Some adjectives cannot be compared, because their meaning will not permit it. They are most limiting adjectives; such as, one, first, thirty, this, those ; a few adjectives denoting quality; such as, round, supreme, universal. EXERCISE. 166. Compare the following adjectives: ugly, more, generous, tired, lofty, apt, red, further, high, dainty, aged, honest, industrious, feebie, helpful, aspiring, worst, dense, heavy, flat, first, clear, lazy, noble, hard-fisted, covetous, pretty, open, severe, just. EXERCISE. 167. Use in sensible sentences the following adjec tives: well, less, much, furthest, elder, late, last, latest, many, next, foremost. CONSTRUCTION OF ADJECTIVES. 168. (a) Many a man thinks well who has a poor utterance; while others have a charming manner, but their thoughts are trifling. (b) The tender flowers, weary and faded, drooped under the burning sun. (c) Rich and rare were the gems she wore. (d) The task he undertakes Is numb'ring sands and drinking oceans dry. (e) The sun shines bright in the old Kentucky home. Which of the three positions that may be occupied by an adjective has charming? trifling? In (b), what position have weary and faded? What position have the adjectives rich and rare? According to their position in a sentence, adjectives are attributive modifiers, appositive modifiers, or predicative modifiers. What qualifying adjective in (d)? What element of a sentence is it? (See Section 41.) In (e), does bright modify shines? Or does the sentence mean "the bright sun shines"? Or does it seem to you to partake of both ideas? If it is a complement, what kind is it? If it is a modifier, what kind is it? If it is both, what, then, would be a good name for it? An adjective may be used in five constructions. It may be 1. an attributive modifier; 3. a predicative modifier; The adverbial attribute is found after a few verbs denoting motion or condition. The adjective seems to divide in its modification between the verb and its subject. It modifies both. To parse an adjective, give — 1. its classification; 2. its comparison, if it is compared; 3. its construction, with the word it modifies. EXERCISE. 169. Analyze the following sentences, and parse the nouns, pronouns, and adjectives: MODEL. "Joy moves the dazzling wheels that roll "The " is a definite article; it modifies "wheels." "Dazzling" is a qualifying adjective. It is compared: dazzling, more dazzling, most dazzling. It is an attributive modifier of "wheels." "Of all thieves fools are the worst: they rob you of time and temper." "All" is a limiting adjective. It is not compared. It is an attributive modifier of "thieves." 1. One swallow does not make a summer. 2. Half a loaf is better than no bread. 3. How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank! 4. The cattle upon a thousand hills are the Lord's. 5. It is only the first step which costs. 6. What news on the Rialto? 7. The stream runs fast. 8. Thy grandsire loved thee well; Many a time he danced thee on his knee. 9. And he that does one fault at first, And lies to hide it, makes it two. 10. But an old age, serene and bright, And lovely as a Lapland night, Shall lead thee to thy grave. 11. The Roman eagles carried the Latin civilization to the shores of the western ocean. 12. What man is there who will not draw his bow? 13. On this dim verge of the known world, there were other perils than those of the waves. 14. Great was the joy that hailed his arrival. 15. The broad, blue ribbon of the great river glistened amid a realm of verdure. 16. The forest dropped its festal robes. 17. Reeds and willows bordered the stream; and cattle and gray venerable horses came and hung their mild heads over the embankment, 18. Sun and shower alternated like day and night, making the hours longer by their variety. 19. Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward, All in the valley of Death Rode the six hundred. 20. Full many a flower is born to blush unseen. 21. What a piece of work is man ! 22. The summer's flower is to the summer sweet. 23. Far, vague, and dim The mountains swim. 24. There was not a sound audible but that of the sheep-bells in some meadows by the river, and the creaking of a cart down the long road that descends the hill. 25. What I required was something cheap, and small and handy; and all these requisites pointed to a donkey. 26. There was something neat and high-bred about the rogue that hit my fancy upon the spot. 27. What a noble gift to man are the forests! What a debt of gratitude and admiration we owe to their utility and their beauty! How pleasantly the shadows of the wood fall upon our heads when we turn from the glitter and turmoil of the world of man! The winds of heaven seem to linger amid their balmy branches, and the sunshine falls like a blessing upon the green leaves; the wild breath of the forest, fragrant with bark and berry, fans the brow with grateful freshness; and the beautiful woodlight, neither garish nor gloomy, full of calm and peaceful influences, sheds repose over the spirit. VERBS. 170. A VERB IS A WORD THAT ASSERTS. (See Section 23.) A COPULATIVE VERB IS ONE WHOSE PRINCIPAL USE IS THAT OF A COPULA. AN ATTRIBUTIVE VERB IS ONE THAT IN ITSELF CONTAINS THE PREDICATE ATTRIBUTE. A COMPLETE VERB IS ONE THAT REQUIRES NO COMPLEMENT. (See Section 26.) AN INCOMPLETE VERB IS ONE THAT REQUIRES A COMPLEMENT, - ATTRIBUTE, OBJECT, OR OBJECT AND OBJECTIVE. If the attribute complement is a noun, the word is often called a predicate noun. If the attribute complement is an adjective, it is often called a predicate adjective. EXERCISE. 171. Write five sentences containing copulative verbs, and five containing attributive verbs. Tell of each whether it is complete or incomplete. VERBS-TRANSITIVE AND INTRANSITIVE. 172. A TRANSITIVE VERB IS ONE THAT ASSERTS AN ACTION RECEIVED BY SOME OBJECT. (See Section 33, and Section 30, Note.) AN INTRANSITIVE VERB IS ONE THAT DOES NOT ASSERT AN ACTION THAT IS RECEIVED BY AN OBJECT. Many verbs are at one time transitive and at another intransitive. The use of the verb in a sentence determines whether it is transitive or intransitive. (a) Speak gently to the erring one. (b) Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounce it to you. (c) He ran to the brook. (d) He ran the horse to the brook. (e) He ran a race. (f) Many men walk for exercise. (g) The groom walked the horse. (h) I have lived to-day. (i) He lived a worthless life. (k) He laughed at his own folly. Point out the instances in the sentences in which a verb is used transitively and intransitively. What is the object of speak in (b)? Is there any relation in meaning between speak and speech? Is there any relation in meaning between lived and life? In a dictionary find the meaning of cognate. Is there a reason why such an object could be called a cognate object? Ran in (d) and walked in (g) are used with the meaning of causing the action named. Many verbs take an object when used in a causative sense. |