PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, By R. Juigné, 17, Margaret-street, Cavendish-square. Sold by DULAU and Co. Soho-square; LAW, Paternoster- PREFACE. AS the learning of the Spanish language is become a part of education amongst the gentry and merchants, I have endeavoured to compose a useful Spanish Grammar, upon all the principles of instruction, to render easy and agreeable the attainment of this beautiful language. In the First Part of this Grammar, I have followed Fernandez in his method of pronunciation of the alphabet, as finding it the most correct. In the Second Part, I have laid down certain rules for the genders of substantives, which are not to be found in any other grammar published in this country. After the declensions of the pronouns, I have laid down examples upon all; so that the student may easily comprehend the use of them. Concerning the conjugations, I have conformed to the general method, beginning by the auxiliary ones, since they are essential to conjugate the compound tenses of all the rest. The irregular verbs will be found after the regulars, and each of them in its proper place. The collection of adverbs I particularly recommend the student to learn by heart, which will be of great use. The Third Part treats of the Syntax, which is explained in an easy and simple manner, as there is not a rule without two, three, or more examples. The Fourth Part contains the most extensive vocabulary extant. For the Fifth Part of my Grammar, I have selected a variety of Familiar Phrases and Dialogues, which I have carefully corrected; as also a Commercial Vocabulary, Mercantile Idioms, Letters, &c. &c. Observe, that some words will be found wrong spelt, the most principal are-Page 8, for aquila, read aguila page 30, for superir read superior; page 43, for to inure read inured; page 82, for ascendar read ascender. There may be found some others which have escaped my notice. I have left out the present subjunctive of the verb Poner, because it is not required, since it is a general rule for all the verbs that the present subjunctive is formed of the third person singular of the imperative, as I have already said, page 38. 1 SPANISH GRAMMAR. PART I. CHAPTER I. Of the Character, Sound, and Quantity of the Spanish Letters. THE Spanish language has twenty-nine letters, viz.. There are five vowels; viz. a, e, i, o, u, to which is added y, when it does not come before any of the vowels. All the rest are called consonants. a sounds as in ar, far, master, &c. b and v are entirely confounded in their pronunciation; we do not differ the one from the other, consequently one is written instead of the other; both must be pronounced softer than the English v. c, before a, o, and u, is pronounced like ka, ko, or co, ku. Before e and i, it sounds like th, as thorn, thick. Ch sounds like Charles, charity; in the words that come from the Greek, it sounds as k, charibdis. B |