ADVERBS CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO MEANING
282. Thus considered, there are six classes:--
(1) Time; as _now_, _to-day_, _ever_, _lately_, _before_,
_hitherto_, etc.
(2) Place. These may be adverbs either of
(_a_) PLACE WHERE; as _here_, _there_, _where_, _near_, _yonder_,
_above_, etc.
(_b_) PLACE TO WHICH; as _hither_, _thither_, _whither_,
_whithersoever_, etc.
(_c_) PLACE FROM WHICH; as _hence_, _thence_, _whence_,
_whencesoever_, etc.
(3) Manner, telling _how_ anything is done; as _well_, _slowly_,
_better_, _bravely_, _beautifully_. Action is conceived or performed
in so many ways, that these adverbs form a very large class.
(4) Number, telling _how many times_: _once_, _twice_, _singly_,
_two by two_, etc.
(5) Degree, telling _how much_; as _little_, _slightly_, _too_,
_partly_, _enough_, _greatly_, _much_, _very_, _just_, etc. (see also
Sec. 283).
(6) Assertion, telling the speaker's belief or disbelief in a
statement, or how far he believes it to be true; as _perhaps_,
_maybe_, _surely_, _possibly_, _probably_, _not_, etc.
[Sidenote: _Special remarks on adverbs of degree._]
283. The is an adverb of degree when it limits an adjective or an
adverb, especially the comparative of these words; thus,--
But not _the_ less the blare of the tumultuous organ wrought its
own separate creations.--DE QUINCEY.
_The_ more they multiply, _the_ more friends you will have; _the_
more evidently they love liberty, _the_ more perfect will be
their obedience.--BURKE.
This and that are very common as adverbs in spoken English, and
not infrequently are found in literary English; for example,--
The master...was for _this_ once of her opinion.--R. LOUIS
STEVENSON.
Death! To die! I owe _that_ much To what, at least, I
was.--BROWNING.
_This_ long's the text.--SHAKESPEARE.
[Sidenote _The status of such_.]
Such is frequently used as an equivalent of _so_: _such_ precedes an
adjective with its noun, while _so_ precedes only the adjective
usually.
Meekness,...which gained him _such_ universal
popularity.--IRVING.
_Such_ a glittering appearance that no ordinary man would have
been able to close his eyes there.--HAWTHORNE.
An eye of _such_ piercing brightness and _such_ commanding power
that it gave an air of inspiration.--LECKY.
So also in Grote, Emerson, Thackeray, Motley, White, and others.
[Sidenote: _Pretty._]
Pretty has a wider adverbial use than it gets credit for.
I believe our astonishment is _pretty_ equal.--FIELDING.
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,
Dickens, 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 class 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 [assertion];"
"I have seen you _before_[time];"
"The house, and its lawn _before_ [place]."
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