of knowledge which is entirely within the reach of a mind of the most ordinary ability; and he will be inexcusable, should he fail to avail himself of it. The TABLE OF IRREGULAR AND DEFECTIVE Verbs is comprised in two Sub-Tables. The first contains a model of every variety of Irregular or Defective verb, conjugated in all the tenses which are liable to irregularities, and so arranged that the eye takes in each Verb at a glance. The second comprises all the remaining Irregular and Defective Verbs in the French language, with the name of the model verb of each, and the page at which that model will be found in the preceding sub-table. M. Levizac has divided the verbs of the second conjugation into four, and those of the fourth conjugation into five branches, and, considering them all as regular, has given a model verb for each-whereby the one conjugation has four, and the other five model verbs. This arrangement has been found most perplexing to the young student; and even to grown persons of sound judgment. The Author's plan has been to give only one verb as a model, in each of these conjugations; and he has considered as irregular all those verbs which do not conform to the model, and has accordingly placed them in the table of Irregular and Defective Verbs. The Author believes that those engaged in tuition will best understand the value of this arrangement; and he flatters himself that the simplicity, perspicuity and conciseness of his table of the Irregular and Defective Verbs will not pass unnoticed. The Author avails himself of the opportunity here afforded him of urging on teachers to accustom their pupils to conjugate the verbs from the primitive tenses. These are but five in number; and as every other tense of the verb is derived from one of these, it is evident that five words will lead to the conjugation of the whole verb. This method, which is strictly inductive, will enable the pupil, from infallible premises, to guide himself through the intricacies of the French verb, a thorough knowledge of which, in the language of a nonulnas viii The EXERCISES have been made very copious; and exemplify, in a progressive order of difficulty, all the niceties of the French language. In many instances in these Exercises, the English and French might have been made to conform more literally to each other; but it was deemed of importance to preserve the peculiarities of each language, so that the scholar, by comparing them, might acquire a practical familiarity with French idiomatic expressions, and also learn how to express those of his own language in correct French.* Throughout the Exercises in the First Part, the genders of new nouns have been marked; but in those of the Second Part, which treats of Syntax, the pupil is expected to ascertain the Genders by the Terminational Vocabulary already spoken of. Great pains have been taken to render this Grammar In the table of lucid in its typographical arrangements. the Irregular and Defective Verbs, the advantages which have been derived from attention to this particular will be apparent at a glance. The conjugations of the regular verbs have been printed in a compact manner, in order The that the learner might embrace each at one view. simple tenses have been placed in the left, and their respective compound tenses in the right column, immediately opposite to them; and each person of a tense occupies While, in other editions of but one line of a column. Levizac, the affirmative form of the verb avoir occupies seven pages; the four forms of the same verb are given in In the exercises, this Grammar in four pages and a half. the lines are placed at proper distances apart; the words are separated from each other by a greater space than ordinary; and each English word or phrase is placed precisely All the Rules in the above its corresponding French. Grammar have been numbered; and advantage has been "PROGRESSIVE INTERLINEAR FRENCH In the Author's READER," which is to be studied simultaneously with this Grammar, the Pupil is made familiar not only with the meaning of each expression that occurs, but also of each word of which it ix taken of this facility of reference, in the Exercises in the Second Part, to require the pupil to make his own application of each Rule, instead of applying it for him. Such explanations and instructions as are necessary for the use of the Grammar, have been given in Notes at the places where they are required. For the use of Teachers, Parents, and those who may be studying French without Instructor, the author has prepared a KEY TO THE EXERCISES IN THIS GRAMMAR, which may be obtained from the Publishers of the Grammar, or other Booksellers. This Grammar and the Key terminate the Author's Series of Elementary French School Books. The whole, in Six Volumes, furnish a complete course of study of the French, both as a written and spoken language; and are believed to point out the means, by the shortest routes, whereby the Student may attain the object he has in view -the speedy and thorough acquisition of the elegant and useful accomplishments of speaking, reading and writing the French language. For an account of them, the reader is referred to the advertisement in front of this Grammar. This work has now assumed its permanent form; and will not henceforth be subjected to alterations of any description. CONTENTS. Table of Masculine Terminations.. Table of Feminine Terminations LIST OF ALL THE NOUNS WHICH ARE MASCULINE IN ONE SIGNIFICATION AND FEMININE IN ANOTHER INTRODUCTION TO THE EXERCISES. Of the qualificative Adjective... Of the Formation of the Feminine Agreement of the Adjective with the Substantive Numbers: Cardinal, Ordinal, Collective, Adverbial, Distribu- Section I.-Of the Personal Pronouns Section II.-Of the Possessive Pronouns Section III.-Of the Relative Pronouns Section IV. Of the Absolute Pronouns |