An English Grammar Part 55

The condition of Kate is _exactly_ that of Coleridge's "Ancient Mariner."--DE QUINCEY.

He was _incidentally_ news dealer.--T.B. ALDRICH.

NOTE.--These last differ from the words in Sec. 169, being adverbs naturally and fitly, while those in Sec. 169 are felt to be elliptical, and rather forced into the service of adjectives.

Also these adverbs modifying nouns are to be distinguished from those standing _after_ a noun by ellipsis, but really modifying, not the noun, but some verb understood; thus,--

The gentle winds and waters [that are] near, Make music to the lonely ear.--BYRON.

With bowering leaves [that grow] _o'erhead_, to which the eye Looked up half sweetly, and half awfully.--LEIGH HUNT.

[Sidenote: _A phrase._]

An adverb may modify a phrase which is equivalent to an adjective or an adverb, as shown in the sentences,--

They had begun to make their effort much _at the same time_.--TROLLOPE.

I draw forth the fruit, all wet and glossy, maybe _nibbled by rabbits and hollowed out by crickets_, and perhaps _with a leaf or two cemented to it_, but still _with a rich bloom to it_.--Th.o.r.eAU.

[Sidenote: _A clause or sentence._]

It may also modify a sentence, emphasizing or qualifying the statement expressed; as, for example,--

And _certainly_ no one ever entered upon office with so few resources of power in the past.--LOWELL.

_Surely_ happiness is reflective, like the light of heaven.

--IRVING.

We are offered six months' credit; and that, _perhaps_, has induced some of us to attend it.--FRANKLIN.

[Sidenote: _Definition._]

280. An adverb, then, is a modifying word, which may qualify an action word or a statement, and may add to the meaning of an adjective or adverb, or a word group used as such.

NOTE.--The expression _action word_ is put instead of _verb_, because _any_ verbal word may be limited by an adverb, not simply the forms used in predication.

281. Adverbs may be cla.s.sified in two ways: (1) according to the meaning of the words; (2) according to their use in the sentence.

ADVERBS CLa.s.sIFIED ACCORDING TO MEANING.

282. Thus considered, there are six cla.s.ses:--

(1) Time; as _now_, _to-day_, _ever_, _lately_, _before_, _hitherto_, etc.

(2) Place. These may be adverbs either of

(_a_) PLACE WHERE; as _here_, _there_, _where_, _near_, _yonder_, _above_, etc.

(_b_) PLACE TO WHICH; as _hither_, _thither_, _whither_, _whithersoever_, etc.

(_c_) PLACE FROM WHICH; as _hence_, _thence_, _whence_, _whencesoever_, etc.

(3) Manner, telling _how_ anything is done; as _well_, _slowly_, _better_, _bravely_, _beautifully_. Action is conceived or performed in so many ways, that these adverbs form a very large cla.s.s.

(4) Number, telling _how many times_: _once_, _twice_, _singly_, _two by two_, etc.

(5) Degree, telling _how much_; as _little_, _slightly_, _too_, _partly_, _enough_, _greatly_, _much_, _very_, _just_, etc. (see also Sec. 283).

(6) a.s.sertion, telling the speaker's belief or disbelief in a statement, or how far he believes it to be true; as _perhaps_, _maybe_, _surely_, _possibly_, _probably_, _not_, etc.

[Sidenote: _Special remarks on adverbs of degree._]

283. The is an adverb of degree when it limits an adjective or an adverb, especially the comparative of these words; thus,--

But not _the_ less the blare of the tumultuous organ wrought its own separate creations.--DE QUINCEY.

_The_ more they multiply, _the_ more friends you will have; _the_ more evidently they love liberty, _the_ more perfect will be their obedience.--BURKE.

This and that are very common as adverbs in spoken English, and not infrequently are found in literary English; for example,--

The master...was for _this_ once of her opinion.--R. LOUIS STEVENSON.

Death! To die! I owe _that_ much To what, at least, I was.--BROWNING.

_This_ long's the text.--SHAKESPEARE.

[Sidenote _The status of such_.]

Such is frequently used as an equivalent of _so_: _such_ precedes an adjective with its noun, while _so_ precedes only the adjective usually.

Meekness,...which gained him _such_ universal popularity.--IRVING.

_Such_ a glittering appearance that no ordinary man would have been able to close his eyes there.--HAWTHORNE.

An eye of _such_ piercing brightness and _such_ commanding power that it gave an air of inspiration.--LECKY.

So also in Grote, Emerson, Thackeray, Motley, White, and others.

[Sidenote: _Pretty._]

Pretty has a wider adverbial use than it gets credit for.

I believe our astonishment is _pretty_ equal.--FIELDING.