Plain English Part 57

slowly here now gently loudly never soon carefully n.o.bly down seldom easily

Use the following adverbs in sentences to modify adjectives:

quite very more too most less nearly so

Use the following adverbs in sentences to modify adverbs:

too very quite less more most least so

CLa.s.sES OF ADVERBS

+284.+ There are a good many adverbs in our language, yet they may be divided, according to their meaning, into six princ.i.p.al cla.s.ses:

+1. Adverbs of time.+ These answer the question _when_, and are such adverbs as _now_, _then_, _soon_, _never_, _always_, etc.

+2. Adverbs of place.+ These answer the question _where_, and are such adverbs as _here_, _there_, _yonder_, _down_, _above_, _below_, etc.

+3. Adverbs of manner.+ These answer the question _how_, and are such adverbs as _well_, _ill_, _thus_, _so_, _slowly_, _hastily_, etc.

+4. Adverbs of degree.+ These answer the questions _how much_, _how little_, _how far_, etc., and are such adverbs as _much_, _very_, _almost_, _scarcely_, _hardly_, _more_, _quite_, _little_, etc.

+5. Adverbs of cause.+ These answer the question _why_, and are such adverbs as _therefore_, _accordingly_, _hence_, etc.

+6. Adverbs of number.+ These are such adverbs as _first_, _second_, _third_, etc.

Exercise 3

In the following sentences there are adverbs of each cla.s.s used. Find the adverbs of the different cla.s.ses.

1. We shall always be found in the forefront of the struggle.

2. It is much more effective to train the young.

3. He came first and remained through the entire program.

4. It is pleasant to know that we have done well.

5. Our comrades are fighting yonder in the trenches.

6. Therefore we shall never acknowledge defeat.

7. Come down and discuss the matter with us.

8. We would soon be able to agree if we understood the facts.

9. Study your lessons slowly and carefully.

10. He was scarcely able to tell his story.

11. Accordingly I am sending you full particulars of the plan.

12. He came third in the ranks.

INTERROGATIVE ADVERBS

+285.+ The adverbs _how_, _when_, _where_, _why_, _whither_, _whence_, etc., are used in asking questions, and when they are used in this way they are called interrogative adverbs. For example:

_How_ did it happen?

_Where_ are you going?

_Whence_ came he?

_When_ did he come?

_Why_ did you do it?

_Whither_ are you going?

These adverbs, _how_, _when_, _where_, _why_, _whence_ and _whither_, are used in these sentences to modify the verbs and ask the questions concerning the _time_ or _place_ or _manner_ of action expressed in the verb.

_How_ may also be used as an interrogative adverb modifying an adjective or another adverb. For example:

How late did he stay?

How large is the house?

In the first sentence, the adverb _how_ modifies the adverb _late_, and introduces the question. In the second sentence _how_ modifies the adjective _large_ and introduces the question.

Exercise 4

Write sentences containing the interrogative adverbs _how_, _when_, _where_ and _why_, to modify verbs and ask simple questions.

Write sentences using the interrogative adverb _how_ to modify an adjective and an adverb and to introduce a question.

ADVERBS OF MODE

+286.+ There are some adverbs which scarcely fall into any of the above cla.s.ses and cannot be said to answer any of these questions. They are such adverbs as _indeed_, _certainly_, _fairly_, _truly_, _surely_, _perhaps_ and _possibly_. These adverbs really modify the entire sentence, in a way, and are used to show how the statement is made,--whether in a positive or negative way or in a doubtful way. For example:

_Surely_ you will not leave me.

_Truly_ I cannot understand the matter as you do.

_Perhaps_ he knows no better.

_Indeed_, I cannot go with you.

Here, these adverbs, _truly_, _surely_, _perhaps_ and _indeed_, show the manner in which the entire statement is made; so they have been put in a cla.s.s by themselves and called +adverbs of mode+. _Mode_ means literally _manner_, but these are not adverbs that express manner of action, like _slowly_ or _wisely_ or _well_ or _ill_. They express rather the manner in which the entire statement is made, and so really modify the whole sentence.

PHRASE ADVERBS

+287.+ We have certain little phrases which we have used so often that they have come to be used and regarded as single adverbs. They are such phrases as _of course_, _of late_, _for good_, _of old_, _at all_, _at length_, _by and by_, _over and over_, _again and again_, _through and through_, _hand in hand_, _ere long_, _in vain_, _to and fro_, _up and down_, _as usual_, _by far_, _at last_, _at least_, _in general_, _in short_, etc. These words which we find used so often in these phrases we may count as single adverbs.

ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS

+288.+ Sometimes the same word may be used either as an adjective or as an adverb, and you may have some difficulty in telling whether it is an adjective or an adverb. Some of these words are: _better_, _little_, _late_, _far_, _hard_, _further_, _first_, _last_, _long_, _short_, _much_, _more_ and _high_. For example:

The _late_ news verifies our statement.

The man came _late_ to his work.

In the first sentence, the word _late_ is used as an adjective modifying the noun _news_. In the second sentence, the word _late_ is used as an adverb to modify the verb _came_.