An English Grammar Part 57

_When_ last I saw thy young blue eyes, they smiled.--BYRON.

But in reality, _when_ does not express time and modify, but the whole clause, _when_..._eyes_; and _when_ has simply the use of a conjunction, not an adverb. For further discussion, see Sec. 299 under "Subordinate Conjunctions."

Exercise.--Bring up sentences containing twenty adverbs, representing four cla.s.ses.

COMPARISON OF ADVERBS.

288. Many adverbs are compared, and, when compared, have the same inflection as adjectives.

The following, irregularly compared, are often used as adjectives:--

_Positive._ _Comparative._ _Superlative._

well better best ill or badly worse worst much more most little less least nigh or near nearer nearest or next far farther, further farthest, furthest late later latest, last (rathe, _obs._) rather

289. Most monosyllabic adverbs add _-er_ and _-est_ to form the comparative and superlative, just as adjectives do; as, _high_, _higher_, _highest_; _soon_, _sooner_, _soonest_.

Adverbs in _-ly_ usually have _more_ and _most_ instead of the inflected form, only occasionally having _-er_ and _-est_.

Its strings _boldlier_ swept.--COLERIDGE.

None can deem _harshlier_ of me than I deem.--BYRON.

Only that we may _wiselier_ see.--EMERSON.

Then must she keep it _safelier_.--TENNYSON.

I should _freelier_ rejoice in that absence.--SHAKESPEARE.

[Sidenote: _Form_ vs. _use._]

290. The fact that a word ends in _-ly_ does not make it an adverb.

Many adjectives have the same ending, and must be distinguished by their use in the sentence.

Exercise.

Tell what each word in _ly_ modifies, then whether it is an adjective or an adverb.

1. It seems certain that the Normans were more cleanly in their habits, more courtly in their manners.

2. It is true he was rarely heard to speak.

3. He would inhale the smoke slowly and tranquilly.

4. The perfectly heavenly law might be made law on earth.

5. The king winced when he saw his homely little bride.

6. With his proud, quick-flashing eye, And his mien of kingly state.

7. And all about, a lovely sky of blue Clearly was felt, or down the leaves laughed through.

8. He is inexpressibly mean, curiously jolly, kindly and good-natured in secret.

291. Again, many words without _-ly_ have the same form, whether adverbs or adjectives.

The reason is, that in Old and Middle English, adverbs derived from adjectives had the ending _-e_ as a distinguishing mark; as,--

If men smoot it with a yerde _smerte_ [If men smote it with a rod smartly].--CHAUCER.

This _e_ dropping off left both words having the same form.

Weeds were sure to grow _quicker_ in his fields.--IRVING.

O _sweet_ and _far_ from cliff and scar The horns of Elfland faintly blowing.--TENNYSON.

But he must do his errand _right._--DRAKE

_Long_ she looked in his tiny face.--_Id._

Not _near_ so black as he was painted.--THACKERAY.

In some cases adverbs with _-ly_ are used side by side with those without _-ly_, but with a different meaning. Such are _most_, _mostly_; _near_, _nearly_; _even_, _evenly_; _hard_, _hardly_; etc.

[Sidenote: _Special use of_ there.]

292. Frequently the word there, instead of being used adverbially, merely introduces a sentence, and inverts the usual order of subject and predicate.

This is such a fixed idiom that the sentence, if it has the verb _be_, seems awkward or affected without this "_there_ introductory." Compare these:--

1. _There_ are eyes, to be sure, that give no more admission into the man than blueberries.--EMERSON.

2. Time was when field and watery cove With modulated echoes rang.--WORDSWORTH.

HOW TO Pa.r.s.e ADVERBS.