expressed by an adjective is denoted by the adverbs less and least; as, less studious, least studious; or sometimes by adding to the adjective the termination ISH; as, whitish, blackish, &c.

(22) The comparison of equality is always expressed by means of addi tional words, as, That man is as learned as his brother. (23) In this, and, indeed, in every case of comparison formally stated, there is a modifying proposition employed-a species of complement or modification which remains to be treated hereafter.

(24) A few cases occur in which the different degrees of the same quality are represented by words entirely distinct in form; and a few other cases occur in which there is some irregularity in the formation of the comparative and superlative. The chief irregularities of both kinds are exhibited in the following table.

(26) EXPLANATION.-Much is used in speaking of quantity, many, in speaking of number; nearest is used in reference to place, next, in reference to time; the forms later and latest are used in speaking of time, latter and last, in speaking of order; older and oldest are the forms generally employed at present, elder and eldest are more ancient forms, and are now less frequently employed. Further and furthest are perhaps formed from

(22) What is said of the comparison of equality? (28) What is necessary in all cases when a comparison is formally stated?

(24) Repeat the remark in reference to irregular comparison.

(25) Repeat the table of irregular forms.

(26) Repeat the remarks in explanation of the use of the irregular forms.]

fore which we have in the word foremost, and not from far. The meanings, as well as the derivation, of these forms were likely once differentfurther meaning more in front; farther, more distant. But in modern usage, farther, on account of its softer sound, has nearly superseded the harsher word, further, the difference of their signification not being so great as to preclude this substitution.

74. COMPARISON OF ADVERBS.-(1) Some adverbs admit of inflectional comparison like adjectives; as, soon, sooner, soonest; oft or often, oftener, oftenest. (2) Such adverbs, however, are very few in number. We know of none besides soon and often, except those which are originally adjectives, and come under the class of adjectives adverbially employed. (3) The comparatives and superlatives of some adjectives are used adverbially, though the positive form of these adjectives is not so employed. (4) For example, better and best are used adverbially, and when so used, serve as the comparative and superlative of the adverb well; but good is never used adverbially by those who speak correctly.(a) In the same manner, worse and worst are employed adverbially, but not the adjective bad. Badly or ill may be considered the positive form of worse and worst, when used adverbially. The comparatives and superlatives more and most and less and least are, as we have already seen, employed to modify adjectives. The positive much sometimes modifies comparatives, as, much wiser, &c. Little rarely modifies other adjectives.

(6) Adverbs of manner very often admit of comparison, because the quality denoted by the adjective involved in the mean

(a) The adjective good is often used (by careless speakers in the United States and perhaps in some other places) instead of the adverb well. For example, we may hear persons who have received an imperfect education say: The boy writes good, the fire burns good, I did that good, &c. Such expressions are grossly ungrammatical and vulgar; children catch them from uneducated persons, and sometimes it requires much labor and watchfulness to unlearn them.

$74. (1) Do any adverbs admit of inflectional comparison? Give examples. (2) What is said of the number of such adverbs? (3) What is said of the adverbial use of the coinparatives and superlatives of some adjectives? (4) Illustrate by examples.

(5) Repeat the substance of the note.

(6) What remarks are made in reference to adverbs of manner?

ing, and generally in the form of these adverbs, has different degrees of intensity. Thus, wisely admits of comparison for the same reason that the adjective wise involved in it admits of com parison. (7) But these adverbs, when regularly formed from adjectives (except the adjective itself, as in the case of better and best, is usurped as an adverb) have a form too unwieldy to admit of inflectional comparison. (8) They are, therefore, compared by using the modifying words more and most; as, wisely, more wisely, most wisely; justly, more justly, most justly.

(9) In the analysis of such adverbs, we may as well take the two words separately, and consider more and most as adverbial modifications of other adverbs.

(10) The comparative and superlative of adjectives when formed by the help of more and most may as well be treated in the same way in analy sis; the words more and most being regarded simply like other adverbial modifications of adjectives. (11) They differ in no respect, as regards grammatical form or grammatical function, from other adverbial modifications. There is no necessity for mentioning the names comparative and superlative degree, except when these degrees are formed by inflection. (12) Then it will be necessary, when the comparative or superlative form occurs, to say that the adjective is an adjective in the comparative or superlative degree, or that it is an adjective with the comparative or superlative inflectional modification. In writing we may express this by the abbreviations, Des. A. Comp. and Des. A. Sup.-Descriptive adjective of the comparative degree, and descriptive adjective of the superlative degree.(b)

§ 75. Having considered the modification of adjectives by inflection, we proceed to consider the various ways in which they are modified by separate words.

MODIFICATIONS OF ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS CONSISTING OF

(b) See more on this subject, Struct. of Lang., § 95.

(7) Are adverbs of manner inflected? (8) How are they compared? Illustrate by ex amples.

[(9) How may we proceed in the analysis of adverbs accompanied by more and most! (10) How, in the analysis of the comparatives and superlatives of adjectives made by more and most? (11) Assign the reasons for pursuing this course. (12) In what manner do we treat the inflectional forms in analysis?]

SEPARATE WORDS.-1st. (1) Some adjectives admit of a dative modification, like verbs. (2) The adjectives most frequently so modified are like, near, nearer, nearest, next. We subjoin a number of examples which may be used as an exercise in analysis.

(3) "He cometh forth like a flower," "Who teacheth like him?" "He shall be like a tree," &c. "Lest I become like them," &c. "The righteous shall flourish like the palm-tree, he shall grow like the cedar in Lebanon.' "There was none like thee before thee." "The men near Micah's house." "They knew not that evil was near them." "The mouth of the foolish is near destruction." John sat near his brother. His sister sits next him. All these adjectives instead of the dative are frequently followed by a noun and preposition modification, the preposition to or often unto being interposed between them and the completing noun.

EXERCISF.-To form propositions containing examples of adjectives modified by a dative.

2d. (4) Some adjectives are modified by an accusative of price, time, measure or dimension, like verbs. We subjoin examples, which may serve, like those in the last paragraph, for an exercise in analysis.

(5) This house is worth four thousand pounds. The book is worth ten shillings. That work is worth all the labor expended upon it. It is worth while to consider a subject, &c. (while is here a noun in the accusative). William departed this life, aged thirty-five years. That man is sixty years old. This table is five feet long and three feet wide. The house is four stories high. The wall is eighteen inches thick, ten feet high, and two hundred feet long. The river, in this place, is fifteen feet deep.

(6) It will be noticed that the adjective old and the adjectivss of dimension take the accusative of time and measure before them.(a)

(a) For explanation of the word ago preceded by a noun of time, see our larger treatise, pp. 312-3, note.

$75. (1) What is the first modification of adjectives by separate words here mentioned? (2) Enumerate the adjectives most frequently modified by a dative.

(3) Repeat some of the examples, and point out the adjective and the modifying dative in all the examples.

(4) What is the second form of modification of adjectives by separate words?

(5) Repeat some of the examples, and in all the propositions given point out the adjective and the accusative of price, time, &c.

(6) Repeat the remark in reference to the adjective old and the adjectives of dimension.

EXERCISE.-Form a given number of propositions containing examples of adjectives modified by an accusative of time, measure, &c.

3d. (7) Many adjectives are modified or completed by infinitives in the same manner as verbs. We subjoin a few examples for exercise in analysis.

(8) Your friend is very ambitious to excel his neighbors. The young man is desirous to learn. He is anxious to succeed in his enterprise. That action is worthy to be imitated. This boy is prone to do mischief. boy is prompt to perform his duty. John is now ready to go home.

That

(9) Participles or adjectives formed from verbs which take an infinitive modification of course take the same modification. Such adjectives, for example, as accustomed, habituated, inclined, addicted, disposed, &c., come within this description.

EXERCISE.-Form a number of propositions containing examples of this

construction.

4th. (10) Many adjectives are modified by a noun with a preposition, like nouns and verbs. (11) A few of the adverbs, formed from adjectives which take this modification, are sometimes completed in the same way. (12) We have examples in the following propositions: The man acted conformably to your ORDERS; John acted consistently WITH his CHARACTER. When we resolve the adverbs conformably and consistently, as in the equivalent propositions, The man acted IN A MANNER CONFORMABLE to your orders, John acted IN A MANNER CONSISTENT with his character, we shall see that they are modified by a noun and preposition, because the adjective involved in them is so modified.

(13) Different adjectives take after them different prepositions with a modifying noun, and the same adjective always takes the same preposition, or the same set of prepositions after it. Most adjectives taking after them

(7) What is the third modification of adjectives?

(8) Repeat some examples, and point out the adjective and infinitive modification in each.

(9) Repeat the remark about participles.

(10) Mention the fourth form of modification applied to adjectives. (11) Are adverbs ever modified in the same way? (12) Illustrate by example, and explain why the adverb is susceptible of this modification.

[(13) Repeat the substance of what is said in reference to different adjectives taking dif ferent prepositions after them.