CHAPTER VI. THE ADVERB. § 1. The above statement has been well The essential function of an adverb is to qualify or modify an attribute, ie., a verb, an adjective, or an adverb. In cases where it is joined to a noun, the expression is either elliptical, or the adverb becomes. an adjective. "The above statement" (= the abovewritten statement). "Above" is an adv. mod. "written." To call "above" an adv. qual. "statement" is illogical. Less reprehensible would it be to say: "Above," an adv. used as an adj., qual. statement;" but there is no need even of this. 66 EXAMPLES, 1. The then bishop of London, Dr. Laud, attended on his majesty.-2. The then1 secretary wrote the report.-3. The then1 ministry conducted the prosecution.-4. Blessed be God, even the Father.-5. From the Conquest downwards,3 the same results are seen.-6. We mourn thy departure hence.-7. The church here is very fine.-8. He was truly man.-9. After? ages will sing his exploits.-10. The mountains looked twices their real size. 1 Modifies existing. "Even" is, by origin, an adj.; as adv. it means "equally so," or "exactly so." Some say it here qualifies "Father: rather it modifies be understood. 3 "Downwards" is said to qual. "Conquest:" rather it modifies traced understood. 4 "Hence seems to retain its adverbial force, the noun "departure" implying action. Parse "hence" as adv. used as adj., qual. "departure." 5"Here" is said to qualify" "church" Rather it modifies is understood: "The church which is here is very fine." "Truly" is said to qualify "man," the adj. "human" being implied in the noun: better to make it modify the verb "was." Ages coming after. 8 Looked to be of their real size taken twice. § 2. The fish swims just below the surface. Certain grammarians make the adv. "just" modify the prep. "below." Now, an adv. modifies attributes only. Here it modifies the phrase "below the surface," which is equivalent to an adverb of place. EXAMPLES. 1. I have seen the castle, but only at a distance.-2. He was rewarded, not with worldly wealth, but with a good conscience. 3. The stream flowed fast1 by the oracle of God. 4. Hard by yon wood, now smiling as in scorn, Muttering his wayward fancies he would rove. 1 i.e., close. § 3. Nearly a pound was missing. (1) "Nearly" is called an adv., and said to qual. the noun "pound." This is illogical. (2) "Nearly" is called an adverb, used as an adj., qual. the noun "pound." This is admissible. (3) "Nearly" is called an adv., mod the disting. adj. (indef. art.) "a." This is the best view. Compare Nearly twenty men;" where "nearly" modifies "twenty." "Nearly a pound" (= nearly one pound). EXAMPLES. 1. Almost a dozen were present. 2. Hardly a cottage chimney smokes 1 From the space betwixt. § 4.-An eternal now does always last. The adverb "now " is here used as a noun, and is to be parsed as such. EXAMPLES. 1. He spent a long while.1-2. He travelled from thence by land.-3. There are upward of two thousand people present. 4. Since when did you arrive.-5. It is scarcely worth their while.5-6. Now is the time.-7. Every now and then one is condemned to some obnoxious place.-8. If they had wherewithal to pay their way.-9. This diamond I greet your wife withal.9 " 1 "While" (= time), a noun. 2 "Thence " means "from that place." and the "from" is redundant. As it stands, parse "thence as a noun, governed by "from." 3"Upward" is by some called an adv. used as a noun. Rather supply the ellipsis, thus: "There are people numbering upward of two thousand people present.' "Upward" modifies numbering. 4 Better to say, "Since what time." As it stands, "when" is a noun, governed by "since." 5 "While" (= time or pains), a noun. 6 "Now" (the present), a noun. 7 "Now," a noun, governed by at understood. "Wherewithal," an adv. used as a noun-or supply the ellipsis: "If they had the money wherewithal they might be able to pay their way." Here "wherewithal" is a conjunction. 9 44 Withal," an adj. mod. "greet ;" 'Diamond," obj. case, governed by with understood. § 5. I must needs go. "Needs" means "necessarily," and is an adverb, modifying "must go." "Needs" is the genitive of "need" used adverbially. the noun EXAMPLES. 1. Whoever is a true lover of our constitution must needs be pleased to see its happy fruits.-2. I have bought a piece of ground and must needs go and see it.-3. While I live I needs must love. 4. Now, O now, I needs must part, Parting though I absent mourn. § 6. Whilom in Albion's isle there lived a youth. "Whilom" is the dative plural of "while." Compare "seldom." It is an adverb. EXAMPLES. 1. There are groves where whilom kings did make repair.—2. Whilom upon his banks did legions throng.-3. As whilom he was wont the leagues to cheer.-4. Of whom high Jove wont whilom feasted be. It is an § 7.-I received a letter eight days ago. 'Ago" is an adv. mod. "received." abbreviation of the participle "agone." Participles, like adjectives, may be used adverbially. EXAMPLES. 1. About four years ago a book was written.-2. Thou dost cheering say, journey on for this one day. § 8.-Charm he never so wisely. "Never" is used idiomatically for "ever," an adverb of degree, mod. "so." § 1.- The path of virtue must not be swerved from. We can say "He swerved from the path of virtue," where "from" governs "path." When the sentence is turned into the passive, "path" becomes the nominative, and "from" is left without any governed word. The explanation of this idiom is that "from" has a closer connection with the verb than with the governed word. "Swerved from " is really equivalent to a transitive verb, governing "path." Hence, in parsing, many grammarians couple the verb and preposition under the name of "preposition-verb." When we say "He swerved from the path," &c., there is no need to deviate from the usual mode of parsing the words separately. In the passive form, we may call "swerved from" a preposition-verb, reckoning the preposition as an integral part of the verb; or, we may parse "from as an adv. mod. "swerved." The latter plan is preferable, both from its simplicity and from its recognising the fact that "from" has lost its prepositional character, that of "relating." EXAMPLES. 1. The man, who was spoken to,1 nodded assent.-2. The subject talked of2 is very interesting.—3. The satire is too keen to deal with 3-4. The same instruments are made use of.4-5. That still small voice of conscience, unheard and unlistened to, amid the din and battle of life, speaks audibly to us now.-6. He was made much of at Argos.-7. This pen is not fit to write with.5 ་་ " 1 "To," adv. mod. "was spoken." "Spoken to" addressed. "Of," adv. mod. "talked." "Talked of discussed. 3 i.e., to handle. In active, "He makes use of the same instruments"; in passive, use is obj. case after the passive verb "are made." "Of" is an adv. mod. "are made." "Are made use of" is a periphrasis for "are used." With," adv. mod. "to write.' The ellipsis may be supplied: "This pen is not a fit pen with which to write." "With" then retains its character as a prep. governing “which." § 2. Which would you be for? "For" is a preposition, governing the interrogative pronoun "which." The preposition is here separated from the word it governs. EXAMPLES. 1. There is another foppery which is to be cautiously guarded against1.-2. Here is an example for us to proceed by2.-3. He is a person not fit to converse with3.-4. I doubted whether any man could owe so much to the side he was of.4-5. He denied the crime he was guilty of.5-6. I gave the lowest price he set them at.6-7. This is what I believe, and what I shall stick to.? -8. What a paltry sum it would amount to 18—9. I say what every good subject will now fall in with.9 1 Governs the rel. pron. "which." 2 Governs which understood. With whom it is not fit to converse. 4 Which he was of. B Which he was guilty of. "What" the thing which. "gum." "What"= the "In" is an adv. mod. "must "To governs At which he set them. "which.' 8 "To" governs thing which. "With" governs "which." fall." "Fall in "agrec. § 3. Our success depends on who are appointed as (1) "On" judges. may be said to govern persons understood. (2) "On" may be said to govern the sentence "who are appointed as judges." (3) "On" may be said to govern circumstance understood. This is the most correct view. EXAMPLES. altogether depends on where you wish to go.-2. It depends hen you wish to do it.-3. That will be determined by e he is appointed to act. |