Edue T 2118,49,645 marrr cloga Libiai.' July 1, 1915 Gift of Entered, according to an Act of Congress, in the year 1848. BY D. APPLETON & COMPANY, District of New York. I Notice.—A Key to the Exercises of this Grammar is published in a separate Volume. PRE FACE. The superiority of OLLENDORFF's METHOD of teaching languages is now so universally acknowledged, both in the United States and in Europe, that an adaptation of it to the EUPHONIC CASTILIAN, or SPANISH LANGUAGE, must be considered as a desideratum to persons wishing to learn it. Divested of the abstractedness of Grammar, it contains, however, all its elements; but it develops them so gradually, and in so simple a manner, as to render them intelligible to the most ordinary capacity. The difficulties are met singly, thoroughly analyzed, and made familiar by dint of a varied and interesting repetition,—the most effectual means to impress them on young and unlearned minds, generally averse to thought or reflection, and always prone to trust to their undisciplined memory, a power often treacherous from want of proper direction. It is, therefore, hardly possible to go through this book with any degree of application, without becoming thoroughly conversant with the colloquial, idiomatic, and classic use of the Spanish language. Consequently, persons transacting business in the countries of which the Spanish is the vernacular tongue, will find this work to be their best guide in learning to speak it with propriety. For the benefit of persons grammatically acquainted with the English, or other languages, a Synopsis of the Spanish has been annexed as an Appendix, containing tables of the regular conjugations of the verbs, copious lists of the irregular verbs, general rules of etymology, syntax, &c., by means of which they may learn all the peculiarities of the Spanish, and make themselves perfect masters of it in a very short time, without the assistance of a teacher. To enhance, if possible, the importance and utility of this Method, the pronunciation of the Spanish letters is explained and exemplified, in so simple, clear, and easy a manner, as to render it comprehensible to every capacity. Consulting also the benefit of the learners, and with a view to render this work a complete course for Reading, Speaking, and Writing the Spanish language, Models of Familiar and Commercial Letters are added to it, containing directions for all the usual commercial transactions, by the aid of which, young learners, and persons who instruct themselves, may transact, in writing, any business. It is hardly necessary to remark, that the English phrases in the Exercises are not always models worthy of imitation; but they are made use of in order to instruct the scholar how to express them properly in Spanish, and thereby to teach him its idioms. New York, February, 1848 CONTENTS. Page .................... ...... 473 Page 8 Verbs that have two participles... 455 Lessons I. to LXXXVI...... 9-397 Adverbs Some Idiomatical Expressions 389 Prepositions Some of the proverbs most in use... 396 Conjunctions 401 Interjections .............. Remarks on the Pronunciation... 406 SYNTAX... Division of Syllables ............. 407 of the Noun and Adjective....... 464 Of the Pronoun .................. 468 Common Spanish Abbreviations.... 414 of the Adverb .. 419 Of the Preposition ............... 485 426 Table containing the Verbs that gov- 430 ern certain Prepositions.... 489 433 The Irregular Verbs ............... 514 438 | Impersonal Verbs ........ .......... 532 Terminations of the Verbs........ 442 A list of all the Irregular Verbs..... 533 Conjugations of the auxiliary verbs 449 Modelos de Cartas mercantiles y 537 451 Tabla de la Moneda corriente en Es- Passive Verbs........ .......... 452 paña, y las Repúblicas de América 514 Pronominal or Reflective Verbs.. 453 Cartas Familiares.................. 544 EXPLANATION OF THE SIGNS USED IN THIS BOOK. The irregular verbs are designated by a star (*). The figures 1, 2, 3, placed after the verbs, denote that they are regular, and indi- The figures 1, 2, 3, placed before the verbs, denote the persons, either singular or N. 1, N. 2, &c., are used to designate the simple tenses of the verbs. Expressions which vary either in their construction or idiom from the English, A hand (XT) denotes a particular remark THE SAGACIOUS STARLING. A THIRSTY starling found a decanter of water, and attempted to drink from it; but the water scarcely touched the neck of the decanter, and the bird's bill could not reach it. He began to peck at the outsido of the vessel, in order to make a holo in it; but in vain, the glass was too hard. He then attempted to upset the decanter. In this he succeeded no better; the vessel was too heavy. At length the starling hit upon an idea that succeeded : he threw little pebbles into the decanter, which caused the water gradually to rise till within the reach of his bill. Skill is better than strength: patience and reflection make many things easy which at first appear impossible. EL ESTORNINO SAGAZ. Un estornino sediento halló una garrafa llena de agua, é inmediata. mento procuró beber; pero el agua á pénas llegaba al cuello de la garrafa, y el pico del pájaro no podia alcanzarla. Se puso luego á picar la garrafa á fin de hacer un agugerito; pero se esforzo en vano, porque el vidrio era muy grueso. Entonces intento voltear la garrafa para derramar el agua ; pero no pudo hacerlo, porque era muy pesada. Al fin concibió una idea, que se le logró: echó poco a poco en la garrafa una cantidad tan grande de piedrecitas, que hicieron subir gradualmente el agua á la distancia que su pico podia alcanzar, y luego apagó su sed. Mas valo maña que fuerza : paciencia y la reflexion hacen fáciles muchas cosas, que parecian imposibles á primera vista. |