Harvey's Elementary Grammar and Composition · Lesson 39 · Part 1: Part I: The elementary course

38. Double negatives, and adjectives or adverbs?

Goal: Your child corrects double negatives and chooses between an adjective and an adverb.

⏱ About 25 minutes · 7 steps

Open it at the Internet Archive ↗

You'll need

  • The book, open to this lesson
  • Paper and a pencil (or a slate)

What's in the book

Lesson 39, "Incorrect Language," warns against double negatives, adjectives used as adverbs and adverbs used as adjectives, with sentences to correct.

The lesson, step by step

  1. Review

    Ask your child to make up a sentence with an adverbial clause.

  2. Double negatives

    Read:

    Do not use such expressions as, I don't see nothing, Don't tell nobody, etc.

    Fix:

    I don't want nothing to-day.

    We didn't catch no fish.

  3. Adjective or adverb?

    Read:

    Do not use adjectives as adverbs.

    SaySpeak distinctly, not distinct. Then fix:

    Samuel speaks very distinct.

    How careless Julia holds her pen!

  4. The other way round

    Read:

    Do not use adverbs as adjectives.

    SayAfter feel, look, smell and taste, we describe the subject, so we use an adjective: "This flower smells sweet." Fix:

    This flower smells sweetly.

    The country looks beautifully after a shower.

  5. Write corrections

    Write correct versions of three sentences from each caution.

  6. Check together

    Check with the answers, reading each right version aloud.

  7. Use it today

    Listen for "I feel badly" or "real good" today. What would the book say?

Tip

A couple of the book's examples ("read slower," "arrived safely") are accepted by most people today. Teach the idea; don't fuss over those.

Answers to the book's problems

I don't want anything to-day. Don't tell anybody anything about it. We didn't catch any fish. John doesn't feel any better than he did yesterday. I feel tolerably well. Does not Mary dress neatly? Samuel speaks very distinctly. He was so cold he couldn't move. You ought to read more slowly. I am exceedingly glad to see you. How carelessly Julia holds her pen! You should always speak distinctly. I felt sick yesterday. We arrived safe at San Francisco last evening (the book's rule; "safely" is also accepted today). This flower smells sweet. Stand as near to me as you can. The country looks beautiful after a shower. Things look somewhat more favorable this morning. The doctor said that his patient felt more comfortable.

Worked out for this site from the scan. If a number in your copy differs, trust the book.

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