ADVERTISEMENT TO THE NINTH DUODECIMO EDITION. THE eigth edition of this grammar received considerable alterations and additions; but works of this nature admit of repeated improvements; and are, perhaps, never complete. The author, solicitous to render bis book more worthy of the encouraging approbation bestowed on it by the public, has again revised the work with care and attention. The new edition, he hopes, will be found much improved. The additions, which are very considerable, are, chiefly such as are calculated to expand the learner's views of the subject; to obviate objections; and to render the study of grammar both easy and interesting. This edition contains also a new and enlarged system of parsing; copious lists of nouns arranged according to their gender and number; and many notes and observations, which serve to extend, or to explain, particular rules and positions.* The writer is sensible that, after all his endeavours to elucidate the principles of the work, there are few of the divisions, arrangements, definitions and rules, agains which critical ingenuity cannot devise plausible objections. The subject is attended with so much intricacy, and admits of views so various, that it was not possible to render every part of it unexceptionable; or to accommodate the work, in all respects, to the opinions and prepossessions of every grammarian and teacher. If the author has adopted that system which, on the whole, is best suited to the nature of the subject, and conformable to the sentiments of the most judicious grammarians; if his reasonings and illustrations, respecting particular points, are founded on just principles, and the peculiarities of the English language; he has, perhaps, done all that could reasonably be expected in a work of this nature; and he may warrantably indulge a hope, that the book will be still more extensively approved and circulated. Holdgate, near York,-1804. *The author conceives that the occasional strictures, dispersed through the book, and intended to illustrate and support a number of important grammatical points will not, to young persons of ingenuity, appear to be dry and useless discussions. He is persuaded that, by such persons, they will be read with attention. And he presumes that these strictures will gratify their curiosity, stimulate-application, and give solidity and permanence to their grammatical knowledge. B* 6. The conjugation of the auxiliary verbs to 7. The auxiliary verbs conjugated in their Of one noun governing another in the possessive case 173 Of conjunctions connecting the same moods, tenses, Of conjunctions requiring the subjunctive mood, &c. 205, 213 CHAP. 5. Of the dash, notes of interrogation and exclamation, and the parenthesis CHAP. 6. Of the apostrophe, caret, &c. CHAP. 7. Directions respecting capital letters VINDICATION OF THE STUDY OF GRAMMAR RULES AND OBSERVATIONS FOR PROMOTING PERSPI |