AUTHOR OF OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. BY SIMON KERL, A. M., 66 COMPREHENSIVE GRAMMAR," "Sacred Interpreter of human thought, How few respect or use thee as they ought!" CowrER, on Language. PUBLIC NEW YORK: IVISON, PHINNEY, BLAKEMAN, & CO. + Kerl's First Lessons in English Grammar. - Designed as an introduction to the Common-School Grammar. The plan, definitions, observations, and exercises, are in the simplest style, and suited to the capacity of children. Kerl's Common-School Grammar. A simple, thorough, and practical grammar of the English language. Great care has been taken to make it, if possible, the best treatise of its kind now before the public. The parts relating to Idioms, Analysis, and False Syntax, will be found particularly valuable. Kerl's Comprehensive Grammar. An original work, that breaks up the old stereotyped method of English grammars, and re-arranges matter more nearly in accordance with the genius of the language. The articles on Versification, Punctuation, and Capital Letters, throw new light on these subjects; and in False Syntax, and the Analysis of Sentences, the exercises are fresh, pithy, and exhaustive. The work is especially useful to every speaker, writer, or teacher, as a book of reference. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by in the Clerk's Office of the SIMON KERL, rict Court for the Southern District of New York. PRINTED BY GEO. C. RAND & AVERY. PREFACE. "LANGUAGE," said Sheridan, "is the great instrument by which all the faculties of the mind are brought forward, moulded, and polished." Ke who travels over our extensive country can easily observe that wherever the people have a limited and obscure knowledge of language, there all the other elements of civilization and refinement are in a correspondingly undeveloped state; but that wherever a home is surrounded by the beauties of nature and art, there is also generally heard such language as reveals the presence of literature and the cultivation of thought and sensibility. Language is at once the most useful, powerful, delicate, and durable instrument wielded by man. It materializes thought, so as to make it tangible, permanent, and transmissible; and it thus carries civilization into every nook and corner of the world. It receives the intellect, heart, and achievements of every generation; and bears forward the responsible burden to be judged by every future generation. While the marble crumbles, and the canvas fades, an embodiment of great thoughts in glorious language lives through all time; renewing its youth, like the phoenix, with every edi. tion from the printing-press, and, like the sun, spreading its light and beneficence round the whole globe. But how many literary productions are more or less disfigured with inaccuracies of grammar; and what an injurious influence is often exerted on the language of the people, by the hasty and crude literature of the daily press! How often do men express their thoughts, even or important occasions, inaccurately, obscurely, ambiguously, or ridiculously; and what a multitude of bickerings, lawsuits, and contentions arise from language misapplied or misunderstood! It was the opinion of a late AttorneyGeneral of the United States, that the people of this country pay at least twenty millions of dollars a year for the abuse of the English language in matters of contract and legislation alone. Till the excellent treatise of Murray made its appearance, the study of English grammar had hardly become a branch of common-school education; but since that time the importance of the science has been so far established in the convictions of the public, that grammar is now everywhere one of the leading studies in common schools. Corresponding textbooks have constantly increased, until we have a superabundance; yet there is doubtless always room for an improved system in every science. 28 X 123 Most readers prefer to ascertain the plan and contents of a book by simply turning over its leaves; but the following features of this treatise are some of those which the author has endeavored to make worthy of special notice: 1. The simple and scientific nature of the general plan, and the methodical arrangement of matter throughout the book. 2. The clearness, brevity, and uniformity of the definitions. 3. The abundance and appropriateness of the illustrations and exercises. 4. The careful development of every part in proportion to its impor tance; so that the book is unusually symmetrical and comprehensive. 5. The introduction of the historical element of our language; and the careful regard for those laws which underlie the fabric of language, and make it what it is. 6. The treatment of infinitives and participles. 7. The Rules of Syntax, in regard to both meaning and brevity. 8. The collection of idioms and other difficult constructions. 9. The system of Analysis, and the progressive development of sentences according to its principles. 10. The classification of False Syntax; and the lessening of so great a number of little rules, which are seldom learned and always soon forgotten. 11. The critical remarks on syntax, punctuation, and capital letters. 12. The superior mechanical execution of the work. The relative importance of the matter has been carefully distinguished by different sizes of type; and what is designed only for reading or reference, has been placed at the end of each Part, or so distinguished from the portions to be committed to memory as not to embarrass the learner or distract his attention. The pages to be studied make thus but a comparatively small book. Yet for those pupils who may need a smaller or an introducto y treatise, a book called "First Lessons in English Grammar," and made on the same plan as this work, has been expressly prepared. If any teacher wishes his pupils to "analyze and parse" as soon as possible, he can require them to commit the Rules of Syntax to memory, and he can then drill them, as they advance from the commencement of the book, on the sentences which begin page 241. Brevity has been constantly studied; and great care has been taken to make this grammar as simple, progressive, and interesting as such a book can be made without injuring its scientific value. In closing this Preface, the author desires to express his grateful acknowledgment for valuable suggestions received from the Masters of the Boston Public Schools; of whom he would especially mention Daniel C. Brown, Joshua Bates, and James A. Page, as the gentlemen to whom he is mostly indebted. |