An English Grammar - LightNovelsOnl.com
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Hard blows and hard money, the feel of both of which you know _pretty_ well by now.--KINGSLEY.
The first of these generals is _pretty_ generally recognized as the greatest military genius that ever lived.--BAYNE.
A _pretty_ large experience.--THACKERAY.
_Pretty_ is also used by Prescott, Franklin, De Quincey, Defoe, d.i.c.kens, Kingsley, Burke, Emerson, Aldrich, Holmes, and other writers.
[Sidenote: Mighty.]
The adverb mighty is very common in colloquial English; for example,--
"_Mighty_ well, Deacon Gookin!" replied the solemn tones of the minister.--HAWTHORNE.
"Maybe you're wanting to get over?--anybody sick? Ye seem _mighty_ anxious!"--H.B. STOWE.
It is only occasionally used in literary English; for example,--
You are _mighty_ courteous.--BULWER.
Beau Fielding, a _mighty_ fine gentleman.--THACKERAY.
"Peace, Neville," said the king, "thou think'st thyself _mighty_ wise, and art but a fool."--SCOTT.
I perceived his sisters _mighty_ busy.--GOLDSMITH.
[Sidenote: _Notice meanings._]
284. Again, the meaning of words must be noticed rather than their form; for many words given above may be moved from one cla.s.s to another at will: as these examples,--"He walked too _far_ [place];"
"That were _far_ better [degree];" "He spoke _positively_ [manner];"
"That is _positively_ untrue [a.s.sertion];" "I have seen you _before_ [time];" "The house, and its lawn _before_ [place]."
ADVERBS CLa.s.sIFIED ACCORDING TO USE.
[Sidenote: _Simple._]
285. All adverbs which have no function in the sentence except to modify are called simple adverbs. Such are most of those given already in Sec. 282.
[Sidenote: _Interrogative._]
286. Some adverbs, besides modifying, have the additional function of asking a question.
[Sidenote: _Direct questions._]
These may introduce direct questions of--
(1) Time.
_When_ did this humane custom begin?--H. CLAY.
(2) Place.
_Where_ will you have the scene?--LONGFELLOW
(3) Manner.
And _how_ looks it now?--HAWTHORNE.
(4) Degree.
"_How_ long have you had this whip?" asked he.--BULWER.
(5) Reason.
_Why_ that wild stare and wilder cry?--WHITTIER
Now _wherefore_ stopp'st thou me?--COLERIDGE
[Sidenote: _Indirect questions._]
Or they may introduce indirect questions of--
(1) Time.
I do not remember _when_ I was taught to read.--D. WEBSTER.
(2) Place.
I will not ask _where_ thou liest low.--BYRON
(3) Manner.
Who set you to cast about what you should say to the select souls, or _how_ to say anything to such?--EMERSON.
(4) Degree.
Being too full of sleep to understand _How_ far the unknown transcends the what we know.
--LONGFELLOW
(5) Reason.
I hearkened, I know not _why_.--POE.
287. There is a cla.s.s of words usually cla.s.sed as conjunctive adverbs, as they are said to have the office of conjunctions in joining clauses, while having the office of adverbs in modifying; for example,--
