CHAPTER VII

THE ADJECTIVE AND THE ADVERB

AS a rule, adverbs present more difficulty than do adjectives. Careless pupils frequently use an adjective when an adverb is necessary; as,

_Wrong_: He solved the problem very _quick_. _Right_: He solved the problem very _quickly_.

_Wrong_: This is _real_ good candy. _Right_: This is _really_ (or _very_) good candy.

Until the habit of correct usage is formed, every sentence must be watched. When a word modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb, another adverb must be used, and an adjective may not correctly be substituted. As a rule, adverbs express the following ideas:

_Time_: We arrived _early_. _Place_: We have been _here_ since January. _Manner_: He walked _steadily_ onward. _Cause_: _Why_ did you refuse the offer? _Degree_: I am _very much_ surprised. _Number_: I did it _once_ not _twice_. _Assertion_: } _Denial_: } I do _not_ agree.

Adverb modifying a verb: See how _slowly_ the man walks!

Adverb modifying an adjective: The weather has been _extremely_ warm.

Adverb modifying an adverb: He dictates _very_ rapidly.

It must be remembered, however, that verbs of the senses--_taste_, _feel_, _look_, _smell_, _sound_, and the like--are sometimes almost equal in meaning to the verb _be_. In that case, they are followed by adjectives and not by adverbs; as,

_Adjective_: He looked _angry_. _Adverb_: He looked _angrily_ at us.

=Exercise 90=

Name the adjectives in the following selection, explaining with what noun each belongs.

Name the adverbs, explaining what part of speech each modifies.

Since 1904 the number of live cattle exported from this country has been steadily growing smaller. Exports of dressed beef have also shrunk to such insignificant proportions that the United States is no longer an important factor in the foreign markets for beef. Often has it been said that the competition of cheap Argentine beef has deprived us of foreign markets. It would be more nearly true to say that foreigners buy the inferior article only because we cannot supply them with all they want of the best grade. Take, for instance, the Englishman's willingness to pay considerably more for American corn-fed beef than for Argentine.

The raising of cattle is important, also, from the standpoint of the leather business. Obviously, with a 21 per cent increase in population in each decade, many more shoes are necessary. Automobile and other industries are making constantly increasing demands for leather. Shoes cannot become cheaper in the face of increased demand and diminished supply. Too much depends upon the cattle industry for us to allow it to wane.

=Exercise 91=

Which of the italicized words should you use in the following, and why?

1. Why do you walk so _slow_--_slowly_?

2. Speak _louder_--_more loudly_.

3. I cannot explain why he spoke so _gentle_--_gently_.

4. The automobile was going very _swift_--_swiftly_.

5. The well has been dug very _deep_--_deeply_.

6. He is not _near_--_nearly_ so tall as you are.

7. Are you cutting that _even_--_evenly_?

8. She does pen and ink sketches _beautiful_--_beautifully_.

9. Why can't I grow _quicker_--_more quickly_?

10. I feel _bad_--_badly_ this morning.

11. Can you do all I have asked? _Easy_--_easily_.

12. She does her work _good_--_well_.

13. She does her work _fine_--_finely_.

14. I am _real_--_very much_ surprised to see you.

15. He became _real_--_very_ angry.

16. I'm afraid it's not _near_--_nearly_ big enough.

17. She works twice as _quick_--_quickly_ as you do.

18. He _sure_--_surely_ is a good speaker. He seems _sure_--_surely_ of himself.

19. Are you going? _Sure_--_surely_?

20. He says he is _near_--_nearly_ starved.

21. He worked _steady_--_steadily_ all morning. The others did not work _near_--_nearly_ so hard.

22. I am speaking as _serious_--_seriously_ as I can.

23. The orange tastes _bitter_--_bitterly_.

24. Don't you think he has been acting _queer_--_queerly_?

25. The coat is finished _nice_--_nicely_.

=Exercise 92=

Explain the proper position of the italicized adverbs in the following sentences. Remember that an adverb must stand as closely as possible to the word that it modifies, but remember also that an infinitive, although made up of two parts, is _one_ word and should not be split by an adverb.

1. I _merely_ want the Milwaukee list of customers.

2. You _almost_ write like her.

3. Your writing is like hers _almost_.

4. I can _not_ find one of the papers I had on the desk.

5. He told me to _carefully_ add the figures in the column.

6. I expect to _quickly_ finish my dictation.

7. I don't _even_ understand the first problem in the lesson.

8. Don't say you don't _ever_ expect to go to school again.

9. All the statements are _not_ on my desk.

10. He promised to _quickly_ settle the matter.

11. I wish you to _clearly_ understand the situation.

12. I _only_ have two more items to enter.

13. I _only_ expect to take a short vacation this year.

14. He _only_ spoke of two causes of the loss in trade.

15. I _only_ decided to take the Western instead of the Eastern trip at the last moment.

=Exercise 93--Comparison=

Adjectives are compared so as to express different degrees of quality. There are three degrees of comparison, the _positive_, the _comparative_, and the _superlative_. When the object modified or described by the adjective is not compared with another, the first or _positive_ degree is used. When two objects are compared, the second or _comparative_ degree is used to denote more or less of the quality expressed by the adjective. When several objects are compared, the _superlative_ degree of the adjective is used to express the highest or the lowest possible degree of the adjective.

The usual method of comparing an adjective is to add _er_ to the positive to form the comparative, and _est_ to form the superlative. Frequently, however, especially for an adjective of two or more syllables, the comparative is formed by prefixing _more_ or _less_ to the positive, and the superlative by prefixing _most_ or _least_. Besides the adjectives in these two classes there are some which do not follow any regular method and must, therefore, be watched a little more closely.

The following table illustrates the different methods of comparison:

_Positive_ _Comparative_ _Superlative_ bright brighter brightest dangerous more dangerous most dangerous beautiful more beautiful most beautiful good better best bad worse worst ill worse worst

Be careful to avoid using a double sign for the comparative degree; as,

_Wrong_: This writing is _more neater_ than yours.

Some adverbs are also compared; as,

_Positive_ _Comparative_ _Superlative_ well better best quickly more quickly most quickly

Some adjectives and adverbs cannot be compared because the positive degree in itself expresses a complete or _absolute_ meaning; as,

absolute,-ly eternal perfect sufficient circular extreme perpendicular supreme continual faultless perpetual unanimous dead full right unique decisive impossible round universal empty incurable square white

Compare those of the following adjectives that may be compared. Explain why some do not admit of comparison.

great spotless expensive wise tall dear parallel high desirable east old new honorable early exclusive blank

=Exercise 94=

In the following exercise, select the correct one of the two italicized forms. Remember that the comparative degree is used in comparing two objects, the superlative in comparing three or more.

1. I had three pens. I have lost the _better_--_best_ one.

2. I have two clerks. John is the _older_--_oldest_.

3. Of the two colors, I think the tan is the _more_--_most_ becoming to you.

4. You are the _taller_--_tallest_ of all the boys.

5. Of two professions, choose the _more_--_most_ honorable.

6. He is the _faster_--_fastest_ workman in the shop.

7. Which of your hands is the _cleaner_--_cleanest_?

8. Which do you like _better_--_best_, skating or sleighing?

9. Which of your eyes has the _better_--_best_ vision?

10. Of all the shops, she likes Leslie's _better_--_best_.

11. Which is _more_--_most_ durable, serge or broadcloth?

12. Which tree lives _longer_--_longest_, the poplar or the elm?

13. Which is the _best_--_better_ policy, honesty or dishonesty?

14. He is the _wittier_--_wittiest_ one in the class.

15. He is the _wittier_--_wittiest_ boy in the class. There is only one boy in the class besides him.

16. Of our twenty salesmen, he is considered _better_--_best_ because he is _quicker_--_quickest_ witted than any other.

17. You should not mention the two men in one breath. The _former_--_first_ is famous and the _latter_--_last_ infamous.

18. Which of you two do you think deserves _more_--_most_ praise?

19. Which of you two deserves _less_--_least_ praise?

20. Which of you two can run the _faster_--_fastest_?

=Exercise 95=

Remember that the double negative is wrong; as,

_Wrong_: I haven't no paper. _Right_: I have no paper.

Correct any of the following sentences that contain this mistake:

1. None of them didn't come.

2. I couldn't do the problem neither.

3. This paper isn't very good, I don't think.

4. Couldn't you find no better pen?

5. I didn't choose none of them.

6. I don't see nothing to complain of.

7. He couldn't hardly see across the street.

8. We didn't find the paper nowhere.

9. They can't scarcely believe the report.

10. She couldn't stay with us only a few minutes.

=Exercise 96--Fewer, Less=

_Fewer_ refers to a smaller number by counting, _less_ refers to a smaller quantity by measuring. Insert the correct word:

1. You are making ---- mistakes each day.

2. I am having ---- difficulty in writing shorthand.

3. There are ---- houses on this street than I had thought.

4. The farther inland we went the ---- signs of habitation we saw.

5. Each year there is ---- opportunity for an uneducated man to rise.

6. Each year there are ---- opportunities for the uneducated man to rise.

=Most, Almost=

_Most_ refers to quantity or number; _almost_ means _not quite_. Insert the correct word:

7. ---- people enjoy their work.

8. I have ---- finished the course in stenography.

9. ---- European cities are beautiful.

10. ---- all European cities are beautiful.

=Real, Very=

_Real_ is an adjective meaning _actual_; _very_ is an adverb of degree. Insert the correct word:

11. I'm ---- glad to see you.

12. Is your comb ---- amber?

13. The men of the Titanic were ---- heroes.

14. He is a ---- good soloist.

15. She is ---- entertaining in conversation; it was a ---- pleasure to meet her.

=Exercise 97--Adjectives and Adverbs Incorrectly Used=

_Wrong_ _Right_ 1. I don't like _those_ kind of pens. I don't like _that_ kind of pens.

2. What sort of _a_ course are you What sort of course are you taking? taking?

3. His statements made me _mad_. His statements made me _angry_.

4. Yours _respectively_. Yours _respectfully_. (Consult a dictionary for the correct use of _respectively_)

5. Do you want _in_? Do you want _to come in_?

6. Go _some place_ with me. Go _somewhere_ with me.

7. My father is _some_ better. My father is _somewhat_ better.

8. He comes _every once in a while_. He comes _occasionally_.

9. Did you recognize the girl who Did you recognize the girl who drove _past?_ drove _by_?

10. The two are _both_ alike. The two are alike.

11. He is _liable_ to come any He is _likely_ to come at any minute. minute.

12. That ring has a _funny_ design. That ring has an _odd_ design.

13. I'd _sooner_ stay at home. I'd _rather_ stay at home.

14. Are you _most_ ready? Are you _almost_ ready?

15. I'm _kind of_ sleepy. I'm _rather_ sleepy.

16. What _size_ hat do you wear? What _sized_ hat do you wear?

17. _This here_ book is the one _This_ book is the one I wish. I wish.

18. He spoke _angry like_. He spoke _angrily_.

19. His ideas are _no_ good. His ideas are _worthless_ (or _not good_).

20. He _seldom ever_ makes a mistake. He _seldom_ (_hardly ever_) makes a mistake.

21. I didn't work _any_ last night. I didn't work _at all_ last night.

22. I walked _this_ far yesterday. I walked _as far as this_ yesterday.

23. I want to see you _badly_. I want to see you _very much_.

24. He sells insurance _on the side_. _In addition to his other business_ he sells insurance.

25. Don't talk _out loud_. Don't talk _aloud_.

26. She is _very_ disappointed. She is _very much_ disappointed. (Before a perfect participle _too_ or _very_ may not be used without the addition of the adverb _much_)

27. She is a _cute_ (or _cunning_) She is a _pretty_ child. child. (Look up the words _cute_ and _cunning_ in a dictionary)

28. He was lying face _down_ on He was lying face _downward_ on the grass. the grass.