alytical practical grammar - Toronto Public Library

ETYMOLOGY-ADJECTIVES. 39
5. ])efinitive, ,,:hic~ do not .expr~ss an! property of an object, but
merely pOlDt. It out, or limit In vanous ways tbe meaning of tbe
noun. '1'0 this class Lelong such words as this, that, eaclt, every,
8?me, boOt, &c.. Tbese sometimes accompany Ibe noun, and "Ollletimes
refer to It understood, or stand instead of it, after the manner
of pronl)uns, and hence are sometimes called Pronominal adjectives
and sometimes Adjective pronouns. (See 289.) ,
203. Tbis classification of adjectives, however, is of but littJoe practical
use, as adjectives of all classes are used in the same way.
NUMERAL ADJECTIVES.
204. Adjectives expressing number are called Numeral
adjectives. They are of two kinds, Cardinal and
Ordinal.
205. The Cardinal numbers indicate how many j they
are one, two, three, four, &c.
206. The Ordinal numbers indicate which one of a
number j they are first, second, third, &c. In compound
numbers, the last only has the ordinal form; as, twenty­
FIRST; two hundred and fiftY-THIRD, &c.
207. Numeral adjectives, being also names of numbers, arc often nscd
as nouns, and so have tbe iuflection and construction of nouns; tbus, by
IID08, by Ims, by fifties. For ten's sake, for twent?/s sake. One and one
are two. Two IS an even number. Five IS tbe balf of ten. Three five&
ARE fifteen. Fifteen IS divisible by three. Twice two IS four.* Four 1&
equal to twice two. Three fourths.
208. Adjectives in English are indeclinable.
COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES.
209. Common and participial adjectives for the most
part have three forms, called degrees of comparison;
namely, Positive, Comparative, and Superlative .
• In some arithmetics, the language employed in the operation of multiplyingsuch
a,.q U Twice two are four, twice three are six "-is incorrect. It should be •
.. Twice two is four," &c.; for the word two is used as a singular noun-the name of
a nnmber. The adverb" twice" is not in construction with it, and consequently
does not make it plural. The meanine; is, .. The number two taken twice is equal to
four" For the same reason we should say ... Three times two IS six," because the
meaning is, If Two taken three times is six." If we say, .. Three times one are three."
we make ,. times" the subject of tbe verb. whereas the subject of the verb really Is
•• one," and" times" is in the objective of number (828). 2: 4 : : 6 : 12. sbould be read
u As 2 is to 4. so is G to 12;" not." As two are to fOUf. so are," &c. But when numerals
denoting more than one, are used as adjectives, with a substllntive expresssd or
IInderstood, they must IIlIvc II plural constl'1lction.