5. The five letters, a, e, i, o, and u, which can be more fully pronounced are called vowels, (vocalis, soundable). The rest are called consonants (con together, and sono to sound) because they cannot be sounded except together with some vowel.

DIPHTHONGS.

1. A DIPHTHONG is the union of two vowels pronounced as one. Example-oi, ae, ou, as in Caesar, spoil, sound.

2. A TRIPTHONG is the union of three vowels pronounced as one. Example-ieu, eau, as in adieu, beautiful.

SYLLABLES.

1. A SYLLABLE is a word, or part of a word, which can be distinctly pronounced by a single effort of the voice. As no distinct sound can be produced without a vowel, there must be one vowel at least in every syllable.

2. A MONOSYLLABLE (monos, single) is a word made up of one syllable.

3. A DISSYLLABLE (dis, two) is a word of two syllables.

4. A TRISSYLLABLE (tris, three) is a word of three syllables.

5. A POLYSYLLABLE (polys, many) is a word many syllables.

PART II.

ETYMOLOGY.

1. ETYMOLOGY teaches us concerning the derivation of words, and the changes or inflections through which they pass.

2. There are nine different kinds of words which have been called PARTS OF SPEECH, namely -noun, article, adjective, pronoun, verb, adverb, conjunction, preposition, and interjection.

SECTION I.-PARTS OF SPEECH.

NOUN.

1. A NOUN (nomen, name) denotes anything which has a name, and which we can see, hear, &c. or about which we can form any idea. Example— Table, London, virtue.

2. Nouns are of two kinds, PROPER and

COMMON.

3. PROPER nouns express particular persons or places, as James, Dublin, Cheltenham.

4. COMMON nouns refer to a whole kind or species, such as man, city, town.

ARTICLE.

1. ARTICLES are the two little words a and the which are put before a noun to show whether or not a particular instance is spoken of.

2. A is changed into an before a vowel or a silent h. Example-an ox, an honest man.

3. A or an is called the INDEFINITE article, because it does not define, that is, point out any particular noun. Example-" Fetch me a slate," that is any slate.

4. The is called the DEFINITE article, because it does define, or point out some particular noun. Example- "Fetch me the slate." "The stone, which the builders rejected."

ADJECTIVE OR ADNOUN.

1. An ADJECTIVE (ad to, jactus placed) is a word which is put before the noun to express its kind or number. Example-a round table, the twelve Apostles.

2. If the adjective expresses number, it is called a numeral adjective.

3. NUMERAL adjectives are of two kinds, CARDINAL and ORDINAL.

4. The CARDINAL numbers are, one, two, three, &c. Example-the twelve Apostles.

5. The ORDINAL (ordo, order) numbers are, first, second, &c.

PRONOUN.

1. A PRONOUN (pro instead of, nomen noun) is a word used instead of a noun, or subject already spoken of. Example-He (that is, George,) is good.

Pronouns are generally used to prevent the repetition of the noun or subject spoken of. Thus in the sentence John is a good boy, because he confessed his fault, which was quite right,' he' is a pronoun put for John; which' is also a pronoun referring to what John did. 'He' prevents the repetition of John; and which' prevents the repetition of the sentence to which it refers.

ᏙᎬᎡᏴ.

1. A VERB (verbum, word) is the word in a sentence which expresses action, or doing something.

2. All words signifying to do, move, speak, grow, be, sleep, sit, walk, strike, wish, feel, think, are Verbs.

Example-James wears a hat; the babe sleeps; I strike the table; John writes a letter.

3. VERBS are divided into TRANSITIVE and

INTRANSITIVE.

(1.) TRANSITIVE (transeo, to pass over) verbs are those whose action passes over from the noun, which goes before, to that which comes after them. Example-John strikes the table.

(2.) INTRANSITIVE verbs are those whose action does not pass upon any other object. Example-John walks.

ADVERB.

1. An ADVERB (ad to, verbum verb) is a word which is generally joined to a verb to show how the action is performed. Example-James acts foolishly; James reads well.

2. An adverb is also joined to an adjective, and sometimes to another adverb to point out some particular of time, or place, or manner.

3. Adverbs of manner are generally formed by adding ly to the corresponding adjective. Example-Foolish, foolishly.

4. The adverb is a mode of expressing by one word, what must otherwise be described by many more. Example-Bravely means in a brave manner; there means in that place; often is the same as many times.

PREPOSITION.

A PREPOSITION (pro before, pono to place) is a word placed before nouns, or pronouns, to which it bears some close relation. Example—He looked through the window at the Sun. The finger of a boy was cut off by the stroke of an axe.

CONJUNCTION.

1. A CONJUNCTION (con together, jungo to join) is a word which simply joins together words or sentences. Example-The rich and poor meet together, and the Lord is the maker of them all. Because it is not right, therefore I will neither speak, nor play.

2. Conjunctions are of two kinds, COPULATIVE and DISJUNCTIVE.

(1) COPULATIVE join words together, as and, above, both. Example-He has both a son, and

daughter.

(2) DISJUNCTIVE separate or divide words, as or, tho', but, &c. Examble-He has neither a

son, or daughter.