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EXERCISE I.

Mention each adjective in the following sentences, name its degree, and tell what it modifies:

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I. Choose the timbers with greatest care. LONGFELLOW.

2. Of all the old festivals, however, that of Christmas awakens the strongest and most heartfelt associations. — IRVING. 3. He who ascends to mountain tops shall find The loftiest peaks most wrapt in clouds and snow.

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4. The edges and corners of the box were carved with most wonderful skill. - HAWTHORNE.

5. She is more precious than rubies. — BIBLE.

6. We started immediately after an early luncheon, followed an excellent road all the way, and were back in time for dinner at half-past six.

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7. The day was cloudy, and the sea very rough.

8.

Alas! when evil men are strong,

No life is good, no pleasure long. — WORDSWORTH.

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9. He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty.

- BIBLE.

10. The noblest mind the best contentment has. SPENSER. II. This was the noblest Roman of them all.. SHAKESPEARE. 12. The greatest man is he who chooses the right with invincible resolution; who resists the sorest temptations from within and from without; who bears the heaviest burdens cheerfully; who is calmest and most fearless under menaces and frowns; whose reliance on truth, on virtue, on God, is most unfaltering. — CHANNING.

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What is an adjective? Into what two classes may adjectives bc divided?

Name three adjectives that are used to point out things; two adjectives that express a definite number; two that express an indefinite number; two that express an indefinite quantity; two that indicate order of arrangement.

State the difference in meaning between the and an or a. Distinguish between the use of an and a, and illustrate by examples. Name two adjectives that change their form to denote the plural number. Give their plural forms.

What is meant by the comparison of adjectives? What are the

three degrees of comparison called? Define each, and give an

example.

How is the comparative formed? Give examples. How is the superlative formed? Give examples.

What is meant by irregular comparison? Illustrate.

Mention two adjectives that are compared by means of suffixes; two by means of adverbs; two that are compared irregularly; and two that are not usually compared.

Give the comparative and superlative forms of few; heavy; amiable; swift; useful; fierce; mighty; witty; gentle; good; bad; late; little; ill; much; many.

EXERCISE II.

Parse the adjectives in the following sentences:

To parse an adjective, tell

1. The kind of adjective.

2. Its degree, if the adjective can be compared.
Its construction.

3.

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1. The is a limiting adjective, modifying the noun wind.

2. Cold is a descriptive adjective of the positive degree. It completes the meaning of the verb was, and modifies the noun wind.

I. It is the most beautiful shrub that ever sprang out of the earth.

2. Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

3.

Such pleasures nerve the arm for strife,

Bring joyous thoughts and golden dreams.

4. This door led into a passage out of which opened four sleeping-rooms.

5. Wide is the gate, and broad is the way.

6. In the middle of the eighteenth century there were four New England colonies. - FISKE.

7. Birds of the polar areas of snow and ice are white, those of the tropics are vari-colored and brilliant-hued.

-M. THOMPSON.

8. Straight and strong and magnificently plumed, the palms rose to an average height of seventy or eighty feet.

— A. B. EDWARDS.

9. Spring is the season when the volume of bird-song poured round the world is incomparably stronger, fuller, and sweeter than at any other.-M. THOMPSON.

IO. Lo! while we are gazing, in swifter haste

Stream down the snows, till the air is white.

- BRYANT.

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II. The habit of observation is the habit of decisive gazing. Not by a first casual glance, but by a steady deliberate aim of the eye are the rare and characteristic things discovered. — JOHN Burroughs.

12.

A form more fair, a face more sweet,

Ne'er hath it been my lot to meet.—WHITTIER.

13. A beautiful form is better than a beautiful face; a beautiful behavior is better than a beautiful form: it gives a higher pleasure than statues or pictures; it is the finest of the fine arts. - EMERSON.

*

LESSON XXXI.

TRANSITIVE AND INTRANSITIVE VERBS.

Point out the verb in each of the following sentences, name its subject, and tell which word limits the action expressed by the verb: :

1. The sexton rang the bell.
2. A boy delivered the message.
3. The frost killed the plant.

The noun or pronoun that limits the action expressed by a verb is the object of the verb; as, We crossed the bridge.

*

Tell which verbs in the following sentences take objects to complete their meaning, and which do not take objects:

1. The traveller sold his horse.

2. Bees gather honey.

3. The sun shines.

4. The ship sailed.

A verb that takes an object is called a transitive verb; as, Henry threw the ball.

A verb that does not take an object is called an intransitive verb; as, Birds fly.

The same word may be used as a transitive verb in one sentence, and as an intransitive verb in another; as,

The wind blows the dust. (Transitive.)

The wind blows. (Intransitive.)

* These terms as applied to nouns refer to what is called the grammatical or bare subject, and object, and not to the logical or complete subject, and object.

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