For the adverbial objective, see [§ 109].
192. Yes and no are peculiar adverbs used in assenting and denying. Thus,—
Are you hungry?
No.
Note. As now used, yes and no stand for complete sentences. Originally, however, they were modifiers, and hence they are still classed as adverbs. The original meaning of no was “never.” Compare never as an emphatic negative in modern English: as,—“Will you surrender?” “Never!” The oldest affirmative adverb was yea. Yes was originally a compound of yea with a form of so, and was used in emphatic affirmatives (like our just so!).
Other adverbs or adverbial phrases are sometimes used like yes or no. Such are certainly, assuredly, by no means, not at all. In these cases, however, the modifying effect of the word or phrase may easily be seen when the sentence is supplied. Thus,—“Will you help me?” “Certainly [I will help you].”
193. There is often used merely to introduce a sentence in the inverted order ([§ 5]).
- There is a hole in my shoe.
- There are many strangers in town.
- There rose a thick smoke from the volcano.
In this use, there is sometimes called an expletive (or “filler”). It is unemphatic, and has lost all its force as an adverb of place. Contrast “There [emphatic] stood an Indian under a tree” with, “There [unemphatic expletive] stood an Indian under a tree.”
RELATIVE AND INTERROGATIVE ADVERBS
194. Relative adverbs introduce subordinate clauses and are similar in their use to relative pronouns.