Exercise 4
Write sentences containing the interrogative adverbs how, when, where and why, to modify verbs and ask simple questions.
Write sentences using the interrogative adverb how to modify an adjective and an adverb and to introduce a question.
ADVERBS OF MODE
286. There are some adverbs which scarcely fall into any of the above classes and cannot be said to answer any of these questions. They are such adverbs as indeed, certainly, fairly, truly, surely, perhaps and possibly. These adverbs really modify the entire sentence, in a way, and are used to show how the statement is made,—whether in a positive or negative way or in a doubtful way. For example:
- Surely you will not leave me.
- Truly I cannot understand the matter as you do.
- Perhaps he knows no better.
- Indeed, I cannot go with you.
Here, these adverbs, truly, surely, perhaps and indeed, show the manner in which the entire statement is made; so they have been put in a class by themselves and called adverbs of mode. Mode means literally manner, but these are not adverbs that express manner of action, like slowly or wisely or well or ill. They express rather the manner in which the entire statement is made, and so really modify the whole sentence.
PHRASE ADVERBS
287. We have certain little phrases which we have used so often that they have come to be used and regarded as single adverbs. They are such phrases as of course, of late, for good, of old, at all, at length, by and by, over and over, again and again, through and through, hand in hand, ere long, in vain, to and fro, up and down, as usual, by far, at last, at least, in general, in short, etc. These words which we find used so often in these phrases we may count as single adverbs.