Verb Conjugation
Verbs are conjugated to show person, number, tense, mood, and voice. Most of these changes are shown by the use of auxiliary verbs, which are placed before the infinitive or the past or present participle of the sense-verb. The combinations are called verb-groups.
Conjugation of Be
Be is an extremely irregular composite verb. It is made up of three verbs, is (am, are, art), be, and was (were).
| Indicative | |
|---|---|
| Present | Past |
| I am | I was |
| You are | You were |
| He is | He was |
| We are | We were |
| You are | You were |
| They are | They were |
| Subjunctive | |
| Present | Past |
| I be | I were |
| You be | You were |
| He be | He were |
| We be | We were |
| You be | You were |
| They be | They were |
Chapter VII
SENTENCE CORRECTNESS
The language spoken and written by educated persons and by trained writers in all parts of the English-speaking world has certain forms and usages to which everyone must conform if he wishes to be recognized as a well-educated man or woman. Conformity to the word-forms and to the sentence structure of this widespread language is called correctness.
300. Use the nominative case for the subject of every finite verb. I, thou, he, she, we, they, who, are nominatives.
Wrong. Him and I graduated last year.
Right. He and I graduated last year.
Revise. Us and her went by ourselves.
301. Use the nominative form who for the subject, even if a parenthetical he says, he thinks, etc., intervenes between subject and verb.
Wrong. She was the teacher whom we thought had seen us.
Right. She was the teacher who we thought had seen us.
Revise. He whom everybody thought would win the prize came out second.
302. Use the nominative forms who, whoever for the subject of a subordinate clause, even if a verb or a preposition immediately precedes who, whoever.
Wrong. I shall believe whomever has the best argument.
Right. I shall believe whoever has the best argument.
Wrong. A reward was offered to whomever returned the lost book.
Right. A reward was offered to whoever returned the lost book.
Revise. The decision as to whom should be punished no longer rests with me.
303. Use the nominative case for a predicated pronoun after is, are, was, were, etc.
Wrong. It was me.
Right. It was I.
Wrong. The best friends I have are her and him.
Right. The best friends I have are she and he.
Revise. It is not whom you think it is.
304. Put a pronoun used as an appositive into the same case as the noun with which it is in apposition.
Wrong. Let’s you and I go.
Right. Let’s you and me go.
Wrong. The principal called in several pupils, Jack and Mary and I.
Right. The principal called in several pupils, Jack and Mary and me.
Revise. For whom did you ask—they and she?
305. After the conjunctions as and than, put the pronoun into the same case as that of the noun or pronoun with which the comparison is made. (Exception: The form whom is usually used after than.)
Wrong. He swims better than me.
Right. He swims better than I.
Wrong. She is as rich as him.
Right. She is as rich as he.
Wrong. It improved him more than I.
Right. It improved him more than me.
Right. He is a student than whom there is none better.
Revise. I like him better than she.
306. Use the possessive case of a noun or pronoun with a gerund.
Wrong. I am tired of you going away like this.
Right. I am tired of your going away like this.
Wrong. Had you not heard of him being ill?
Right. Had you not heard of his being ill?
Revise. I will not consider Henry leaving.
Revise. Too much attention was paid to Ethel being rewarded.
307. Put only nouns indicating persons or animate beings into the possessive case.
Wrong. Biography is history’s most interesting part.
Right. Biography is the most interesting part of history.
Revise. His striking appearance held the class’s attention.
308. Use the objective case of a pronoun which is the object of a verb or of a preposition.
Wrong. My father decided that the farm was the best place for my brother and I.
Right. My father decided that the farm was the best place for my brother and me.
Revise. Most of we girls are studying household art.
309. Use the objective case of a pronoun which is the subject of an infinitive after a verb of saying, thinking, permitting, etc.
Wrong. Our parents let my sister and I drive the horse.
Right. Our parents let my sister and me drive the horse.
Revise. Who do you want to be captain?
310. Use the objective case of a pronoun which is predicated after to be, to have been, used with a verb of saying, thinking, etc.
Wrong. He thought it to be we.
Right. He thought it to be us.
Wrong. They believed her to have been I.
Right. They believed her to have been me.
Revise. We wished it to be they.
311. Use this kind of, that kind of, this sort of, even if followed by a plural noun.
Wrong. You cannot use those sort of films.
Right. You cannot use that sort of films.
Revise. Did you ever see these kind of instruments?
312. Refer a singular pronoun to a singular antecedent.
Wrong. He carefully crated and boxed the seed to stand weathering, and shipped them to India.
Right. He carefully crated and boxed the seed to stand weathering, and shipped it to India.
Wrong. Everyone did justice to their appetite.
Right. Everyone did justice to his appetite.
Revise. One can tell when they come to these villages because of the smell of the cod.
313. Make the verb agree with its subject.
Wrong. The first five years of my life was spent here.
Right. The first five years of my life were spent here.
Revise. Magazines, especially the American, is what I enjoy reading.
314. Make the verb agree with its subject. Each, each one, every, everyone, everybody, anyone, anybody, either, neither, none, no one, nobody, are singular.
Wrong. Neither of these treat the subject thoroughly.
Right. Neither of these treats the subject thoroughly.
Wrong. Oh, how I wanted a bicycle. Everyone either got one or were going to get one.
Right. Oh, how I wanted a bicycle. Everyone either got one or was going to get one.
Revise. For that reason almost everybody there get sleepy.
315. Make the verb agree with its subject. Two or more singular nouns joined by and form a plural subject.
Wrong. Across the street is the engineering building and the university heating plant.
Right. Across the street are the engineering building and the university heating plant.
Revise. Both the plot and the style was very good.
316. Make the verb agree with its subject. Singular nouns or pronouns joined by or or nor form a singular subject.
Wrong. Clarabell or Sue are going.
Right. Clarabell or Sue is going.
Wrong. Neither Henry nor Herbert were well treated.
Right. Neither Henry nor Herbert was well treated.
Revise. Either the captain or the sergeant have made a mistake.
317. Make the verb agree with its subject. A collective noun requires a singular verb if the group is regarded as a unit, a plural verb if it is regarded as a collection of individuals.
Wrong. She drills us on a lesson until she is sure the class are familiar with everything in each assignment.
Right. She drills us on a lesson until she is sure the class is familiar with everything in each assignment.
Wrong. Sometimes when some member of the class makes a mistake in his speech, the rest of the class laugh and talk about it.
Right. Sometimes when some member of the class makes a mistake in his speech, the rest of the class laughs and talks about it.
Revise. Another committee, known as the advisory committee, is composed of one member from each district, and are chosen by the board of the district bank represented.
318. Make the verb agree with its subject. An intervening noun must not attract the verb into a different form.
Wrong. The number of bearings in a car vary.
Right. The number of bearings in a car varies.
Wrong. The grounds upon which the building stands consists of half a city block.
Right. The grounds upon which the building stands consist of half a city block.
Revise. A copy of the orders are also sent to the checker.
319. Make the verb agree with its subject. There is and there are must agree with the subject which follows.
Wrong. There is always a few minutes now and then for reading newspapers.
Right. There are always a few minutes now and then for reading newspapers.
Revise. As I think of my subject there seems to be many phases open for investigation.
320. Make the verb agree with its subject. Phrases introduced by besides, with, together with, accompanied by, including, as well as, do not affect the number of the verb.
Wrong. The major, as well as all the lieutenants, were soon out in the open.
Right. The major, as well as all the lieutenants, was soon out in the open.
Wrong. Mary, together with Florence, Mabel, and Pearl, are going to be there.
Right. Mary, together with Florence, Mabel, and Pearl, is going to be there.
Revise. The whole army, including the Fifth and Seventh corps, have received orders to entrain.
321. Make the verb agree with its subject. If both singular and plural substantives joined by or or nor make up the subject, the number of the verb depends upon that of the nearest substantive.
Wrong. Neither the directors nor the president are in sympathy with the proposal.
Right. Neither the directors nor the president is in sympathy with the proposal.
Revise. The rodmill or the furnaces goes on double turn today.
322. Make the verb agree with its subject. Verbs used with who, which, that, must agree in person and number with the antecedent of the pronoun.
Wrong. Each man and woman who were present came away disgruntled.
Right. Each man and woman who was present came away disgruntled.
Revise. These horses that stands here are not for sale.
323. Make the verb agree with its subject—not with a predicated noun or nouns.
Wrong. The type of literature I enjoy are books of travel.
Right. The type of literature I enjoy is books of travel.
Revise. Another group of novels I have read are Main Street, The Bright Shawl, and If Winter Comes.
324. Make the verb agree with its subject. The form don’t is correct in the first and second persons singular and in all persons plural. The form doesn’t is the only correct form in the third person singular.
Wrong. He don’t seem to know us.
Right. He doesn’t seem to know us.
Revise. The majority don’t think.
325. Distinguish between the past tense and the past participle of irregular verbs.
Revise.
I wonder what he has did?
Have you saw him?
He has ran the car into the ditch.
326. Use the correct past tense or past participle of the following verbs—not the illiterate form.
| Present | Past | Past Participle |
|---|---|---|
| It bursts | it burst | it has burst |
| He catches | he caught | he has caught |
| He dives | he dived | he has dived |
| He drags | he dragged | he has dragged |
| He draws | he drew | he has drawn |
| He drowns | he drowned | he has drowned |
| He eats | he ate | he has eaten |
| He grows | he grew | he has grown |
| He holds | he held | he has held |
| He knows | he knew | he has known |
| He leads | he led | he has led |
| He proves | he proved | he has proved |
| He shows | he showed | he has shown |
| He swears | he swore | he has sworn |
| He throws | he threw | he has thrown |
| He ought | he ought | (Had ought is not in good usage) |
Revise.
What has she ate.
I drug it three yards.
I drawed him out.
He drownded last week.
327. Distinguish between lie and lay, sit and set, rise and raise.
Wrong. He laid in the hammock all morning.
Right. He lay in the hammock all morning.
Wrong. All right, set there, then.
Right. All right, sit there, then.
Wrong. We all raised up and shouted.
Right. We all rose up and shouted.
Revise. I laid on the couch while the rest of them set around waiting for me to raise up and tell them to go home.
328. Use shall in the first person, will in the second and third, to express simple futurity.
Wrong. I feel that I have had more military training than I will get here in the university.
Right. I feel that I have had more military training than I shall get here in the university.
Wrong. You shall fail unless you get to work.
Right. You will fail unless you get to work.
Revise. He shall never be found if we do not hurry.
329. Use should in the first person, would in the second and third, to express relative futurity.
Wrong. I would like to give it to you.
Right. I should like to give it to you.
Wrong. He should be glad to help you, I’m sure.
Right. He would be glad to help you, I’m sure.
Revise. You shouldn’t do that, should you?
330. In questions, use shall in the first person. In the second and third persons, use that auxiliary which will be correctly used in the answer.
Wrong. Will I help you?
Right. Shall I help you?
Wrong. Will you be at home tonight?
Right. Shall you be at home tonight?
Revise. Shall she be asked?
331. To express determination on the part of the speaker, use will in the first person, shall in the second and third persons.
Wrong. He will tell you; I am determined.
Right. He shall tell you; I am determined.
Wrong. You will go; I have decided.
Right. You shall go; I have decided.
Revise. I shall do it; nobody can prevent me.
332. Make the tenses of parallel verbs conform to one another.
Wrong. I would go down to the library every Saturday and there I got a book about radio.
Right. I would go down to the library every Saturday and there I would get a book about radio.
Revise. I traveled all over the state until I had seen everything or until I became tired.
333. Use the present tense for assertions that are universally true.
Wrong. Mars was the most nearly red of all the planets.
Right. Mars is the most nearly red of all the planets.
Revise. The earth was eight thousand miles in diameter.
334. Make the tense of a verb in a subordinate clause relative to that of the verb in the main clause.
Wrong. I also read new, popular novels that I would find in the public library.
Right. I also read new, popular novels that I found in the public library.
Revise. I probably would never have read such low, vulgar stuff if it were not for the war.
335. Use the present tense of the infinitive unless its action is earlier than that of the main verb.
Wrong. It was wrong for you to have gone.
Right. It was wrong for you to go.
Wrong. I ought to answer before that had happened.
Right. I ought to have answered before that had happened.
Revise. I intended to have told you.
336. Use an adverb of time to show that the subordinate clause differs in time from the main clause.
Wrong. The reason for the fertility of Iowa farm land is that an ice sheet spread over almost the entire area of the state.
Right. The reason for the fertility of Iowa farm land is that an ice sheet once spread over almost the entire area of the state.
Revise. One little corner of Iowa contains many steep hills because the ice did not reach it.
337. Use the subjunctive mood in contrary to fact conditions.
Wrong. If I was you, I should not do that.
Right. If I were you, I should not do that.
Revise. If he was not ill, he might win today.
338. Use have, the correct auxiliary, not of, carelessly written for the unaccented have.
Wrong. You should of seen him run.
Right. You should have seen him run.
Revise. If it had not rained today, we might of gone away.
339. Had ought and hadn’t ought are not standard English; ought has no past participle and no past perfect tense.
Wrong. You hadn’t ought to have come so soon.
Right. You ought not to have come so soon.
Revise. I had ought to have told you but I didn’t have the courage.
340. Make a complete sentence out of a fragment carelessly punctuated as if it were a sentence.
Wrong. I took time to make friends and eventually enjoyed myself in the same way as any other little girl. My favorite sport being skating.
Right. I took time to make friends and eventually enjoyed myself in the same way as any other little girl. My favorite sport was skating.
Revise. At seven o’clock every morning I hear the faint tinkling of a bell which soon becomes an insistent ring, and another day has begun. Then a dash down the cold stairs followed by a hurried wash, then down to breakfast.
341. Attach a phrase, carelessly punctuated as if it were a sentence, to the sentence to which it belongs.
Wrong. This was placed in a chemical solution, called developer, for fifteen or twenty minutes. Sometimes even longer.
Right. This was placed in a chemical solution, called developer, for fifteen or twenty minutes, and sometimes even longer.
Revise. My office hours were unlimited during the summer months. Usually from seven in the morning until after six o’clock at night on week days.
342. Attach a participial phrase, carelessly punctuated as if it were a sentence, to the sentence to which it belongs.
Wrong. We arrived on the peak before sunrise. This being the best time to arrive.
Right. We arrived on the peak before sunrise, this being the best time.
Revise. Asher won the mile in 4:32. Thus breaking the record.
343. Attach a subordinate clause, carelessly punctuated as if it were a sentence, to the sentence to which it belongs.
Wrong. Soon after it is plowed. It should be harrowed several times in order to crush out all the lumps of dirt.
Right. Soon after it is plowed it should be harrowed several times in order to crush out all the lumps of dirt.
Revise. When the grain is dry enough to be threshed. The owner issues invitations for a threshing bee.
344. Attach part of a compound subject, carelessly punctuated as if it were a sentence, to the sentence to which it belongs.
Wrong. John, wearing a straw hat. Then his brother, garbed in a dress suit, entered the hall.
Right. John, wearing a straw hat, followed by his brother, garbed in a dress suit, entered the hall.
Revise. The memorial stadium and the chemistry building. The new administration building and the women’s gymnasium have all been built since 1910.
345. Attach part of a compound predicate, carelessly punctuated as if it were a sentence, to the sentence to which it belongs.
Wrong. The beacon flared. And lighted up the darkness for miles.
Right. The beacon flared and lighted up the darkness for miles.
Revise. Who has ever heard of Dolliver? Much less has ever been there.
346. Complete a construction begun but left unfinished.
Wrong. They rediscount notes which arise out of and the proceeds of which are employed for agricultural, industrial, and commercial purposes.
Right. They rediscount notes which arise out of agricultural, industrial, and commercial transactions and employ the proceeds in similar transactions.
Revise. Anybody who could design an engine like that, the largest automobile manufacturers in the country would compete for his services.
347. Give every finite verb a subject.
Wrong. It has been about fifteen months since I left high school, and have not done any studying since.
Right. It has been about fifteen months since I left high school, and I have not done any studying since.
Revise. The town has not yet built a very large high school building, because there are not enough citizens to defray the expense and have not yet been able to obtain the co-operation of the farmers.
348. Insert a word or words which have been carelessly omitted.
Wrong. Their complexion is a reddish color.
Right. Their complexion is of a reddish color.
Wrong. Hundreds of small creeks were constructed by the association, for the benefit of an individual.
Right. Hundreds of small creeks were constructed by the association, each for the benefit of an individual.
Revise. I consider him my favorite poet not because of his style but of the feeling in his verse.
349. Insert material necessary to make evident what is implied.
Wrong. Mr. T.’s method of teaching is stimulating, but his lack of the English language makes him an undesirable instructor.
Right. Mr. T.’s method of teaching is stimulating, but his lack of knowledge of the English language makes him an undesirable instructor.
Revise. Douglas Fairbanks is truer to life than the book.
350. Give every sentence element some grammatical construction.
Wrong. In my American literature class the instructor thought that it was essential for us to study, at least once a week, that had to do with current happenings.
Right. In my American literature class the instructor thought that it was essential for us to study, at least once a week, something that had to do with current happenings.
Revise. You should select the ears that have medium-sized kernels and filled out well at each end.
351. Use that to introduce noun clauses after verbs of saying, thinking, or feeling, unless the construction is obvious.
Wrong. I have decided the topic for my long theme will be Prehistoric Man.
Right. I have decided that the topic for my long theme will be Prehistoric Man.
Revise. Father felt a secondhand car was beneath our dignity.
352. Make the comparison accurate by inserting a demonstrative pronoun: that of, those of, these which, etc.
Wrong. Our condition is far better than the students of the East.
Right. Our condition is far better than that of the students of the East.
Revise. The history of the Book of Mormon is very much like the Bible.
353. Insert as after the positive of an adjective or an adverb when it is followed by a conjunction and the comparative with than.
Wrong. I am at least as tall or a little taller than anyone in the first squad.
Right. I am at least as tall as, or a little taller than, anyone in the first squad.
Revise. I enjoy biography as well if not better than fiction.
354. Insert much or greatly between very and a past participle.
Wrong. I was very disappointed.
Right. I was very much disappointed.
Revise. His table manners showed that they had been very neglected up to the time we took him in hand.
355. Repeat the verb in a different person or number if necessary to make it agree with the second of two alternative subjects.
Wrong. Either he or I goes.
Right. Either he goes or I go.
Revise. If he or I win the pole vault, Petersham will finish among the first three in the meet.
356. Repeat the auxiliary verb if necessary to make it agree with a second subject in a different person or number.
Wrong. Whether you or Jim is elected makes no difference to me.
Right. Whether you are elected or Jim is, makes no difference to me.
Revise. If you or any other student is caught cheating it means just one thing—expulsion of the guilty person.
357. Repeat is, are, was, were, etc., if the verb is used both as a copula and as an auxiliary.
Wrong. Their government was rude and founded solely upon custom.
Right. Their government was rude and was founded solely upon custom.
Revise. Our house is small and built to live in.
358. Use the correct form of the verb after each of two auxiliaries which require two different forms.
Wrong. I have always and always shall like cowboy stories.
Right. I have always liked and always shall like cowboy stories.
Revise. I hope I may in the future, as I have always in the past, play fair, whatever may be the provocation to do otherwise.
359. Use the correct conjunction, though or but rather than while; as soon as rather than immediately; if rather than so.
Wrong. Immediately I received the telegram I went home.
Right. As soon as I received the telegram I went home.
Wrong. It was in the latter part of my high school days when I did most of my reading.
Right. It was in the latter part of my high school days that I did most of my reading.
Revise. I had not gone to school long until it burned down.
360. Use a transitional word, phrase, or clause to carry the reader from one unrelated idea to another.
Wrong. I wanted to be popular; how could I start?
Right. I wanted to be popular, but the question was, how could I start.
Revise. Officers will be elected, and a good attendance is desired.
361. Avoid shifting from one construction to another.
Wrong. Consider the football season just ended, Merrill did more for the success of the team than any other captain Ohio ever had.
Right. In the football season just ended Merrill did more for the success of the team than any other captain Ohio ever had.
Revise. I enjoyed the freshman year with its essays and themes, since it proved to be a subject which I did not find difficult.
362. In the formula one of the most ... if not the most ... put the noun in the first element of the formula.
Wrong. It was one of the slowest if not the slowest game ever played on the Oval.
Right. It was one of the slowest games, if not the slowest, ever played on the Oval.
Revise. As a statesman he deserves to rank as one of the most, if not the most, contemptible figures in our history.
363. Phrase the subject so that it exactly fits the predication required by the verb.
Wrong. Mr. Swinnerton’s novel, Nocturne, takes place in one night.
Right. The action in Mr. Swinnerton’s novel, Nocturne, takes place in one night.
Revise. The character of Mr. Pickwick is a funny creature.
364. Use the precise verb which is idiomatically required to predicate the subject.
Wrong. Only one hour of relaxation existed for the noon meal.
Right. Only one hour of relaxation was allowed for the noon meal.
Revise. The freshman lecture last week consisted of four speakers.
365. Use the idiomatic preposition required after the noun.
Wrong. I went to the library in search for material.
Right. I went to the library in search of material.
Revise. His personality is one of the greatest factors for his success.
366. Use different prepositions after nouns, adjectives, or verbs which idiomatically require different prepositions.
Wrong. Am I included or excluded from this list?
Right. Am I included in or excluded from this list?
Revise. American literature is dependent or at least derived from English literature.
367. Use a more idiomatic construction.
Wrong. I have often had the desire of some day taking a vacation into the Rocky Mountains of the West.
Right. I have often wanted some time to spend a vacation among the Rocky Mountains in the West.
Revise. Carrie Stevens from Wilton passed three days visiting the parental home last week.
Revise. I spoke with him for something more than ten minutes.
368. Use a less awkward construction.
Wrong. Dr. Otto’s automobile was badly damaged in the collision, but Mrs. Otto, driving, was unhurt, fortunately.
Right. Dr. Otto’s automobile was badly damaged in the collision, but Mrs. Otto, who was driving, was fortunately unhurt.
Revise. During my senior year I had some experience in dramatics by taking part in the class play.
369. Use a predicated noun rather than a predicated clause beginning with when or where.
Wrong. A B.A. is where you are graduated in a liberal arts course.
Right. A B.A. is a degree given to graduates of a liberal arts course.
Revise. Golf is where you try to get the ball into the hole in the fewest possible number of strokes.
370. Use that to introduce a predicated clause of reason.
Wrong. The reason I have not read more is due to the fact that I have had no time.
Right. The reason I have not read more is that I have had no time.
Revise. My reason for reading this book was because I had previously seen the same story in the movies.
371. Use the formula the fact that ... to introduce a clause of reason used as the subject.
Wrong. Since you insist forces me to yield.
Right. The fact that you insist forces me to yield.
Revise. Because he looked so weak made me offer him a ride.
372. Use due to, owing to, and caused by only as adjectives, obviously modifying a noun. ([See 418.])
Wrong. This question is very difficult to answer due to the small amount of information available.
Right. The difficulty about answering this question is caused by the scarcity of information available.
Right. This question is very difficult to answer because little information is available.
Revise. Owing to the high wind Porter’s punts in the second half averaged only twenty-eight yards.
373. Use because of and on account of only as prepositions to introduce adverbial phrases attached to verbs.
Wrong. Purdue’s victory was because of the wet field.
Right. Purdue won because of the wet field.
Right. Purdue’s victory was due to the wet field.
Revise. His kindness to me was on account of his friendship for my father.
374. Attach a modifying word, phrase, or clause directly to the modified element without an intervening and or but. And or but should be used to join only co-ordinate elements.
Wrong. The village priests were of a lower class and lived like peasants, and preaching only to the peasants.
Right. The village priests were of a lower class and lived like peasants, preaching only to the peasants.
Revise. The study of musical appreciation is very interesting, and especially when one begins to find out how little he knows about it.
375. Discard completely any part of a sentence which has nothing to do with your thought.
Wrong. We arrived in Boston before noon, and the corn was fully six inches high.
Right. We arrived in Boston before noon.
Revise. Hugh Walpole is an Englishman, but Poe wrote The Raven.
376. Discard a redundant that.
Wrong. I really think that upon investigation that we are shown the shallowness of the objections.
Right. I really think that upon investigation we are shown the shallowness of the objections.
Revise. I knew that if I did not read some of my outside readings before Christmas that I probably should not be up with my work in time to pass the course.
377. Change the present participial phrase into a parallel verb or into a parallel clause if the time of action of the participle differs from that of the main verb.
Wrong. Leaving home before breakfast, we arrived at our destination in time for dinner.
Right. We left home before breakfast and arrived at our destination in time for dinner.
Revise. He is thirty-six, being born in 1887.
378. Put the noun into an of phrase, not into the possessive case, when the noun is the object of the verbal idea in a verbal noun in -ing.
Wrong. Lincoln’s shooting is one of the most tragic events in American history.
Right. The shooting of Lincoln is one of the most tragic events in American history.
Revise. One-eyed Pete’s converting firmly established the new minister in the eyes of the whole community.
379. Use an of phrase after the abstract verbal noun in -ing.
Wrong. The legislators viewed protection only as a policy for the fostering industry.
Right. The legislators viewed protection only as a policy for the fostering of industry.
Revise. The giving examinations is overdone here.
380. Two unconnected main clauses must be punctuated as two sentences, or must be joined with a conjunction, or one clause must be made subordinate.
Wrong. The fireless cooker that I made consisted of an outer wooden box which contained a fairly good-sized metal pail, the box was large enough to allow for at least five inches of packing.
Right. The fireless cooker that I made consisted of an outer wooden box which contained a fairly good-sized metal pail. The box was large enough to allow for at least five inches of packing.
Wrong. Nine months of the year I went to school the other three I worked at home on the farm.
Right. Nine months of the year I went to school and the other three I worked at home on the farm.
Wrong. Next, you apply one coat of paint it can be put on rather thick as you have to rub most of it off later.
Right. Next, you apply one coat of paint, which can be put on rather thick, as you have to rub most of it off later.
Revise. The senior English class is required to do some work in dramatics, this is done by giving the annual class play.
381. Join co-ordinate elements with and; the word also is an adverb, not a conjunction.
Wrong. The Navajoes have large herds of cattle, also many fine horses.
Right. The Navajoes have large herds of cattle and many fine horses.
Revise. The pitcher made a home run, also two singles.
382. Join co-ordinate main clauses with a conjunction, and, but, for, or or nor; or make one clause subordinate. Such words as so, then, therefore, and also are not conjunctions.
Wrong. I have no favorite kinds of books, however, I do read a great deal.
Right. I have no favorite kinds of books, but I do read a great deal.
Wrong. I had to run to supper both nights so I decided I would quit.
Right. After I had had to run to supper both nights I decided I would quit.
Revise. Before school and on Saturdays I worked either in a restaurant or in a clothing store, so my reading has been limited for the last two years.
383. Place similar modifiers of the same word together.
Wrong. We saw an old house painted white.
Right. We saw an old white house.
Revise. He had a stern face, forbidding and ugly.
384. Use only one negative in a clause.
Wrong. You haven’t seen nothing yet.
Right. You have seen nothing yet.
Right. You haven’t seen anything yet.
Revise. She had not gone no farther than the post office when she heard a shot.
385. Use or as a conjunction—not nor—when the first of the connected elements carries a negative.
Wrong. Some seeds do not need to be very deep in the ground nor very far apart.
Right. Some seeds do not need to be very deep in the ground or very far apart.
Revise. A favorite son is not necessarily known throughout the whole country, nor even in the neighboring states.
386. Omit the negative as a supposed reinforcer of hardly, scarcely, only, and but.
Wrong. I can’t scarcely realize it yet.
Right. I can scarcely realize it yet.
Revise. I do not like but two kinds of reading matter: novels and short stories.
387. Use an adverb—not an adjective—to modify a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. Adverbs formed from adjectives end in -ly.
Wrong. I worked steady all vacation.
Right. I worked steadily all vacation.
Revise. I never expect to become a real proficient student in this subject.
388. Predicated adjectives are used correctly after the verbs is, are, was, were, become, seem, feel, appear, look, sound, taste, smell, stand, and ring when the adjective characterizes the subject and not the action.
Wrong. This orange tastes sweetly.
Right. This orange tastes sweet.
Revise. His speech rings falsely.
389. Relative pronouns who, which, that, are correctly used as follows: who if the antecedent is a person; which if the antecedent is an animal or a thing; that if the antecedent is a person, an animal, or a thing.
Wrong. I once worked for a farmer which worked from sunrise to sunset.
Right. I once worked for a farmer who worked from sunrise to sunset.
Revise. I have a dog who is almost as intelligent as a man.