Preposition and Noun. This form may be taken for the illustration of the interchange before us.

It has already been remarked that the PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE taking the place of the Adjective is essentially an Adverbial expression. For examples of the interchange, reference may be made to §§ 171-2, 257-8; and to the Prepositional (Adjective) Phrase generally. The great majority are at once seen to be at bottom adverbial.

The explanation of how it is that an Adverbial phrase passes under the name of an Adjective phrase, as substitute for an Adjective, must be well inculcated. The wide-reaching influence of the construction is in no danger of being over-valued.

In the first place, many examples are simply cases of ellipsis.Maritime tribes'='tribes on the sea-coast. Here the prepositional phrase 'on the sea-coast' is merely a remnant of the full expression by an adjective clause that dwell (live, are, &c.) on the sea-coast,' and is in strictness an adverbial phrase modifying the verb of the full clause. Since, however, it is the really important consideration, it represents the whole adjective clause (the rest of the clause being omitted as easy to supply); and it may thus be regarded as practically an adjective phrase. The same principle explains such examples as the following: a bird in the hand,' the castle by the sea,' the boys at the door,' 'the difficulty as to conveyances,' the Sermon on the Mount, the church near the river—the church here,' &c.

In the second place, many of the nouns modified by such prepositional phrases contain the force of cognate verbs, and may thus most naturally assume an adverbial qualification. A medical writer'='a writer on medical subjects on medicine": 'on medicine' is in reality an adverbial phrase, modifying' writer' in virtue of the verb force remaining

in the

с

for a writer on medicine' is noun; a person that writes on medicine.' 'A general rebellion' may be expressed as a rebellion in all parts of the country. As in the first examples, we might supply the full adjective clause thus: a rebellion (that breaks out) in all parts of the country'; but such filling up is not necessary here. 'Rebellion,' which merely gives the action of the verb 'rebel' in noun form, is directly modified by the adverbial phrase in all parts of the country.' Yet, as the qualification of the noun is typified by the adjective, we do not hesitate to regard the adverbial expression as practically an adjective phrase.

The examples hitherto given are restrictive. But in the co-ordinating use also, the full construction must be borne in mind. The men, greatly despondent, returned home ''The men, in great despondency, returned home.' The full forms are: 'The men, (who were) greatly despondent-(who were) in great despondency-returned home.'

The last example shows an incidental conversion of very high importance. An adverb modifying the adjective becomes an adjective modifying the noun: greatly despondent'‘in great despondency.' (Compare § 38, second note in small type.)

3. ADJECTIVE replaced by ADVERBIAL CLAUSE.

183. The adjective may be removed, and in its place there may be substituted an ADVERBIAL CLAUSE in great variety of adverbial meanings. The clause form gives greater prominence and superior emphasis to the sense conveyed.

Co-ordinating examples.

=

'He would not abandon his useless project He would not abandon his project, though it was useless,' or 'Though his project was useless, he would not abandon it.'

'This spirit, dumb to us, will speak to him This spirit, though it is dumb to us, will speak to him,' or 'Though this spirit is dumb to us, it will speak to him.'

Ready to go himself, he was impatient of their delay''As (since, because, seeing that, &c.) he was ready to go himself, he was impatient of their delay.'

Eager to push forward, the general was yet very cautious'='while (though, notwithstanding, &c.) the general was eager to push forward, he was yet very cautious.'

Restrictive examples.

'A wise man will not always study'=' If a man is wise, he will not always study,' or 'If you are wise, you will not always study.'

Still waters run deep'=' When waters are still, they run deep.'

Impertinent curiosity should be rebuked'= Where (when, if, &c.) curiosity is impertinent, it should be rebuked.'

'Only competent workmen need apply'='Only if workmen are competent, need they apply,' or Unless workmen are competent, they need not apply.'

Blunt wedges rive hard knots' is a double example. 'Wedges, though (they may be) blunt, rive knots, even if these should be hard.'

The introducing conjunctions are to be selected with careful discrimination.

Further examples may be found among the illustrations of the Adjective given for other purposes; see more especially the adjectives interchanging with the participle (§§ 174-5). The similar interchanges on the part of Adjective Phrases and Adjective Clauses should also be compared. The pupil will note carefully the instructive examples where the Adjective or the Adjective Phrase is preceded by a conjunction intimating the special shade of adverbial meaning (§§ 333, 479-80, 491-2).

IV. OTHER PARTS OF SPEECH

as ADJECTIVES.

184. The NOUN and the ADVERB may be said to divide between them the service done for the Adjective by the other parts of speech. It may not, indeed, be possible to assign every qualification exclusively to either of these substitutions as against the other. The usage generally is the result of a very severe condensation.

Besides the Noun and the Adverb, certain Pronouns (including some adjectives that are occasionally used as pronouns) are found saving the repetition of the Adjective.

1. NOUN as ADJECTIVE.

185. The application of the NOUN as a limiting word in the restrictive sense of the Adjective is one of the most familiar processes of the language. In every case there is a very great condensation. Commonly, the noun is the only remaining part (because, indeed, the only important part) of the full adjective clause, where it is usually found in an adverbial phrase. A ring that is made of gold-a ring made of gold—a ring of gold—a gold ring': the whole expression dwindles down to the essential element gold,' which, when thus left alone, is naturally placed in the regular position of the single-word adjunct. The rough classification of the following examples is powerfully suggestive of the adverbial force of the qualification.

186. A gold watch' is the same as a watch (made) of gold.'

A brick wall' is a shorter mode of expression for a wall (that is built) of brick.'

An infantry guard' is a guard (consisting) of infantry, or (that consists) of infantry.

EXERCISE 155.

1. Stone walls do not a prison make,
Nor iron bars a cage.

2. Tom has some ivory balls. 3. The Indians built a clay fort. 4. The lady's silk dress was spoiled. 5. Where is thy leather apron ? 6. Sailors often wear fur caps and paper collars. 7. He bought a mahogany table and some walnut chairs. 8. An iron ship ran against a sand bank.

A silver spoon; a steel blade, pen; granite pavement, precipices; a bronze statue; a marble font; quill pens; snow flakes; a satin snood; a myrtle wreath; a straw bonnet; cypress groves; hazel shade; dew drops, rain drops; a cavalry regiment; an oak forest; bamboo rods; cane nooses.

187. 'Money bags' are 'bags that contain money, or 'containing money, or for containing money’; bags where money is kept, &c.

Granite quarries' are 'quarries where granite is dug up, worked, &c.'

EXERCISE 156.

Flower gardens; a book case; ink bottles; wine glasses; a note, prayer, song book; a hat, work, letter box; water pipes; a picture gallery; corn fields; the fire place; sugar, herring barrels; an umbrella stand; a luggage van; à gunpowder magazine; a hay stack; a goods shed; coal ships; the cotton districts; gold fields; silver, tin, copper, coal, lead, iron mines; sheep farms; deer forests; pasture land; grammar schools; the witness box; the life tree; shipbuilding yards; a bible, science class; lumber, refreshment rooms; a thread, paper, biscuit manufactory.

188. Cricket balls' are 'balls used in playing at cricket.

'Gas coals' are coals that gas is made from, or whence gas is produced, or for manufacturing gas from.

'A chain bridge'='a bridge suspended by chains.'

'A spear wound'='a wound inflicted by a spear.'