PRONOMINAL ADJECTIVES

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Ex. The Ohio, that man, three dollars, the third seal, a twofold reference. "All men are mortal." "Each soldier received his pay."

Definitive adjectives are divided into three classes: articles, pronominal adjectives, and numeral adjectives.

LXXII. ARTICLES

"The" is called the definite article, because it definitely points out the object which it defines or restricts; as, "The book is on the table"; 66 The horse ran over the bridge."

"A" or 66 an is called the indefinite article, because it defines or restricts in an indefinite or general manner; as, "A book is on a table"; "A horse ran over a bridge."

"An" should be used before words beginning with a vowel sound; "A," before words beginning with a consonant sound. They are spoken of as one article, because they are merely an earlier and a later form of the same word.

An article sometimes limits not a noun alone, but a noun as limited by other words; as, "The old men retired early; the young men remained until midnight." The article here limits the complex ideas “old men' and "young men." "An early spring is no sign of a fruitful season.” The article limits the complex ideas "early spring," "fruitful season."

LXXIII. PRONOMINAL ADJECTIVES

Pronominal adjectives are definitives, most of which may, without an article prefixed, represent a noun understood; as, all men, each soldier, yonder mountain.

They are this, that, these, those, former, latter, both, same, yon, yonder, all, any, another, certain, divers, enough, few, little, many, much, no, none, one, own, other, several, some, sundry, which, whichever, whichsoever, what, whatever, whatsoever, each, every, either, neither.

"This" (plural "these ") distinctly points out an object as near in place or time; as, "This desk and these books."

"That" (plural "those ") distinctly points out an object as not near, or not so near as some other object; as, "That desk and those books." In speaking of two objects, that should refer to the former, and this to the latter; as, "These horses are larger than those."

"Former" and "latter" are used to designate which of two objects previously mentioned is referred to; as, "The cry of danger to the Union was raised to divert their assaults upon the Constitution. It was the latter, and not the former, which was in danger."

There are four pronominal adjectives which represent objects taken separately. They are each, every, either, and neither.

"Each 99 can be applied to one of two or any greater number; as, "Each warrior drew his battle blade"; "Useless each without the other." "Every' ” denotes all taken separately; as, "They received every man a penny"; "Every person in the room was astonished.”

"Either" should be applied to one of two objects only; as, "Either of the two roads leads to town"; "You may have either house."

"Neither " means not either; as, "Which of the two shall I take? both? one? or neither?"

Select the pronominal adjectives from the following:

1. Both forts were taken. 2. That is the same man we saw yesterday. 3. Yonder mountain is a volcano. 4. All men are mortal. 5. Have you any wheat to sell? 6. He took another road. 7. "And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites.” 8. They performed divers miracles. 9. "Enough has been said already." 10. "Many shall be called, but few chosen." II. "A little learning is a dangerous thing."— POPE, 12. Many men of many minds." SHAKESPEARE.

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13. There is much wealth in this town. 14. "Ye shall flee when none pursueth you." 15. They love one another (each person loves the other). 16. I love my own home. 17. Several victories were gained. 18. "I'll kiss each several paper for amends." 19. I have bought some books. 20. He has sundry parcels.

GENERAL REMARKS

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LXXIV. NUMERAL ADJECTIVES

Numeral adjectives are those which express number and order definitely; as, four, two hundred twenty-nine, fourth, fourfold.

They are divided into three classes: cardinal, ordinal, and multiplicative.

Cardinal numerals denote simply the number of objects; as, two, thirteen, fifty, a thousand, three million six hundred ninety-nine.

Ordinal numerals mark the position of an object in a series; as, second, thirteenth, fiftieth, the thousandth, the sixty-first.

Multiplicative numerals denote how many fold; as twofold, fourfold.

1. When such, many, only, but, and not are followed by the indefinite article a or an, the phrases such a, many a, etc., limit singular nouns; as, "If you repay me not on such a day"; "Many a time"; "He is but a man 99 "Not a drum was heard." These phrases may be parsed as single words.

2. Each other and one another are sometimes called reciprocals, because they are reciprocally related; as, "They mutually assist each other"; "They help one another." Parse “each” and “one” as adjectives used as nouns, in apposition with "they" taken distributively; ¿.e. as representing a number of individuals taken separately. Use "each” in referring to two individuals, and “one” in referring to more than two. Parse "other" and "another" as adjectives used as nouns in the objective case after the verbs that precede them.

3. Adjectives which vary in form to denote number, should agree in that property with the nouns they limit. Say, "this sort," not "these sort."

ADV. GRAM.

Comparison is a variation of the adjective to express different degrees of quality; as, wise, wiser, wisest; good, better, best.

There are three degrees of comparison: the positive, the comparative, the superlative.

The positive degree ascribes to an object the simple quality, or an equal degree of the quality; as, “A mild winter"; "She is as good as she is beautiful."

The comparative degree ascribes to one of two objects a higher or lower degree of the quality than that ascribed to the other; as, "A milder winter than usual;" "Mary is less studious than Emma."

The superlative degree ascribes the highest or lowest degree of the quality to one of more than two objects; as, "The mildest winter ever known"; "The least skillful rider could do no worse."

The suffix ish, and the words rather, somewhat, etc., denote the possession of a small amount of the quality; as, bluish, rather young, somewhat uncomfortable.

The words altogether, far, by far, vastly, much, very, exceedingly, almost, a little, too, very, slightly, greatly, etc., denote a high degree of the quality without implying comparison; as, very useful, exceedingly A welcome, a most valuable invention.

Adjectives denoting qualities which cannot exist in different degrees, cannot, with propriety, be compared; but when not taken in their full sense, they may be used in the comparative and superlative degrees.

Ex. Blind, deaf, perfect, right, level, square, straight, perpendicular, equal, naked, honest, sincere, hollow, empty, dead. "My sincerest regards"; "Our sight is the most perfect of our senses."

COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES

LXXVII. COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES

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In ascending comparison, the comparative and superlative degrees are regularly formed, —

By adding to the positive of monosyllables, r or er for the comparative, and st or est for the superlative; as, wise, wiser, wisest; hard, harder, hardest.

By prefixing to the positive of adjectives of more than one syllable, more for the comparative, and most for the superlative; as, honorable, more honorable, most honorable.

Most adjectives of two syllables ending in y or le, after a consonant, or accented on the second syllable, form their comparative and superlative degrees like monosyllables; as, holy, holier, holiest ; gentle, gentler, gentlest.

Some adjectives of two syllables, ending in a vowel or liquid sound, form their comparative and superlative degrees like monosyllables; as, handsome, handsomer, handsomest; narrow, narrower, narrowest.

Some words are expressed in the superlative degree by adding the suffix most; as, hindmost, innermost.

In descending comparison, the comparative is formed by prefixing less, and the superlative by prefixing least, to the positive; as, wise, less wise, least wise.

Some adjectives are compared irregularly; as, good, better, best; bad, worse, worst.

Monosyllables are sometimes compared by prefixing more and most ; as, "A foot more light, a step more true.” — SCOTT.

Two or more adjectives modifying the same word may be compared by prefixing more and most to the first; as, "The more nice and elegant parts"; "Most potent, grave, and reverend seigniors."-SHAKESPEARE.

RULE XII.

An adjective belongs to some noun or

pronoun.