A is used before all words except those beginning with a vowel sound. Before those beginning with a vowel sound an is used. If, in a succession of words, one of these forms could not be used before all of the words, then the article must be repeated before each. Thus, one should say, An ax, a saw, and an adze (not An ax, saw and adze), made up his outfit. Generally it is better to repeat the article in each case, whether or not it be the same.

Do not say, kind of a house. Since a house is singular, it can have but one kind. Say instead, a kind of house, a sort of man, etc.

Exercise 27

Correct the following where you think correction is needed:

  1. Where did you get that kind of a notion?
  2. She is an eager and an ambitious girl.
  3. He received the degree of a Master of Arts.
  4. The boy and girl came yesterday.
  5. Neither the man nor woman was here.
  6. He was accompanied by a large and small man.
  7. He planted an oak, maple and ash.
  8. The third of the team were hurt.
  9. The noun and verb will be discussed later.
  10. I read a Pittsburg and Philadelphia paper.
  11. Read the third and sixth sentence.
  12. Read the comments in a monthly and weekly periodical.
  13. He is dying from the typhoid fever.
  14. He was elected the secretary and the treasurer of the association.
  15. What sort of a student are you?
  16. He is a funny kind of a fellow.
  17. Bring me a new and old chair.
  18. That is a sort of a peculiar idea.
  19. He was operated upon for the appendicitis.
  20. Lock the cat and dog up.

48. No adverb necessary to the sense should be omitted from the sentence. Such improper omission is frequently made when very or too are used with past participles that are not also recognized as adjectives; as,

Poor: I am very insulted. He was too wrapped in thought to notice the mistake.

Right: I am very much insulted. He was too much wrapped in thought to notice the mistake.

Exercise 28

Write sentences containing the following adjectives and adverbs. Be sure that they are used correctly.