MEANS of KNOWING DEGREES of Comparison. 322. The different Degrees, used in the Comparison of Adverbs, may be known in three ways;

First. The Positive Degree is the first or radical form of the Adverb.

Second The Comparative Degree, in its Regular Comparison, is formed by adding the suffix modification, er, to the Positive; or, by using the adjuncts, more, less, with the Positive.

EXAMPLES.

1. Those who came nearer, were more pleasantly situated for hearing what was said, but the others were less crowded.

The Comparative Degree, in its Irregular Comparison, is formed by using a word different from the Positive.

2. This class reads well, but that class reads better; while, that class reads worse.

Third. The Superlative Degree, in its Regular Comparison, is formed by adding the suffix modification, est, to the Passive form; or, by using the adjuncts, most, least, with the Positive.

3. Some drew near, while others drew nearer, but these drew nearest.

4. When I speak soberly, you speak more soberly, he speaks most soberly.

5. That stream flows rapidly, the next flows less rapidly, while this flows the least rapidly.

The Superlative Degree, in its Irregular Comparison, is formed by substituting another word for the Positive. 6. You read well, Charles reads better, but Louise reads best.

323. The Comparison of Adverbs is shown by the fol

325. RULE I. Generally, an Adverb, which is an adjunct of a simple verb, must be placed after the verb.

EXAMPLES.

1. The letter came duly. We came here hastily.

326. RULE II. Generally, an Adverb, which is an adjunct of a compound verb, must be placed after the first auxiliary verb. 2. The letter has duly come to hand. We have hastily

come here.

NOTE I. Rules I. and II. are general Rules to which there are many exceptions, among which are the following;

First Exception. When an Adverb is emphatic, it is placed at the beginning of a sentence; as, the Adverb, generally, in the Rules given above.

Second Exception. When the sentence can be made more euphonious by placing the Adverb elsewhere; as,

3. Fortunately, he had already left the room. He had, fortunately, already left the room. He had already left the room, fortunately. He had fortunately left the room already. Already he had fortunately left the room. etc.

327. RULE III. An Adverb, which is used as an adjunct of an adverb or of an adjective, must precede its principal word.

4. Each student was very eager to win the most honorable position in the class; hence, all sought it more earnestly than before.

Exception.-An Adverb, compounded with its principal, may be placed either before or after its principal.

328. RULE IV.

Rules for Attributes.

When the comparison is made between two attributes only, the Adverb must be put in the Comparative Degree.

5. The girl was more nearly allied to the family than the Joy. Of the two, the girl was more nearly allied to the amily.

Incorrect. Of the two, thé girl was the most nearly allied to the amily.

329. RULE V. When a comparison between one attribute ind a definite number, three or more, is made, the adverb must have the Superlative Degree.

6. Of the three children, the girl is the most nearly allied to the family.

Incorrect. Of the three children, the girl is the more nearly allied to the family.

Analysis of the Adverb.

1. He began early in the morning.

General Analysis. Logically, he began, etc., is a simple thought of two parts; he is the primary idea in the first part; began early in the morning, is the second part, of which, began is the second primary idea; early, an idea subordinate to began; in, idea of relation between morning and began; the, subordinate idea, having an incidental relation to morning; morning, an idea subordinate to began, joined by the idea of relation, in.

Rhetorically, he began, etc., is a simple sentence, actively constructed; its principal words are, he, began; its adjunctive words, early, in, morning; its relator, in.

Special Analysis. Rhetorically, he personates the subject; began, the predicate of the subject personated by he; early, adjunct of began; in, the relator of the subsequent, morning, to its antecedent, began; the, an adjunct of morning; morning, second object of began, to which it is related by in.

Grammatical Analysis. Early is an adverb of time, belonging to the affirmer, began; it is in the positive degree; and is compared; Positive, EARLY (Here!); Comparative, EARLIER; Superlative, EARLIEST.

NOTE I. In the morning may be parsed as an Adverbial phrase, or each word may be parsed separately.

2. They laughed, (while you" were speaking seriously).

6cl.

Parsing. While you, etc., is a clause adverb, or an adverbial clause, of time; belonging to the affirmer, laughed. It is not compared.