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ADJECTIVE `
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An _adjective_ is a word which qualifies a noun, that is, shows or `
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points out some distinguishing mark or feature of the noun; as, A `
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_black_ dog. `
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Adjectives have three forms called degrees of comparison, the _positive_, `
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the _comparative_ and the _superlative_. `
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The _positive_ is the simple form of the adjective without expressing `
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increase or diminution of the original quality: _nice_. `
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The _comparative_ is that form of the adjective which expresses increase `
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or diminution of the quality: _nicer_. `
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The _superlative_ is that form which expresses the greatest increase or `
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diminution of the quality: _nicest_. `
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_or_ `
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An adjective is in the positive form when it does not express comparison; `
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as, "A _rich_ man." `
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An adjective is in the comparative form when it expresses comparison `
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between two or between one and a number taken collectively, as, "John is `
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_richer_ than James"; "he is _richer_ than all the men in Boston." `
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An adjective is in the superlative form when it expresses a comparison `
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between one and a number of individuals taken separately; as, "John is `
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the _richest_ man in Boston." `
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Adjectives expressive of properties or circumstances which cannot be `
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increased have only the positive form; as, A _circular_ road; the _chief_ `
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end; an _extreme_ measure. `
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Adjectives are compared in two ways, either by adding _er_ to the positive `
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to form the comparative and _est_ to the positive to form the superlative, `
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or by prefixing _more_ to the positive for the comparative and _most_ to `
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the positive for the superlative; as, _handsome_, _handsomer_, _handsomest_ `
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or _handsome_, _more handsome_, _most handsome_. `
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Adjectives of two or more syllables are generally compared by prefixing `
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more and most. `
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Many adjectives are irregular in comparison; as, Bad, worse, worst; Good, `
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better, best. `
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PRONOUN `
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A _pronoun_ is a word used in place of a noun; as, "John gave his pen to `
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James and _he_ lent it to Jane to write _her_ copy with _it_." Without `
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the pronouns we would have to write this sentence,--"John gave John's pen `
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to James and James lent the pen to Jane to write Jane's copy with the `
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pen." `
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There are three kinds of pronouns--Personal, Relative and Adjective `
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Pronouns. `
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_Personal_ Pronouns are so called because they are used instead of the `
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names of persons, places and things. The Personal Pronouns are _I_, `
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_Thou_, _He_, _She_, and _It_, with their plurals, _We_, _Ye_ or _You_ `
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and _They_. `
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_I_ is the pronoun of the first person because it represents the person `
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speaking. `
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_Thou_ is the pronoun of the second person because it represents the `
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person spoken to. `
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_He_, _She_, _It_ are the pronouns of the third person because they `
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represent the persons or things of whom we are speaking. `
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Like nouns, the Personal Pronouns have number, gender and case. The `
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gender of the first and second person is obvious, as they represent the `
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person or persons speaking and those who are addressed. The personal `
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pronouns are thus declined: `
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First Person. `
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M. or F. `
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Sing. Plural. `
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N. I We `
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P. Mine Ours `
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O. Me Us `
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Second Person. `
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M. or F. `
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Sing. Plural. `
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N. Thou You `
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P. Thine Yours `
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O. Thee You `
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Third Person. `
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M. `
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Sing. Plural. `
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N. He They `
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P. His Theirs `
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O. Him Them `
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Third Person. `
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F. `
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Sing. Plural. `
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N. She They `
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P. Hers Theirs `
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O. Her Them `
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Third Person. `
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Neuter. `
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Sing. Plural. `
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N. It They `
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P. Its Theirs `
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O. It Them `
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N. B.--In colloquial language and ordinary writing Thou, Thine and Thee `
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are seldom used, except by the Society of Friends. The Plural form You is `
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used for both the nominative and objective singular in the second person `
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and Yours is generally used in the possessive in place of Thine. `
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The _Relative_ Pronouns are so called because they relate to some word or `
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phrase going before; as, "The boy _who_ told the truth;" "He has done `
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well, _which_ gives me great pleasure." `
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Here _who_ and _which_ are not only used in place of other words, but `
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_who_ refers immediately to boy, and _which_ to the circumstance of his `
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having done well. `
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The word or clause to which a relative pronoun refers is called the `
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_Antecedent_. `
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The Relative Pronouns are _who_, _which_, _that_ and _what_. `
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_Who_ is applied to persons only; as, "The man _who_ was here." `
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_Which_ is applied to the lower animals and things without life; as, "The `
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horse _which_ I sold." "The hat _which_ I bought." `
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_That_ is applied to both persons and things; as, "The friend _that_ `
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helps." "The bird _that_ sings." "The knife _that_ cuts." `
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_What_ is a compound relative, including both the antecedent and the `
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relative and is equivalent to _that which_; as, "I did what he desired," `
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i. e. "I did _that which_ he desired." `
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Relative pronouns have the singular and plural alike. `
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_Who_ is either masculine or feminine; _which_ and _that_ are masculine, `
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feminine or neuter; _what_ as a relative pronoun is always neuter. `
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_That_ and _what_ are not inflected. `
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_Who_ and _which_ are thus declined: `
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Sing. and Plural Sing. and Plural `
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N. Who N. Which `
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P. Whose P. Whose `
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O. Whom O. Which `
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_Who_, _which_ and _what_ when used to ask questions are called `
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_Interrogative Pronouns_. `
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_Adjective_ Pronouns partake of the nature of adjectives and pronouns and `
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are subdivided as follows: `
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_Demonstrative Adjective Pronouns_ which directly point out the person or `
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object. They are _this_, _that_ with their plurals _these_, _those_, and `
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_yon_, _same_ and _selfsame_. `
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_Distributive Adjective Pronouns_ used distributively. They are _each_, `
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_every_, _either_, _neither_. `
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_Indefinite Adjective Pronouns_ used more or less indefinitely. They are `
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_any_, _all_, _few_, _some_, _several_, _one_, _other_, _another_, _none_. `
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_Possessive Adjective Pronouns_ denoting possession. They are _my_, _thy_, `
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_his_, _her_, _its_, _our_, _your_, _their_. `
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N. B.--(The possessive adjective pronouns differ from the possessive case `
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of the personal pronouns in that the latter can stand _alone_ while the `
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former _cannot_. "Who owns that book?" "It is _mine_." You cannot say "it `
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is _my_,"--the word book must be repeated.) `
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THE VERB `
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