The object of this Grammar is to provide in a concise and readily comprehensible form all the information that can be required by all but advanced students of Latin. Much trouble has been expended in verifying the statements which it contains, and selecting suitable illustrations; and it is hoped that those who use it will have little afterwards to unlearn.

The best foreign authorities have been consulted, and amongst Grammars in English, those of Roby and Gildersleeve have been found of service, while some hints, chiefly in points of arrangement, have been taken from elementary grammars in current use. Notwithstanding this, it is believed that the book is sufficiently original, as a whole, to justify its title of the New Latin Primer.

Among special points may be mentioned the careful marking of the quantity, both in closed and open syllables, in such a way as should make false quantities impossible. The Reformed Pronunciation, as used in the University of Cambridge, has been fully explained, but the book can be used without disadvantage by all who adhere to the old. Considerable simplifications have been introduced into the Syntax, as in the treatment of the Tenses, the Subjunctive Mood, Conditional Statements, Indirect Discourse, and elsewhere. The standard of the best Classical Prose has ​been followed throughout, and deviations from it, whether in forms or usages, have been marked as such.

Besides his obligations to Mr. Vince, who has contributed the larger part of the Accidence—his contributions including a shortening of the Gender rules and a simpler presentation of the Third Declension—the Editor is indebted to the Rev. Dr. Moulton, Head Master of the Leys School, for some suggestions, and to Dr. Gow, Head Master of Nottingham High School, for an instructive revision of the proof sheets.

⁠Trinity College, Cambridge,

⁠August, 1888.

The letter J is not used in the writing of Latin words in this book. Instead of it an italic I is used in roman type, and a roman I in italic type. See § 7.

The pronunciation of Latin recommended in this book is that of the pamphlet entitled Pronunciation of Latin in the Augustan Period, issued with the authority of the Cambridge Philological Society, and published by Messrs. Trubner and Co. To it the student is referred for further information.

The Quantity Marks refer to the quantity of the vowels, not to the quantity of the syllables. Long vowels are always marked. Short vowels are marked wherever it seemed desirable that this should be done.

The term "Base" is used to denote the part of a word which remains unchanged when its termination varies. See § 12.

The references throughout are to sections. An asterisk [thus § 156*] indicates the small print in a section. The addition of a letter or number [thus § 165 (d)] denotes a subdivision of a section. The addition of n. [thus § 384 n.¹] denotes a footnote.