The principles of Latin grammar; comprising the ... - Essan.org

PREFACE.In the study of any language, the foundation of success must be laida thorough acquaintance with its principles. This being once attained,future progress becomes easy and rapid.inTo the student of language, therefore,a good Grammar, which must be his constant companion, is of all hi3books the most important. Such a work, to be really valuable, ought tobe simple in its arrangement and style, so as to be adapted to the capacityof youth, for whose use it is designed ;comprehensive, and accurate, so asto be a sufficient and certain guide in the most difficult as well as in easycases ; and its principles and rules should be rendered familiar by numerousexamples and exercises.The fundamental principles are nearly the same in all languages. Sotar as Grammar is concerned, the difference lies chiefly in the minor details—inthe forms and inflections of their words, and in the modes of expression peculiar to each, usually denominated idioms. It would seem,therefore, to be proper, in constructing Grammars for different languages,that the principles, so far as they are the same, should be arranged hi thesame order, and expressed as nearly as possible in the same words. Wherethis is carefully done, the study of the Grammar of one language becomesan important aid in the study of another ;—an opportunity is afforded ofseeing wherein they agree, and wherein they differ, and a profitable exerciseis furnished in comparative or general grammar. But when a LatinGrammar is put into the hands of the student, differing widely in itsarrangement or phraseology from the English Grammar which he hadpreviously studied, and afterwards a Greek Grammar different from both,not only is the benefit derived from the analogy of the different language;in a great measure lost, but the whole subject is made to appear intolerablyintricate and mysterious. By the publication of this series of Grammars,English, Latin, and Greek, on the same plan, this evil is now remediedprobably as far as it can be done.The work here presented to the public, is upon the foundation of Adam'sLatin Grammar, so long and so well known as a text book in this country.The object of the present undertaking was, to combine with all that isexcellent in the work of Adam, the many important results of subsequent