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.