Plain English Part 58

+289.+ You can always distinguish between adjectives and adverbs by this rule: Adjectives modify _only nouns_ and _p.r.o.nouns_, and the one essential characteristic of the adverb, as a limiting word, is that it is _always_ joined to some other part of speech than a noun. An adverb may modify a verb, adjective or other adverb, but never a noun or p.r.o.noun.

You recall the rule which we have made the very foundation of our study: namely, that every word is cla.s.sified in the sentence according to the _work_ which it does in that sentence. So a word is an adjective when it limits or modifies or qualifies a noun or p.r.o.noun; a word is an adverb when it qualifies any part of speech other than a noun or p.r.o.noun, either a verb or an adjective or an adverb, or even an entire sentence, as is the case with adverbs of mode.

+290.+ Many adverbs are regularly made from nouns and adjectives by prefixes and suffixes. Adverbs are made from adjectives chiefly by adding the suffix _ly_, or by changing _ble_ to _bly_. For example: _honestly_, _rarely_, _dearly_, _ably_, _n.o.bly_, _feebly_. But all words that end in _ly_ are not adverbs. Some adjectives end in _ly_ also, as, _kingly_, _courtly_, etc. The only way we can determine to which cla.s.s a word belongs is by its use in the sentence.

Exercise 5

In the following sentences, tell whether the words printed in italics are used as adjectives or as adverbs: also note the words ending in _ly_. Some are adverbs and some adjectives.

1. The boy was very _little_.

2. It was a _little_ early to arrive.

3. It was a _hard_ lesson.

4. She works _hard_ every day.

5. I read the _first_ book.

6. I read the book _first_ then gave it to him.

7. He went to a _high_ mountain.

8. The eagle flew _high_ in the air.

9. We saw clearly the lovely picture.

10. He is a wonderfully jolly man.

11. His courtly manner failed when he saw his homely bride.

12. He speaks slowly and clearly.

13. They are very cleanly in their habits.

NOUNS AS ADVERBS

+291.+ Words that are ordinarily used as nouns, are sometimes used as adverbs. These are the nouns that denote time, distance, measure of value or direction. They are added to verbs and adjectives to denote the definite time at which a thing took place, or to denote the extent of time or distance and the measure of value, of weight, number or age.

They are sometimes used to indicate direction. For example:

They were gone a _year_.

He talked an _hour_.

They will return next _week_.

They went _south_ for the winter.

They traveled 100 _miles_.

The wheat is a _foot_ high.

The man weighed 200 _pounds_.

In these sentences, the nouns, _year_, _miles_, _hour_, _foot_, _week_, _pounds_ and _south_ are used as adverbs. Remember every word is cla.s.sified according to the work which it does in the sentence.

Exercise 6

Mark the adverbs in the following poem and determine what words they modify:

THE BRIDGE OF SIGHS

One more Unfortunate Weary of breath, Rashly importunate, Gone to her death!

Take her up tenderly, Lift her with care; Fas.h.i.+on'd so slenderly, Young, and so fair!

Look at her garments Clinging like cerements; Whilst the wave constantly Drips from her clothing; Take her up instantly, Loving, not loathing.

Touch her not scornfully; Think of her mournfully, Gently and humanly; Not of the stains of her-- All that remains of her Now is pure womanly.

Make no deep scrutiny Into her mutiny Rash and undutiful; Past all dishonor, Death has left on her Only the beautiful.

Alas! for the rarity Of Christian charity Under the sun!

O! it was pitiful!

Near a whole city full, Home, she had none.

The bleak wind of March Made her tremble and s.h.i.+ver; But not the dark arch, Or the black flowing river: Mad from life's history Glad to death's mystery Swift to be hurled-- Anywhere, anywhere Out of the world!

In she plunged boldly, No matter how coldly The rough river ran; Over the brink of it,-- Picture it, think of it, Dissolute Man!

Lave in it, drink of it, Then, if you can!

Take her up tenderly, Lift her with care; Fas.h.i.+on'd so slenderly, Young and so fair!

Ere her limbs frigidly Stiffen too rigidly, Decently, kindly, Smooth and compose them; And her eyes, close them, Staring so blindly!

Dreadfully staring Thro' muddy impurity, As when with the daring Last look of despairing Fix'd on futurity.

Peris.h.i.+ng gloomily, Spurr'd by contumely, Cold inhumanity, Burning insanity, Into her rest.

Cross her hands humbly As if praying dumbly, Over her breast!

Owning her weakness, Her evil behavior, And leaving, with meekness, Her sins to her Saviour!

--_Thomas Hood_.

SPELLING

LESSON 16

The English language is truly a melting pot, into which have been thrown words from almost every language under the sun. This makes our spelling very confusing many times. Because of this also, we have in our language, words which have the same sound but different meaning, having come into the language from different sources. These words are called _h.o.m.onyms_.

+h.o.m.onyms are words having the same sound but different meaning.+ For example:

Plane, plain; write, right.