CHAPTER VII
Adverbs
The clearness of the sentence is often dependent upon the proper placing of the adverb. No absolute rule can be laid down, but it should generally be placed before the word it qualifies. It is sometimes necessary to place it after the verb, and occasionally between the auxiliary and the verb, but it should never come between to and the infinitive.
“I have thought of marrying often.” As the adverb relates to the thinking, and not to the marrying, the sentence should read, “I have often thought of marrying.”
“We have often occasion to speak of health.” This should be, “We often have occasion,” etc,
“It remains then undecided whether we shall go to Newport or Saratoga.” Place undecided before then.
Adjective or Adverb?
There is often a doubt in the mind of the speaker whether to use the adjective or the adverb, and too frequently he reaches a wrong decision. When the limiting word expresses a quality or state of the subject or of the object of a verb, the adjective must be employed; but if the manner of the action is to be expressed, the adverb must be used. The verbs be, seem, look, taste, smell, and feel furnish many stumbling-blocks.
“This rose smells sweetly.” As the property or quality of the rose is here referred to, and not the manner of smelling, the adjective sweet should be employed, and not the adverb sweetly.
“Thomas feels quite badly about it.” Here, again, it is the condition of Thomas’s mind, and not the manner of feeling, that is to be expressed; hence, badly should be bad or uncomfortable.
“Didn’t she look beautifully upon the occasion of her wedding?” No; she looked beautiful.
“The sun shines brightly.” Bright is the better word.
“The child looks cold,” refers to the condition of the child. “The lady looked coldly upon her suitor,” refers to the manner of looking.
“The boy feels warm” is correct. “The boy feels warmly the rebuke of his teacher” is equally correct.
While license is granted to the poets to use the adjective for the adverb, as in the line
“They fall successive and successive rise,”
in prose the one must never be substituted for the other.
“Agreeably to my promise, I now write,” not “Agreeable to my promise.”
“An awful solemn funeral,” should be “An awfully solemn funeral.”
“He acts bolder than was expected,” should be “He acts more boldly.”
“Helen has been awful sick, but she is now considerable better.” “Helen has been very ill, but she is now considerably better.”
Do not use coarser for more coarsely, finer for more finely, harsher for more harshly, conformable for conformably, decided for decidedly, distinct for distinctly, fearful for fearfully, fluent for fluently.
Do not say “This melon is uncommon good,” but “This melon is uncommonly good.”
The word ill is both an adjective and an adverb. Do not say “He can illy afford to live in such a house,” but “He can ill afford.”
“That was a dreadful solemn sermon.” To say “That was a dreadfully solemn sermon” would more grammatically express what the speaker intended, but very or exceedingly would better express the meaning.
Such, So
Such is often improperly used for the adverb so.
“In such a mild and healthful climate.” This should be, “In so mild and healthful a climate.”
“With all due deference to such a high authority on such a very important matter.” Change to, “With all due deference to so high an authority on so very important a matter.”
Good, Well
Many intelligent persons carelessly use the adjective good in the sense of the adverb well; as, “I feel good to-day.” “Did you sleep good last night?” “Does this coat look good enough to wear on the street?” “I can do it as good as he can.” The frequent indulgence in such errors dulls the sense of taste and weakens the power of discrimination.
Very much of
“She is very much of a lady.” Say, “She is very ladylike.” “He is very much of a gentleman.” Say, “He is very gentlemanly.”
Quite
This adverb is often incorrectly used in the sense of very or rather. It should be employed only in the sense of wholly or entirely. These sentences are therefore incorrect:
“He was wounded quite severely.”
“James was quite tired of doing nothing.”
This word is sometimes used when another would be more appropriate.
“He said how he would quit farming.” Use that.
“Ye see how that not many wise men are called.” We must read the Bible as we find it, but in modern English the sentence would be corrected by omitting how.
“Be careful how you offend him.” If the manner of offending is the thought to be expressed, the sentence is correct. But the true meaning is doubtless better expressed by, “Be careful lest you offend him.”
No, Not
“I cannot tell whether he will come or no.” “Whether he be a sinner or no I know not.” In such cases not should be used instead of no.
This much
“This much can be said in his favor.” Change this much to so much or thus much.
That far
The expressions this far and that far, although they are very common, are, nevertheless, incorrect. Thus far or so far should be used instead.
“There were not over thirty persons present.” Over is incorrect; above has some sanction; but more than, is the best, and should be used.
Real good
This is one of those good-natured expressions that insinuate themselves into the speech of even cultured people. Very good is just as short, and much more correct. Really good scarcely conveys the thought intended.
So nice
“This basket of flowers is so nice.” So nice does not tell how nice. So requires a correlative to complete its meaning. Use very nice or very pretty.
Pell-mell
“He rushes pell-mell down the street.” One bird cannot flock by itself, nor can one man rush pell-mell. It will require at least several men to produce the intermixing and confusion which the word is intended to convey.