Plain English Part 74

ADVERBS

+340.+ +Co-ordinate conjunctions are also used to connect adverbs.+ This gives us the power to describe the action expressed in verbs without the tiresome repet.i.tion of the verb. For example:

He spoke _fluently_ and _eloquently_.

Exercise 7

In the following sentences underscore the adverbs which are connected by co-ordinate conjunctions:

1. Man selfishly and greedily prevents his fellow men from the enjoyment of nature's bounties.

2. She is wonderfully and gloriously brave.

3. He speaks eloquently and impressively, but very slowly.

4. Nature has provided lavishly and bountifully for her children.

5. Advice spoken truly and wisely is always in season.

6. We must resist injustice bravely and courageously.

7. He feels keenly and deeply the wrongs of his cla.s.s.

8. He writes easily and rapidly.

9. The words, calmly and coolly spoken, were instantly opposed.

10. He reached that conclusion naturally and inevitably.

11. He was gently but unwaveringly firm.

12. The revolution comes slowly but surely.

PHRASES

+341.+ +Co-ordinate conjunctions are used, not only to connect words, but also to connect phrases.+

Verb Phrases

+342.+ Verb phrases may be connected by conjunctions. For example:

The People's College _is owned_ and _controlled_ by the working cla.s.s.

We _have made_ and _are making_ a fierce struggle for a free press.

In this last sentence the two verb phrases, _have made_ and _are making_ are connected by the co-ordinate conjunction _and_. Often in using verb phrases, we use phrases in which the same helping verb occurs in both phrases. When this is the case the helping verb is quite often omitted in the second phrase and only the participle is connected by the conjunction. As, for example:

The People's College is owned and controlled by the working cla.s.s.

In this sentence the helping verb _is_ belongs in both the phrases but is omitted in the second phrase in order to make a smoother sounding sentence. In the second phrase, only the past participle _controlled_ is used. It is understood that we mean,

The People's College _is owned_ and _is controlled_ by the working cla.s.s.

Exercise 8

Note the use of the conjunction in the following sentences to connect the verb phrases. Supply the helping verb where it is omitted.

1. Our system of education is rooted and grounded in outgrown dogmas.

2. We have written but have received no answer.

3. Will you come or stay?

4. Man must struggle or remain in slavery.

5. The workers are organizing and demanding their rights.

6. We must arouse and educate our comrades.

7. We have sought but have not found.

Prepositional Phrases

+343.+ +Co-ordinate conjunctions are used to connect prepositional phrases.+

These phrases may be used as adjective phrases. For example:

The books _in the book case_ and _on the table_ belong to me.

These phrases may be used as adverb phrases. For example:

He works _with speed_ and _with ease_.

Exercise 9

Note in the following sentences, the prepositional phrases which are connected by co-ordinate conjunctions. Mark which are used as adjective and which as adverb phrases.

1. Education is the road out of ignorance and into the light.

2. The army charged over the plain and up the hill.

3. The first men lived in groups and in clans.

4. Democracy means government of the people and by the people.

5. Shall we take the path toward progress or toward barbarism.

6. They are not fighting for their country but for their king.

7. Human rights are not protected by the law nor by the courts.

8. The problem of the working cla.s.s and of society is the problem of equitable distribution.

9. They are deceived by their leaders and by their press.

10. You can pay either by the week or by the month.

11. Our government is not the rule of the majority but of the minority.

Infinitives and Participles

+344.+ +Co-ordinate conjunctions are also used to connect infinitives and participles.+

Exercise 10

In the following sentences mark the infinitives and participles connected by co-ordinate conjunctions.