Plain English Part 63

12. I looked quick--quickly in the direction of the sound.

13. The sun is shining bright--brightly today and the gra.s.s looks green--greenly.

SPELLING

LESSON 17

In our study of adjectives we have found that we use them to express some quality possessed by a noun or p.r.o.noun which they modify. You will recall when we studied nouns, we had one cla.s.s of nouns, called abstract nouns, which were the names of qualities. So we find that from these adjectives expressing quality we form nouns which we use as the name of that quality.

For example from the adjective _happy_, we form the noun _happiness_, which is the name of the quality described by the adjective _happy_, by the addition of the suffix _ness_. We use this suffix _ness_ quite often in forming these derivative nouns from adjectives but there are other suffixes also which we use; as for example, the suffix _ty_ as in _security_, formed from the adjective _secure_, changing the _e_ to _i_ and adding the suffix _ty_. When the word ends in _t_ we sometimes add only _y_ as in _honesty_, derived from the adjective _honest_.

You remember that an abstract noun may express not only quality but also action, considered apart from the actor; so abstract nouns may be made from verbs. For example:

_Running_, from the verb _run_; _settlement_, from the verb _settle_.

In our lesson for this week the list for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday contains adjectives of quality from which abstract nouns expressing quality can be made, by the addition of the proper suffix, either _ness_, _y_, _ty_ or _tion_. The list for Thursday, Friday and Sat.u.r.day consists of verbs from which abstract nouns can be made by the addition of the suffixes _ment_ and _ing_.

Make from each adjective and verb in this week's lesson an abstract noun by the addition of the proper suffix. Be able to distinguish between the use of the qualifying adjective and the noun expressing quality.

+Monday+

Stately Forgetful Real Concise n.o.ble

+Tuesday+

Slender Empty Equal Righteous Deliberate

+Wednesday+

Submissive Dreadful Eager Sincere Resolute

+Thursday+ Enlist Defile Adorn Nourish Commence

+Friday+

Content Adjust Induce Indict Adjourn

+Sat.u.r.day+

Discourage Refine Acquire Enrich Infringe

PLAIN ENGLISH

LESSON 18

Dear Comrade:

Last week we finished the study of adverbs and we found that they were a very important part of our vocabulary, and that most of us needed a greater supply than we at present possess. This is true of both adverbs and adjectives. While we do not use as many adverbs as adjectives in our ordinary speech, nevertheless, adverbs are a very important factor in expression. A great many adjectives can be readily turned into adverbs.

They are adjectives when they are used to describe a noun, but by the addition of a suffix, they become adverbs used to describe the action expressed by the verb. So in adding to our stock of adjectives we also add adverbs to our vocabulary as well.

Watch your speech this week and make a list of the adverbs which you use most commonly, then go to your dictionary and see if you cannot find synonyms for these adverbs. Try using these synonyms for awhile and give the adverbs which you have been using for so long, a well earned rest.

Remember that our vocabulary, and the power to use it, is like our muscles, it can only grow and develop by exercise.

The best exercise which you can possibly find for this purpose is conversation. We spend much more time in talking than in reading or in writing. Conversation is an inexpensive pleasure and it does not even require leisure always, for we can talk as we work; yet our conversation can become a great source of inspiration and of influence as well as a pleasant pastime. But do not spend your time in vapid and unprofitable conversation. Surely there is some one in the list of your acquaintances who would like to talk of things worth while. Hunt up this some one and spend some portion of your day in profitable conversation.

Remember also that a limited vocabulary means also a limited mental development. Did you ever stop to think that when we think clearly we think in words? Our thinking capacity is limited, unless we have the words to follow our ideas out to their logical conclusions.

This matter of vocabulary is a matter, too, that is exceedingly practical. It means success or failure to us in the work which we would like to do in the world. A command of words means added power and efficiency; it means the power to control, or at least affect, our environment; it means the power over men and things; it means the difference between being people of ability and influence and being obscure, inefficient members of society.

So feel when you are spending your time in increasing your vocabulary that you are not only adding to your enjoyment of life but that you are doing yourself the best practical turn; you are increasing your efficiency in putting yourself in a position where you can make your influence felt upon the people and circ.u.mstances about you. This effort upon your part will bear practical fruit in your every day life.

Yours for Education,

THE PEOPLE'S COLLEGE.

A GROUP OF WORDS

+299.+ We have studied about the independent parts of speech, that is, the nouns and p.r.o.nouns and verbs. These are independent because with them we can form sentences without the help of other words. And these are the only three parts of speech which are so independent--with which we can form complete sentences. Then we have studied also the words that modify,--that is, the words that are used with nouns and p.r.o.nouns and verbs to describe and explain more fully the ideas which they express.

So we have studied adjectives, which modify nouns and p.r.o.nouns; and adverbs, which modify verbs or adjectives or other adverbs.

+300.+ The adjectives and adverbs which we have studied thus far are single words; but we find that we may use little groups of words in about the same way, to express the same idea which we have expressed in the single adjective or adverb. For example, we may say:

Strong men, _or_, men of strength.

City men, _or_, men from the city.

Jobless men, _or_, men without jobs.

Moneyed men, _or_, men with money.

These groups of words like, _of strength_, _from the city_, _without jobs_, and _with money_, express the same ideas that are expressed in the single adjectives, _strong_, _city_, _jobless_ and _moneyed_.

You recall that we defined any group of words used as a single word as a _phrase_; so these groups of words are phrases which are used as adjectives. The phrase, _of strength_, modifies the noun _men_, just as the adjective _strong_ modifies the noun _men_. So we may call these phrases which modify nouns, or which may be used to modify p.r.o.nouns also, _adjective phrases_, for they are groups of words used as adjectives.

Exercise 1

Change the adjectives which are printed in italics in the following sentences into phrases:

1. _Strong_ men know no fear.

2. She bought a _Turkish_ rug.

3. He followed the _river_ bed.

4. _Fashionable_ women are parasites.

5. He left on his _homeward_ journey.