alytical practical grammar - Toronto Public Library

SYNTAX-ADVERB~. 197
PI~lislog variety of elpl'e8sion is sometimes produced. But the wurd ollly
with the negative, preserves t.he negation j as, "lIe was not only illiberal,
but even covetous."
934. The adverbs nay, M, yea, yes, often >!and alone as a negative or
ao affirmative answer to a question; as, U Will be go? "-"So "~" He will
not go!'-"Is he at homel"-"l'cs"="He is at home." .I1men is an
affirmative verb, equivalent to "Br it so," or ",1[,11/ it be so."
935. No. before a noun, is an adjecth'e; :l~, "1"0 man." Before an adjective
or adverb in the comparative Jeg"e!', it is an adverb; as, "No taiteI'''
-"1\;0 sooner." In all ot.her cases t.he proper negative is not; as, " He will
Mt come "-" Whether he come or not."
POSITIO~.
936. RULE 3.-.I1dverbs are Jar the most part placed befoTe adjcctives,
afltr a arb ill the single form, and after the first allxililll'Y in the compound
form; as, " lIe is very attentive, behaves wcll, nOll is much esteemed."
937. This rule applies gene, ally to adverbial adjunct phrases as well as
t" adverbs (8~5).
938. This is to be considered ollly as a general rule, to which there nre
many exceptions. Indeed, no rule for the position of the a,herb can be
given, w:lich is not lial)le to exceptiou~. That order is the be,t which conveys
the meauing with most precision. In order to tbb,. the ndl'erh is
p"rH,·times placed before the vet·b, 01' at wme distance artel it.
939. }1"eIJer, often, always, sometimes, generally precelle tbe verb. Not,
with the participle or infinitive, "h"uld generally be placcd hefore it (500).
940. The improper position of the advrrb only often occasions nmbiguity.
This will generally be avoided when it rc·fers to a sentence or
clause, hy placing it at tbe begiuning of that Eentence or clau,"c; when it
refer~ to a predicate, by placing it before the predicated te, m j nnd when it
refers to a su~ject, by placing it aft!'r its name or description; as, "Only
acknowledge thinc iniquity."-" The thoughts of his heart nre only evil."­
"Take nothing for your journey but a staff only." These observations will
generally be applicnble to the words merely, solely, chiefly, first, at lcast,
and perhaps to a few other3.
941. In prose, to, the sign of the infioitive, or rather a part of it, shonld
never be Reparated by placing an adverb irnmeJintely after it. Thus,
" They a,'e accustomed to carefully study their lcswo"," Ehould be "to study
clIrefully," or "carefully to study," .!Lc.
942. Tho r.dl·erb enough is commonly placed aftcr the adjective which
it modifies j H8, "A large enow;h house "-" A home I a('g'e enough for all."
943. El"'f' find never are sometimes improperly confounded j thus, .. Seldom
or el'er," Eh"uhl be "Seldom 0(' nuer," or ., Seldum if evll'." Ever so.
referl'ing to quantity 01' degree, means ill no/Ill I ""././ r degree. Hence
.. Charming never so wisely," should be "ucr so wisely." :':0," EreI' so
much," U ('tlcr so wi5'e," &c.