LESSON XXV.

Edward and Arthur are tall.

What quality belongs to both?

Is it said that they are equally tall?

How can we ascertain whether they are equally tall? Ans.-By comparing them.

Are these pencils equally long?
Are these apples equally large
What have I just compared?
What quality belongs to the pencils?

What quality belongs to the apples?

When we compare objects, we make use of some quality belonging to each, as a means of comparison.

Edward is as tall as Arthur.

Are Edward and Arthur compared in this example? In comparing them, what quality do we use? What word is placed before and after the adjective tall? Is the meaning the same when Arthur is placed at the beginning of the sentence? Are they equally tall?

To show that two objects, when compared, have the same degree of a quality, we place "as" before and after the adjective.

James is taller than Arthur.

Arthur is more industrious than Edward.

Edward is less industrious than Arthur.

Who are compared in the first example? What quality is employed in the comparison? Does the

quality belong equally to each? Which has the greater degree of it? Can you change the place of James and Arthur without changing the meaning? What syllable is added to tall?

Who are compared in the second and third examples?

What quality is employed in the comparison? Is the quality possessed by each in an equal degree? Who has the greater degree? Have we changed the place of Edward and Arthur without changing the meaning? What word is added to "industrious" in each?

To show that two objects, when compared, have different degrees of a quality, we either add "er" to the adjective, or place "more" or "less" before it.

Harvey is the tallest of all the boys in school.

Murray is the most punctual of all the boys in school.
Richard is the least studious of all the boys in school.

In these examples, with whom are Harvey, Murray, and Richard compared? Ans. With all the boys in school.

What qualities are employed? Do these qualities belong equally to all? Who has the highest or lowest degree of each quality? What syllable do you add to "tall"? What word is added to "punctual"? What to "studious" ?

To show that one of several objects, referred to, when compared, has the highest or lowest degree of a quality, we either add "est" to the adjective, or place "most "" or "least" before it.

These changes of the adjective are called Degrees of Comparison.

There are three degrees, namely:

1. The Positive; as, tall, careful.

2. The Comparative; as taller, more careful, less careful. 3. The Superlative; as, tallest, most careful, least careful.

Give the degree of each of the following adjectives:
She is the merriest child I ever saw.
A bright light is painful to the eyes.
This road is muddier than the other.

Harold is more unhappy than his brother.
This is the most peaceful valley in the land.
Our French lessons are now less difficult.

NOTE.-The Teacher may here introduce, if he thinks proper, the irregular comparison of adjectives, and the comparison of adverbs.

EXERCISE FOR THE SLATE. Fill the following blanks with adjectives, and tell the degree of each :

Write the comparatives and superlatives for the following adjectives :

Wise, warm, lovely, noble, beautiful, careless, mischievous.

In which examples do you add "er" and "est"? In which do you add "more" and " most," or "less"

and "least"? Which words have but one syllable? Which have more than one?

Words of one syllable usually form their Comparative and Superlative degrees by adding "er" to the positive for the former, and "est" for the latter.

Words of two or more syllables usually form their Comparative and Superlative degrees by prefixing "more" or "less" to the positive for the former, and "most "or "least" for the latter.

GENERAL EXERCISE.-Analyse the following sentences, and parse the words:

Dreams have their variety.

You will be sure of a reward.

The sisters charm with their lovely songs.
A blunder often makes a precedent.

Hope is the blossom of happiness.

The blossoms are falling from the trees.

The wind sighs plaintively around her grave.

The raging tempest swept away everything in its path.
Heaven opened wide her golden gates.

The wisest method has been pursued.

The children were studying their lesson in Arithmetic.

The Mexicans were defeated at Buena Vista.

The buds are swelling rapidly.

The vessel had not arrived yesterday.

Mabel is the younger of the two children.

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PART II.

LESSON XXVI.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR treats of the principles of the English language.

Grammar is divided into four parts:-Orthography, Etymology, Syntax, and Prosody.

Orthography treats of elementary sounds, the letters which represent them, and the combination of letters into syllables and words.

Etymology treats of the classification, derivation, and various modifications of words.

Syntax treats of the structure of sentences.
Prosody treats of the laws of versification.

ORTHOGRAPHY.

LESSON XXVII.

ELEMENTARY SOUNDS.

ORTHOGRAPHY treats of elementary sounds, the letters which represent them, and the combination of letters into syllables and words.

What is English Grammar? How is it divided? Of what does Orthography treat? Of what does Etymology treat? Of what does Syntax treat? Of what does Prosody treat?