They are always in the third person singular, and in English are preceded by the pronoun it; as, "It rains,” -"It hails,"" It behooves," etc.

521. To this class of words belong the expressions, methinks, methought; meseems, meseemed; sometimes used for, “It seems to me "—" It appears to me," etc.

522. The pronoun it, preceding the impersonal verb as its subject, is the substitute of some unknown and general, or well-known cause, the action of which is expressed by the verb, but which can not, or need not, itself be named (246–4).

EXERCISES.

1. Conjugate the following irregular verbs (485 and 513), stating why they are called irregular. Make complete sentences with them, and in these tell which are transitive, which are intransitive, and which are attributive, and why (32061). Extend the list at pleasure from the table.

Take, drive, creep, begin, abide, buy, bring, arise, catch, bereave, am, burst, draw, drink, fly, flee, fall, get, give, etc.

EXERCISES ON THE PRECEDING PARTS OF SPEECH.

1. In the following exercises, parse the several words; viz., the nouns as directed (182)-articles as (194)-adjectives as (225)-pronouns as (253)—and verbs as (491 and 496).

[The words in Italics are prepositions, and the nouns or pronouns following them are in the objective case.

se.]

The wind shakes the trees.-The apples fell to the ground. God created all things. The heavens are the work of his hands.-The sun shines.—The fields are covered with grain.—The crops are excellent. The rivers run into the sea. A good man shows pity to the poor (201).— Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth.—Truth is mighty.

2. Form a list of ten nouns; say something respecting each; and parse the sentences so formed, as above.

ADVERBS.

523. An Adverb is a word used to modify a verb, an adjective, or another adverb, or to denote some circumstance respecting it; as, "Ann speaks distinctly; she is remarkably diligent, and reads very correctly."

524. An adverb is generally equivalent to a modifying phrase, or adjunct (541) of the word to which it is joined. Thus, in the preceding example, "distinctly" means, in a distinct manner; “remarkably," in a remarkable degree. So, now" means, at this time; "then," at that time, etc. Hence, adverbs and adverbial adjuncts are often used indiscriminately in modifying verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.

525. On the same principle that an adverb modifies another adverb, it sometimes also modifies an adjunct, a phrase, or a sentence; as, “I met your brother FAR from home "—" He will be here SOON after mid-day "-"We shall go IMMEDIATELY after the

mail arrives.".

526. A few adverbs are sometimes used as adjuncts of nouns and pronouns; as, "I only [that is, I, and no one else] am escaped alone to tell thee."-" The women also were present," that is, the women as well as the others -in addition to the others.

The adverbs used in this way are such as the following: Chiefly, particularly, especially, entirely, altogether, solely, only, merely, partly also, likewise, too, etc..

527. An adjunct, without the word to which it belongs is called an adverbial phrase; as, in short, in vain, in general, at most, at least, at all.

528. Adverbs have been divided into various classes, according to their signification. The chief of these are the following:

ADVERBS EXPRESS

Table of Adverbs.

1. Manner; as, justly, bravely.

2. Place; as, here, there, where-hither. 3. Time; as, now, then, when, soon, often. 4. Direction; as, upward, downward. 5. Affirmation; as, yes, verily, certainly. 6. Negation; as, nay, no, not, nowise. 7. Interrogation; as, how? why? when? 8. Comparison; as, more, most, less, as. 9. Quantity; as, much, some, little, enough. 10. Order; as, first, secondly, thirdly, next.

529. There, commonly used as an adverb of place, is often used as an introductory expletive to the verbs to be, to come, to appear, and some others, when the subject, in declaratory sentences, follows the verb; as, There is no doubt of the fact "-" There are four boys here." Sometimes, when the subject goes before, it is placed between the subject and the verb; as, “A mistake there is.” In all such cases, there is a mere expletive. It adds nothing to the sense, but still it enables us to vary the form of expression, and to soften the abruptness which would otherwise exist. This will appear by omitting it in any of the preceding examples.

Then does not always refer to time, but it is used to indicate a certain circumstance, or a case supposed; as, "If you will go, then, [that is, in that case] say so."

Now is sometimes used without reference to time, merely to indicate the transition from one sentence to another; as, "Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber."

530. The words, to-day, to-night, to-morrow, yesterday, used as adjuncts, may be called adverbs of time, or they may be regarded as nouns in the objective case, without the governing word (828), or as nouns in any case the construction may require.

531. In comparisons, as and so, in the antecedent clause, are usually reckoned adverbs, because they modify an adjective or another adverb. The corresponding as and so, sometimes called conjunctions, are properly adverbs also, because resolvable into an adjunct (524); thus, "It is as high as heaven," that is, It is high in the degree in which heaven is high." So far as I know," that is, far to the extent to which I know.

532. So is often used as the representative of a preceding word phrase, or sentence, in order to prevent its repetition; as, "To make men happy, and keep them 80”—“ France is highly cultivated—Eng land more 80 "-" James is in good health, John is not so "-"I be lieved that you would succeed, and I told you 30.”

533. Therefore, wherefore, also, sometimes called conjunctions, are more properly adverbs, because used for the adjuncts, for this reason, for which reason, in addition (524).

Conjunctive Adverbs.

534. A Conjunctive Adverb is one that stands for two adjuncts, one of which contains a relative pronoun, and the other, its antecedent; thus, "I will see you when you come." Here, when is equivalent to, at the time at which; the first part, "at the time," modifies "will see," and the second, "at which," modifies "come." Again, "I know not how it is done." Here how is equivalent to the manner in which. The first part, "the manner," is the object of "know," and the second," in which," is the adjunct of "is done." In a similar way, where may be resolved into the place in which; whither, into the place to which, etc.

These adverbs perform a double office: they modify two different words, and connect the clauses to which they belong. They are, when, where, while, whither, whence. They are also used interrogatively, both directly and indirectly. Thus used, they are not conjunctive; as, "When [that is, at what time] will you come?" "Thou knowest not whence [from what place] it cometh, and whither [to what place] it goeth.”

Formation and Derivation of Adverbs.

535. Adverbs are either primitive or derivative. 1. A few adverbs are primitive, or derived from no other words in the language; as, yes, no, not, here, there, now, then, etc.

Many adverbs of quality or manner, are derived from adjectives by adding ly; as, diligent, diligently; happy, happily (57): or by chang ing le into ly; as, able, ably; simple, simply. But adverbs are sel

dom formed from adjectives in ly, the adjunct being used in preference. Thus, we would not say, “ He acted manlily,” but “in a manly manner," or "like a man."

3. Many compound adverbs are formed by combining words 'together, so as of two or more words forming an adjunct, to make one compound term; as, indeed, hereby, thereby, wherewith, therefore wheresoever, nevertheless, etc.

4. Some nouns and other words are converted into adverbs by pre dixing ɑ, signifying, at, in, on, etc.; as, abed, ashore, aloft, ahead, astern, aground, apart, adrift, afresh, alike, asleep, etc. (190).

5. Many words are used sometimes as adverbs, and sometimes as other parts of speech; thus:

Much is used-1. As an adverb, as, " He is much better."

66

2. As an adjective; as, In much wisdom is

much grief."

3. As a noun; as, "Where much is given, much

2. As a preposition (538); as, “None but the

brave."

3. As a conjunction (561); as,

honest."

"He is poor, but

What is used-1. As an interrogative; as, "What is that?"

3. As an adverb; as, "What [partly] with one

thing, and what [partly] with another, we had enough to do."

6. Circumstances of time, place, manner, etc., are often expressed by two or more words constituting an adverbial phrase (527 and 530); as, at length, not at all, by no means, in vain, in order, long ago, by-and-by, all over, to and fro, for ever, etc. Such phrases may be taken together as one word, and parsed as an adverb, or separately, as other words, where it can be done, supplying the ellipsis when necessary. See Appendix I. 5.