Quest. Who is the person concerning whom something is asserted in the lines above? Ans. Something is said concerning “ God." What is said of God ? A. 6 God moves. How does God move? What way? What mysterious way? “God moves in a mysterious way”—why ? A. “ His wonders to perform.” To perform what wonders ? Concerning what is something more said ? Why do you think so? What is said concerning God? He plants what ? A. “ Footsteps." Q. What footsteps ? He plants his footsteps—where? In what séa? A. “ The sea.” What more is said of God ? Rides where? Upon what storm? In the lines above, what is the use or office of the word 66 God?! A. It is used as the name of the being who “ moves." What is the use of the word “ moves ?? A. To tell what God does. Use of "in a mysterious way?" Use of 6 a ?” Use of “mysterious ?" Use of “ way ?" Use of " his ?" Use of wonders." Use of " to perform wonders ?" Use of " he ?" 4. As a substitute for the name of Him who plants and rides Use of plants ?" sea ?" A. To tell what " He" does. Use of his ?" Use of " footsteps ?" Use of “in the sea ?". Use of 6 the ?" Use of 6 Use of 6 and ?" Use of 6 rides ?" upon the storm ?" A. To tell where he rides. Use of the ?" Usè of 6 storm ?" REMARK.—The young Pupil has seen in this exposition of the four lines written above, that words have meaning, and that when they are properly put together, they convey the thoughts of the person who wrote them, to those who read them. Again : As these and all other words have appropriate sounds attached to them, they may be spoken; and persons who hear them, may have the same thoughts that they would have on reading them. It is plain, then, that one may, by speaking or by writing, (and sometimes by motions,) communicate his thoughts to others. The process by which this is done, is called LANGUAGE. LANGUAGE. Definition 1. Language is the expression of thought and feeling. Remark. It is customary to give to every science a name, by which it may be distinguished from other sciences; accordingly, people have agreed to call the science which treats of Language, GRAMMAR Def. 2. Grammar is the Science of Language. English Grammar is the Science which investigates the prin. ciples and determines the proper construction of the English Language. It is also the Art of communicating thought by proper words. Rem. Language consists in articulate sounds, represented by LETTERS, combined into WORDS, properly arranged in SENTENCES. Def. 3. A Letter is a mark used to indicate a sound, or to modify the sound of another letter. Rem. The science which treats of Letters, is called Orthography. Def. 4. A Word is a combination of letters, used as the sign of an idea. EXAMPLES— God-mysterious-perform--wonders. Def. 5. - A Phrase is two or more words, properly arranged, not constituting a distinct proposition. EXAMPLES" In a mysterious way"_“Upon the storm." . Rem. Words constitute a Phrase, when they collectively perform a distinct, individual office. Def. 6. A Sentence is an assemblage of. words, so arranged as to express a fact. EXAMPLES—" God moves in a mysterious way." WORDS. A Word is a combination of letters, used as the sign of an idea. CLASSIFICATION OF WORDS. 1 Remark. In a Discourse, words are used 1. As names of persons, places, or things. 8. To express a sudden emotion. 5. Adverbs, 8. Exclamations. Def. 17. A Noun is a word used as the name of a being, place, or thing. EXAMPLES—God-man-sea-way--wonders. Def. 9. An Adjective is a word used to qualify or otherwise describe a noun or pronoun. EXAMPLES—Mysterious [way]-His (wonders)—the [storm.] Def. 10. A Verb is a word used to express an act, being, or state of a person or thing. EXAMPLES—[God] moves—[He) plants. |