An English Grammar Part 56

Hard blows and hard money, the feel of both of which you know _pretty_ well by now.--KINGSLEY.

The first of these generals is _pretty_ generally recognized as the greatest military genius that ever lived.--BAYNE.

A _pretty_ large experience.--THACKERAY.

_Pretty_ is also used by Prescott, Franklin, De Quincey, Defoe, d.i.c.kens, Kingsley, Burke, Emerson, Aldrich, Holmes, and other writers.

[Sidenote: Mighty.]

The adverb mighty is very common in colloquial English; for example,--

"_Mighty_ well, Deacon Gookin!" replied the solemn tones of the minister.--HAWTHORNE.

"Maybe you're wanting to get over?--anybody sick? Ye seem _mighty_ anxious!"--H.B. STOWE.

It is only occasionally used in literary English; for example,--

You are _mighty_ courteous.--BULWER.

Beau Fielding, a _mighty_ fine gentleman.--THACKERAY.

"Peace, Neville," said the king, "thou think'st thyself _mighty_ wise, and art but a fool."--SCOTT.

I perceived his sisters _mighty_ busy.--GOLDSMITH.

[Sidenote: _Notice meanings._]

284. Again, the meaning of words must be noticed rather than their form; for many words given above may be moved from one cla.s.s to another at will: as these examples,--"He walked too _far_ [place];"

"That were _far_ better [degree];" "He spoke _positively_ [manner];"

"That is _positively_ untrue [a.s.sertion];" "I have seen you _before_ [time];" "The house, and its lawn _before_ [place]."

ADVERBS CLa.s.sIFIED ACCORDING TO USE.

[Sidenote: _Simple._]

285. All adverbs which have no function in the sentence except to modify are called simple adverbs. Such are most of those given already in Sec. 282.

[Sidenote: _Interrogative._]

286. Some adverbs, besides modifying, have the additional function of asking a question.

[Sidenote: _Direct questions._]

These may introduce direct questions of--

(1) Time.

_When_ did this humane custom begin?--H. CLAY.

(2) Place.

_Where_ will you have the scene?--LONGFELLOW

(3) Manner.

And _how_ looks it now?--HAWTHORNE.

(4) Degree.

"_How_ long have you had this whip?" asked he.--BULWER.

(5) Reason.

_Why_ that wild stare and wilder cry?--WHITTIER

Now _wherefore_ stopp'st thou me?--COLERIDGE

[Sidenote: _Indirect questions._]

Or they may introduce indirect questions of--

(1) Time.

I do not remember _when_ I was taught to read.--D. WEBSTER.

(2) Place.

I will not ask _where_ thou liest low.--BYRON

(3) Manner.

Who set you to cast about what you should say to the select souls, or _how_ to say anything to such?--EMERSON.

(4) Degree.

Being too full of sleep to understand _How_ far the unknown transcends the what we know.

--LONGFELLOW

(5) Reason.

I hearkened, I know not _why_.--POE.

287. There is a cla.s.s of words usually cla.s.sed as conjunctive adverbs, as they are said to have the office of conjunctions in joining clauses, while having the office of adverbs in modifying; for example,--