Die

Plural dies, when the stamp with which seals are impressed is meant; dice, the cubes used in playing backgammon.

Herring

The plural is herrings, but shad, trout, bass, pike, pickerel, grayling, have no plural form.  “I caught three bass and seven fine pickerel this morning.”

Grouse

The names of game birds, as grouse, quail, snipe, woodcock, usually take no plural form.

Pea

Considered individually the plural is peas; when referring to the crop the proper form is pease.

Penny

“He gave me twelve bright new pennies,” referring to the individual coins.  “I paid him twelve pence,” meaning a shilling.

Wharf

Plural, generally wharves in America; wharfs in England.
____________________________________________________________

_____

150

CHAPTER VII

 Adverbs

The clearness of the sentence is often dependent upon the proper placing of the adverb.  No absolute rule can be laid down, but it should generally be placed before the word it qualifies.  It is sometimes necessary to place it after the verb, and occasionally between the auxiliary and the verb, but it should never come between to and the infinitive.

“I have thought of marrying often.”  As the adverb relates to the thinking, and not to the marrying, the sentence should read, “I have often thought of marrying.”

“We have often occasion to speak of health.”  This should be, “We often have occasion,” etc,

“It remains then undecided whether we shall go to Newport or Saratoga.”  Place undecided before then.

Adjective or Adverb?

There is often a doubt in the mind of the speaker whether to use the adjective or the adverb, and too frequently he reaches a wrong decision.  When the limiting word expresses a quality or state of the subject
  ________________________________________________
_________________

151

or of the object of a verb, the adjective must be employed; but if the manner of the action is to be expressed, the adverb must be used.  The verbs be, seem, look, taste, smell, and feel furnish many stumbling-blocks.

“This rose smells sweetly.”  As the property or quality of the rose is here referred to, and not the manner of smelling, the adjective sweet should be employed, and not the adverb sweetly.

“Thomas feels quite badly about it.”  Here, again, it is the condition of Thomas’s mind, and not the manner of feeling, that is to be expressed; hence, badly should be bad or uncomfortable.

“Didn’t she look beautifully upon the occasion of her wedding?” No; she looked beautiful.

“The sun shines brightly.”  Bright is the better word.

“The child looks cold,” refers to the condition of the child.  “The lady looked coldly upon her suitor,” refers to the manner of looking.