INSTITUTE LESSONS. Language.
Reading edition
Cautions Against the Use of Incorrect Language.
1.
A verb must agree with its subject in number and person.
2.
Use either or neither with reference to one of two objects.
3.
Use any one or no one with reference to one of more than two objects.
4.
Each, every, either, or neither requires a verb or a pronoun in the same connection to be in the singular number.
5.
Two or more subjects taken together require a verb or a pronoun in the same connection to be in plural number.
6.
Two or more subjects taken separately require a verb or a pronoun in the same connection to be in the singular number.
7.
A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in person and number.
8.
When subjects of different numbers are joined by or, the verb must agree with the one next to it.
9.
These or those should not be used with the singular noun kind or sort.
10.
Use plural nouns with adjectives denoting more than one.
11.
Use a before words beginning with a consonant sound.
12.
Use an before words beginning with a vowel sound.
Exercises for Correction.
(a)
Nothing but trials await him (1).
(b)
Have either of you seen him (4).
(c)
Neither of five men were present (3, 1).
(d)
Either ignorance or carelessness have caused this (4).
(e)
Neither of them were there (4).
(f)
Each of the pupils are to bring their books (1, 4).
(g)
What is the mood and tense of the following verbs (5)?
(h)
Every door and every window were crowded with spectators (6).
(i)
Not a boy in the class knew their lessons to-day (7).
(j)
Was the boys or their father to go (8)?
(k)
I do not like these kind of apples (9).
(l)
It isn’t safe to trust those sort of people (9).
(m)
The pole is ten foot long (10).
(n)
Is he an African or an European (11)?
(o)
The government is an hereditary monarchy (11).
(p)
A umpire was appointed (12).
(q)
Franklin favored an Union (11).
4
Cautions Against the Use of Incorrect English.
13.
Use the adjective in expressing condition, appearance, quality, or kind. (Use the adj. to modify a noun or a pronoun.)
14.
Use the adverb in expressing manner or degree.
15.
Use less to denote size or quantity; use fewer to denote number.
16.
Omit the article before a noun used in a general sense.
17.
Use the article before a noun used in a particular sense.
18.
Before two or more words denoting the same object, use the article but once.
19.
If the different words denote objects to be distinguished use the article with each word.
20.
Place a modifier where it will affect only the element to be modified.
21.
Do not use of between both or all and its noun.
22.
Use next to the noun the adjective of broadest signification; or, the one denoting the quality most easily recognized.
23.
Avoid using an adverb between the parts of an infinitive.
Exercises for Correction.
(a)
Since he was sick, he looks badly (13).
(b)
The rose smells sweetly (13).
(c)
I feel queerly (13).
(d)
He looks tolerable well (14).
(e)
He acted very different from his brother (14).
(f)
There was no less than five squirrels on the tree (1, 15).
(g)
Such a man does not deserve the name of a gentleman (16).
(h)
I do not despise the giver, but gift (17).
(i)
She referred to Patrick Henry, the patriot and the orator (18).
(j)
What is the difference between a siderial and solar day (19)?
(k)
His dexterity almost appeared miraculous (20).
(l)
I forgot to sign my name to a letter once (20).
(m)
He only rents the store, not the dwelling (20).
(n)
Did you bring both of the books (21)?
(o)
He saw all of the animals (21).
(p)
He was an old respectable man (22).
(q)
They tried to thoroughly educate her (23).
(r)
Everybody thought that it was destined to be a great city, twenty years ago (20).
(s)
He examined the trachea, or the windpipe (18).
(t)
Not one in ten of them are likely to pass (1).
5
Cautions Against the Use of Incorrect English.
24.
Do not neglect to form the possessive case properly.
25.
The apostrophe is not used with the possessive pronouns.
26.
Let the sign of possession be as close as possible to the modified noun.
27.
Indicate separate ownership by using the sign with each name.
28.
Indicate joint ownership by using the sign but once.
29.
Avoid the use of two or three possessives in close connection.
30.
When the comparative degree is used the latter term must exclude the former.
31.
When the superlative degree is used the latter term must include the former.
32.
When the latter term excludes the former the comparative degree must be used.
33.
When the latter term includes the former the superlative degree must be used.
34.
For two objects use the comparative degree.
35.
For more than two objects use the superlative degree.
36.
When a comparison or contrast is made neither term must
Exercises for Correction.
(a)
He has childrens’ gloves and mens’ shoes (24).
(b)
This is a later edition than your’s (25).
(c)
He does not like to ride any one’s else horse (26).
(d)
Do you prefer Webster or Worcester’s Dictionary (27)?
(e)
He left his bundle at Smith’s and Brown’s Store (28).
(f)
That is my brother James’ wife’s youngest sister (29).
(g)
He had a better memory than any boy I knew (30).
(h)
His paper has the largest circulation of any other in the county (31).
(i)
He was the most active of his other companions (32).
(j)
China has a greater population than any nation on the earth (33 or 30).
(k)
He is the wisest of the two (34).
(l)
Which of these three men is the taller (35)?
(m)
No city in Canada has suffered so much from fires as Quebec (36).
(n)
It is one of the best answers that has yet been given to the question (1).
(o)
A large part of the exports consist of spices (1).
(p)
One after another arose and offered their services (7).
(q)
Actions speak plainer than words (14).
6
Cautions Against the Use of Incorrect English.
37.
Do not use an objective form in a nominative relation.
38.
Do not use a nominative form in an objective relation.
39.
Avoid the use of the nominative case by pleonasm.
40.
Do not use double comparatives or superlatives.
41.
Avoid modifying adjectives denoting invariable qualities.
42.
Use the past participle in forming the perfect tenses or the passive voice.
43.
Do not neglect to use the apostrophe in contracted words.
44.
General or abstract truths should be expressed in the present tense.
45.
A hypothetical statement requires the subjunctive form.
46.
Use that to represent an antecedent modified by same, very, all, no, or an adjective in the superlative degree.
47.
If a past action is referred to as relatively present (or future) the proper tense must be used.
48.
Any two connected parts to which a third part refers or is to be applied, should be fitted to receive it in meaning or construction.
Exercises for Correction.
(a)
Whom does he think it could have been (37).
(b)
Who do you take me to be (38).
(c)
The boys I told you about, they are going to the pond (39).
(d)
You should be more firmer (40).
(e)
That fact is too universal to be disputed (41).
(f)
He had began his sermon before they entered (42).
(g)
The lesson was wrote in time (42).
(h)
Dont let him know Ive gone (43).
(i)
Columbus believed that the earth was round (44).
(j)
If I was he I would go (45).
(k)
Yonder is the same man who passed (46).
(l)
I intended to have written it on Saturday (47).
(m)
He never has and probably never will forgive me for deceiving him (48).
(n)
This stuff is coarser and in every way inferior to the other (48).
(o)
In what State did you say that Mt. Adams was (44)?
(p)
I expected to have heard from him before this (48). Sufficient data has been given to solve it (1).
7
Cautions Against the Use of Incorrect English.
49.
In the choice of words use the one that will express the proper meaning or modification.
50.
Do not use a double negative to express a negation.
51.
Do not violate the rules for the use of capital letters.
52.
Use “differ with” in regard to opinion; “differ from” in other cases.
53.
Do not use a preposition if a verb can properly govern the object.
54.
Do not use superfluous words.
55.
Use nor with neither; and or with either.
56.
Do not use like as a conjunctive adverb.
57.
The one refers to the first mentioned; the other to the last mentioned.
58.
In giving the number of times the size, &c., one object is that of another, use as-as, with the positive of the adjective.
59.
Do not use a pronoun so that there will be doubt as to what word is its antecedent.
60.
Two different relatives should not be used to refer to the same antecedent.
Exercises for Correction.
(a)
In what (part, portion) of the town does he live (49)?
(b)
His face assumed a (deadly, deathly) paleness (49).
(c)
He hasn’t no pencil (50).
(d)
I differ from you on the tariff question (52).
(e)
Why will he permit of such actions (53)?
(f)
Where is it at (54)?
(g)
On what train did he come on (54)?
(h)
Neither the boy or his mother are here (55, 4).
(i)
You cannot write like the teacher does (56).
(j)
Carthage and Rome were rival powers; the one on the northern coast of the Mediterranean, the other on the southern (51, 57).
(k)
The weight of the sun is 300,000 times heavier than that of the earth (58).
(l)
Mary sent her sister back for her shawl which she had forgotten to bring (59).
(m)
A boy who studies and that improves his spare moments will become eminent (60).
(n)
Nearly every one of the applicants were from this county (4).
(o)
Neither of the workmen have brought their tools (4, 7).
8