EXERCISE 100

Supply a or an in each blank and give a reason for

pointing out or designating something, but each has its special function.

The definite article the is used:

(1) To point out one or more particular objects: as, Here is the house; Who is the man speaking?

(2) With a singular noun referring to a class rather than to a particular individual: as, The teacher is

poorly paid; The horse is a useful animal.

(3) With adjectives having the force of plural nouns; as, the good, the brave, the beautiful.

The indefinite article a or an is used:

(1) To designate a single object in a general way: as, I saw a lion; Here is an apple.

(2) In the sense of any: as, An orange is round; A plain is flat.

A or an, however, is not used like the in designating a class; as, A dog is a faithful animal. Say "The dog is a faithful animal.”

(3) In the sense of each or every; as, two dollars a day (each day), twice a month (every month).

The article may be helpful in promoting clearness: as, a sheep (one sheep), sheep (more than one); the secretary and treasurer (one person), the secretary and the treasurer (two persons); a white and

red flag (one flag), a white and a red flag (two flags). Note that the article is repeated when more than one thing is meant.

The article may be used unnecessarily; as, this kind of a person (of person), that form of a sentence (of sentence).

Sometimes the is an adverb, not an article; as, The more, the merrier.

Sometimes a is an old form of preposition; as, He went a-fishing.

EXERCISE 101

(1) Supply the proper article in each blank and give a reason for your choice:

(2) Supply an article before the italicized words if

one is needed:

1. Man is immortal.

2. Whale is largest animal.

3. Who ever saw such person?

4. What kind of tree is this?

5. Bring me a block and tackle.

6. A farmer and merchant were here.

7. A friend and schoolmate of mine was along.

8. Can you imagine what sort of thing this is?

9. He added both an east and west wing to his house.

10. The north and south pole are equally distant from the equator.

142. Pronominal Adjectives. We have learned (103) that some words this, that, many, few, and the likemay be either pronouns or adjectives according to use. When a word of this kind is used as an adjective it is called a pronominal adjective.

Pronominal adjectives are of the following kinds:*

(1) Demonstrative adjectives this, that, these, those; as, this house, that tree.

The demonstrative adjectives this and that are declined like the demonstrative pronouns this and that (119). No other adjectives are inflected for number.

Yon and yonder are also demonstrative adjectives, but are never pronouns. They are used to point out something in sight; as, Look at yon hill.

The use of them for those, as them boys, is a vulgarism. It is also incorrect to add here to this and there to that; as, this here boy, that there girl. Say "this boy," "that girl."

(2) Interrogative adjectives which, what: as, which way? what time?

Which differs from what in being selective (122, 3): as, Which plan (of a certain number) shall I adopt? What plan (of all possible) shall we pursue?

(3) Relative adjectives- which, whichever, whatever: as, He was here in June, during which month I was away; Whichever way I turn, I see strange sights.

(4) Indefinite adjectives all, any, both, few, many, several, some, each, every, either, neither, other, such; as, all objects, other men, such words.

For a discrimination of the synonymous words of this group, see page 166.

*The report of the Joint Committee on Grammatical Nomenclature recommends that my, thy, his, her, its, our, your, their, and whose be treated as possessive adjectives (106, foot-note).

This recommendation can be followed if the authorities prefer.

Few and many in the expressions a few and a great many are used as nouns; as, a few days (of days), a great many of them.

(5) The intensive adjective very and the identifying adjective same; as, the very man, the same hour.

EXERCISE 102

(1) Point out the pronominal adjectives in the following expressions and classify each:

(2) Choose between the two expressions and give a reason for your choice:

1. Who is that (that there) man?
2. Do you know those (them) boys?
3. Do you like that (those) molasses?
4. This (these) news will surprise him.
5. I like neither one (none) of the four.

6. I am very fond of this (these) kind of stories.

7. To what (which) part of speech does James belong?

8. By what (which) man was the Pacific Ocean discovered?

9. I cannot decide what (which) one of these pictures I like best. 10. Very tall buildings stand on either side (both sides) of the street.

143. Numeral Adjectives. Adjectives used in numbering, as five, fifth, and the like, are called numeral adjectives. They are of two kinds:

(1) Cardinal ("chief") numerals, or numeral adjectives that tell how many; as, ten boys, a dozen eggs.

(2) Ordinal numerals, or numeral adjectives that tell in what order or rank; as, sixth day, eighth boy.

Ordinal numerals are also used to tell the part of a thing; as, a third, three-fourths.

With the exception of first, second, and third, ordinal numerals are formed from cardinal numerals by adding th to the cardinal form; as, seventh, tenth, etc.

Properly speaking, hundred, thousand, million, etc., are nouns. They are commonly modified by adjectives and may be pluralized; as, five hundred, fifty thousand, millions. A hundred men means "a hundred of men.”

Other numerals may be used substantively; as, forty of them, by twos, one tenth of it.

Couple refers to two things united or closely related, as a married couple. It should not be used in the ordinary sense of two, as a couple of dollars. Say "two dollars."

EXERCISE 103

Classify the numeral adjectives and tell which are used as nouns:

1. Send me two dozen eggs.
2. He came on the fifth day.
3. I have sold fifteen pounds.
4. Ten fell in the first charge.
5. Only a fourth of them remain.
6. He is worth five million dollars.

7. Hundreds of men have returned home.

8. Five thousand men volunteered for the service.

9. The man has lived his three score years and ten.

10. Fully twenty couples were present on that occasion.

144. Comparison of Adjectives.- Adjectives may be inflected to denote a difference of degree; thus,

James is tall.

John is taller than James.

Henry is the tallest of the three.