VIII. PARTS OF SPEECH

In the last chapter we studied the construction of the sentence, and we learned that every sentence contains a predicate verb and a subject substantive. We learned also that subject substantives and predicate verbs may have modifiers to limit or make more particular the meaning of these essential parts. In this chapter we shall study the different kinds of words that go to make up our speech.

Verbs. Select the predicate verb in each sentence below. Which of these verbs express action?

1. The business men ride in fine automobiles.

2. He asked me a question.

3. The boys on the farm rode their horses to work.

4. Frank shouted the good news.

5. The water is cold.

6. The sky looks cloudy.

7. She is my sister.

The verbs ride, asked, rode, and shouted tell something or make a statement about the subject.

The predicates that describe the subject are made up of groups of words: is cold, looks cloudy, is my sister. In these groups of words the first word is the verb that makes the statement and the other words modify or explain the subject. That is, we really think cold water, cloudy sky, and in the last sentence we think of the sameness between she and my sister.

In these predicates the verb is used not to express action but to link the subject with some other word. Is, are, was, were, seem, appear, become, look are not complete verbs in

themselves, but always require some other word to help them complete the predicate.

Nouns and Pronouns. Look again at the sentences on page 37 and select the subject substantive of each. Men, boys, Frank, water, sky are names of the things the predicates tell about. They are called nouns. A noun is a name.

In sentences 2 and 7 the name of the subject is not given, but he and she are used instead of the names of the persons spoken of. These words are called pronouns. A pronoun is

a word used instead of a noun.

I, we, you, he, she, it, they, me, him, her, them, which, who, whom, and similar words are pronouns, used to avoid the awkward repetition of nouns. In using a pronoun we must always be sure that it clearly refers to the noun for which it stands. It is much better to repeat the noun than to leave the listener or the reader in doubt as to what the pronoun stands for.

Nouns and Pronouns as Objects. The subject of a sentence is always a noun or something used in place of a noun; but not every noun or pronoun is a subject. In the sentence "He asked me a question," question is used to complete the meaning of the verb asked. It is the object of the verb. In the sentence "The boys on the farm rode their horses to work," horses is the object of rode, because it tells what the boys rode.

EXERCISE

In the following sentences select the verbs, the nouns, and the pronouns. Tell the subject substantive of each verb. Tell what each pronoun stands for:

1. One night I awoke with a startled cry.
2. Mother came to me and patted my head.

3. The first baseman with an angry look cast his glove far over his head, shook his fist at the umpire, and, like a child, started to leave the diamond.

4. High shrubbery hid the garden from the street.

5. He sneaked out of the front door and went down the cellar

way.

6. We lived in the country where we could run and shout all we wanted.

7. The pony sprinted forward and dashed down the lane, while I clutched his mane.

8. Father ran around the back of the house and caught the pony's bridle.

9. Mrs. Hoffman's kitchen was my favorite haunt.

10. The grass was deliciously cool and soft under my bare feet. I

loved to dance under the moon and stars.

II. The workmen are inclosed in flying fires, through which their grimy faces appear grotesque.

12. One man sees us and grins.

Modifiers. We have learned above that a sentence must have a subject substantive and a predicate verb, but that it may also have modifiers of these elements. In the sentence "Dogs bark" we have the subject substantive dogs and the predicate verb bark. This is a complete sentence, though it is made up of but two words. We may give the sentence more particular meaning by adding a modifier to the subject. In "My dog barks" my limits the subject to one particular dog. Or we may make the sentence more definite still by modifying the predicate. "My dog barks loudly" means more to us than "My dog barks." The modifiers of the subject substantive and of the predicate verb may be not single words but groups of words, or phrases. In "The dogs on our street bark" the phrase on our street modifies the subject, and turns the attention to those particular dogs. In "The dogs on our street bark in the night" the phrase in the night

modifies the predicate and makes the meaning of the sen

This arrangement shows that the subject substantive and the predicate verb, which are the core of the sentence, remain the same, but the meaning of each part is affected by the modifiers.

Adjectives. The modifiers of nouns or pronouns are called adjectives. If the modifier of a noun or a pronoun is a phrase it is called an adjectival phrase.

His, my, your, their, our, its, and whose are adjectives.

Adverbs. The modifiers of verbs are called adverbs. If the modifier of a verb is a phrase, it is called an adverbial phrase.

EXERCISE

In the following sentences select the adjectives, the adverbs, the adjectival phrases, and the adverbial phrases.

Remember that adjectives always modify nouns or pronouns. Tell what each adjective and what each adverb modifies.

1. A great sheet of ice pushed everything before it.
2. The monster floe finally settles against the bank.

3. She is my sister.

4. Over the shadowy firs the solitary star came out.

CAUTION FOR USING ADVERBS

8. He sells delicious fresh-ground sausage meat.

9. Little Susan skipped joyously over the grass. 10. Your father is my uncle.

II. A long, loud roll of thunder suddenly broke the silence.

12. Parcel post delivers packages quickly.

13. The attractive rooms were profusely decorated with flowers. 14. She played the same tune over and over.

15. Little Tommy Tucker,

Sing for your supper.

16. The rattling old cart rumbled down the road.

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Caution for Using Modifiers in Writing. Always place your modifier as near as possible to the word it modifies. Attention to this rule will make your meaning clearer.

Here are some funny examples of misplaced modifiers:
Wanted: Mahogany sideboard by lady with a marble top.
The wind is blowing the waves on the shore from the ocean.
She invited me to call by letter.

I saw an account of the fire in the Gazette.

Adverbs Formed from Adjectives. You will notice that adverbs are frequently made from adjectives by adding ly to the adjectival form, as: hot, hotly; slow, slowly; quick, quickly; remarkable, remarkably; fierce, fiercely.

Caution for Using Adverbs. Be sure to distinguish between the adverbial and the adjectival form. Do not say "I can read a book quick," but "I can read a book quickly." Why?

EXERCISE

Correct the following misuse of adjectives for adverbs:

1. He behaves nice at the table.

2. Frank worked steady.

3. He writes legible.

4. The goat can climb nimble.

5. The wind blew fierce last night.