This text investigates the structural principles and historical development of English syntax to provide a comprehensive framework for understanding sentence construction. Charles Talbut Onions, a prominent lexicographer and editor for the Oxford English Dictionary, utilizes his extensive philological background to analyze the evolution of English grammatical forms. The book presents a systematic approach to syntax, moving from basic sentence components to complex clausal relationships, grounded in the tradition of historical linguistics.

Experts and linguists frequently cite this work as a foundational reference for the study of traditional English grammar. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a rigorous resource for students and scholars of philology.