THE ADJECTIVE AND THE ADVERB

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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,

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:

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.

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:

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

Wrong: This writing is more neaterthan yours.

Some adverbs are also compared; as,

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

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

**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

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