Thomas Arnold’s English Grammar for Classical Schools, presented here in its original form, is studied in the Classical Liberal Arts Academy’s Classical Grammar course as a model of rigorous, traditional grammatical instruction. Written to train students in the habits of precise thought and accurate expression, Arnold’s grammar treats English not as an isolated or purely modern subject, but as a language best understood in light of its logical structure and its close relationship to Latin grammar. The work emphasizes clear definitions, careful distinctions, and disciplined analysis, forming the student’s mind to recognize how words, forms, and constructions signify meaning. Used in a classical course of grammar, this text serves not merely to improve usage, but to cultivate the intellectual order and attentiveness required for all higher studies in language and reasoning.
Lesson 1. Introduction to Grammar
Nature and purpose of grammar
Grammar as preparation for Latin and Greek
Accidence, etymology, and syntax explained
Lesson 2. Letters and Sounds
The alphabet
Vowels and consonants
Spoken and written language
Relation of letters to pronunciation
Lesson 3. The Parts of Speech
Definition and classification
Relation to Latin parts of speech
Overview of nouns, verbs, adjectives, pronouns, and particles
Lesson 4. Substantives (Nouns): Nature and Use
What a substantive is
Things, persons, and ideas
Relation of English nouns to Latin substantives
Lesson 5. Divisions of Substantives
Common and proper nouns
Material and abstract nouns
Collective nouns
Comparison with Latin usage
Lesson 6. Number: Singular and Plural
Nature of number
Formation of the plural
Regular and irregular plurals
Lesson 7. Case: Relations of Nouns
Meaning of case
English case relations compared with Latin
Formation of the genitive
Use of of as a case substitute
Lesson 8. Gender of Nouns
Natural vs grammatical gender
English gender compared with Latin and Greek
Use and limits of gender in English
Lesson 9. Adjectives: Nature and Function
What adjectives are
Agreement and modification
Comparison with Latin adjectives
Lesson 10. Comparison of Adjectives
Positive, comparative, superlative
Regular and irregular comparison
Meaning and logical force of comparison
Lesson 11. Pronouns: General Nature
Pronouns as substitutes for nouns
Agreement and reference
Declension in English
Lesson 12. Personal Pronouns
Forms and cases
Subject and object use
Comparison with Latin personal pronouns
Lesson 13. Demonstrative and Relative Pronouns
Demonstratives: this, that, etc.
Relatives: who, which, that
Relative clauses and agreement
Lesson 14. Interrogative and Reciprocal Pronouns
Question forms
Mutual action and relation
English forms compared with Latin
Lesson 15. Numerals: Indefinite and Definite
Cardinal and ordinal numbers
Definite and indefinite numerals
Numerals as adjectives and pronouns
Lesson 16. The Nature and Division of Verbs
What a verb is
Transitive and intransitive verbs
Copulative verbs
Lesson 17. Person and Number in Verbs
Verbal agreement
Personal endings
English simplification compared with Latin
Lesson 18. The Tenses of the Verb
Meaning of tense
Time vs aspect
English tense system overview
Lesson 19. Forms for Present Time
Simple present
Progressive forms
Auxiliary constructions
Lesson 20. Forms for Past Time
Simple past
Perfect and pluperfect
Historical meaning of tense
Lesson 21. Forms for Future Time
Future constructions
Use of auxiliaries
Certainty, intention, and prediction
Lesson 22. The Moods of the Verb
Indicative, imperative, subjunctive
Meaning of mood
English moods compared with Latin
Lesson 23. The Imperative Mood
Commands and exhortations
Limits of imperative forms
Lesson 24. The Infinitive
Nature and uses
Infinitive as noun and verb
Comparison with Latin infinitives
Lesson 25. Participles
Present and past participles
Participles as adjectives
Relation to Latin participles
Lesson 26. Compound Participles and Participial Substantives
Perfect constructions
Gerundial uses
Verbal nouns
Lesson 27. Voice: Active and Passive
Nature of voice
Formation of the passive
Comparison with Latin passive forms
Lesson 28. Auxiliary Verbs: Am, Have, Do
Function of auxiliaries
Tense and emphasis
Complete verb tables explained
Lesson 29. Adverbs
Nature and classification
Adverbs of place, time, and manner
Correlative adverbs
Lesson 30. Prepositions
Relation and government
English prepositions compared with Latin cases
Lesson 31. Conjunctions
Coordinating and subordinating conjunctions
Logical relations in sentences
Lesson 32. Division of Letters and Sounds
Historical sound distinctions
Relation to spelling and derivation
Lesson 33. Irregular Verbs: Modern Forms
Common irregular verbs
Patterns and analogies
Lesson 34. Irregular Verbs: Ancient Forms
Historical origins
Connection to strong verbs and classical forms
Lesson 35. Gender and Foreign Plurals
Greek and Latin plurals
Proper English usage
Lesson 36. Derivation of Words
Prefixes
Terminations
Latin and Greek roots in English
Lesson 37. Principles of Punctuation
Purpose and logic of punctuation
Lesson 38. The Comma
Uses and abuses
Grammatical function
Lesson 39. Colon, Semicolon, and Other Marks
Structural punctuation
Interrogation, exclamation, and parenthesis
Lesson 40. The Predicative Combination
Subject and predicate
Assertion and question
Lesson 41. The Attributive Combination
Adjective and genitive relations
Use of of
Lesson 42. The Objective Combination
Objects and complements
Infinitive constructions
Dative and ablative relations
Lesson 43. Compound Sentences
Coordination and structure
Lesson 44. Substantive and Adjective Clauses
Noun clauses
Relative clauses
Lesson 45. Adverbial Clauses
Time, cause, condition, comparison
Purpose and consequence
Lesson 46. Dependent Questions and Participial Constructions
Indirect interrogation
Participial syntax
Lesson 47. English Grammar as Preparation for Latin and Greek
Review of grammatical principles
Transition to classical languages
English grammar as a disciplined art
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