Uo represents the second sound of u as in liquor.
Uy represents the first sound of i as in buy.

Awe represents the fourth sound of a as in awe.

Aye represents the first sound of a as in aye.

Eau represents the first sound of o as in beau, and the first sound of u as in beauty.

Eou represents the second sound of u as in herbaceous.

Eye represents the first sound of i as in eye.

Ieu represents the first sound of u as in adieu.

Iou represents the second sound of u as in gracious.
Lew represents the first sound of u as in view.
Oeu represents the third sound of u as in manoeuver.
Owe represents the first sound of o as in owe.

DIPHTHONGS.

A diphthong is a union of two vowel sounds in the same syllable. There are three diphthongs in the language, viz: ay, the adverb of affirmation, oi or oy, and ou or ow.

In the first, a has its third sound, and y represents the first sound of e. In the second o has its second sound, and i or y the first sound of e, as heard in the words toil, joy In the third, o has its second sound, and u or w has the third sound of u, as heard in bound, town.

NOTE.-The i and the y in the diphthongs, represent the first sound of e somewhat clipped, still it is the element of e as heard in me.

1. A word consists of two or more letters, and is usually the sign of an idea.

2. A syllable is a word, or such a part of a word as is uttered by

one articulation.

3. A word of one syllable is termed a monosyllable; of two syllables, a dissyllable; of three syllables, a trisyllable; of more than three syllables, a polysyllable.

Rules for Spelling may be found in the Appendix.

Directions for the use of Capital Letters.

It was formerly the custom to begin every noun with a capital; but as this practice was troublesome, and gave the writing or printing a crowded and confused appearance, it has been discontinued. It is, however, very proper to begin with a capital, in the following instances, viz

1. The first word of every book, chapter, letter, note, or any other piece of writing.

2. The first word after a period; and if the two sentences are independent, after a note of interrogation or exclamation. 3. The appellations of the Deity.

EXAMPLES..

"God, Jehovah, the Almighty, the Supreme Being, the Lord, Providence, e Messiah, the Holy Spirit."

4. Proper names of persons, places, streets, mountains, rivers, ships, and common nouns personified.

EXAMPLES.

"George, York, the Strand, the Alps, the Thames, the Sea-horse."

5. All titles of honor, professions, or callings, also the names of eligious sects, courts, societies, and public bodies of men.

EXAMPLES.

"Governor, Judge, Esquire, Baptists, Friends, Congress, the Supreme Judi cial Court."

6. Names of months, and the days of the week.

7. Adjectives derived from the proper names of places; as, Grecian, Roman, English, French and Italian."

8. The first word of a quotation, introduced after a colon, or when it is in a direct form.

EXAMPLES.

"Always remember this ancient maxim: 'Know thyself."" Lawgiver says, 'Take up thy cross daily, and follow me.""

"Our great

But when a quotation is brought in indirectly after a comma, a capital is unnecessary: as, "Solomon observes, 'that pride goes before destruction."

The first word of an example may also very properly begin with a capital; as, "Temptation proves our virtue."

9. Every noun and principal word in the titles of books.

EXAMPLES.

"Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language;" "Thomson's Seasons ;" "Rollin's Ancient History."

10. The first word of every line in poetry.

11. The pronoun I, and the interjection O, are written in capitals; as, "I write" "Hear, O earth!"

12. Other words, besides the preceding, may begin with capitals, when they are remarkably emphatical, or the principal subject of the composition.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR AND EXERCISES.

PART I.

This part embraces the essential principles of Grammar, which will be more fully detailed in the subsequent parts of the work. Additional examples and exercises can be easily supplied in such parts as may need further illustration, than is afforded in the book.

§ 7. PARTS OF SPEECH.

Words are divided into eight sorts or kinds, called PARTS OF SPEECH. See Familiar Lessons, III, IV, V, VI.

1. The principal parts of Speech are the NOUN and the

VERB.

2. No idea can be fully expressed in language, without using a noun or a pronoun, and a verb.

*The Article is classed under the Adjective. The Participle is considered a part of the verb.

EXERCISE.

Express an idea about wind, in two words-also, about

What parts of speech have been employed?

The learner can now express an idea, (using the noun and the verb,) about such objects as can readily be called to mind.

§ 8. THE NOUN.

NOTE.-The meaning of the word noun, is a NAME-(Latin nomen.)

1. Every name is a noun.

Mention the names of the objects in this room.

2. The name of every person, object, or thing, which can be thought of, or spoken of, is a noun. ‡

Mention all the nouns or names, you can recollect.

EXERCISE.

For the Board or Slate.

1. Write the names of the objects in a school room.

2. Write the names of animals in a farm yard.

3. Write the names of flowers in a garden.

4. Write the names of trees in the forest.

5. Write the names of certain habits; as, Sloth, diligence, &c.

6. Write the names of certain vices; as, Profaneness, lying, &c.

7. Write the names of certain virtues; as, Benevolence, generosity, &c.

* Exercises of this kind may be performed with pleasure and profit to the learner upon a BLACK-BOARD or SLATE. Oral exercises may be added in cases where the learner does not comprehend the subject perfectly.

A or the, may be placed before each of these words; as, 'The fire,' etc. The words thing and object are used in this book in the widest sense. The word thing is applied indiscriminately, to inanimate objects, and to abstract qualities. The word object is applied to persons, and to every thing which is presented to the senses. The learner should be careful not to confound this general meaning of object, with its specific signification as a grammatical term, opposed to subject

8. Write the names of the five senses; as, Hearing, &c.

9 Write the names of the metals; as, Gold, &c.

10. Write the names of the persons and places which you can recollect.

What part of speech has been used to denote the objects and things whose names have been written? Why?

3. When a noun denotes but one person or thing, it is in the SINGULAR NUMBER ;* as, Pen, book, letter.

4. When a noun denotes more than one person or thing, it is in the PLURAL NUMBER; as, Pens, books, letters.

5. The names of individual persons, places and things, are called PROPER nouns; as, Charles, Boston, April. 6. Other names are called COMMON nouns.

EXERCISE.

(a) Point out the nouns in the following examples.

The moon rises in the east.
The fire burns on the hearth.
Time is money, said Franklin.
Snow and rain fall from the
clouds.

The Amazon is the largest river
in the world.

Which are common nouns? Proper?

Washington was a native of
Virginia.

The sun, stars and planets.
The sleep of the sluggard.
Real friendship is enduring.
Honor is the reward of valor.
Justice, truth, and prudence.

For the Black-board.

DIRECTION.-Every sentence after a period should begin with a

capital letter.

(b) Place a noun before each of the following expressions.

* A few terms, such as number, case, nominative, objective, &c., are introduced into this part to give variety to the exercises, and a general knowledge of their use. They are fully explained in Part II.