(5) Reason.
I hearkened, I know not why.—Poe.
287. There is a class of words usually classed as conjunctive adverbs, as they are said to have the office of conjunctions in joining clauses, while having the office of adverbs in modifying; for example,—
When last I saw thy young blue eyes, they smiled.—Byron.
But in reality, when does not express time and modify, but the whole clause, when...eyes; and when has simply the use of a conjunction, not an adverb. For further discussion, see Sec. 299 under "Subordinate Conjunctions."
Exercise.—Bring up sentences containing twenty adverbs, representing four classes.
COMPARISON OF ADVERBS.
288. Many adverbs are compared, and, when compared, have the same inflection as adjectives.
The following, irregularly compared, are often used as adjectives:—
| Positive. | Comparative. | Superlative. |
| well | better | best |
| ill or badly | worse | worst |
| much | more | most |
| little | less | least |
| nigh or near | nearer | nearest or next |
| far | farther, further | farthest, furthest |
| late | later | latest, last |
| (rathe, obs.) | rather |