You have learned that the subject may be modified; let us see whether the predicate may be.
If we say, “The leaves fall,” we express ta fact in a general way.
But, if we wish to speak of the time of their falling, we can add a word and say, “The leaves fall early;”
of the place of their falling, “The leaves fall here;”
of the manner, “The leaves fall quietly;”
of the cause, “Why do the leaves fall?”
We join a word to one of these modifiers and say, “The leaves fall very quietly.”
Here very modifies quietly by telling the degree.
Very quietly is a group of words modifying the predicate.
The predicate with its modifiers is called the Modified Predicate.
Such words as very, here, and quietly form another part of speech, and are called Adverbs (Lat. ad, to, and verbum, a word, or verb).
Adverbs may modify adjectives; as, “Very ripe apples are healthful.”
Adverbs modify verbs just as adjectives modify nouns—by limiting them.
“The horse has a proud step” = “The horse steps proudly.”
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The Predicate with its Modifiers is called the Modified Predicate, or Logical Predicate.
DEFINITION.—An Adverb is a word used to modify a verb, an adjective, or an adverb.*
*See Lesson 92 and foot-note. |
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| 1. | The leaves fall very quietly. |
Analysis.— Very quietly is a modifier of the predicate; quietly is the principal word of the group; very modifiies quietly; the leaves is the modified subject; fall very quietly is the modified predicate. |
| 1i. | A quiet may be extreme. |
Sentence expressing proposition of adverb of degree very as it relates to the state described by the adjective quiet. |
| 1mi. | A fall may be very quiet. |
Sentence expressing proposition of adverb of manner (adjective + -ly) as it relates to the event described by the verb fall. |
| 1m. | The leaves fall in this manner. |
Sentence asserting the truth of the proposition of the event occurring. |
| Oral Analysis.—
Very quietly is a modifier of the predicate; quietly is the principal word of the group; very modifies quietly; the leaves is the modified subject;
fall very quietly is the modified predicate.
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| Parsing.—
Quietly is an adverb modifying fall, telling the manner; very is and adverb modifying quietly, telling the degree.
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| Exercises (Lesson 14) Diagram the following: |
| 2. | The old, historic Charter Oak was blown down. | 10. | Why will people exaggerate so! |
| 3. | The stern, rigid Puritans often worshiped there. | 11. | A somewhat dangerous pass had been reached quite unexpectedly. |
| 4. | Bright-eyed daisies peep up everywhere. | 12. | We now travel still more rapidly. |
| 5. | The precious morning hours should not be wasted. | 13. | Therefore he spoke excitedly. |
| 6. | The timely suggestion was very kindly received. | 14. | You will undoubtedly be very cordially welcomed. |
| 7. | We turned rather abruptly. | 15. | A furious equinoctial gale has just swept by. |
| 8. | A highly enjoyable entertainment was provided. | 16. | The Hell Gate reef was slowly drilled away. |
| 9. | The entertainment was highly enjoyed. | | |
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| Answers |
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Caution.—So place adverbs that there can be no doubt as to what you intend them to modify.
When two or more adverbs are used with a verb, care must be taken in their arrangement.
Some adverbs modify the sentence as a whole, whereas others modify the predicate only.
Sentence adverbs may be preposed in the sentence coming before everything else, or they may be post-posed to the end of the sentence.
Adverbs that complement the verb are placed more closely to it.
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Direction.—Place the italicized words below in different positions, and note the effect on the sense:—
1. I immediately ran out.
2. Only one was left there.
3. She looked down proudly.
4. Unfortunately, this assistance came too late.
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Direction.—Construct on each of these subjects three sentences having modified subjects and modified predicates:—
For punctuation, see Lesson 21.
Model.— ——— clouds ———.
1. Dark, heavy, threatening clouds are slowly gathering above.
2. Those brilliant, crimson clouds will very soon dissolve.
3. Thin, fleecy clouds are scudding over.
| 1. | ——— ocean ———. | 2. | ——— breeze ———. | 3. | ——— shadows ———. |
| 4. | ——— rock ———. | 5. | ——— leaves ———. | | |
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Direction.—Compose sentences in which these adverbs shall modify verbs:—
Heretofore, hereafter, annually, tenderly, inaudibly, legibly, evasively, everywhere, aloof, forth.
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Direction.—Compose sentences in which five of these adverbs shall modify adjectives, and five shall modify adverbs:—
Far, unusually, quite, altogether, slightly, somewhat, much, almost, too, rather.
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