Adverbs in _-ly_ usually have more and most instead of the inflected form, only occasionally having _-er_ and _-est_.

     Its strings boldlier swept.—­COLERIDGE.

     None can deem harshlier of me than I deem.—­BYRON.

     Only that we may wiselier see.—­EMERSON.

     Then must she keep it safelier.—­TENNYSON.

     I should freelier rejoice in that absence.—­SHAKESPEARE.

[Sidenote:  Form vs. use.]

290.  The fact that a word ends in _-ly_ does not make it an adverb.  Many adjectives have the same ending, and must be distinguished by their use in the sentence.

Exercise.

Tell what each word in ly modifies, then whether it is an adjective or an adverb.

1.  It seems certain that the Normans were more cleanly in their habits, more courtly in their manners.

2.  It is true he was rarely heard to speak.

3.  He would inhale the smoke slowly and tranquilly.

4.  The perfectly heavenly law might be made law on earth.

5.  The king winced when he saw his homely little bride.

6.  With his proud, quick-flashing eye,
     And his mien of kingly state.

7.  And all about, a lovely sky of blue
     Clearly was felt, or down the leaves laughed through.

8.  He is inexpressibly mean, curiously jolly, kindly and good-natured in secret.

291.  Again, many words without _-ly_ have the same form, whether adverbs or adjectives.

The reason is, that in Old and Middle English, adverbs derived from adjectives had the ending _-e_ as a distinguishing mark; as,—­

     If men smoot it with a yerde smerte [If men smote it with a rod
     smartly].—­CHAUCER.

This e dropping off left both words having the same form.

     Weeds were sure to grow quicker in his fields.—­IRVING.

     O sweet and far from cliff and scar The horns of Elfland
     faintly blowing.—­TENNYSON.

     But he must do his errand right.—­DRAKE

     Long she looked in his tiny face.—­Id.

     Not near so black as he was painted.—­THACKERAY.

In some cases adverbs with _-ly_ are used side by side with those without _-ly_, but with a different meaning.  Such are most, mostly; near, nearly; even, evenly; hard, hardly; etc.

[Sidenote:  Special use of there.]

292.  Frequently the word there, instead of being used adverbially, merely introduces a sentence, and inverts the usual order of subject and predicate.

This is such a fixed idiom that the sentence, if it has the verb be, seems awkward or affected without this “there introductory.”  Compare these:—­