er and est to the positive; as, great, greater, greatest; wise, wiser, wisest; hot, hotter, hottest. See rules for spelling (42.)

Rule 2. Adjectives are also compared by prefixing more and most, or less and least to them; as, wise, more wise, most wise; lofty, more lofty, most lofty; wise, less wise, least wise.

REMARKS.

95.-1. Er and est are contractions of more and most; as, wise, wiser, wisest; i. e., wise more, wise most.

2. Less usually denotes the lower, and least the lowest degree of compar ison; as, wise, less wise, least wise; able, less able, least able.

3. Monosyllables, and dissyllables in y or le, admit of the regular comparison; as, white, whiter, whitest; happy, happier, happiest; noble, nobler, noblest. Tender, narrow, common, profound, etc., are often compared by er and est. These and other adjectives may be compared by means of the adverbs. Adverbs, thus used, are parsed as parts of the adjective; as, "More wise."

4. The three degrees mentioned are the only ones noticed in parsing. There are, however, an infinite variety of degrees in which qualities may exist in nature. The nicer shades of quality are expressed by the aid of various modifying words and phrases; as, rather, somewhat, slightly, a little, very little, so, too, very, much, far, greatly, highly, extremely, exceedingly, by far, in a high degree.

5. A diminution of quality is denoted by annexing ish; as, white, whitish; black, blackish.

6. Good, bad, little, much, etc., are irregular in compari

How else are adjectives compared? Of what are er and est contractions? What do less and least denote? What words admit of the regular comparison? How may these and other adjectives be compared? How are adverbs, thus used, parsed? How are the various shades of quality expressed? How is a diminution of quality expressed? How are good, bad, &c., compared?

7. First and last do not always require three or more objects to be in contrast.

Superior, inferior, exterior, interior, &c., from Latin comparatives, are used to express comparison in English; but they have not the form nor construction of English comparatives.

8. The comparative degree is usually followed by Than, and the su perlative by Of; as, "Platinum is heavier than gold: It is the heaviest of the metals."

9. Some adjectives form the superlative by annexing most; as, inner, innermost, or inmost, from in; upper, uppermost, or upmost, from up; nether, nethermost; outer, outmost, or utmost, from out; hinder, hindermost, or hindmost, from hind.

twenty's sake.

10. Nouns are often used as adjectives; as, "A gold watch:" "An iron fence:" "Meadow ground:" and adjectives are often used as nouns ; as, "The rich should associate with the wise and good." "The future will resemble the past.”—Webster. For ten's sake; for By twos, by tens, and by fifties. Two and two are four. Five is an odd number. Three twos are six. Twelve is equal to three fours. Three fourths is a fraction. When they denote persons, they are usually plural.

11. Several adjectives often relate to the same noun; as, "Broad deep rivers float long heavy rafts." When one adjective limits another, the two should be parsed as a compound; as, south-sea dream; dark blue silk; deep sea green sash; a light bluish green tint; red hot iron plate.

EXERCISES.

1. Compare-Great, large, wide, hot, cold, warm, noble, able, lofty, dry, happy, narrow, profound, bountiful, benevolent, wise, industrious, cheering, discriminating, careless, deep, broad, long, fruitful, beautiful, sweet, fragrant.

2. Write short sentences, using each of the preceding adjectives. Thus: The apple is sweet. He is a great man. 3. Write on your slate to be read at recitation, thirty attributive adjectives, and thirty definitive adjectives.

What usually follow the comparative and superlative degrees? Are nouns ever used as adjectives, and adjectives as nouns? To what do several adjectives often relate? When one adjective limits another, how are they parsed?

4. How many kinds of apples can you name? Of

horses?

MODEL OF PARSING.

The young man owns this book.

The is an adjective, a word added to a noun or pronoun: definitive, it defines or limits the meaning; and relates to the noun man, according to Rule 5. Adjectives limit nouns,

pronouns, phrases, or clauses.

Young is an adjective, a word added to a noun or pronoun: attributive, it expresses quality or kind: positive young, comparative younger, superlative youngest: it is in the positive. degree, it is used in its simple form; and relates to the noun man, according to Rule 5. (Repeat the rule).

This is an adjective, a word added to a noun or pronoun: definitive, it defines or limits the meaning; and relates to the noun book, according to Rule 5. (Repeat the rule).

EXAMPLES FOR PARSING.

This excellent' little boy respects all other good boys. Good studious girls like fine new books. A serene mind makes a cheerful countenance. That distinguished3 Roman3 general conquered several Grecian generals. This site commands an extensive view of the surrounding country. Wisdom is better than rubies. Platinum is heavier than gold: it is the heaviest of the metals. Truth is more wonderful than fiction. The best and wisest men are sometimes' in fault. Each flying soldier sought some secure hiding-place. Large deep rivers float long heavy rafts. Pope constrains his mind to his own" rules of composition. The style of Dryden is capricious and varied: that12 of Pope is cautious13 and uniform.13 They follow an adventurer whom they fear: we serve a monarch whom we love.

EXPLANATIONS.

1-Adjectives, each relating to boy. 2-Adjectives, each relating to mind. 3-Adjectives, each relating to general. 4— Adjectives, each relating to country. 5-An adjective, relating to wis

dom, 6-Nominative to are understood. 7-It relates to platinum. 8-Heaviest (metal): metal understood. 9-Adjectives, relating to men, 10-An adverb. 11-Own is a definitive adjective, relating to rules. 12-A definitive pronoun, nominative to is. 13-Adjectives, relating to that.

VERBS.

96. A verb is a word that signifies to be or to do; as, I am, I rule, I am ruled: I walk, thou walkest, he walks. That of which the being or action is expressed, is called the subject.

This being or action denoted by the verb, may be declared; as, I walk, I do walk, I can walk; or inquired for; as, Does he walk? Can he walk? Or it may be expressed in the form of a command; as, Walk thou, obey me; or in a general manner; as, To walk, to see; or it may be assumed; as, "She lives, loving all, and loved by all."

CLASSIFICATION.

97. Verbs, in relation to the subject, are of three classes: neuter, active, and passive.

as,

A neuter verb is one that expresses a state of being; "I am.". "Thou art."—" He stands." An active verb is one that expresses action; as, walk."-"Thou seest."-" He loves."

66

A passive verb is one that represents its subject as acted upon; as, "I am taught."-"He is struck.""Cæsar was killed by Brutus."

98. Verbs, in relation to the object, are of two classes transitive and intransitive.

A transitive verb is one that has an object after it;

What is a verb? What is the subject of a verb? Verbs, in relation to the subject, are of how many classes? What is a neuter verb? An active verb ? A passive verb?` Verbs, in relation to the object, are of how many classes? What is a transitive verb?

Verb is from the Latin verbum, which signifies a word. The verb is so called be. cause it is the most important word in a sentence.

as, "I own a farm."-" He has a book."--" Brutus killed Cæsar."

An intransitive verb is one that has no object after it; as, "I am."-"You walk."-" He sleeps."

99. Verbs, in form, are of two classes: regular and irregular.

A regular verb is one that forms its past tense and perfect participle by taking ed; as, Learn, learned, learning, learned; love, loved, loving, loved. See rules for spelling (43.)

boAn irregular verb is one that does not form its past tense and perfect participle by taking ed; as, Am, was, being, been; see, saw, seeing, seen. (104. 106.)

REMARKS.

A verb is transitive when it has an object expressed or clearly implied: when it has no such object, it is intransitive. A verb that is neuter, may be transitive; as, "The boy resembles his father." "He owns a farm in Iowa." "You retain the deed." "I have a book." And a verb that is active, may be intransitive; as, He walks, runs, jumps, plays, &c.

MODIFICATIONS.

100. Verbs have modifications of voice, mode, tense, person, and number.

VOICE.

101. Voice is a modification of the verb to show the relation of its subject to the action expressed.

An active-transitive verb may have two voices: active and passive.

The active voice represents the subject as acting; as, "John strikes the dog."

The passive voice represents the subject as acted upon; as, "The dog is struck by John."

What is an intransitive verb? Verbs, in form, are of how many classes? What is a regular verb? An irregular verb? What modifications have verbs? What is voice? How many voices are there? What does the active voice represent? The passive?