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_: }
_Denial_: } I do _not_ agree.
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?