--_Point out the descriptive and the definitive adjectives in
Lessons 80 and 81, and tell whether they denote color, motion, shape,
position, size, moral qualities, or whether they modify in some other way_.
* * * * *
LESSON 90.
CONSTRUCTION OF ADJECTIVES.
+Caution+.--_An_ and _a_ are different forms of _one_. _An_ is used before
vowel sounds. For the sake of euphony, _an_ drops _n_ and becomes _a_
before consonant sounds.[Footnote: Some writers still use _an_ before words
beginning with unaccented _h_; as, _an historian_.]
+Examples+.--_An_ inkstand, _a_ bag, _a_ historian, _a_ humble petition,
_an_ hour (_h_ is silent), _a_ unit (_unit_ begins with the consonant sound
of _y_), such _a_ one (_one_ begins with the consonant sound of _w_).
+Direction+.--_Study the Caution, and correct these errors_:--
A heir, a inheritance, an hook, an ewer, an usurper, a account, an uniform,
an hundred, a umpire, an hard apple, an hero.
+Caution.+--_An_ or _a_ is used to limit a noun to one thing of a class--to
any one. _The_ is used to distinguish (1) one thing or several things from
others, and (2) one class of things from other classes.
+Explanation.+--We can say _a horse_, meaning _any one horse_; but we
cannot say, _A gold_ is heavy, This is a poor kind of a _gas_, William Pitt
received the title of _an earl_ because _gold, gas,_ and _earl_ are here
meant to denote each the whole of a class, and a limits its noun to one
thing of a class.
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