DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVES.
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.
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.
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.
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. |
