Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	good_a	read_v	see_v	2,579	5	3.2518	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A49298	A key to the art of letters, or, English a learned language, full of art, elegancy and variety being an essay to enable both foreiners, and the English youth of either sex, to speak and write the English tongue well and learnedly, according to the exactest rules of grammar, after which they may attain to Latin, French, or any other forein language in a short time ... : with a preface shewing the necessity of a vernacular grammar ... / by A. Lane ...	Lane, A. (Archibald)	1700 (1700)	Wing L325; ESTC R19550	53,378	144

in the Plural Number A. The Adjective the denotes one or more things particularly known or supposed to be known and therefore can be said in both Numbers as the boy or the boys Note The Adjective this makes these in the Plural Number that makes those self makes selves The Adjective who makes whose or of whom in the Genitive Singular the Dative to whom the Ablative from whom and so Plurally Q. The Adjectives he she it are thus Declined A. Nom. Sing He Gen. his or of him Dat. to him Abl from him Nom. Sing She Gen. hers or of her or her Dat. to her Abl. from her Accus her Nom. Sing It Gen. It s or of it Dat. to it Abl. from it Accus it He She It have the same Plural Number Nom. Plur. They Gen. their theirs or of them Dat. to them Abl. from them Accus them Of Comparison Q. How are Adjectives distinguisht in respect of Comparison A. Adjectives in respect of Comparison are distinguished into Compárable and incompárable Q. What is a comparable Adjective A. A Comparable or Positive Adjective is that whose Signification can be increased as hard soft long short Q. How may one know a comparable or Positive Adjective A Every Adjective that in good Sense admits before it the Particles more most or very is a Comparable or Positive Adjective thus I know hard is a Positive Adjective because I can say in good Sense more hard most hard very hard Q. What Adjectives are formed from Positive Adjectives A. From Positive Adjectives are formed Comparative and Superlative Adjectives Q. What is a Comparative Adjective A. A Comparative Adjective is that which signifies the same as the Positive with the Particle more before it as harder which is the same as more hard Q. How is the comparative formed in English A. The Comparative is formed in English by adding the Termination er to the Positive as harder softer longer shorter c. Q. What is a Superlative Adjective A. A Superlative Adjective is that which signifies the same as the Positive with the Particle most before it as hardest which is the same as most hard Q. How is the Superlative formed in English A. The Superlative is formed in English by adding the Termination est to the Positive as hardest softest longest shortest c. Q. Are there not some Comparative and Superlative Adjctives formed irregularly A. The Positive Adjectives good bad little much form their Comparatives and Superlatives irregularly as Good better best bad worse worst little less least much more most Note To Compare an Adjective in Grammar is to give the Comparative and Superlative of it as hard harder hardest The Grammarians call them the three degrees of Comparison as for Example hard is of the Positive degree harder of the Comparative degree and hardest of the Superlative degree Q. What is an incomparable Adjective A. An Incomparable Adjective is that whose Signification cannot be encreafed and admits not before it in good Sense the Particles more most or very as all some any c. I cannot say in good Sense more all most all or very all Observations on some Adjectives Much makes many in the Plural Number Much with a Substantive of the Plural Number denotes a great quantity as much wine for a great quantity of wine Many with a Substantive of the Plural Number signifies a great Number as many men for a great Number of Men. Many a man is a barbabarism first used among the Vulgar for many men More with a Substantive of the Singular Number signifies a greater quantity as more wine or a greater quantity of wine More with a Substantive Plural signifies a a greater number as more men or a greater number of men Most with a Substantive Singular denotes the greatest quantity as most of the wine or the greatest part of the wine Most with a Substantive Plural denotes the greatest number as most men or the greatest number of men All with a Substantive Singular denotes the whole quantity as all the wine or the whole quantity of the wine All with a a Substantive Plural denotes the whole number as all the Children for the whole number of the Children Note Every is only said with a Substantive Singular as every man not every men Enough with a Substantive Singular denotes a sufficient quantity as enough of wine or a sufficient quantity of wine In the Plural Number it is enow and denotes a sufficient number as I have Books enow or a sufficient number of Books Who is usually said of Persons which of things and sometimes of Persons The Interrogative who or which asks the Question ●n individual things as who is there Ans Peter The Interrogative what asks the Question on the kind or Quality of things and also on the order of a thing as what is that Ans It is a Book What art thou in the order of number Ans the first second third c. When the Adjective no is without a Substantive expressed after it we say none as for Example Is there no wine there is none Of Verbs Q. What is a Verb A. A Verb is a Word that signifies the Action Passion or Being of a thing Q. How shall one know a Verb A. Every word that can be Conjugated in good Sense with a Substantive of the Nominative Case before it and without a Nominative Case before it cannot make Sense is a Verb. As the Words teach read run c. Q. How do you know the word Teach is a Verb A. I know the word teach is a Verb because I can Conjugate it in good Sense thus I teach thou teachest he teacheth we teach ye teach they teach Q. How are Verbs distinguished as to their Signification A. Verbs as to their Signification are distinguished into Active Passive and Neuter Q. What is a Verb Active A. A Verb Active is that which denotes the Action or doing of its subject or Nominative Case and admits after it in good Sense the Accusative Case of its object or thing it acts upon As for Example I call thee I call him I call her But if I say I call thou I call he I call she it is non sense because these are Nominatives not Accusatives Q. How shall one know a Verb Active A. Every Verb that admits the Auxiliaries do or did before it in good Sense is a Verb Active as I stand or I do stand I sit or I do sit Q. How is a Verb Active distinguished in respective of its Object or Accusative Case A. A Verb Active in respect of its Object or Accusative Case is distinguished into Transitive and Intransitive Q. What is a Verb Active Transitive A. A Verb Active Transitive is that which admits Various Objects or which is the same Various Accusatives As for Example I know the Verb read is Active Transitive because I can say in good Sense I read a Book I read a Letter I read the Bible I read my Lesson Q. What is a Verb

that Aristotle borrowed them first from Grammar which was in being long before his Logic which I think with submission to better Judgments to be nothing else but Grammar except his superadded invention of Syllogisms and some other things of less use which he ingrasted upon the Stock of Grammar And in my weak opinion the Art of thinking and speaking are not two but one Art for Grammar first teaches us how to conceive of things in the order of Nature and then how to express our Conceptions by speaking or writing for we can never speak or write well what we cannot rightly conceive Speaking being nothing else but vocal Thoughts and Thoughts but silent Speaking and Writing the Images or Characters of them both I have chosen the Socratical way of Question and Answer in my Book as most imstructive the frequent Interlocutions making Learning less tedious and more intelligible to Children who are very sociable Creatures and love good company in every thing they do I was willing to deliver at the same time what belongs to the same head that it might not be look'd for in two several places yet any thing the Teacher thinks more nice or remote from the Child's Capacity at first he may pass over it sicco pede till afterwards for whatever is to be first learn'd is much easier and plainer than in the common Accidence I have not set down so many Examples as otherwise might be useful because I would not discourage Children with a bulky Book but the discreet Teacher may supply that defect when he finds it needful And as for those that think to become good Grammarians by the Book alone without a Master they will find themselves mistaken and lose their labour for the Art of Grammar tho in plain English is no less a Mystery to the unlearned than a Mechanick Trade in plainer English which yet requires a Master and seven years Apprenticeship This is all I have to say as to the Method of the Book submitting it in every thing else to the favorable Correction of the Learned Now since no Language in the World seems more capable of having all manner of Learning treasur'd up in it than our English Tongue why may we not after the laudable Example of the Greeks and Romans besides our Latin Schools set up Grammar Rhetoric and Philosophy Schools in our Mother-Tongue that Foreiners abroad may covet to learn our Language as we do Greek and Latin for those Treasures of Learning and Knowledg that are lock'd up in them Our Language has besides its innate easiness a peculiar felicity by which we may incorporate into it whatever useful or significant words we find in Greek or Latin or any other Forein Language Thus the cultivating and enriching our Mother-Tongue with all manner of good Literature would soon make our happy Island famous for all kind of Learning and Virtue which would then be easily diffus'd into the Minds and Manners of People having such an easy and native Vehicle as the Mother-Tongue This would be a more effectual means to reform the corruption of Manners so much complain'd of among us than all the coercive and penal Laws that can be devised for as Learning and Virtue generally go together so Ignorance and Vice are inseparable Twins or more properly Ignorance is the Mother and Vice the Daughter If those who have Power and Authority in the Nation were pleas'd to oil the Wheels of a learned English Education and put them once in motion by encouraging Persons qualified to carry on such an excellent Design I am perswaded we might in a few years have a hundred learned and virtuous Persons for one we have now Britanniam quam nacti sumus hanc ornemus Were we as industrious in improving and cultivating our Language as the Greeks and Romans were we might equal if not exceed them having many Advantages not known in their time We might have as learned Leaders and Commanders both by Sea and Land as they had who by their Learning Civility and Eloquence in their Mother-Tongue inlarged their Dominions no less than by their Arms The barbarous Nations being as it were ambitious to be conquered by such brave and generous Enemies who sought rather to subdue their Barbarity and civilize their Manners than to enslave their Persons or ruin their Countries Must we still grace their dead Languages with the Title of Literae humaniores and leave our own out by which we tacitly seem to acknowledg our selves Gentem barbaram aut saltem minùs humanam And since it pleas'd God to convey Christianity into the Isle of Great Britain on the Wings of these learned Languages which are now dead ought not the British Christians in a grateful sense of such Goodness to polish refine and enrich their living Language with all excellent Knowledg were it for no other end but to carry the Christian Religion to other wretched and barbarous Nations who for want of Learning and Virtue are but a kind of more savage Beasts To conclude If no Children were to learn Latin or any other Forein Language till they had first learn'd the Art of Grammar in their Mother-Tongue I doubt not but our Latin Schools would soon become much more successful and useful to the Nation than ever yet they have been ERRATA PAge 10. line 23. r. Diphthong P. 11. l. 1. r. trouble P. 12. l. 15 24. r. Additional l. 26. r. the. P. 22. l. 5. r. for more l. 30. r. Termination P. 24. l. 25. r. both P. 27. l. 24. r. which P. 34. l. 15. r. formed P. 35. l. 25. r. encreased P. 39. l. 16. r. intransitive P. 41. l. 28. r. requires P. 42. l. 17. r. after P. 43. l. 25. r. Tenses l. 26. r. The. P. 46. l. 6. r. thou P. 47. l. 25. r. Participle P. 51. l. 13. r. been P. 56. l. 8. r. conjugated P. 110. l. 16. after middle insert they may be in the middle A KEY TO THE Art of Letters Quest What is Grammar Answ GRammar is an Art that Teaches the Right Way of Speaking and Writing according to the particular Form of every Language Q. How many Parts of Grammar are there A. There are four Parts of Grammar Letters Syllables Words and Sentences Of the Letters Quest What is a Letter Answ A Letter is the Character or Mark of an individual or single sound Q. How are the Letters distinguished in respect of their sound A. The Letters in respect of their sound are distinguished into Vowels and Consonants Q. What is a Vowel A. A Vowel is a Letter that can be sounded alone without a Consonant Q. What is a Consonant A. A Consonant is a Letter that cannot be sounded without a Vowel Q. How many Letters are there in English A. There are Twenty Six Letters in English viz. a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z. Q. How many of them are Vowels A. Six of

the Accent A. The Accent or Tone is the extension of the Voice in pronouncing one Syllable in a word louder and longer than the rest Q. How are Syllables distinguished in respect of the Accent A. Syllables in respect of the Accent are distinguished into Acute and Grave Q. What is an Acute Syllable A. An Acute Syllable is that which must be sounded sharp and long Q. What is a Grave Syllable A. A Grave Syllable is that which must be sounded flat and short Q. How many Syllables in a word are to be sounded Acute A. In every word of more than one Syllable whether it be simple or compound there is but one Syllable sounded acute all the rest are sounded grave whether they be single Vowels or Diphthongs Q How shall one know which Syllable in a word is to be sounded acute A. The acute Syllable is known by the Custom of every Language for tho Nature has put one acute sound in every word of more than one Syllable yet it is the Custom of every Nation that determins it to this or that Syllable Q. How is a single Vowel made long by the accent A. In every acute Syllable there is a Diphthong or double sound for if the Vowel be single it is sounded double in one continued Breath and sometimes written double Q. Is there no Mark to know the acute Syllable A. The Greeks put this Mark over the acute Vowel or Diphthong which if done in other Languages their Pronounciation would not be so difficult for Foreigners to learn as usually it is Q. Are there not some words distinguished only by the Accent A. There are many words written alike and only distinguished by the accent as for Example òbject is a Noun but objèct is a Verb orátor is Latin but òrator is English Q. What is the principal thing in learning any Language A. The first and principal thing in learning of any Language is to get the true Pronounciation of the words for he that accents a word contrary to the Custom of the Language speaks barbarously and makes himself ridiculous to the Hearers as if one should in English say Rélation for Relátion Orátor for órator facúlty for fáculty Adversáry for ádversary Audítor for áuditor c. Q. Are there not three Accents A. There is no more than one Accent but the ancient Grammarians finding three several marks for the Acute Syllable in the Greek Tongue imagined there were three several Accents which is not only false but simply impossible in the Nature of Speech That which they call the Grave Accent is always a mark of the Acute Syllable and is nothing else but the Acute mark turned backward when the Accent is on the last Syllable of a Word least it should run forward into the following Word and cause Confusion in Reading for Grave Syllables never had any mark because they never needed any all the Syllabes in a Word except one being Grave whether they be Single Vowels or Diphthongs That which they call the Circumslex-Accent is always a mark of the acute Syllable and is chiefly used when two Syllables are Contracted into one Q. How many Syllables can come under one Accent A. There can come eight or nine Syllyables under one accent and any more is a force upon Nature but those Words are most Harmonious that do not exceed six or seven Syllables † The English for the most part love to Accent the first Syllable of a Word which is more Vehement and Masculine The French for the most part love to Accent the last Syllable of a Word which is too Soft and Feminine The Latins do almost always Accent the penult or antepenult Syllable of a Word which makes the best and most agreeable Harmony in Speech and in that regard the Latin Tongue excels all other Languages Note The penult is the last Syllable of a Word but one the Antepenult is the Syllable before the Penult or the third Syllable from the end of the Word Of Words Quest What is a Word Answ A Word is an Articulate sound that signifies something by the Custom of any Language Q. What is an Articulate Sound A. An Articulate Sound is that which consists of Letters and Syllables as it were of Joints Q. How are Words distinguished in respect of Derivation A. Words in respect of Derivation are distinguished into Primitive and Derivative Q. What is a Primitive Word A. A Primitive Word is that which is not derived of another as good man c. Q What is a Derivative Word A. A Derivative Word is that which is derived of another as Goodness Manliness Q. How are Words distinguished in respect of Composition A. Words in respect of Composition are distinguisht into Simple and Compound Q. What is a Simple Word A. A Simple Word is that which is not Compounded of two Words as a Book a School a Stone a House c. Q. What is a Compound Word A. A Compound Word is that which is Compounded of two or more Words as a Book-seller Compounded of Book and Seller a VVatch-man of Watch and Man Q. Are there not Half Compounds A. When we Compound two or more Words without putting them under one Accent we only join them with a Hyphen or mark of Union and such may be called Half-Compounds as a Water-Spider But if the Custom of the Language has put them under one Accent we must write them in one Word without a Hyphen as a Shoomaker not a Shoó-maker a Highlander not a High-lander Q. How many Kinds of Words are there A. There are four kinds of Words a Substantive an Adjective a Verb and a Particle Q. How do you know there are but four kinds of Words A. I know there are but four kinds of Words because there are but four kinds of things to be signified by Words for whatever is in the whole Vniverse is either a thing or the manner of a thing the action of a thing or the manner of an Action Q. How are these four kinds of Things signified A. The Things themselves are signified by Substantives the manners of things by Adjectives the Actions of things by Verbs the manners of Actions by Particles Q. VVhat is a Substantive A. A Substantive is a Word that signifies a thing whether Corporeal or Incorporeal as God Man Reason VVisdom c. Q. VVhat is a Corporeal thing A. A Corporeal or Bodily thing is that which can be perceived by the Senses and may be seen or felt as a Boy a Book a Pen a School a Table c. Q. VVhat is an Incorporeal thing A. An Incorporeal thing is that which cannot be perceived by the Senses but only by the Vnderstanding and cannot be seen nor felt as Justice Knowledg Vnderstanding Goodness c. Q. How may a Substantive be known A. Every Word that can be declined alone in good Sense in any ones Native Language is a Substantive as for Example I I know the Word Man is a Substantive because I can