PRONOMINAL ADJECTIVES.
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.
Modify names of persons or
things.
149. The RELATIVE
ADJECTIVES are which and what; for example,—
It matters not what rank he has, what
revenues or garnitures. —Carlyle.
The silver and laughing Xenil, careless what lord
should possess the banks that bloomed by its everlasting course.—Bulwer.
The taking of which bark. I verily believe, was
the ruin of every mother's son of us.—Kingsley.
In which evil strait Mr. Oxenham fought
desperately.—Id.
Indefinite relative
adjectives.
150. The INDEFINITE
RELATIVE adjectives are what, whatever, whatsoever,
whichever, whichsoever. Examples of their use are,—
He in his turn tasted some of its flavor, which, make
what sour mouths he would for pretense, proved not altogether
displeasing to him.—Lamb.
Whatever correction of our popular views from
insight, nature will be sure to bear us out in.—Emerson.
Whatsoever kind of man he is, you at least give
him full authority over your son.—Ruskin.
Was there, as it rather seemed, a circle of ominous
shadow moving along with his deformity, whichever way he turned
himself?—Hawthorne.
New torments I behold, and new tormented
Around me,
whichsoever way I move,
And whichsoever way I
turn, and gaze.
—Longfellow (From
Dante).
151. The INTERROGATIVE
ADJECTIVES are which and what. They may be used in direct and
indirect questions. As in the pronouns, which is selective among what is
known; what inquires about things or persons not known.
In direct questions.
Sentences with which and what in direct
questions:—
Which debt must I pay first, the debt to the
rich, or the debt to the poor?—Emerson.
But when the Trojan war comes, which side will
you take? —Thackeray.
But what books in the circulating library
circulate?—Lowell.
What beckoning ghost along
the moonlight shade
Invites my steps, and points to yonder
glade?
—Pope.
In indirect questions.
Sentences with which and what in indirect
questions:—
His head...looked like a weathercock perched upon his
spindle neck to tell which way the wind blew.—Irving.
A lady once remarked, he [Coleridge] could never fix
which side of the garden walk would suit him best.—Carlyle.
He was turned before long into all the universe, where
it was uncertain what game you would catch, or whether any.—Id.
At what rate these materials would be distributed
and precipitated in regular strata, it is impossible to determine.—Agassiz.
Adjective what in
exclamations.
152. In exclamatory
expressions, what (or what a) has a force somewhat like a
descriptive adjective. It is neither relative nor interrogative,
but might be called an EXCLAMATORY
ADJECTIVE; as,—
Oh, what a revolution! and what a heart
must I have, to contemplate without emotion that elevation and that fall!—Burke.
What a piece of work is man!—Shakespeare.
And yet, alas, the making of it right, what a
business for long time to come!—Carlyle
Through what hardships it may attain to bear a
sweet fruit!—Thoreau. |
