The Elements of the English Language

From the NOTE TO THE TWENTY-FOURTH EDITION. THE greater part of the fresh matter inserted in this edition has been based on material supplied by Dr. Adams. In harmony with the original idea of the book, I have endeavoured to give a clear and concise account of the results of philological research, so that the student may lay a good foundation for future acquirements. No attempt has been made, however, to alter the elementary character of the work, which retains the...
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From the NOTE TO THE TWENTY-FOURTH EDITION.
THE greater part of the fresh matter inserted in this edition has been based on material supplied by Dr. Adams. In harmony with the original idea of the book, I have endeavoured to give a clear and concise account of the results of philological research, so that the student may lay a good foundation for future acquirements. No attempt has been made, however, to alter the elementary character of the work, which retains the essential features of former editions.
From the PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.
The first edition of a book is of necessity somewhat tentative. More extended experience, and the suggestions of judicious critics, render certain changes inevitable. But the alterations in this revised edition are so numerous, that some explanation is due to those who have introduced the hook into their schools.
It was urged by certain remonstrants that the information imparted was too meagre and elementary in its character; by others, that it was more adapted for the use of teachers than of pupils. Both objections were well grounded, for these outlines were originally prepared for an intermediate class of students.
In the present edition, the author has endeavoured to reconcile these contending views. He has supplied fuller details for the advanced student, and, at the same time, has given greater expansion to the elementary principles. The simple expedient of a variation in the type has rendered this possible. The young pupil should confine his attention to the paragraphs in large type; those in smaller type are intended for more advanced classes. A judicious teacher may select from these whatever facts he considers likely to prove of interest or advantage to his younger pupils.
In consequence of this compression of the type, the bulk of the volume has been but slightly affected, while the subject-matter has been increased nearly two-fold.
Among the many changes introduced into this edition, the most conspicuous are the following:-
1. It has been thought desirable, at the risk of some repetition,. to break up the lists of Prefixes and Suffixes, Compounds, and Diminutives, and to distribute them under their respective heads. Those peculiar to Nouns, Adjectives, Verbs, &c., may thus be studied in connexion with the class, of words to which they belong.
2. A list of the principal parts of the so-called Irregular Verbs has been' introduced.
3. A fuller list of the English Prepositions has been given, and an attempt made to trace their formation, and exhibit it to the eye in the arrangement of the list.
4. In compliance with the wishes of many experienced teachers, the leading principles of Grammatical Analysis, and the technical terms employed in explaining them, have been embodied in the Syntax; while the Syntax itself has been enlarged and, it is hoped, improved....