AN EASY ENGLISH GRAMMAR

FOR BEGINNERS;

BEING

A PLAIN DOCTRINE OF WORDS AND SENTENCES.

BOOK THE SECOND.

of sentences, words, and THEIR GROWTH.

BY

J. M. D. MEIKLEJOHN, M.A.

Here a little, and there a little..

LONDON:

SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, AND CO., STATIONERS' HALL COURT.

1862.

NOTICE TO TEACHERS.

THIS second book is occupied chiefly with the analysis of simple sentences, a further development of the doctrine of words, and a slight introduction to the history-as seen in the growth-of words.

I have thought it best to restrict this part to simple sentences, and to leave complex sentences to the next book; while I have taken care, by constant references, that the theory of sentences shall illustrate, at every step, the doctrine of words, and that the doctrine of words should help the learner to understand the theory of sentences. The aim of the whole book being to present a strictly systematic and consequent course of grammatical training to the learner-explanations of subordinate points are introduced only when they are required for the intelligence of the part of the subject they belong to. The subdivisions introduced into the parts of speech, as they are often called, are as few as possible; and great care has been taken that no cross-division should creep in. This is one of the most glaring blunders usual in grammars, and generally constitutes the child's first lesson in loose and false reasoning.

A new feature in this book is the part on the origin and relationship of words. It is believed that the groups there given will interest and entertain the pupil, and that he will find the learning of them remarkably easy. They will be felt as a slight relief from the theory, if that should at any time become too puzzling or dry. My chief purpose in giving them has been to make them an introduction to further views on the history of our English tongue, and to present to the child, by the easiest process, his first ideas regarding derivation and the importance of it. In doing this, I have had regard rather to the needs of the pupil than to the requirements of the subject.

It is recommended that the teacher begin with the Exercises first, work the theory out of the heads of his pupils by means of the Exercises, and then use the text merely to harden and to fix in their minds the ideas thus gained.

The third part of this Grammar will occupy itself chiefly with COMPLEX SENTENCES, and the fullest development of the VERB in all its relations.

J. M. D. M.

Bowdon, Cheshire, Midsummer, 1862.

AN EASY ENGLISH GRAMMAR

FOR BEGINNERS.

PART III.-OF SENTENCES.

CHAPTER I.

ON SENTENCES.

Words are of no use unless when made into sentences; just as bricks are of no use except to build houses with.

A sentence is A STATEMENT MADE ABOUT SOMETHING.

The following are sentences: (1) Tom runs. (2) The cow grazes. (3) The omnibus is overset. (4) The horse is grey.

In these sentences we speak about four things; we speak about Tom, the cow, the omnibus, and the horse.

We say about Tom, that he runs.

about the cow, that it grazes.

about the omnibus, that it is overset.

about the horse, that it is grey.