by some established Rules.
The Termination of the Infinitive Mood Present Tense, of the Verb Active, in
regular Verbs, is always the same as the first Person of the Indicative Mood
Present Tense singular; as to love, I love.

The Termination of the second Person Singular is formed out of the first by
adding st or est; as I love, thou lovest; I read, thou readest.

The Termination of the third Person singular is formed out of the first by adding
th or eth; as I love, he loveth, I read, he readeth; or only by adding s; as he loves,
he reads.

The Termination of the first Person Preterimperfect Tense singular, is formed

out of the first Person Present Tense singular by adding the Syllable ed; as I
love, I loved.

The Termination of the Participle Present of the Verb Active, is always formed
out of the first Person Present by adding the Syllable ing; as I love, loving.

The Termination of the Preterimperfect, the Preterperfect, and the

Preterpluperfect of the Indicative Mood; and the Preterperfect, the
Preterpluperfect and the Future of the Conjunctive, and the Participle Passive is
in regular Verbs the same; as I loved, I have loved, I had loved, I may have loved,
I might have loved, I shall have loved, I am loved. And

The Termination of every other Tense, Number or Person, is the same with the
Infinitive.

Of a VERB ACTIVE.

A VERB Active regular is conjugated by the auxiliary Signs, the auxiliary

Verbs, and the general Rules foregoing.

To LOVE.
INDICATIVE MOOD.

Present Tense.

Sing. I love, or do love; thou lovest, or dost love; he loveth, or loves, or doth
love. Plur. We love, or do love; ye love, or do love; they love, or do love.

Preterimperfect Tense.

Sing. I loved, or did love; thou loved'st, or did'st love; he loved, or did love.
Plur. we loved, or did love; ye loved, or did love; they loved, or did love.

Preterperfect Tense.

Sing. I have loved; thou hast loved; he hath loved, or has loved. Plur. We have
loved; ye have loved; they have loved.
Preterpluperfect Tense.

Sing. I had loved; thou hadst loved; he had loved. Plur. We had loved; ye had
loved; they had loved.

Future Tense.

Sing. I shall, or will love; thou shalt, or wilt love; he shall, or will love. Plur. We
shall, or will love; ye shall, or will love; they shall, or will love.

IMPERATIVE MOOD.

Present and Future.

Sing. Let me love; do thou love, or love thou; let him love. Plur. Let us love; do
ye love, or love ye; let them love.

CONJUNCTIVE MOOD.

Present Tense.

Sing. I may, or can love; thou may'st, or can'st love; he may, or can love. Plur.
We may, or can love; ye may, or can love; they may, or can love.

Preterimperfect Tense.

Sing. I must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd love; thou must, might'st, wou'd'st,
cou'd'st, or shou'd'st love; he must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd love. Plur. We
must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd love; ye must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or
shou'd love; they must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd love.

Preterperfect Tense.

Sing. I must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd have loved; thou must, might'st,
wou'd'st, cou'd'st, or shou'd'st have loved; he must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or
shou'd have loved. Plur. We must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd have loved; ye
must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd have loved; they must, might, wou'd, cou'd,
or shou'd have loved.

Preterpluperfect Tense.
Sing. I must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd have had loved; thou must, might'st,
wou'd'st, cou'd'st, or shou'd'st have had loved; he must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or
shou'd have had loved. Plur. We must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd have had
loved; ye must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd have had loved; they must, might,
wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd have had loved.

Future Tense.

Sing. I shall, or will have loved; thou shalt, or wilt have loved; he shall, or will
have loved. Plur. We shall, or will have loved; ye shall, or will have loved; they
shall, or will have loved.

INFINITIVE MOOD.

Present —— to love
Preterperfect —— to have loved
Future —— about to love.

PARTICIPLES.

Present —— loving
Preterperfect —— having loved.

Of a VERB PASSIVE.

THE Verb Passive is nothing more than the Participle Passive joined to the
Auxiliary Verb to be; as

INDICATIVE MOOD.

Present Tense I am loved; &c.

Preterimperfect I was loved; &c.
Preterperfect I have been loved; &c.
Preterpluperfect I had been loved; &c.
Future I shall or will be loved; &c.

IMPERATIVE MOOD.

Present and Future.

Let me be loved &c.

CONJUNCTIVE MOOD.

Present Tense.

Sing. I may, or can be loved; thou &c.

Preterimperfect Tense.

Sing. I must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd be loved; thou &c.

Preterperfect Tense.

Sing. I must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd have been loved; thou &c.

Preterpluperfect Tense.

Sing. I must, might, wou'd, cou'd, or shou'd have had been loved; thou &c.

Future Tense.

Sing. I shall, or will have been loved; thou &c.

INFINITIVE MOOD.

Present —— to be loved
Preterperfect —— to have been loved
Future —— about to be loved.

PARTICIPLES.

Present —— being loved

Preterperfect —— having been loved.
Of a PARTICIPLE.

A PARTICIPLE is a Part of Speech, which partaketh of a Verb and a Noun.

When it has a Relation to Time it may be considered as a Verb; but when it is
joined to a Substantive or admits of Comparison, it may be considered as an
Adjective.

When the termination of the Participle Passive is not formed by adding the
Syllable ed to the first Person of the Indicative Mood Present Tense Singular; or
when the Termination of the Participle Passive differs from the Termination of
the Preter Tenses, the Verb becomes irregular; but in all other Respects is
conjugated as the regular Verb; as I abide, thou abidest, &c.

Pres. Tense. Preter. Participle Passive.

Abide Abode Abode
Bite Bit Bitten
Catch Caught Catched
Do Did Done
Eat Eat Eaten
Fall Fell Fallen
Get Got Gotten
Hold Held Holden
Know Knew Known
Lie Lay Laid
Make Made Made
Rise Rose Risen
Shine Shone Shined
Tread Trod Trodden
Weave Wove Woven
&c. &c. &c.

To these may be added the Auxiliary Verbs —— To Have, and to Be.

Of an ADVERB.

AN Adverb is a Part of Speech joined to a Verb, a Noun Substantive, an

Adjective or Participle, and sometimes to another Adverb, to express the Manner
or Circumstance of the Thing signified; as he speaks properly, an orderly Man,
truly good, extreamly loving, very devoutly.

Adverbs are very numerous, and have Relation to

Time; as now, lately, always.

Place; as here, there, no-where.

Order; as by Turns, abreast, orderly.

Quantity; as enough, more, entirely.

Number; as once, twice, thrice.

Doubting; as perhaps, may be, peradventure.

Asking; as why? whence? wherefore?.

Affirmation; as yes, indeed, certainly.

Negation; as no, never, not at all.

Comparison; as more, less, likewise.

Quality; as justly, prudently, indifferently.

Of a CONJUNCTION.
A CONJUNCTION is a Part of Speech, which serves to connect and join the
several Parts of a Discourse together, and is of various Kinds.

Copulative; as and, also, moreover.

Disjunctive; as or, neither, whether.

Adversative; as but, yet, notwithstanding.

Conditional; as if, unless, provided.

Casual; as for, because, forasmuch.

Conclusive; as then, so that, therefore.

Of a PREPOSITION.

A PREPOSITION is a Part of Speech, that serves to express the particular

Relation and Circumstance of some other Part of Speech, and is either used in
Apposition, as in Heaven; or in Composition, as Invisible.

PREPOSITIONS used in APPOSITION.

Above between of
about betwixt on
after beyond over
against by through
among for throughout
amongst from towards
at in under
before into unto
behind near upon
beneath near to with
below nigh within
beside nigh to without.

PREPOSITIONS used in COMPOSITION.

A-base ap-point
ab-use as-certain
abs-tract at-taint
ac-commodate be-friend
ad-apt circum-ambient
af-fix co-adjutor
after-noon com-pound
amphi-theatre com-plot
ante-date con-strain
anti-christ contra-diction
an-archy counter-balance.
de-camp op-pression
Dis-appoint over-reach
dif-fusive out-landish
di-minish per-form
e-mission post-master
em-brace pre-eminence
en-close preter-natural
es-say pro-long
ex-terminate re-gain
extra-ordinary retro-grade
for-bear sub-join
fore-see super-fine
im-perfect trans-migration
in-glorious un-worthy
inter-view under-written
intro-duction up-right
ob-noxious with-draw
off-spring &c., &c., &c.

Of an INTERJECTION.

AN Interjection is a Part of Speech, that serves to express some sudden Motion

or Passion of the Mind, transported with the Sensation of Pleasure or Pain.

Of Pleasure; as, O brave! O Heavens! O Joy!

Of Pain; as Alas! O my God! O Lord!

INTERJECTIONS of a lower Order.

Of Caution; as, hold! take Care!

Of Admiration; as, see! look! behold!

Of Aversion; as, fie! away you Fool!

Of Silence; as, be still! Silence!

Of SYNTAX.

SYNTAX is the Manner of constructing one Word with another prescribed by

the Rules of GRAMMAR.

RULE 1st.
The Article a is usually placed before a Word that begins with a Consonant, the
Article an before a Word that begins with a Vowel, and either a or an before a
Word that begins with an h; and the Article the, before a Word that begins either
with a Vowel or a Consonant; as, a Christian, an Infidel, a Heathen, or an
Heathen; the Christian, the Infidel, the Heathen.

RULE 2d.

A Noun Substantive is usually placed after its Noun Adjective; as the Second
Chapter, a great Man. But sometimes for the Sake of greater Distinction the
Adjective is placed after, with the Article the before it, as George the Second,
Peter the Great. In Poetry the Adjective is placed either before or after its
Substantive indifferently, as the Versification requires it.

RULE 3d.

All Nouns and Pronouns are of the third Person except I and we, which are of
the first Person, and Thou, you and ye, which are of the Second Person; and
except the Relative Pronouns which are always of the same Person with the
Personal Pronoun to which they relate; as I love, thou lovest, he loveth; I who
love, Thou who lovest, he who loveth.

RULE 4th.

The prefix Pronouns, I, we, thou, you, ye, he, she, they, who, are usually placed
before the Verb; and the Subsequent Pronouns, me, us, thee, him, her, them,
whom, are usually placed after; as I love the Dog, the Dog loves me. But when a
Question is asked, or when the Verb is of the Imperative Mood, or in short
Sentences, the prefix Pronouns are usually placed after; as lovest thou me? love
thou thyself, said he, said they.

RULE 5th.

When a Question is asked, and the Verb has an Auxiliary Sign, or an Auxiliary
Verb, the governing Noun or Pronoun is placed immediately after such Auxiliary;
as does the Sun shine? has he washed his Hands? And when the Verb has two or
more Auxiliaries, the Noun or Pronoun is placed after the first; as have I been
taught? Cou'd the Truth have been known?
RULE 6th.

The Verb agrees with its governing Noun, Pronoun Personal, or Pronoun
Relative, in Number and Person; as the Birds sing, thou lovest, he who loveth.

RULE 7th.

A NOUN of Multitude may have a Verb either Singular or Plural; as the People is
mad, or the People are mad.

But if a Substantive of the same Signification follows, that is not a Noun of

Multitude, then the Verb is always Plural; as we do not say the People is a mad
Man, but the People are mad Men.

RULE 8th.

Two or more Nouns or Pronouns Singular, will have a Verb Plural; as the Dog
and Cat are very loving. But when two or more Substantives Singular signify the
same Thing or Person, or when the Preposition OF intervenes, the Verb is
always Singular; as the River Severn is Navigable. William the Conqueror was a
great Man. This System of Grammar is compendious.

RULE 9th.

The subsequent Pronouns are usually placed after Prepositions and Interjections;
as of me, to us, for thee, with her, from them, against whom, O me!

Of the POINTS or PAUSES.

THE Points or Pauses have a Sort of musical Proportion.

The Period is marked thus (.)——Its Time is equal to two Colons and is never
placed but at the End of a Sentence, the Sense of which is perfect and compleat;
as By me Kings reign, and Princes decree Justice.
The Colon is marked thus (:) —— Its Time is equal to two Semicolons, and is
placed where the Sense seems to be perfect and compleat; but to which
notwithstanding something may still be added; as give Instruction to a wise Man,
and he will be yet wiser: Teach a just Man and he will increase in Learning.

The Semicolon is marked thus (;) —— its Time is equal to two Commas, and is
placed where the Sense is less compleat than the Colon, and more compleat than
the Comma; as a wise Man's Heart is at his right Hand; but a Fool's Heart is at
his left.

The Comma is marked thus (,) —— It is the last and least Pause or Time that is
made use of, and serves to distinguish the simple Numbers of a Period; as arise,
my Friend, and come away.

Of the other NOTES or CHARACTERS.

A Note of Interrogation (?) is used when a Question is asked; as who comes
there?

A Note of Admiration (!) is used after Interjections or short Sentences to express

our Wonder and Surprize; as O! O LORD!

A Parenthesis (rarely made use of by a good Writer) is used to inclose one

Sentence within another.

The Paragraph is marked thus (¶) and denotes the beginning of a new
Discourse.

An (') Apostrophe is used when some Part of a Word is left out; as Alexander's
Horse, for Alexander his Horse.

A Hyphen (-) is used to join together two Words, as Foot-stool, &c. and is used
also when part of a Word is written in one Line, and part in another.

The Caret is marked thus, (^) to shew where the Words in any Sentence that are
left out, shou'd come in; as

the Lady The word "is" cenntered above a caret beautiful.

The Subdivision, or part of a Chapter is marked usually thus, §.

The Index points to some remarkable Passage thus, Finger pointing to the right

A Quotation is a double Comma reverse and set against some Lines on the left
side of a Page, to shew that they are quoted from another Author, thus, ".

The Notes that refer to the Margin are an Asterisk made thus, *, an Obelisk thus,
†, also thus, ||.

Besides these there are literal Characters, numeral Characters, and

Abbreviations, the Knowledge of which is not so easily to be acquired by
GRAMMAR Rules, as by diligent Observation and Experience.

The E N D.
End of Project Gutenberg's A Short System of English Grammar, by Henry Bate

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