MODIFIED PREDICATE.
ADVERBS.
+Introductory Hints+.—You have learned that the subject may be modified; let us see whether the predicate may be.
If we say, The leaves fall, we express a fact in a general way. But, if we wish to speak of the time of their falling, we can add a word and say, The leaves fall early; of the place of their falling, The leaves fall here; of the manner, The leaves fall quietly; of the cause, Why do the leaves fall?
We may join a word to one of these modifiers and say, The leaves fall very quietly. Here very modifies quietly by telling the degree.
Very quietly is a group of words modifying the predicate. The predicate with its modifiers is called the +Modified Predicate+. Such words as very, here, and quietly form another part of speech, and are called +Adverbs+ (Lat. ad, to, and verbum, a word, or verb).
Adverbs may modify adjectives; as, Very ripe apples are healthful. Adverbs modify verbs just as adjectives modify nouns—by limiting them. The horse has a proud step = The horse steps proudly.
The +Predicate+ with its +Modifiers+ is called the +Modified +Predicate, or Logical Predicate.
+DEFINITION.—An Adverb is a word used to modify a verb, an adjective, or an adverb.+ [Footnote: See Lesson 92 and foot-note.]
Analysis and Parsing.