THE PREPOSITION AND THE CONJUNCTION

Business English: A Practice Book by Rose Buhlig is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book here. THE PREPOSITION AND THE CONJUNCTION

THE PREPOSITION AND THE CONJUNCTION

**Prepositions \ It is important in the study of prepositions to observe that there are certain words that are followed by certain prepositions. To change the preposition is to convey a different meaning from the one that the speaker intended, or to convey no meaning at all. A partial list of such words with their appropriate prepositions follows:

Exercise 125 Insert the correct preposition in the following:

1. I shall comply —— your request.
2. The chairman came upon the platform accompanied —— the speaker.
3. He took a walk accompanied —— his dog.
4. The lecture will be accompanied —— stereopticon views.
5. Strikes are usually accompanied —— riots.
6. The years of prosperity were followed —— years of famine.
7. He was accused —— theft, but was acquitted —— the accusation.
8. She is well adapted —— the position that is open.
9. An electric iron is especially adapted —— summer use.
10. The selection was adapted —— Irving.
11. This cloth is well adapted —— summer clothing because it is very light in weight.
12. I agree —— you that the plan is impracticable.
13. Let us agree now —— a place to spend our summer vacation.
14. That is not a proposition —— which I shall agree.
15. It is silly to be angry —— an inanimate object.
16. Don't be angry —— a person because he tells you your faults.
17. His report corresponds in all respects —- yours.
18. Mr. Giles suggested that you would be glad to have us correspond —— you concerning our new bond issues.
19. I shall confer —— my lawyer.
20. The public has conferred a great honor —— him.
21. One should always profit —— his experiences.
22. The new device is entirely different —— the old.
23. I am employed —— a fairly large salary —— a business that is growing daily.
24. All employees must conform —— the rules.
25. I am confiding —— you because I know that I can trust you.
26. She confided her child —— the care of her brother.
27. She is dependent —— her brother —— support.
28. You can have an influence for good —— him.
29. I have remonstrated —— the change several times.
30. Perhaps he will change his plans if we remonstrate —— him at once.

Exercise 126—Prepositions Incorrectly Used

Each of the incorrect sentences given below contains an unnecessary preposition. When the meaning of "Where are you going?" is entirely clear, there is nothing gained by saying "Where are you going to?" Omit such superfluous prepositions.

and for to

of for have

The wrong preposition

Preposition must be used

Exercise 127 The object of a preposition is always in the objective case. Some people have great difficulty in recognizing that in such expressions as for you and me, the pronoun me is as much the object of the preposition for as the pronoun you. Both words must be in the objective case. It is incorrect to say for you and I.

In the following sentences omit the incorrect italicized form:

1. The invitation is for father and I—me.

2. Every one has finished his work except he—him and I—me.

3. It's a question that you and I—me must decide; it refers to you and I—me alone.

4. Girls like you and she—her should have a good influence over the others.

5. All but you and I—me have left.

6. He did it for you and I—me.

7. No one objected but they—them and we—us.

8. She sat opposite you and I—me.

9. They were sitting near you and I—me.

10. We expect you to return with mother and I—me.

11. He wanted my brother and I—me to go into business with his brother and he—him.

12. Neither she—her nor her sister have I seen for several months.

13. My companion and I—me took up the trail of the bear at once. For some distance it led he—him and I—me over the soft, yielding carpet of moss and pine needles, and the footprints were quite easily made out.

14. He—him and I—me had, of course, to keep a sharp lookout ahead and around for the grizzly.

15. All are going on the excursion except he—him and I—me.

16. He—him and I—me went fishing.

17. The rule applies to we—us all—the manager, they—them who keep books, you, and I—me.

18. She beckoned to my companion and I—me.

19. The letter was to be read by the president or I—me.

20. He did it for the sake of my father and I—me.

21. We study Shakespeare with her sister and she—her.

22. She—her and her sister went to the lecture with my sister and I—me.

23. They sent for she—her and I—me, not you and he—him.

24. The program was arranged by the president and I—me.

25. They found that his father and he—him had already left.

26. Mother is going to buy a birthday present to-day for she—her and I—me.

27. The play is interesting not only to you older people but to we—us younger ones also.

28. They expected the work to be done by she—her and I—me.

29. The dispute between his neighbor and he—him over their lot line was settled by the surveyors this morning.

30. He wants to speak to you and I—me.

    
    

Exercise 128—Than, as Than and as are not prepositions but conjunctions. They are used to introduce subordinate clauses. Usually the clause is incomplete, but the omitted part is easily understood from the preceding clause and must be supplied to show the case of the noun or the pronoun that is expressed; as,

Right: She is as tall as I am.

Right: She is taller than he is.

Right: I should invite you rather than her than I should invite her.

Use the correct one of the italicized pronouns in the following sentences:

1. I'll agree that he is richer than I—me, but riches are not everything.
2. I shall send her rather than he—him.
3. No one felt sorrier than she—her.
4. No one knows more about an automobile than he—him.
5. You are more capable of doing the work than he—him.
6. We were nearer the goal than you or he—him.
7. You finished the work almost as quickly as she—her.
8. She writes fully as well as he—him.
9. The manager said he would rather send me than he—him.
10. I secured a position sooner than she—her.
11. It seems to me that they ought to go rather than we—us.
12. I am surprised that you arrived sooner than they—them.
13. They should have elected him rather than I—me.
14. I am not so well-fitted as he—him to hold the position.
15. You are more popular than he—him.

Exercise 129—Correlatives

There are certain conjunctions, called correlatives, that are used in pairs. They are

Illustrations

Be very careful not to use the correlative so as incorrectly for so that. So as is used in negative expressions of comparison; so that is used to express result.

Wrong: We went early so as we could get good seats.

Right: We went early so that we could get good seats.

In the illustrations given above, notice that the correlatives always join two similar or coördinate expressions. It is important that they be placed each immediately before one of the two coördinate expressions.

Wrong: I neither can sing nor play.

Right: I can neither sing nor play.

Recast the following sentences, placing the correlative conjunctions before coordinate expressions:

1. Either you ordered it late or not at all.

2. He said he neither had money nor time.

3. We not only bought the books you wished but the games also.

4. We like the place in which we live both on account of its quietness and its pleasant surroundings.

5. I shall either go to Quebec or Montreal.

6. Either he must spray his trees or expect no fruit.

7. I neither like the appearance of the shop nor the attitude of the clerks.

8. They did it both for the sake of your brother and you.

9. This sample not only is much darker but heavier also.

10. They are barred who neither can read nor write.

    
    

Exercise 130—Either—or, Neither—nor These conjunctions are correctly used in speaking of two things only. Care must be taken to use or with either and nor with neither. In comparing three or more things use any of them, none of them, or no.

In the following sentences use only the correct italicized forms:

1. Neither effort nor—or money was spared in the undertaking.

2. I have considered planting maple, oak, and elm trees, but neither—none of them seems to grow well in this climate.

3. We do not believe in either enduring oppression nor—or killing the oppressor. We believe in arbitration.

4. He has no—neither time, patience, nor—or energy.

5. If you ask me which of the three I prefer, I'll be frank and tell you I like neither—none of them.

6. Three courses will be given in the subject this year; you may take either—any one of them.

7. I had already passed three branch roads, but neither—none of them had looked familiar to me.

8. I hardly think he accepted any—either of the two offers he received.

9. Neither the doctor or—nor his wife was at home.

10. Both the books look shop-worn. I'll take neither—none.

    
    

Exercise 131—Except, Without, Unless Except and without are prepositions, and are used, therefore, to introduce phrases; unless is a conjunction, and is used to introduce a clause.

In the following sentences insert the correct form, giving a reason for your choice:

1. —— you leave at once, you will miss your train.

2. I cannot learn to swim, —— some one teaches me.

3. I cannot learn to swim —— a teacher.

4. No one could do the work —— me.

5. John expects to learn —— studying.

6. John will discover that he cannot win promotion —— he works hard.

7. No one can learn how to spell —— first learning how to observe.

8. No one will learn to spell —— he learns to observe.

9. No one will succeed —— he has energy and patience.

10. No one will succeed —— energy and patience.

11. You cannot succeed in any way —— by seizing each opportunity as it comes.

12. It is impossible to grow beautiful flowers —— the soil is good.

    
    

Exercise 132—Like, as

Like is followed by a noun or pronoun in the objective case. As is a conjunction and introduces a clause, and is therefore followed by a verb. Like is not a conjunction and therefore may not be substituted for as or as if.

Wrong: I wish I could play like you can.

Right: I wish I could play as you can.

Insert the correct word in the following sentences:

1. The picture looks just —— you.

2. I haven't a voice —— my brother's.

3. I cannot sing —— my brother can.

4. He walks just —— you do.

5. I hope you will all enjoy the trip —— I did.

6. For pleasure and exercise I think there is no game —— tennis.

7. He said that the town looked just —— it had when he was a boy.

8. I cut the paper just —— you said I should.

9. He talks —— his father.

10. He has the same sort of drawl —— his father has.

11. She was there —— you said she would be.

12. They worked —— beavers.

13. He looked —— a tramp.

14. To give the stitch the proper twist throw the thread over the needle —— I do.

15. He walks —— he were lame.

    
    

Exercise 133—As—as, So—as

Use as—as in stating equality; use so—as in negative comparisons.

1. You will find the new clerks fully —— courteous as were the old.

2. You will not find the new clerks —— courteous as were the old.

3. Elms do not grow —— well in this climate as do poplars.

4. We did not carry —— much advertising this year as we did last year, and we find that our receipts are smaller.

5. Under our system of individual instruction a student may advance —— rapidly as his ability permits.

6. You are not —— tall as your sister.

7. I do not seem to learn languages —— easily as mathematics.

8. This house is not —— large as the other.

9. He is —— active as he was twenty years ago.

10. He is not —— active as he was twenty years ago.

    
    

Exercise 134—Miscellaneous Blunders

To, Too, Two

To is a preposition; too is an adverb, and means excessively or also; two is a numeral adjective.

Insert the correct form in each of the following sentences:

1. The —— sisters discovered that it was —— late for the 4:15 train.

2. It is —— dark in that corner; come —— the light.

3. He spends —— much time in dreaming, —— little in working.

4. He would have done better if he had not given —— little heed —— the advice of his —— older brothers.

5. —— more hours were passed in the all —— weary task of waiting.

6. It was —— cold —— stay out more than —— hours.

7. You may go ——, but don't stay —— long.

8. —— stay there for —— weeks would be —— tiresome.

9. The doctor said that the —— men were —— sick —— go home alone, and I thought so ——.

10. About —— hours ago I met Mary who said that she was going —— the country ——.

    
    

There, Their

11. —— are seven brothers in —— family.

12. —— books are —— on the table.

13. —— is no doubt that —— knowledge of mathematics is greater than —— knowledge of English.

    
    

Were, Where

14. —— have you been?

15. —— you ever on a farm —— alfalfa is grown?

16. —— —— you when the report was read?

17. I was just —— you ——.

    
    

Of, Have

18. You should —— read more distinctly.

19. I could —— done the work if I had had more —— the necessary tools.
20. If I had tried harder, I might —— done the work better.

About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books.

This book is part of the public domain. Rose Buhlig (2011). Business English: A Practice Book. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/38046/pg38046-images.html

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org, located at https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html.