An English Grammar

by William Malone Baskervill

"An English Grammar" by W.M. Baskervill and J.W. Sewell is an educational textbook aimed at high school, academy, and college students, written in the late 19th century. The book seeks to provide a clear and practical framework for understanding English grammar, addressing the complexities of the language in a manner that is accessible to young learners, while also striving to maintain scholarly rigor. The opening of the book presents a preface that outlines the authors’ intent to bridge the gap between theoretical scholarship and practical language use. They note the abundance of existing grammar texts that may be too difficult for students and emphasize their goal of presenting grammatical concepts in a straightforward manner. The authors advocate for the incorporation of good literature into grammatical studies, positing that contact with quality writing enhances the student's grasp of language usage, including nouns, pronouns, and sentence syntax, which are structured in systematic parts throughout the text. This initial portion also highlights the evolving nature of English grammar, noting that rules may change over time and encouraging a flexible approach to the subject.