An English Grammar

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

14006

Title

An English Grammar

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

An English Grammar by W.M. Baskervill and J.W. Sewell offers a scholarly yet practical guide to English syntax, prioritizing good literature over rigid rules. Published in 1895, this text aims to cultivate mental skill and literary taste by analyzing standard authors rather than merely memorizing inflections. It serves as a timeless resource for students seeking to understand the nature, forms, and uses of words within sentences.

Summary up to 500 words

Published in 1895 by W.M. Baskervill and J.W. Sewell, *An English Grammar* redefines the study of English as a science grounded in current usage rather than rigid rules derived from classical languages. The authors argue that grammar should serve as a record of how standard literature and intelligent speakers actually use the language, rejecting the outdated practice of forcing English into the molds of Latin or Greek grammars. The text is designed to be both scholarly and practical, aiming to cultivate mental skill, acute reasoning, and a keen literary taste. By analyzing quotations from great minds, the book encourages students to observe grammatical forms naturally, fostering an aesthetic appreciation for language alongside technical proficiency. The work is structured into three primary divisions: Parts of Speech, Sentence Analysis, and Syntax. It meticulously details nouns, pronouns, verbs, and other categories, distinguishing between proper and common nouns and exploring abstract concepts. A significant portion of the text is dedicated to analyzing sentence structures, teaching readers to dissect simple, complex, and compound sentences. Students learn to identify principal and dependent clauses, modifiers, and the logical connections between ideas. The authors address the evolution of English, noting how usage shifts over time and distinguishing between literary, spoken, and vulgar registers. Beyond mere rule memorization, the book emphasizes that grammar is a tool for mental training. It warns against the risk of making arbitrary rules, noting that what is correct today may change tomorrow as thought patterns evolve. Instead of correcting students, the authors aim to record and arrange usages, pointing toward the arbiters of language found in classic literature. The text includes extensive exercises for parsing verbs and verbals, handling irregularities, and mapping out complex sentence relationships. Ultimately, *An English Grammar* serves as a guide to developing a refined literary taste, urging students to alternate grammatical study with the aesthetic reading of masterpieces to enrich the mind and quicken artistic sense.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• English language -- Grammar