PREFACE TO THE FOURTH LONDON EDITION. THE Compiler of these pages, flattered by the extraordinary success of the first editions of this work, has revised it, added further Examples from the best authors, besides a few dialogues; and takes this opportunity to return his sincerest thanks to his patrons, for having adopted it so generally. The Compiler would recommend to those who use this work in their establishments, to make every pupil parse the phrases or sentences, and, by this method, the pupil would improve still more in the knowledge of grammatical construction. Every article, noun, adjective, pronoun, and verb, should be explained by the scholar, whether a definite or indefinite article, or adjective, masculine or feminine, or of both genders, singular or plural; a pronoun, whether personal, possessive, demonstrative, etc.; a verb, whether active, passive, neuter, reflective or impersonal; of what conjugation, regular or irregular; what is the infinitive, what mood, tense, person, &c. &c. &c. This selection contains upwards of 10,000 words, and nearly 3,000 phrases, most commonly used in familiar conversation; it may serve as an appendant or sequel to any grammar, and an essential companion to the scholar and traveller. The Author also begs leave to recommend to those who study the Italian, to procure his Fraseggiatore Toscano, framed upon the same plan. |