Chapter VII The Adjective and the Adverb
As a rule, adverbs present more difficulty than do adjectives. Careless pupils frequently use an adjective when an adverb is necessary; as,
| Wrong: | He solved the problem very quick. |
| Right: | He solved the problem very quickly. |
| Wrong: | This is real good candy. |
| Right: | This is really (or very) good candy. |
Until the habit of correct usage is formed, every sentence must be watched. When a word modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb, another adverb must be used, and an adjective may not correctly be substituted. As a rule, adverbs express the following ideas:
| Time: | We arrived early. | |
| Place: | We have been here since January. | |
| Manner: | He walked steadily onward. | |
| Cause: | Why did you refuse the offer? | |
| Degree: | I am very much surprised. | |
| Number: | I did it once not twice. | |
| Assertion: | I do not agree. | |
| Denial: | ||
Adverb modifying a verb: See how slowly the man walks!
Adverb modifying an adjective: The weather has been extremely warm.
Adverb modifying an adverb: He dictates very rapidly.
It must be remembered, however, that verbs of the senses—taste, feel, look, smell, sound, and the like—are sometimes almost equal in meaning to the verb be. In that case, they are followed by adjectives and not by adverbs; as,
| Adjective: | He looked angry. |
| Adverb: | He looked angrily at us. |
Exercise 90
Name the adjectives in the following selection, explaining with what noun each belongs.
Name the adverbs, explaining what part of speech each modifies.
Since 1904 the number of live cattle exported from this country has been steadily growing smaller. Exports of dressed beef have also shrunk to such insignificant proportions that the United States is no longer an important factor in the foreign markets for beef. Often has it been said that the competition of cheap Argentine beef has deprived us of foreign markets. It would be more nearly true to say that foreigners buy the inferior article only because we cannot supply them with all they want of the best grade. Take, for instance, the Englishman’s willingness to pay considerably more for American corn-fed beef than for Argentine.
The raising of cattle is important, also, from the standpoint of the leather business. Obviously, with a 21 per cent increase in population in each decade, many more shoes are necessary. Automobile and other industries are making constantly increasing demands for leather. Shoes cannot become cheaper in the face of increased demand and diminished supply. Too much depends upon the cattle industry for us to allow it to wane.
Exercise 91
Which of the italicized words should you use in the following, and why?
1. Why do you walk so slow—slowly?
2. Speak louder—more loudly.
3. I cannot explain why he spoke so gentle—gently.
4. The automobile was going very swift—swiftly.
5. The well has been dug very deep—deeply.
6. He is not near—nearly so tall as you are.
7. Are you cutting that even—evenly?
8. She does pen and ink sketches beautiful—beautifully.
9. Why can’t I grow quicker—more quickly?
10. I feel bad—badly this morning.
11. Can you do all I have asked? Easy—easily.
12. She does her work good—well.
13. She does her work fine—finely.
14. I am real—very much surprised to see you.
15. He became real—very angry.
16. I’m afraid it’s not near—nearly big enough.
17. She works twice as quick—quickly as you do.
18. He sure—surely is a good speaker. He seems sure—surely of himself.
19. Are you going? Sure—surely?
20. He says he is near—nearly starved.
21. He worked steady—steadily all morning. The others did not work near—nearly so hard.
22. I am speaking as serious—seriously as I can.
23. The orange tastes bitter—bitterly.
24. Don’t you think he has been acting queer—queerly?
25. The coat is finished nice—nicely.