Page:Primary Lessons In Swatow Grammar.djvu/21



IN

[COLLOQUIAL]

Grammar.

The Chinese word for Grammar is Bûn Huap，Literary Method, meaning, thereby，the usages which regulate the construction of sentences. This, and the few other grammatical terms the Chinese possess，such as，sit-jī，substantive characters, ua̍h-jī, living characters, &c, have reference, properly, to written style, but, in the absence of other expressions, are pressed into colloquial service.

Parts of Speech.

There is no such minute classification as exists in Western languages. Consequently, a specific nomenclature for parts of speech is not to be found. The inflection by terminal endings of nouns verbs, and adjectives is unknown. One and the same simple form of the word is used unchanged in all the various moods, tenses, and degrees of comparison. These variations of meaning which in Western languages are expressed by declension and conjugation, are obtained in Chinese by the aid of auxiliaries. Auxiliaries and particles form a most numerous family，characterized by flexibility and versatility. They turn up on all occasions, and are equally at home with nouns, pronouns, verbs, and adjectives. The mastery of their manifold adaptations must constitute a large part of the study of Chinese grammar.

Words are divided into two general classes which are called si̍t-jī, True or Substantive words, and Hṳ-jī, Empty words.