As its title implies, the present work aims to present in the simplest form the elements of the Italian language. In preparing it, the author has made to attempt at completeness; on the contrary, his efforts have tended to omit whatever seemed non-essential and apt to cause confusion in the beginner's mind. The needs of high school and college classes have guided him throughout his tast and, believing that extensive drill should be emphasized in the study of any modern language, he has consistently followed the system of giving few rules and many exercises in each lesson.