ENGLISH GRAMMAR
AND
COMPOSITION
FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
BY G. H. ARMSTRONG, M.A., B.PÆd., Principal Borden St. School, Toronto.
TORONTO:
The Hunter, Rose Co., Limited, Temple Building. Entered according to Act of Parliament of Canada in the year one thousand nine hundred and one, by G. H. Armstrong, M.A., B.PÆd., in the office of the Minister of Agriculture. PREFACE. It is not considered necessary to offer an apology for the publication of a work on English grammar and composition for the Public Schools of Ontario. The plan of the work is inductive and practical, and the author has endeavored to make the book a useful one for the purposes of teaching. Every principle is presented through the observation of examples of good English. The study of grammar aids the student to master his mother-tongue, but its chief function is to secure mental discipline. For the development of the intellectual powers, the capable teacher, well furnished with rational methods, will find this study superior to all others. It is a study in recognizing similarities, in distinguishing differences, in making abstractions, in forming generalizations. The object of Parts I.-IV. of this book is to contribute something to the science of elementary English grammar. Part V. treats of composition. The usual exercises in completing half-built sentences, in straightening out wrecks of sentences, in combining simple sentences into complex sentences, in expanding phrases into clauses, etc., will not be found therein. They have done quite enough towards fostering stupidity in our schools. The art of expression is acquired through steady practice, therefore pupils should write compositions not once a week, but during part of every period, about things which they understand. They should be taught good form in expression, and trained to correct their own exercises. This part of the work, though brief, will be found suggestive. Teachers and pupils have not been deprived of the pleasure and profit of an independent examination of the construction of the prose selections. This little volume owes something to several English grammars, and the debt is hereby acknowledged. G. H. ARMSTRONG. Table of Contents
Is there a complete thought expressed in each of the following groups of words?—
A group of words that expresses a complete thought is called a sentence. Which of the foregoing sentences declares something, which expresses a command, which asks a question, and which expresses a sudden feeling? A sentence that asserts or declares something is called a declarative sentence. A sentence that expresses a command or request is called an imperative sentence. A sentence that asks a question is called an interrogative sentence. A sentence that expresses a sudden or strong feeling is called an exclamatory sentence. EXERCISE I. State the use or office of each of the following sentences, and tell the kind of sentence:—
EXERCISE II.
LESSON II.THE SUBJECT AND THE PREDICATE. Name the thing which is spoken of in each of the following sentences, and what is said about it:—
The part of a sentence that expresses the thing spoken of is called the subject. The part of a sentence that expresses what is said about the subject is called the predicate. The subject of a declarative sentence is generally placed before the predicate, but it is sometimes placed after the predicate; as, Sweet was the sound of the evening bell. Over the swift rapids went the boat. EXERCISE I. Name the subject and the predicate of each of the following sentences:—
The subject of an imperative sentence is thou, ye or you. It is seldom expressed; as,
EXERCISE II. Name the subject and the predicate and state the kind of sentence of each of the following:—
EXERCISE III. 1. Write four examples of an assertive sentence and name the subject and the predicate of each sentence. 2. Write four examples of an imperative sentence and name the subject and the predicate of each sentence. 3. Write four examples of an interrogative sentence and name the subject and the predicate of each sentence. 4. Write four examples of an exclamatory sentence and name the subject and the predicate of each sentence. LESSON III.State the words that are used as names in the following sentences:—
A word used as a name is called a noun. EXERCISE I. Name the nouns in the following sentences:—
EXERCISE II. Write sentences containing—
LESSON IV.Name the nouns for which the words printed in italics are used in the following sentences:—
A word used for a noun is called a pronoun. By the use of the pronoun, a person or thing is referred to without naming it, and the too frequent repetition of the same noun is avoided. EXERCISE I. Select the pronouns in the following sentences, and state the noun for which each is used:—
EXERCISE II. 1. Write a sentence containing a pronoun used for the speaker. 2. Write a sentence containing a pronoun used for the names of the speaker and others. 3. Write a sentence containing a pronoun used for the name of a person spoken to. 4. Write a sentence containing a pronoun used for the name of a person spoken of. 5. Write a sentence containing a pronoun used for the names of two or more persons spoken of. 6. Write a sentence containing a pronoun used for the name of a thing that has been previously spoken of. LESSON V.Select the words in the following sentences that are used to describe or point out the things named by the nouns:—
The word tall describes this particular man. The word this points out the particular book that is meant. Such words modify the nouns with which they are used. A word used to modify a noun or pronoun is called an adjective. EXERCISE I. Name the adjectives in the following sentences, and state the use of each:—
Model.—The adjectives in the first sentence are a, rusty, a and silver. A points out or indicates the species of the thing knife. Rusty describes the thing knife. EXERCISE II. Write sentences containing adjectives used to show:—
LESSON VI.Select the words in the following sentences that tell or assert something of the thing spoken of:—
A word that is used to make an assertion is called a verb. Note.—The word verb is derived from the Latin word verbum, meaning a word, and this part of speech is so called because it is the word, the most important word in every sentence. There can be no sentence without a verb. EXERCISE I. Name the verbs in the following sentences, and state what each tells or asserts:—
EXERCISE II. Write sentences containing each of the following words used as subjects, and underline the verbs:— Plants, rivers, paper, gold, pen, fish, birds, stars, flowers, money. LESSON VII.Name the words in the following sentences that modify the verbs, that show how, when or where actions were performed:—
A word that is used to modify the meaning of a verb is called an adverb. An adverb may also modify the meaning of an adjective, as, He is very quiet. An adverb may also modify the meaning of another adverb; as, She writes more rapidly than you. An adverb is a word that is used to modify the meaning of a verb, an adjective or another adverb. EXERCISE I. State the adverbs in the following sentences, and name the word which each modifies:—
EXERCISE II. 1. Write four sentences each containing an adverb modifying a verb. 2. Write two sentences each containing an adverb modifying an adjective. 3. Write two sentences each containing an adverb modifying an adverb. LESSON VIII.Name the words in the following sentences that express the relation of a noun or pronoun to some other word:—
A word that is used to express the relation of a noun or pronoun to some other word in the sentence is called a preposition. The noun or pronoun which the preposition connects in sense with some other word in the sentence, is called its object; as, The men are in the field. EXERCISE I. Select the prepositions, and state the words between which each shows a relation:—
EXERCISE II. 1. Write three sentences each containing a preposition expressing a relation between a noun and a verb. Underline the object. 2. Write three sentences each containing a preposition expressing a relation between two nouns. Underline the object of the preposition. 3. Write three sentences each containing a preposition expressing a relation between a noun and an adjective. |