Remarks on Comparison.

1. A diminution of quality is denoted by annexing -ish to the positive; as, bluish, sweetish, blackish.

2. The adjectives superior, inferior, anterior, preferable, previous, and others of a like nature which suggest the idea of comparison, do not admit of the forms of comparison.

3. Limiting adjectives are not compared.

4. Qualifying adjectives, denoting qualities which cannot exist in different degrees, such as round, square, supreme, etc., are not usually compared.

Many of the best writers of English, however, have used the comparative and the superlative form of these adjectives, on the theory that these words are not used in a strict sense.

Examples. The most perfect society.-Everett. Sight is the most perfect of our senses.-Addison. The extremest verge.-Shakspeare. Less perfect imitations.-Macaulay. First and chiefest.— Milton.

It is best, however, to use some other form of expression; as, "The most nearly perfect," etc.

Exercise.

Compare such of the following adjectives as admit of comparison: Large, small, little, sick, ill, skillful, beautiful, spicy, few, good, evil, late, far, industrious, noble, square, ample, happy, agreeable, polite, much, round, circular, high, near, many, universal, inferior, preferable.

Name the degree of comparison of each of the following adjectives:

Wiser, more juicy, most spiteful, white, best, worse, most upright, most polite, least handsome, more beautiful, fewest, last, former, farthest. richer, less, small, evil, most, happier, nearest, just.

Correct the following where wrong:

Littlest, beautifuller, more evil, more richer, most unkindest, squarest, agreeablest, delightfulest.

Parsing of Adjectives.

Models.

1. A pretty flower is not always the most fragrant.

FULL FORM.

Pretty is a qualifying adjective, it denotes a quality:
It is compared pretty, prettier, prettiest;

It is in the positive degree;

And qualifies the noun flower.

Most fragrant is a qualifying adjective, it denotes quality;
It is compared fragrant, more fragrant, most fragrant;
It is in the superlative degree;

And qualifies the noun flower, understood.

2. The wisest men make mistakes.

CONDENSED FORM.

Wisest is a qualifying adjective of the superlative degree, and qualifies the noun men.

3. This month has thirty days.

This is a pronominal adjective, and limits the noun month.
Thirty is a numeral adjective, and limits the noun days.

4. The floating clouds are rich with golden tints.

Parse the adjectives and the nouns in the following sentences:

1. Evil thoughts are more dangerous than wild beasts.

2. There is no better relief to study than the regular performance of special duties in the house.-Holland.

3. Mankind are always better for having been once happy.-Sydney Smith.

4. On the grassy bank stood a tall waving ash, sound to the very top.-Dickens.

5. A happy life means prudent compromise.—Mrs. Browning. 6. A cheerful temper, joined with innocence, will make beauty attractive, knowledge delightful, and wit good-natured.—Addison. 7. I believe the first test of a truly great man is himself.—Ruskin. 8. A wide, rich heaven hangs above you, but it hangs high. A wide, rough world is around you, and it lies very low.-D. G. Mitchell. New occasions teach new duties;

9.

10.

Time makes ancient good uncouth,
They must upward still, and onward,

Who would keep abreast the truth.-Lowell.

Our little lives are kept in equipoise

By opposite attractions and desires.-Longfellow.

A Pronoun is a word used instead of a noun; as,

"The boy lost his book."

In the preceding sentence the word his is used instead of the noun boy. It is therefore a pronoun.

The word for which the pronoun is used is called the Antecedent.

The antecedent may be a noun, a pronoun, or any phrase or clause used as a noun.

Ex.--John has recited his lesson.

I have been idle, and I am sorry for it.

We have learned our lessons.

Sometimes the antecedent is omitted; as, "Who breaks must pay." The antecedent he is omitted before who.

Note. The word pronoun is from the Latin pro, for, and nomen, a

name.

Properties of Pronouns.

Pronouns have the same properties as nouns-Number, Person, Gender, and Case.

The number, person, and gender of a pronoun are the same as those of the noun which it represents, but the case is determined by the relation of the pronoun to other words in the sentence.

Classes of Pronouns.

Pronouns are divided into three classes-Personal, Relative, and Interrogative.

A Personal Pronoun is one which shows by its form the person of the noun which it represents.

Personal pronouns are of two kinds-Simple and Compound.

The Simple personal pronouns are I, of the first per

son; thou, of the second person; and he, she, and it, of the third person.

I and thou may be either masculine or feminine gender; he is of the masculine, she of the feminine, and it of the neuter gender.