THE

STANDARD

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

GRAMMAR is the science which treats of the correct use of language.

Science is the principles of any branch of knowledge arranged according to a system, or in regular order.

Language is the means by which human beings express their thoughts in words. Language is either spoken or written.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR is the science which treats of the correct use of the English language, both in speaking and in writing.

English Grammar may be divided into three parts:ORTHOGRAPHY, ETYMOLOGY, and SYNTAX.

Orthography treats of Letters, and teaches how to spell correctly.

Etymology treats of Words, teaches how to classify them, and shows their changes of form and meaning.

Syntax treats of Sentences, and teaches how to construct them from words.

PART I.

ORTHOGRAPHY.

ORTHOGRAPHY treats of Letters, and teaches how to spell correctly.

Letters are particular marks or signs used to represent certain sounds of the human voice.

The sounds of all words in the English language can be represented by different combinations of the twenty-six letters in its alphabet.

CLASSES OF LETTERS.

Letters are divided into two classes; Vowels and Consonants.

A Vowel is a letter which represents a simple, perfect sound; as, a, e, o.

A Consonant is a letter which represents a sound that can be perfectly made only with the aid of a vowel; as, †, k, į.

VOWELS.

A Vowel is a letter which represents a simple, perfect sound. The vowels are a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes w and y

W or y is a vowel when it ends a word or a syllable; when it is not followed in the same syllable by a vowel; or when it is followed in the same syllable by a vowel not sounded; as, boy, lowly; grown, sylph; style, owe. In every other position w or y is a consonant.