ticles Semi-Saxon Period (A.D. 1066-1250) Period of Early English (A.D. 1250-1350) Period of Middle English (A.D. 1350—1550). Period of Modern English (A.D. 1550—1869, &c.) DIRECTIONS TO THE TEACHER. AS WORDS are the materials of language, every course of this study should begin with an investigation of their nature and use. The various senses and applications of words are therefore the first lessons in the following pages. When the learner has acquired sufficient knowledge of this part of the subject, he should proceed to form propositions—that is, to use words of a known meaning in writing simple assertions. This exercise should be continued till an exact knowledge of the nature, parts, and forms of propositions has been attained, and the learner can write and explain them without difficulty. The three forms of the proposition being well understood, the next point for consideration is the study of sentences. Many beginners have no lack of ideas, but for want of practice in various forms of expression, they are often utterly at a loss. They have the thought, but have no power of expressing it. To remove this difficulty, it is an excellent practice to take some form of sentence from any standard writer, and, adopting it as a model, to write several sentences, similarly constructed, on a variety of subjects. These exercises on structures of sentences will give the learner facility of expression, and, if performed carefully, will soon relieve him from any difficulty under this head. |