DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVES.

[Sidenote:  Not primarily pronouns.]

146.  The words of this list are placed here instead of among pronominal adjectives, for the reason that they are felt to be primarily adjectives; their pronominal use being evidently a shortening, by which the words point out but stand for words omitted, instead of modifying them.  Their natural and original use is to be joined to a noun following or in close connection.

[Sidenote:  The list.]

The demonstrative adjectives are this, that, (plural these, those), yonder (or yon), former, latter; also the pairs one (or the one)—­the other, the former—­the latter, used to refer to two things which have been already named in a sentence.

[Sidenote:  Examples.]

The following sentences present some examples:—­

     The bashful virgin’s sidelong looks of love, The matron’s glance
     that would those looks reprove.—­GOLDSMITH.

     These were thy charms...but all these charms are fled.—­Id.

     About this time I met with an odd volume of the
     “Spectator.”—­B.  FRANKLIN.

     Yonder proud ships are not means of annoyance to you.—­D. 
     WEBSTER.

     Yon cloud with that long purple cleft.—­WORDSWORTH.

I chose for the students of Kensington two characteristic examples of early art, of equal skill; but in the one case, skill which was progressive—­in the other, skill which was at pause.—­RUSKIN.

Exercise.—­Find sentences with five demonstrative adjectives.

[Sidenote:  Ordinal numerals classed under demonstratives.]

147.  The class of numerals known as ordinals must be placed here, as having the same function as demonstrative adjectives.  They point out which thing is meant among a series of things mentioned.  The following are examples:—­

The first regular provincial newspapers appear to have been created in the last decade of the seventeenth century, and by the middle of the eighteenth century almost every important provincial town had its local organ.—­BANCROFT.

These do not, like the other numerals, tell how many things are meant.  When we speak of the seventeenth century, we imply nothing as to how many centuries there may be.

PRONOMINAL ADJECTIVES.

[Sidenote:  Definition.]

148.  As has been said, pronominal adjectives are primarily pronouns; but, when they modify words instead of referring to them as antecedents, they are changed to adjectives.  They are of two kinds,—­RELATIVE and INTERROGATIVE,—­and are used to join sentences or to ask questions, just as the corresponding pronouns do.