CALIFORNIA PRINCIPLES OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR Introduction, Grammar is the science which treats of the general principles of language. English grammar is the science which treats of the principles of the English language. In the grades below the high school a pupil should learn at least the four most important principles of elementary grammar,—viz., (1) He should learn the logical method by which words are classed as parts of speech. (2) He should learn the simple English system of inflection. (3) He should learn how to apply the most important rules of syntax. (4) He should learn to construct the several kinds of sentences. These four fundamental essentials can be learned by the average pupil in the common school grades. Unfortunately many pupils do not learn them there or elsewhere. Many teachers are content to hear their pupils recite grammatical definitions, analyze sentences by memorized formulæ, and parse words by ear. Why is it that many graduates of high schools cannot correctly spell the words used in an ordinary business letter? Why is it that a large majority of the graduates of our commercial schools cannot correctly spell, capitalize, punctuate, and divide into paragraphs a dictated letter? It is because they were not methodically and persistently drilled in word-study and sentence-making in the grammar and high school grades. Instruction in word study, practice in composing, and in applying the most important rules of syntax require daily drills in the use of every-day English. It is a teacher's duty to know that his pupils are thoroughly grounded in the fundamental principles of English grammar. The mastery of the essential facts of a science carries with it the correct use of much unimportant detail. One learns to use language correctly only by a reflective use of it in the expression of his own thoughts. One learns to appreciate good literature in only one way,—by studying good literature. Inspiration is born of inspiration. More inspiration can be gained from the study of famous authors than by criticising the faults of poor ones. Inflection. Inflection. The change made in the form of a word, either to show changes of its own meaning or to adapt it to be used with other words, is called its inflection. Examples. By changing a vowel in the singular noun man we make the plural noun men. By adding to man we make the singular possessive man's; by adding s to men we make the plural possessive men's. From run we may make runs, ran, running. By adding s to horse we make horses, merely a different form of horse. It should be clear that inflectional changes do not make new words, but other forms of words. The inflection of a noun is called its declension; the inflection of a verb, its conjugation. Our language is almost inflectionless. The pupil should master what little there is of inflection before he enters the high school. He should be put through a severe course of training in the use of the important inflections; he should be required to illustrate his knowledge of inflection in original sentences. Nouns. The noun has only two case-forms, the nominative and the possessive. The nominative, the objective, and the independent case-forms are alike. If we place the possessive form of nouns with the limiting adjectives, the noun has only one case-form, the nominative. The noun varies for case only to denote possession. Pronouns.-Personal pronouns have fixed forms for different uses, number-forms, person-forms, gender-forms, and case-forms. These forms should be mastered and their uses exhibited in original sentences. Verbs. The changes in the form of the verb to correspond to changes in its subject are very limited. With the exception of the verb to be in the indicative mode, present and past tenses, singular number, there are but few changes in the form of the English verb to denote person, number, tense, mode, or voice. Adjectives. Most adjectives are inflected to show differences of degree. With the exception of two adjectives, this and that, the adjective keeps the same form, whether joined to a singular or to a plural noun. This and that have the plurals these and those. Adverbs. Many adverbs, especially those denoting manner, admit of comparison, and are compared like adjectives. The preposition, the conjunction, and the interjection have no variation of form; they are called the uninflected parts of speech, or invariables. From the foregoing brief review of inflection it is seen that but few forms are found in English, and that these are easily learned as a part of the content of the expression. English is primarily a logical language and secondarily a formal language. Logic and position determine relations; hence the disciplinary value of the study. The structure of the English sentence is very simple. The kind of thought to be expressed determines the structure of the sentence that expresses it. A single, simple thought is expressed by a simple sentence; a complex "True ease in writing comes from art not chance, is a lecture on method in teaching English. A pupil's greatest need is the ability to give clear expression to his learning. This power he can acquire in only one way,by giving expression to his thoughts orally and with a pen. Many a bright and deserving young man has failed to secure a desirable position because of the mistakes in his letter of application. The average eighth-grade pupil cannot write a correctly and concisely worded letter, or a clean, strong composition on the most familiar subject. He has not learned how to give expression to his impressions. He needs methodical training in sentence-building, in copying, in reproduction, and in writing compositions on familiar subjects. "Write, write, write, there is no way to learn to write except by writing," said Emerson, the wisest of his century. The pupil should be led to see that the frequent use of the pen under the careful editorial guidance of a competent teacher is the only true method of disclosing and removing defects which otherwise might never be |