Composition-Rhetoric Part 77

4. Adverbial phrase: [She ran _along the road_].

5. Adverbial clause: [Go _when you can_].

6. Nominative absolute: [The _speeches being over_, the audience dispersed].

Occasionally, adverbs and phrases of adverbial character modify the entire thought in a sentence, rather than some single word: [_To speak plainly,_ I cannot go. _Perhaps_ I may help you].

LIST OF SPECIAL WORDS

+86. Special Words.+--A list is here given of words which appear as various parts of speech:---

+a+ (1) Adjective: _A_ book. (2) Preposition: I go a-fishing.

+about+ (1) Preposition: Walk _about_ the house. (2) Adverb: We walked _about_ for an hour. _By, over, up_, etc., are used in the same way.

+above+ (1) Preposition: The sun is _above_ the horizon. (2) Adverb: Go _above_. (3) Noun: Every good gift is from _above_. (4) Adjective: The _above_ remarks are discredited. _Below_ has the same uses.

+after+ (1) Preposition: _After_ our sail. (2) Conjunctive adverb: He came _after_ she went away.

+all+ (1) p.r.o.noun: _All_ went merry as a marriage bell. (2) Noun: I gave my _all_. (3) Adjective: _All_ hands to the rescue.

(4) Adverb: The work is _all_ right.

+as+ (1) Conjunctive p.r.o.noun: I give such _as_ I have. (2) Conjunctive adverb: I am not so old _as_ she. (3) Adverb: What other grief is _as_ hard to bear? (4) Conjunction: _As_ it was hot, we did not go. (5) Preposition: I warned her _as_ a friend.

(6) Compound Conjunction: He looks _as_ if he were not well.

+before+ (1) Preposition: He stood _before_ the door. (2) Conjunctive Adverb: I will do it _before_ I go. (3) Adverb: She has never been here _before_.

+both+ (1) Adjective: _Both_ white and red pines are beautiful. (2) p.r.o.noun: _Both_ are yours. (3) Conjunction: She is _both_ good and beautiful.

+but+ (1) Conjunction: John reads _but_ Richard plays. (2) Preposition: All _but_ him are at home. (3) Adverb: We can _but_ fail.

+either+ (1) Adjective: _Either_ dress is becoming. (2) Conjunction: _Either_ this dress or the other is becoming. (3) p.r.o.noun: _Either_ is right.

+fast+ (1) Noun: A long _fast_. (2) Verb: They _fast_ often. (3) Adverb: The rain fell _fast_. (4) Adjective: He is a _fast_ walker.

+for+ (1) Subordinate Conjunction: I must go, _for_ I promised. (2) Coordinate Conjunction: She stayed at home, _for_ I saw her.

(3) Preposition: I have nothing _for_ you.

+hard+ (1) Adjective: _Hard_ labor. (2) Adverb: He works _hard_.

+like+ (1) Noun: We may never see her _like_ again. (2) Adjective: This process gives _like_ results. (3) Adverb: _Like_ as a father pitieth his children. (4) Preposition: She looks _like_ me.

(By some grammarians _like_ in this case is considered a _adjective_ with the preposition _to_ omitted.) (5) Verb: You _like_ your work.

+little+ (1) Adjective: A _little_ bread. (2) Noun: I wish a _little_.

(3) Adverb: He laughs _little_. _Much_ has the same uses.

+many a+ (1) Adjective: _Many a_ tree.

+notwithstanding+ (1) Preposition: _Notwithstanding_ the rain, we were content. (2) Conjunction or Preposition: She is happy, _notwithstanding_ (the fact that) she is an invalid.

+only+ (1) Adjective: This is the _only_ way. (2) Adverb: _Only_ experienced persons need apply. (3) Conjunction: I should go, _only_ it is stormy.

+since+ (1) Preposition: _Since_ that day I have not seen her. (2) Conjunction: _Since_ you lost it, you must replace it.

(3) Adverb: I have not seen her _since_. (4) Conjunctive Adverb: You have been here _since_ I have.

+still+ (1) Adjective: The lake is _still_. (2) Adverb: The tree is _still_ lying where it fell. (3) Conjunction: He is entertaining; _still_ he talks too much. (4) Verb: Oil is said to _still_ the waves. (5) Noun: In the _still_ of noonday the song of the locust was loud.

+than+ (1) Conjunction: I am older _than_ she. (2) Preposition: _Than_ whom there is none wiser.

+that+ (1) Demonstrative p.r.o.noun: _That_ is right. (2) Conjunctive p.r.o.noun: He _that_ lives n.o.bly is happy. (3) Adjective: _That_ book is mine. (4) Conjunction: I say this _that_ you may understand my position. (5) Substantive Conjunction: _That_ this is true is evident.

+the+ (1) Adjective (article): _The_ lake. (2) Adverb: _The_ more ...

_the_ merrier.

+then+ (1) Adverb: I shall know _then_. (2) Conjunction: If you so decide, _then_ we may go.

+there+ (1) Adverb: The stream runs _there_. (2) Expletive: _There_ are many points to be considered. (3) Interjection: _There!

there!_ it makes no difference!

+what+ (1) Conjunctive Interrogative p.r.o.noun: I heard _what_ you said.

p.r.o.noun: _What_ shall I do? (3) Interrogative Adjective: _What_ game do you prefer? (4) Conjunctive Adjective: I know _what_ books he enjoys. (5) Adverb: _What_ with this and _what_ with that, he finally got his wish. (6) Interjection: _What! what!_

+while+ (1) Noun: A long _while_. (2) Verb: To _while_ away the time.

(3) Conjunctive Adverb: I stay in _while_ it snows.

III. FIGURES OF SPEECH

+87. Figures of Speech.+--A figure of speech is a change from the usual form of expression for the purpose of producing a greater effect. These changes may be effective either because they are more pleasing to us or because they are more forcible, or for both reasons.

While figurative language is a change from the usual mode of expression, we are not to think of it as being unnatural. It is, in fact, as natural as plain language, and nearly every one, from the illiterate to the most learned, makes use of it, more or less, in his ordinary conversation. This arises from, the fact that we all enjoy comparisons and subst.i.tutions.

When we say that we have been pegging away all day at our work, or that the wind howls, or that the man has a heart of steel, we are making use of figures of speech. Figurative language ranges from these very simple expressions to the beautiful figures of speech found in so much of our poetry. Written prose contains many beautiful and forcible examples, but it is in poetry that we find most of them.

+88. Simile.+--A simile is an expressed comparison between objects belonging to different cla.s.ses. We must remember, however, that all resemblances do not const.i.tute similes. If we compare two trees, or two beehives, or two rivers, our comparison is not a simile. If we compare a tree to a person, a beehive to a schoolroom, or time to a river, we may form a good simile, since the things compared do not belong to the same cla.s.s. The best similes are those in which the ideas compared have one strong point of resemblance, and are unlike in all other respects.

1. How far that little candle throws its beams!

So shines a good deed in a naughty world.

--Shakespeare.