It is also used when a word is divided, and the former part is written or printed at the end of one line, and the latter part at the beginning of another. In this case it is placed at the end of the first line, not at the beginning of the Becond. The Acute Accent, marked thus ́;—as, ‘Fáncy.' Grave thus *; as, · Fàv our? In English, the Accentual marks are chiefly used in spelling books and dictionaries, to mark the syllables, which require à particular stress of the voice in pronunciation. The stress is laid on long and short syllables indiscriminately. In order to distinguish the one from the other, some writers of dictionaries have placed the grave on the former, and the acute on the latter, in this manner;-' Minor, mineral, lively, lived, rival, íver.' The proper mark to distinguish a long syllable, is this ;-as, Rosy ;' and a short one this;-as, Folly.' This last mark is called a breve. A Diæresis, marked thus", consists of two points placed over one of the two vowels, that would otherwise make a diphthong, and parts them into two sylla bles; as, Creätor, coadjutor, aërial.' A Section, marked thus §, is the division of a discourse, or chapter, into less parts or portions. A Paragraph ¶ denotes the beginning of a new subject, or a sentence not connected with the foregoing. This character is chiefly used in the Old, and in the New Testaments. A Quotation "". Two inverted commas are generally placed at the begin ning of a phrase or passage, which is quoted or transcribed from the speaker or author in his own words; and two commas in their direct position, are placed at the conclusion ;-as, "The proper study of mankind is man." Crotchets or Brackets [] serve to enclose a word or sentence, which is to be explained in a note, or the explanation itself, or a word or a sentence, which is intended to supply some deficiency, or to rectify some mistake. Ao Index or Hand points out a remarkable passage, or something that requires particular attention. A Brace} is used in poetry at the end of a triplet, or three lines, which have the same rhyme. Braces are also used to connect a number of words with one common term, and are introduced to prevent a repetition in writing or printing. An Asterisk, or little *, directs the reader to some note in the margin, or at the bottom of the page. Two or three asterisks generally denote the omission of some letters in a word, or of some bold or indelicate expression, or some defect in the manuscript. An Ellipsis - is also used, when some letters in a word, or some words in a verse are omitted; as, The K-g,' for the king.' An Obelisk, which is marked thus †, and Parallels thus || together with the letters of the Alphabet, and figures are used as references to the margin, or bottom of the page. Directions respecting the Use of Capital Letters. It was formerly the custom to begin every noun with a capital; but as this practice was troublesome, and gave the writing or printing a crowded and confused appearance, it has been discontinued. It is, however, very proper to begio with a capital, 1. The first word of every book, chapter, letter, note, or any other piece of writing. 2. The first word after a period; and, if the two sentences are totally independent, after the note of interrogation or exclamation. But if a number of interrogative or exclamatory sentences are thrown into one general group; or if the construction of the latter sentences depends on the former, all of them, except the first, may begin with a small letter;—as, 'How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity ? and the scorners delight in their scorning? and fools hate knowledge? Alas! bow different! yet how like the same!' 3. The appellations of the Deity;-as, God, Jehovah, the Almighty, the Supreme Being, the Lord, Providence, the Messiah, the Holy Spirit.' 4. Proper names of persons, places, streets, mountains, rivers, ships ; —as, 'George, York, the Strand, the Alps, the Thames, the Seahorse.' 5. Adjectives derived from the proper names of places ;-as, Grecian, Roman, English, French, and Italian.' 6. The first word of a quotation, introduced after a semi-colon, or when it is in a direct form ;-as, "Always remember this ancient maxim; Know thyself" " "Our great Lawgiver says, Take up thy cross daily and follow me.' But when a quotation is brought in obliquely after a comma, a capital is unnecessary;-as, "Solomon observes, that pride goes before destruction.' ” The first word of an example may also very properly begin with a capital; as, Temptation proves our virtue." 7. Every noun and principal word in the titles of books ;-as, 'Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language; Thomson's Seasons; Rollin's Ancient History.' 8. The first word of every line in poetry. 9. The pronoun, I, and the interjection O, are written in capitals ;-as, 'I write; Hear, O earth!' Other words, besides the preceding, may begin with capitals, when they are remarkably emphatical, or the principal subject of the composition. QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. Note. For answers to the questions in larger type, see The General View ; for answerD to those in smaller type, see The Lectures. What is Grammar ? OF GRAMMAR. As a science, what does it unfold ? What does universal grammar explain? LECTURE 1. To which species does English gram mar belong, universal or particular? What is to be considered as the standard of the English language? Into how many parts is English gram mar divided ? What are they called? Of what does each part treat ? PART 1.-ORTHOGRAPHY. What does the term, orthography signify ? What does this part of grammar teach us ? What is a letter? How many letters are there in the English language? What are these letters, taken together, called ? What letters in the English alphabet are superfluous ? Give an example of b; of d; off; of; of g; of h; ofk; of l; of m; of n; of p; ofr; of s; of; oft; of w; of y; of ng; of sh; of th sharp; of th flat; of sh. What is the distinction between the nature Is a consonant a simple or a complex sound? and the name of a consonant ? When are w and y consonants? Give an example of them as such? From what does it appear that they are consonants, when used as initials ? What do the letters in the alphabet How are consonants divided ? represent ? What is an articulate sound? How many simple vowel sounds are there in the English langdage ? Give an example of long a; of short a; of middle a; of broad d. Give an example of long e; of short e. Give an example of longu; of short u; of middle it. When are w and y vowels? Give an example of w and y, as vowels ? When used as vowels, why do not w andy increase the number of vowel sounds ? What is a consonant? How many and what letters are consonants ? Why are these letters called consonants? What is the number of consonant sounds in English? What is a mute? What a semi-vowel? Which of the semi-vowels are called liquids? Why are they so called? What does it properly denote ? How many sounds has a triphthong? How many and what sounds has the letter How is the diphthong da, generally soun- In what words is it silent? What is the practice of writers with respect to ending a word with CP How is ch commonly sounded? How in words derived from the Greek ? How in those from the French? How in arch before a vowel? How in arch before a consonan What sounds has D ? How many sounds has E? How is T generally sounded ? how before w, when the accent precedes ? when is Th pronounced like simple t? What sounds has U? What sounds has W, when a consonant? How is the diphthong, ea, generally sound What sound has Y, when a consonant ? ed? How eau? ei? eo? ew? What sound has Z ? Lecture I.-Introductory. What does the word, Etymology, signify? Of what does Etymology treat? What does it comprehend? In a philosophical point of view, what is Etymology and of what does it treat? What is the number of real words in the English language? From what do words derive their meaning? What necessary connexion is there between words and ideas? If we were to contrive a new language, how might we proceed in the application of articulate sounds, as the signs of ideas? But where a language is already formed, in what sense must they, who speak it, use the words? Why are we under obligations to use words in the customary sense? Into how many sorts,or parts of speech, are words divided? What are these parts of speech called? Which are the only parts of speech essentially necessary? Why are these two alone indispensably requisite ? How may the other parts of speech be regarded ? How is the interjection to be considered ? Lecture II.-Of the Articles. Why is a converted into an, when the fol lowing word begins with a vowel or a si lent h? In what instances must a be used before & Vowel? Why must a, instead of an, be used in such instances ? When must an be used before h, when the h is not silent? What is the signification of the article a? as derived from the Anglo-Saxon ? In what sense is a noun to be taken, without any article before it ? Before what nouns is the article generally omitted? Are the articles ever prefixed to proper nouns? Why? Are there any exceptions to this rule? Give examples of such exceptions, and the reason of them? Is the indefinite article prefixed to nouns in the singular or in the plural number? What exception is there to this rule? What is its effect when so applied? Is the article ever separated from the noun, which it limits, by any intervening words? What is the difference of signification be. tween a noun without any article, and the same noun with the indefinite article before it? What is the difference of signification be Lecture III.-Of Adjectives. In what respect does an adjective differ In the adjective, gold-en, what does the syllable, en, denote ? Is the syllable, en, always annexed to the adjective for this purpose? By what other meaus is the subordination of the adjective to the noun sometimes expressed? Must the adjective be of the same gender, number, and case with the nouo ? Is the adjective ever varied to express this agreement ? What is the principal variation, which the adjective admits? How many degrees of comparison have What are these degrees called ? How are adjectives of one syllable ge- How are adjectives of two or more What adjectives are irregularly com- What may the termination, ish, be ac. What is the effect of this termination? How, when we use the superlative degree? What adjectives do not admit of compari- Give an example. What are adjectives, denoting number, cal- What are those, denoting order, called? Lecture IV.-Of Nouns. What is a noun ? Give an example? By what other name is it sometimes Into how many sorts are nouns divid proper noun ? Give an ex Why is it called proper? Why is it called common ? When are proper nouns used as common? What are collective nouns? Give an exam. What are abstract nouns? Give an exam- What are verbal or participial nouns ? Give How many and what distinctions be- What is the gender of nouns ? How are nouns, naturally neuter, convert- To what sort of neuter nouns do we com. To what the feminine? What three methods has the English lan Of what gender is the noun, parents ? How many numbers have nouns ? What the plural ? How is the plural number of nouus |