PREFACE.

Multum in parvo is the object of this small book; in which the student will find all the elements necessary to enable him in a very short time to enter into a conversation on the most usual topics.

For this purpose, and in order that he may understand the questions put, or the answers given to him, should they be expressed in words different in tense or number from those contained in the dialogues, and also to afford him the best means to vary them himself, it has been deemed expedient to prefix to the vocabularies a synopsis of the Spanish language. The learner is earnestly desired to study it attentively, so as to become perfectly familiar with the conjugation of the verbs; a thorough knowledge of which will render his progress easy, sure, and speedy.

Persons unaccustomed to commit tasks to memory, will do well to begin by learning daily a set number (say five) of nouns, adjectives, or verbs, and as many phrases as they can remember well; repeating always the English before the Spanish. Such exercise being steadily pursued for a month, the student will have acquired an aggregate of more than five hundred of the words most frequently used in common intercourse. This plan has been often tried, and its results have constantly exceeded the most sanguine expectations.

Should the student wish to acquire a thorough knowledge of the Spanish, even without the assistance of a teacher, he may do so by studying Ollendorff’s New Method, by M. Velazquez and T. Simonné, published by D. Appleton & Co., No. 443 Broadway.

This work will also be found very useful for the younger classes of learners, as an introduction to Ollendorff, or any other Spanish grammar, as it contains in a few pages, and exhibits in the plainest manner, the elements necessary to enable them to make a very easy and rapid progress in the study of this language.

New York, June 1st, 1849.

CONTENTS.

PART I.
A SYNOPSIS, ETC.
  PAGE
  The Letters  7
  Accent 10
  Noun—Number ib. 
      Gender ib. 
      Case 11
  Augmentative and Diminutive Nouns ib. 
  Adjectives 12
  Comparative ib. 
  Superlative 13
  Pronouns 14
  Verbs 16
  Conjugation—Simple Tenses 17
     “   Compound Tenses 23
  Auxiliary Verbs 25
  Idiomatical Tenses 27
  Place of the Pronouns 28
  Verbs affirmatively and negatively conjugated ib. 
  Passive Verbs ib. 
  Pronominal Verbs 29
  Gerund 30
  Verbs that alter their radical letters 31
  Remarks on the Subjunctive ib. 
  Participle 32
  Verbs that have two Participles ib. 
  Adverbs 33
  Prepositions 34
  Conjunctions 35
  Interjections 36
  Abbreviations ib. 

PART II.
A VOCABULARY, ETC.
  The Numbers 37
  Moneda corriente 39
  Of Heaven and the Elements 40
  The Weather and Seasons ib. 
  Days of the Week and Months 41
  Holy Days ib. 
  Ecclesiastical Dignities ib. 
  Eatables 42
  Covering of the Table ib. 
  For Fast Days—Fish 44
  For the Dessert ib. 
  Conditions of Man and Woman 46
  Clothes and Articles for Dressing ib. 
  Articles for Riding 47
  Clothes for Ladies ib. 
  Parts of the Human Body 48
  The Five Senses—Ages 49
  Qualities of the Body ib. 
  Defects of the Body 50
  Studying ib. 
  Musical Instruments ib. 
  Parts and Furniture of a House 51
  What is found about the Chimney, in the Kitchen,  
    and in the Cellar 52
  The Servants of a House 53
  What is found in and about the Door,
    and in the Stable 54
  The Garden—Flowers, Trees, &c. 54
  Temporal Dignities 55
  Officers of War—The Army 56
  Fortifications ib. 
  Professions and Trades 57
  Defects and Imperfections 58
  Good Qualities—Diseases ib. 
  Bird and Quadrupeds 59
  The Country—The City 60
  Colors—Metals 61
  Commercial Terms ib. 
  Collection of Verbs 63
     

PART III.
DIALOGUES.
I. Saluting, &c. 69
II. To pay a Visit 70
III. To dress one’s self 71
IV. The Tailor 72
V. To breakfast 73
VI. To speak Spanish 74
VII. Of the Weather 75
VIII. To write 76
IX. To buy 78
X. To inquire after News 79
XI. To inquire after any one 82
XII. For a journey 83
XIII. Supper and Lodgings 85
XIV. To reckon with the Landlord 86
XV. On a Voyage by Sea 87
XVI. On board of a Vessel 89
XVII. On a Journey in a Litter, or on Mules    90
XVIII. At the Dinner Table 92
     

PART IV.
COMMERCIAL LETTERS, ETC.
  First Letter 95
  Second Letter 96
  An Invoice 97
  Third and Fourth Letters 98
  Letter of Recommendation    99
  A Draft ib. 
  Endorsement 100
  Notes     ib. 

EASY INTRODUCTION

TO

SPANISH CONVERSATION.