CHAPTER IV We have learned (17) that an adverb is a word used to modify a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. Adverbs may be classified according to meaning, use, or form. 153. Adverbs Classified According to Meaning.— Adverbs, if classified according to meaning, are of the following kinds: (1) Adverbs of time; as, Now he strikes. (2) Adverbs of place; as, Here we are, John. (7) Modal adverbs, or adverbs denoting certainty, uncertainty, or negation: as, I will surely come; Perhaps he will go; She did not arrive. Yes and no are sometimes called responsives. They are used in replying to questions, and may stand for an entire assertion: as, Will you go? - Yes (I will go); As these words were formerly adverbs, they are still so classed. Did you call? - No (I did not call). EXERCISE 112 Classify the adverbs in Exercise 11 according to meaning. Model for written exercise: I was so tired that I could not get here sooner. 154. Adverbs Classified According to Use.- Adverbs, if classified according to use, are of the following kinds: (1) Interrogative adverbs; as, Where is he? Interrogative adverbs, like interrogative pronouns, may introduce either direct or indirect questions (123); as, When did you see him? (Direct question.) Tell us when you saw him. (Indirect question.) (2) Relative adverbs; as, Here is the place where (at which) we stopped. Relative adverbs, like relative pronouns, introduce subordinate clauses, and refer to an antecedent expressed or omitted. If the antecedent is expressed, the clause is adjectival (53); if the antecedent is omitted, the clause is adverbial (53); thus, It happened on the day before you came. (Adjectival clause modifying the noun day.) It happened before you came. (Adverbial clause modifying the verb happened.) The principal relative adverbs are when, whenever, while, as, since, before, after, till, until, where, whence, whither, why, how. Relative adverbs are also called conjunctive adverbs. EXERCISE 113 Point out the interrogative and relative adverbs; tell whether each subordinate clause is an indirect question, an adjectival clause, or an adverbial clause: 155. Adverbs Classified According to Form.- Adverbs, if classified according to form, are of the following kinds: (1) Simple adverbs, or adverbs not formed from other words; as, so, how, thus, here, not, etc. (2) Derivative adverbs, or adverbs formed from other words by adding a prefix or suffix; as, afoot, slowly, etc. The largest class of adverbs is made up of those ending in ly. They are derived mostly from adjectives, especially descriptive adjectives. Some words ending in ly are adjectives, not adverbs; as, manly, godly, lordly, lively, friendly, costly, comely, etc. Such adjectives do not have corresponding adverbs. We say "in a manly way," etc. A few adverbs have two forms, which differ somewhat in meaning: as, hard, hardly; late, lately; most, mostly; near, nearly; etc. Some words may be either adverbs or adjectives without a change in form;* as, far, fast, well, ill, much, little, etc., thus: I walked far. We ran fast. You sing well. (Adverbs.) It is far. It is a fast train. I am well. (Adjectives.) (3) Compound adverbs, or adverbs formed by uniting two (rarely more) words; as, indeed, forever, nowadays, etc. Some idiomatic adverbial phrases have the value of compound adverbs; as, (1) Name the adverbs corresponding to these adjec * After the old adverbial suffix ë dropped out of use, many adverbs and adjectives became for a time identical in form. A few such words still remain, though adverbs of manner now generally end in ly. (2) Name an adverbial equivalent for these adjectives: costly, friendly, womanly, deadly, gentlemanly, seemly. (3) Choose between the two adverbs and find a reason to justify your choice: 1. He works hard (hardly). 2. I hard (hardly) ever go. 3. He seems to be near (nearly) exhausted. 4. He stood near (nearly). 5. She is most (mostly) candid. 156. Comparison of Adverbs.- Adverbs, like adjectives, often admit of comparison. They are compared as follows: (1) A few adverbs are compared by adding er and est; as, soon, sooner, soonest. These are adverbs of one syllable, rarely of two syllables. (2) Most adverbs, especially those ending in ly, are compared by using more and most; as, swiftly, more swiftly, most swiftly. Sometimes either form of comparison may be used; as, often, oftener or more often, oftenest or most often. (3) A few adverbs are compared irregularly: as, ill (or badly), worse, worst; far, farther (further), farthest (furthest); late, later, latest or last; little, less, least; much, more, most; near, nearer, nearest or next; well, better, best. As we have seen (148), the comparative degree is used in comparing two things, the superlative in comparing more than two. This principle applies to adverbs as well as to adjectives. Note the following examples: Which can run the faster, you or John? early near plainly badly diligently slowly deeply happily clearly fondly (2) Choose between the two forms and give a reason for your choice: 1. We fared worse (iller) than you. 2. Please speak kindlier (more kindly) to him. 3. Which can write the better (best), Mary or John? 4. Which can sing the best (better), Jane, Martha, or Louise? 5. Charles can run faster than any (any other) boy in school. 6. Charles can run the fastest of any boy (all the boys) in school. 157. Grammatical Uses of Adverbs. As we have seen, an adverb regularly modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. Sometimes an adverb is used with a group of words, and modifies either the connecting word or the group as a whole; thus, He stood just above me. (Just modifies either the preposition above or the phrase above me.) I came just after he came. (Just modifies either the relative adverb after or the clause after he came.) Sometimes an adverb has the force of a predicate adjective; as, I am here but he is away. (I am present but he is absent.) Sometimes an adverb is used independently, with the force of an interjection; as, Why, I am surprised! Well, who would have thought it! |