7. They eagerly
8. But he soon
9. Many Indians
10. In a canoe he

him to stay with them. the village.

him as far as Lake Michigan.

that lonely and savage shore.

As you know, this most important word in the predicate of each sentence the word that asserts action is called a verb. Without verbs we cannot make sentences.

Most verbs assert action; that means not only action of the body, such as running, jumping, working, but also action of the mind, such as thinking, studying, deciding, working. Some verbs, however, make assertions that hardly include action of any kind. Thus : He is here.

They live in yonder house.

She appears perfectly well.

The man sat quietly in his armchair.

Sometimes a verb consists of more than one word, two or more words being used together as a single verb. Thus :

I shall write that letter to-morrow.

I shall be writing other letters then.

He would have gone back to the old farm.

The room was crowded with children.

The gun was loaded.

The horse is tied to the post.

Such groups of words that do the work of a single verb are usually called verb phrases, but often they are simply called verbs. Sometimes the words that make up a verb phrase are separated by other words. Thus :

I shall not go.

You have really succeeded.

They might easily have hurt him.

Exercise. Point out the verbs and verb phrases in the sentences that follow:

1. I rode for a long distance in one of the public coaches.

2. The coach was crowded, both inside and out, with passengers. 3. These were going mainly to the homes of relatives and friends. 4. It was loaded also with hampers of game, and baskets and boxes of delicacies.

5. Some boys addressed a host of questions to the coachman.

6. He wore his hat a little on one side.

7. A huge roll of colored handkerchief was tied about his neck.

8. His broad, full face beamed pleasantly.

9. He enjoys great consideration along the road.

10. I saw cheerfulness in every countenance throughout the journey.

A verb is a word that asserts something-usually an action.

4. Adjectives

If there were only the three kinds of words that we have studied nouns, pronouns, and verbs

we should be able to

have only such sentences as the following:

1. Rabbit ran.

2. Dog caught him.

3. Trees bear apples which boys eat.

Exercise. Using only nouns, pronouns, and verbs, make five

sentences.

Exercise. I. Read the sentence that follows, noting the words in italics.

The old tree bears red apples.

2. What are the nouns in this sentence? Is old a noun ? Does it name anything? Does it seem to go with a noun to describe it? To which noun does red belong?

Here we have come upon a new and much-needed kind of word. Its work is to add to the meaning of nouns, to describe them, to modify them. We call these describing, modifying words that add to the meaning of nouns (or pronouns) adjectives.

Exercise. Name the noun which each adjective in the following sentences modifies. The adjectives that you are to consider are printed in italics.31

1. I am wearing a gray suit.

2. My black hat is on my head.
3. A red flower is in my buttonhole.
4. This is a beautiful day.

5. That man is my best friend.

6. He lives in yonder house.

7. This fine field of corn belongs to him.

8. All those tall trees are on his large place.

9. Every animal on the farm is his property.

10. The white and black bulldog is waiting for his master.

11. He is a kind, honest, energetic farmer.

12. That handsome horse was recently bought by him.

Some of the adjectives in the preceding sentences point out rather than describe the nouns to which they belong. For instance, the word that in the fifth sentence, the word yonder in the sixth, the word those in the eighth, are modifiers that point out and therefore are different from such modifiers as gray, black, honest, energetic. But both kinds of modifiers add to the meaning of nouns and are therefore adjectives.

Exercise. 1. Pick out the nouns in the following passage and decide regarding each whether any adjectives either describe it or point it out:

As Mr. Pickwick stood on the bridge he gave himself up to the enjoyment of the bright and pleasant sky, the balmy air, and the beautiful appearance of every object. The river reflected the clear, blue sky.

The long oars of the old fishermen dipped into the water with a clear and liquid sound, as their heavy but picturesque boats glided slowly down the stream. The ancient castle, with its roofless towers and massive walls, stood near the bank. CHARLES DICKENS (Adapted)

2. Use the following adjectives in sentences. under the noun that each adjective modifies.

Draw a line

An adjective is a word used with a noun or a pronoun to point it out or describe it.

5. Adverbs

The boys are studying now. They are studying here. They are studying quietly. Soon they will be playing. They will play noisily. They will play happily. They will play there.

Exercise. I. Which word tells where the boys are studying? Which tells where they will be playing? When will they be playing? Can you tell from the sentences how they will be playing? How are they studying?

2. Make a list of the italicized words in the sentences above that answer the question where; another list of those that tell when; and still another of those that answer the question how.

3. Write opposite each word in your three lists the verb (or verb phrase) which it modifies by telling where, when, or how.

Words such as now, here, there, quietly, noisily, that are added to verbs to make their meaning clearer or fuller, are called adverbs.

Exercise. I. In the sentences that follow, the words in italics are adverbs. Tell what verb each modifies.

1. The man called again, and now some children appeared.
2. Immediately the fun began.

3. Gayly and boisterously they romped about.

4. Swiftly, gracefully, they darted here and there.

5. Presently they sat down and read their books.

6. Finally one read aloud to the rest.

7. The girl read slowly, but clearly and expressively.

2. Write short sentences containing the following adverbs,

drawing a line under the verb which each adverb modifies:

Not only words that modify verbs but also words that modify adjectives are called adverbs.

Exercise. In the following sentences name the nouns; the verbs; the adjectives. What words modify adjectives?

1. Fierce lions attacked him.

2. Very fierce lions attacked him.

3. Exceedingly dangerous lions were in the cage.

In the sentences above, very modifies the adjective fierce, and exceedingly modifies the adjective dangerous.

Words that modify adverbs are themselves called adverbs. Such are the italicized words in the following sentences:

They motored rapidly.
They motored too rapidly.

They returned soon.

They returned very soon.

Here rapidly, an adverb modifying the verb motored, is itself modified by the adverb too, and the adverb soon is modified by the adverb very.