TH

Of the ARTICLE.

HIS Part of Speech has fo near a Relation to the Pronouns, that it may very properly be confidered as belonging to the fame Clafs of Words.

The Article is prefixed to Noun Subftantives, common or appellative, to give Notice that the Extent of their Signification is to be limited in a less or greater Degree.

There are two Articles in English, the indefinite and the definite.

A, or an, is THE INDEFINITE ARTICLE. A is used before a Word that begins with a Confonant; as, a mar, a borse; an, before a Word that begins with a Vowel, or an h, founded foftly; as, an angel, an hour.

The is THE DEFINITE ARTICLE, and is used both before a Vowel and a Confonant; as, the angel, the man.

The indefinite Article gives Notice, that the Object fignified by the Name to which it is prefixed, is in fome Circumftance that is, or may be, common to other Objects denoted by the Name.

Hence the indefinite Object may reprefent every one, or any one, or some one of the Sort; or an Object that is any ways confidered as one amongst others of the Sort that is denoted by the Name. Thus, in a grammar fhould explain the elements of language; every Grammar is meant: For every Grammar fhould explain the Elements of Language. But, in have you got a grammar? any one Grammar is meant: For if you have any one Grammar of any Sort, you may answer yes.

In I would get a grammar, but I do not know which is the best; fome one Grammar is meant: For I declare my Intention to get one Grammar and no more, but that I do not yet know the particular Grammar which I fhall get.

And, in this is a Grammar, the Meaning is, this one of the Sort of Books, each of which is called a grammar.

The Expreffions, many a man would be glad of fuch a thing, and others of like Construction, are elliptical, and fignify each one man of many would be glad, &c.

As the indefinite Article gives Notice, that but one Object of a Sort is expreffed by the Name to which it is prefixed, although the Object is fome way equally concerned with other Objects of the Sort. This Article is not ufually prefixed to Plural Names: Yet the Adjectives few, great many, when applied to Plural Subftantives, admit of this Article before them; as, a few

books, a great many books. But these are elliptical Ex

preffions, and denote Books in fuch a Number, that each one of the like Numbers, in like Circumstances, may be confidered as few, or very many; and fo of other Inftances.

THE DEFINITE ARTICLE gives Notice, that the Names to which it is prefixed denote Objects in such Circumftances as are not common to other Objects of the fame Sorts; as, the books of Mofes. For here the Books meant are diftinguished from other Books, by the Relation which they have to Mofes, and which other Books have not.

And

And fo any previous Knowledge of the Object, or Intention concerning it, or particular Situation, may af certain it from others of the fame Sort; as, the book which you have read to day; the horse which you propofe to ride to-morrow; the furface of the fea, &c. and very many other Circumstances occur which ascertain Objects from others of their Sort, and which of Confequence require the definite Article to be prefixed to the Name of the Objects when fo afcertained; as, the wifeft men of the age; the worst horfe of the fet, &c.

The Definite Article is [likewife used before Participles, when applied in Construction like Substantives; as, in the bearing of injuries: And before Adjectives and Adverbs of the Comparative and Superlative Degree, when these Degrees are of principal Confideration in what is faid; as, the higher you ftand the farther you may fee; I like him the better for what you have faid; he behaved himself the most cautiously of them all.

VER

ERBS denote fates of being, confidered as beginning, continuing, ending, being renewed, deftroyed, and again repeated, so as to fuit any Occafion.

Every State that is denoted by a Verb, may be counted by the Numbers of Repetition, once, twice, thrice, &c. as to be once, twice, thrice, &c. and fo of other Inftances: And any Object that is represented in the State, denoted by a Verb, may be confidered as in that State, once, twice, thrice, &c. as fuch a thing was once, twice, thrice, fo or fo: Therefore every verbal State

F

may

be

con

confidered, as beginning, continuing, ending, and then renewed, and again repeated, fo as to fuit any Occafion : And this is the effential or diftinguishing Property of the Conception that is denoted by a Verb: Thus, action once, twice, thrice; or an active man once, twice, thrice, are abfurd Expreffions: But to act once, twice, thrice, are confiftent Expreffions: Therefore action and aftive are Nouns ; but to act and acting are Verbs; and fo of other Inftances.

The Verb admits of more grammatic Forms than any other Part of Speech; and the whole Set of these Forms, being placed in a Table, is called THE CONJUGATION OF THE VERB; and to vary any Verb according to the Table, is called conjugating the Verb.

The English Verbs are conjugated principally by the Help of the Verbs, to be, and to have; which are therefore to be confidered as auxiliar Verbs. These auxiliar Verbs are themselves conjugated, in a great Measure, by the Help of Signs prefixed, fuch as fall, will, may, can, &c. as fully appears in the following Paradigms, or Patterns of their Conjugation.

The Manner of conjugating the Verb to have.

Indicative Mood.

Prefent Tenfe.

Singular. I have, thou haft, he hath or has.
Plural. We have, †ye or you have, they have.

First

First Preterite.

Singular. I had, thou hadft, he had.

Plural.

We had, you had, they had.

Second Preterite.

Singular. I have had, thou haft had, he † bath or bas had.

Plural. We have had, you have had, they have had.

Pluperfect.

Singular. I had had, thou hadst had, he had had.
Plural. We bad had, you had had, they had had.

Sing. Let me have, have thou, let him have.
Plur. Let us have, have tye, or have you, let them

have.

Potential