XXIX. The inflection of a qualifying adjective to denote different degrees of the quality expressed, is called comparison.

1. Write the positive degree of

2. What is the positive degree of a qualifying adjective? 3. Write the comparative degree of each adjective copied. 4. What is the comparative degree of an adjective?

5. What does the comparative degree show?

6. Write the superlative degree of each adjective copied. 7. What is the superlative degree of an adjective?

8. What does the superlative degree show?

9. For what are adjectives inflected? What is the inflection of an adjective called? What kind of adjectives have comparison?

10. What rules should be observed in writing the comparison of adjectives?

(a) To an adjective of one syllable, and to a few adjectives of two syllables (as, gentle, pretty, lovely), add er and est. (b) If the adjective have more than two syllables, and in most cases if it have but two, prefix more or less for the comparative degree, and most or least for the superlative; thus,

CAUTION.-1. Sometimes the positive degree of an adjective expresses as high a degree of the quality as can exist; thus, square, perfect, circular, universal. Such adjectives do not admit of comparison.

2. Some adjectives are compared irregularly, and the only way to be sure of using them correctly is to learn the comparison of each; thus,

* The words in brackets are not now used as adjectives.

3. In these sentences, point out the adjectives, and tell

what each denotes:

Gas is lighter than air.

My elder brother is the oldest man in the village.
Henry is the tallest boy in school.

A kind word is stronger than a blow.

She is the most beautiful creature that I ever saw.
He is the better scholar.

The old soldier is a good citizen.

That is the least sensible plan.

4. Fill the blanks with adjectives of the comparative, or of the superlative, degree :

He is

CAUTION.

than her sister.

flower in the garden.

seat in the room.

brother.

than Thomas.

Be careful not to use the superlative degree

when but two things have been compared.

5. What do we call words which express less of a quality than the positive degree denotes?

Words like yellowish, sweetish, brownish, which express less of a quality than the positive degree denotes, are called diminutives.

EXERCISE 2.

Turn to Lesson

in your Reader.

Point out every

word which modifies the application of a noun, or a pronoun, and tell

1. of what part of speech it is,

2. what kind of adjective it is,

3. whether, or not, it can be compared,
4. how it is compared,

5. of what degree it is.

EXERCISE 3.

Compare a dog and a cat

1. as to size and appearance,

2. as to parts, and description of parts,
3. as to characteristic habits,

4. as to adaptation of parts to habits.

Write what you know of the appearance, parts, habits, and adaptation of parts to habits of the cat.

EXERCISE 4.

Compare in the same way an elephant and a camel; or an ostrich and a duck.

2. Tell what the syllable trans means in the words of the

foregoing list.

3. Use each of those words correctly in a sentence.

LESSON XIV.

KINDS OF VERBS.

A verb may express action; as, strikes, walks, dances.

A verb may express existence; as, is, was, were.

A verb may express condition; as, feels tired, looks ill, seems discouraged.

1. As you read these sentences, mention every verb used, and tell what that verb expresses:

The shepherd watches his flocks.

The sheep graze on the hills.

The Washington Elm is at Cambridge.

Mammoth Cave is in Kentucky.

A new broom sweeps clean.

Barking dogs never bite.

Faint heart never won fair lady.
The train passes at noon.
Susan looks like her mother.

The horse is a domestic animal.