THE VERB

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 VERB

THE VERB

Verbs may be transitive or intransitive.

A verb is transitive when it needs an object to complete its meaning; that is, when the action passes over (Latin, transire, to pass over) from the subject or doer to the object or receiver; as,

He hit the ball. A verb is intransitive when it needs no object to complete its meaning; as,

The crowd cheered. Some intransitive verbs require a predicate noun or pronoun in the nominative case, or an adjective, to complete their meaning. They are the verbs be, become, appear, seem, feel, taste, look, smell; as,

Adjective: The berries taste sour. Noun: John is my brother. Pronoun: It is I. Such verbs are sometimes called copulatives.

Exercise 98 Tell whether each verb in the following sentences is transitive or intransitive and whether it is followed by a noun or a pronoun in the nominative or the objective case or by a complementary adjective.

1. Primitive people have left traces of very early commercial relations.[84]

2. Explorers visited the Ohio valley and found articles of remote manufacture.

3. Checks and drafts are great conveniences to the business man.

4. The United States Supreme Court made a decision that labor unions are punishable under trust penalties.

5. A labor union is different from a trust.

6. This is the opinion of the labor leader.

7. What is your opinion?

8. The total value of merchandise sent to Latin-America from the United States exceeds that supplied by any other single country.

   
   

Write three sentences illustrating transitive verbs.

Write three sentences illustrating intransitive verbs.

Write three sentences illustrating copulative verbs.

Exercise 99—Voice

Voice is that property of the verb that shows whether the subject acts or is acted upon. If the subject acts, the verb is in the active voice. If the subject is acted upon, the verb is in the passive voice. Every sentence containing a transitive verb must have the following parts:

When the sentence is in the order shown above, the subject is the agent, and the verb expresses the action of the agent. When the sentence is written in this order, the verb is said to be in the active voice.

However, without changing the meaning of the sentence, we may change the order of the ideas; thus,

The receiver of the action has become the subject, and the agent has become part of the predicate, being expressed in the phrase by the runaway horse. When the sentence is[85] expressed in this order, the subject receiving or "suffering" the action, the verb is said to be in the passive voice. Only transitive verbs, therefore, may be changed to the passive voice.

Note.—There are certain intransitive verbs that sometimes have a preposition so closely connected with them that the two are treated almost like a transitive verb, and may be made passive; as,

Active: The audience laughed atthe speaker.
Passive: The speaker was laughed atby the audience.

Write five sentences in the active voice.

Change them to the passive voice.

In the sentences that you have written, is the active form of the verb or the passive form better?

Which is more direct in its wording? Which, then, is the better form to use regularly?

Exercise 100—Number and Person

The number of the verb is decided by the number of the subject. If the subject is a singular noun, or a pronoun that stands for a singular noun, it requires a singular verb; if the subject is plural, it requires a plural verb. As a rule, there is no difference between the singular and the plural forms of the verb except in the form for the third person singular; as,

But as the third person of the verb is the one most often used, it must be carefully noted.

The following subjects of verbs are singular and require a singular verb to accompany them:

1. A collective noun that denotes a group of objects acting as one thing; as,

The crowd is scattering.

2. A group of words which, like a collective noun, is plural in form but singular in meaning; as,

   
   

Thirty dollars is what I paid for the ring.

3. A singular noun modified by every, each, one, no, many a; or the pronouns each, everybody, either, neither, and none when it means not one; as,

Each of us has his lesson. Many an opportunity has been wasted. Everybody is here now.

4. Singular[1] nouns or pronouns joined by or, either—or, neither—nor; as,

Either John or his father is coming.

5. Two nouns joined by and, denoting one person or thing; as,

The bookkeeper and stenographer is an expert.

Note.—If two persons are meant, the article should be repeated before the second noun.

The following subjects of verbs are plural and require plural verbs:

1. A collective noun denoting plurality; that is, referring to the individuals that compose the group; as,

   
   

The class are all studious.

2. A compound subject joined by and, when the objects joined are different; as,

The door and the window are both open.

3. The pronoun you, though it may denote only one person; as,

Right: You were right. Wrong: You was right.

Exercise 101 In the following sentences, decide which of the italicized forms is correct. Give the reason for your choice.

1. Two dollars is—are too much for you to pay.

2. Bread and butter is—are what I prefer to eat.

3. Bread and butter is—are both sold here.

4. His opinion and mine is—are different.

5. The majority of the class is—are present.

6. The class is—are dismissed.

7. The congregation is—are asked to remain a few minutes after the close of the service.

8. The community is—are rapidly changing.

9. A few of the books was—were given to me.

10. There was—were forty people present.

11. The secretary and treasurer was—were asked to read his—their report.

12. One-third of the office was—were late this morning because the cars were not running.

13. He don't—doesn't understand what I mean.

14. If the quality and the price is—are right, buy.

15. There come—comes a crowd of people.

16. The library with its thousands of books was—were destroyed by fire.

17. There don't—doesn't seem to be much difference between the two.

18. The whole system of filing and indexing is—are wrong.

19. Safety as well as success is—are at stake.

20. The state of public affairs calls—call for quick action.

21. Many a man has—have neglected golden opportunities.

22. Many men has—have neglected golden opportunities.

23. The committee has—have given its—their report.

24. Our team was—were beaten.

25. One of us surely is—are mistaken.

26. Every one was—were happy when Tom was elected president.

27. Tom and James is—are going skating.

28. Tom with his brother James is—are going skating.

29. The only thing I have not prepared for dinner is—are the potatoes.[88]

30. Fifty feet of sidewalk was—were laid to-day.

31. None of the boys is—are studying stenography.

32. Neither Tom nor his brother is—are studying stenography.

33. Both Tom and his brother is—are stenographers.

34. Every one is—are interested in the cost of living.

    
    

In the last sentence above substitute one of the following for every one, using the correct form of the verb with each:

each of us; everybody; all of us; several people; both of the men; neither of the men; neither Mary nor John; Mary and John; our club; our class; the nation; not only Europe but America; Europe as well as America; the nation as well as several of the larger cities

Exercise 102—Tense

The tense of the verb indicates the time of the action. There are three primary tenses, indicating action in the present, the past, and the future. Each of these tenses has also a perfect tense, which, represents the action as being perfect or complete in the present, the past, and the future.

The present tense is the simplest form. It denotes that the action takes place now; as,

To be more exact, we may indicate that the action is continuing in the present time, and then we say,

This is called thepresent progressive tense.

It may be that you wish to be emphatic, and you say,

This is called theemphatic present tense.

[89]

The past tense indicates that the action took place in past time; as,

or, the*past progressive;*as,

or, the*past emphatic;*as,

The emphatic form is used only in the present and the past tenses.

The future tense denotes that the action will take place at some future time. It is formed by using shall or will with the simplest form of the verb; as,

The progressive form is not common. It is

The three perfect tenses are formed by using the verb have with the perfect participle of the verb.

The present perfect tense denotes that the action is complete at the present time. It is formed by the present tense of have and the perfect participle of the verb; as,

The progressive form is,

The past perfect denotes that the action was completed in past time. It is formed by using the past tense of have and the perfect participle of the verb; as,

The progressive form is,

The future perfect tense denotes that the action will be completed at some future time. It is formed by the future of have and the perfect participle of the verb; as,

The progressive form is rarely used. It is

Giving all forms singular and plural, first, second, and third persons of each tense constitutes the conjugation of a verb. Giving one person in each tense constitutes the synopsis of the conjugation.

The following is a synopsis of all the tenses of the active voice in the first person singular number of the verb write:

Exercise 103 Conjugate the following in the active voice:

1. Simple past tense of walk.
2. Present progressive tense of walk.
3. Present perfect of drive. (See Exercise 108 for the principal parts.)
4. Present perfect progressive of drive.
5. Future progressive of ride.
6. Past of ride.
7. Present progressive of ride.
8. Past emphatic of ride.
9. Past perfect of ride.
10. Present perfect progressive of ride.

Give a synopsis of the progressive tenses of begin, using he as the subject.

Exercise 104—Shall and Will

The auxiliary verbs used to form the future tenses are shall and will. The two must be carefully distinguished because they denote different ideas, according to the person with which they are used. The rule is, to express simple future time, use shall in the first person, will in the second and third persons.

The future tense of the verb walk is conjugated as follows:

This is the form to use when you expect the action to take place naturally.

On the other hand, instead of letting things take their natural course as they do in the simple future, you may force them to take place. You may, for example, be determined to walk, or determined to make some one else walk. In that case the use is reversed; as,

This form is used whenever the speaker has authority to bring about the action indicated by the verb.

In questions of the first person always use shall. In questions of the second and third persons use the same form that you expect in the answer; as,

Shall you be at home to-morrow? I shall.

In the following sentences insert shall or will, giving the reason for your choice:

1. I —— finish the work by three o'clock, I think.
2. To-morrow he —— feel sorry for this; I vow it.[93]
3. I am sorry, but I —— not be able to finish the work before next week.
4. —— you finish your business course in February or in June? I —— finish in June, I think.
5. —— he finish in February? No, he —— finish in June.
6. The foreman declares he —— not have another chance.
7. He —— see his mistake when it is too late.
8. They —— surely be at the station to meet me.
9. I'm afraid you —— be kicked if you go near that horse.
10. If he doesn't take the examination, he —— fail.
11. I am determined that I —— win.
12. I —— sail probably on the fifteenth.
13. He —— be twenty-one to-morrow.
14. I —— go in spite of him.
15. —— you go by train, do you think?
16. I —— be greatly obliged if you —— send the book at once.
17. I promise you John —— know his lesson to-morrow.
18. —— you be at home this evening?
19. —— the train be on time?
20. —— the store be open this evening?

Conjugate the future and future perfect tenses of the following verbs:

Exercise 105—Should and Would

Should and would are the past tenses of shall and will and, in general, express the same ideas as do shall and will, except that should sometimes means ought; as,

You should not speak in that way.

Would, also, sometimes indicates an action that occurs frequently; as,

She would often sit at the window all the morning.

The use of should and would in indirect statements and questions is sometimes puzzling. First of all, decide whether shall or will would be used in the direct form of the sentence.[94] If the direct form uses shall, use should in the indirect; if the direct uses will, use would in the indirect; as,

Direct: The market will improve.

Indirect: He said that the market would improve.

In conditional clauses (if), use should for all persons.

Insert should or would.

1. If I knew his address, I —— send him a telegram.
2. He promised that he —— not make the mistake again. (The direct form would read, I will not —— )
3. I promised that I —— not make the mistake again.
4. You promised that you —— not make the mistake again.
5. Do you think that I —— go?
6. I —— if I were you.
7. I —— think he —— know better than to apply for that position.
8. John said that, no matter what we thought, he —— not go.
9. If you —— decide to accept the offer, let me know at once.
10. I am sorry he did that. He —— not, of course.
11. If I —— see him, I'd let him know.
12. If he —— come during my absence, ask him to wait.
13. I —— think you would be more careful.
14. Let me know if you —— not be able to come.

Exercise 106

Change the italicized verbs to past tense, future, present perfect, past perfect, future perfect. Wherever necessary, add sufficient to make the meaning of the tense clear; as,

• Present: The manager is now in his office.

  
  

• Past: The manager was in his office a few minutes ago.

  
  

• Future: The manager will be in his office to-morrow at ten o'clock.

  
  

• Present Perfect: The manager has been in his office all the morning. (It is still morning.)

  
  

• Past Perfect: The manager had been in his office only a few moments when the president arrived.

  
  

• Future Perfect: In about five minutes the manager will have been in the president's office exactly three hours.

1. The cashier opens the safe in the morning.
2. The mechanic earns good wages.
3. The buyer leaves to-night.
4. The bookkeeper makes out the statements.
5. The correspondent writes the booklets.
6. The advertising manager approves the copy.
7. The adding machine is broken.
8. The chief clerk attends to the incoming mail.
9. The superintendent visits the factory every day.
10. The salesman is selling five thousand dollars' worth of goods a week.

Exercise 107 The present tense is used to indicate general truths—things true in past time and still true. Omit the incorrect form in the following sentences:

1. What did you say is—was the meaning of the term bona fide?
2. What was—is the name of that book that you enjoyed so much?
3. Didn't you know that the lion is—was called the king of beasts?
4. They told me that the legal rate of interest at present is-was six per cent.
5. Have you ever heard him try to prove that black is—was white?
6. What is—was the name of the banker who lectured to us yesterday?
7. I never could remember what the important products of my county are—were.
8. The advocate of Equal Suffrage argued that mothers need—needed the ballot to protect their children.
9. She said that a democracy is—was a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, and that women are-were people as well as men.
10. The speaker asserted that this country needs—needed a tariff to protect home industries.

Exercise 108—Principal Parts

No one can be certain of using the correct form of a verb unless he knows the principal parts. Some verbs are regular;[96] that is, they form their past tense and their perfect participle by adding ed to the present tense; as,

Some verbs, however, are very irregular, having a different form for each of the principal parts. A list of such verbs follows:

Exercise 109

Some verbs, though irregularly formed, have the past tense and perfect participle alike. A list of such verbs follows:

Exercise 110

Some verbs have all three forms alike. A list of such follows:

Exercise 111 Choose the correct form of the italicized words below, and give the reason for your choice.

1. If it don't—doesn't fit you, we shall alter it.
2. I knew—knowed I was right.
3. Aren't—ain't you glad we came?
4. Ain't—isn't he well?
5. We done—did the right thing.
6. Let—leave the book on the table.
7. Let—leave me do as I planned.
8. Mary has broke—broken her arm.
9. My mother has gone—went to Boston.
10. Where was—were you yesterday?
11. When the dinner bell rang—rung, we all come—came running in.
12. He don't—doesn't know what you said.
13. To what hospital have they taken—took him?
14. I saw—seen him a few minutes ago.

[100]

15. I saw—seen him yesterday.
16. I should have—of brought my book.
17. My winter coat is wore—worn out.
18. Have you ever rode—ridden in an aeroplane?
19. I have shown—showed you all the styles I have.
20. Don't—doesn't it seem odd that he don't—doesn't come?
21. She don't—doesn't remember you.
22. We began—begun the work yesterday.
23. I'm afraid my foot is froze—frozen.
24. We ran—run all the way.
25. I've shook—shaken him three times, but he don't—doesn't awake.
26. The bell rang—rung just before you entered.
27. She sang—sung very well.
28. He swam—swum all yesterday morning.
29. Why don't—doesn't some one tell John that his coat is tore—torn?
30. Don't—doesn't mother know that the vase is broke—broken?

Exercise 112—Troublesome Verbs\Lie, Lay

Lie is intransitive; lay is transitive. Lie signifies to rest; lay, to place. Insert the correct form in the following:

1. He told me to —— the book on the table. It —— there now.
2. I —— all day waiting for help to arrive.
3. Where did you —— the purse?
4. I —— it on your desk.
5. I have —— the letters on your desk.
6. They told me to —— down. I —— down for about two hours.
7. As I wished to bleach the clothes, I —— them on the grass.
8. —— the bundle down and listen to me.
9. You will probably find your cap ——ing where it has —— since you dropped it.
10. They let the field —— fallow.
11. How long has it —— fallow?
12. Yesterday he —— on the grass almost all day.
13. The hunter —— still and watched.
14. He —— his gun beside him and waited.
15. It will —— undisturbed till morning.
16. —— down awhile before dinner.
17. I don't know how long he has —— here.
18. He let his tools —— in the rain.

Exercise 113—Troublesome Verbs\Sit, Set

Sit is intransitive and signifies to rest. Set is transitive and means to place. Insert the correct form:

1. I have —— the ferns in the rain.
2. —— down for a few minutes.
3. She drew up a chair and —— down, while we were ——ting down the probable expenses of the new house.
4. Why don't you —— us a good example?
5. ——ting the table is not strenuous enough for one who has been ——ting all day.
6. The hen is ——ting on her eggs.
7. The man is ——ting out trees.
8. —— still; I'll go.

**Fly, Flow, Flee

Remember that birds fly; rivers flow; hunted creatures flee.

9. Still the river —— on its accustomed course.

10. Every autumn the birds —— south.

11. The birds have not yet —— away.

12. The deer —— before the dogs.

    
    

Rise, Raise Rise is intransitive; raise is transitive.

13. I have been trying all morning to —— this window.
14. I set the bread to ——.
15. He will surely —— in his profession.

Teach, Learn 16. Will you —— me how to play tennis?

17. I thought you had —— how to play tennis.

18. I —— (past tense) her the new system of filing.

    
    

May, Can May signifies permission; can denotes possibility.

19. —— I use your book?

20. —— you write shorthand?

21. —— I go with you?

22. My mother says that I —— go with you.

    
    

Might, Could Might is the past tense of may, and could is the past tense of can.

23. He said that I —— go.

24. He —— do the work if he wished.

25. Did you say I —— use your typewriter?

    
    

Exercise 114—Accept, Except

Accept means to receive. Except as a verb means to exclude; as a preposition it means with the exception of. Insert the correct form in the following:

1. Did you —— the position? Yes, no one applied for it —— me.

2. I have no other reason for not ——ing your invitation —— that I shall not be in the city.

3. —— Mary all ——ed the invitation.

4. He would not —— the money —— on one condition.

5. Why do you —— him from the general offer that you are making?

6. I agree with you —— on one point.

7. He ——ed the rebuke in silence.

8. We were forced to —— their conditions.

9. He said he would not —— the money —— that he knew he could return it.

10. You have answered everything —— what I asked you.

    
    

Exercise 115—Affect, Effect

Affect means to influence. It is always a verb. Effect as a verb means to bring to pass; as a noun it means result. Insert the correct form in the following sentences:

1. His opinion does not —— the case.

2. How does war —— trade?

3. His walking has had a good —— upon his health.

4. The ruling did not —— the wholesale dealers, but it had a big —— upon us.

5. What —— did the loss have upon him?

6. The failure of the bank ——ed the small depositors but had no —— upon the big business men.

7. The —— of the law has been startling because of the number of people ——ed by it.

8. They ——ed the consolidation, but thereby produced a bad —— upon the price of their stock.

9. The accident seriously ——ed his nervous system. In fact, the —— of the fall is only gradually disappearing.

10. Did the celebrated physician really —— a cure?

    
    

Exercise 116—Lose, Loose

Lose is a verb, while loose is usually an adjective. The two should be carefully distinguished. Insert the correct form:

1. I have a note book with —— leaves.

2. Aren't you afraid you will —— some of the —— leaves of that book?

3. Be careful that you don't —— that —— bolt.

4. Do you remember that you had warned me that I'd —— the —— button on my coat? I did —— it not five minutes afterward.

5. One of the hinges of the door has become ——.

6. Do not —— the —— change in that pocket.

7. He will —— the parcel as the cord is ——.

8. Did you —— the —— leaf journal?

9. She may —— the money, as the clasp of her purse is ——.

10. I keep my —— journal paper together by a rubber band so that there will be no chance of ——ing it.

    
    

Exercise 117—Had ought

Wrong: We had ought to go.

Right: We ought to go.

Wrong: We had ought to have gone.

Right: We ought to have gone.

Correct the following sentences:

1. I had ought to have studied harder.
2. You ought to do it, hadn't you?
3. Hadn't you ought to have gone?
4. Yes, I had ought to have gone yesterday.
5. Do you think I had ought to have accepted?
6. He had ought to come to-morrow.
7. The tickets had ought to have come from the printer's yesterday.
8. We had not ought to stay out so late.
9. You had ought to wear your coat.
10. He had ought to have become naturalized.
11. You had ought to have washed the dishes before you went out.
12. You had ought to take an umbrella.
13. You had ought to have heard what she said.
14. We hadn't ought to disagree.
15. You ought to have invested, hadn't you?

Exercise 118

Conjugation of the verb be in the

Indicative Mode

The verbbe is used to form the progressive tenses of the active voice (See Exercise 102) and the simple tenses of the passive voice; as,

\ Passive Voice**

If we add the progressive form wherever it may be used, we have the following synopsis of the indicative mood:

Exercise 119

Conjugate the following in the passive voice:

1. Simple present of pay.

2. Progressive past of pay.

3. Present perfect of throw.

4. Future of praise.

5. Past perfect of forget.[107]

6. Progressive present of choose.

7. Past progressive of choose.

8. Future of choose.

9. Future perfect of choose.

10. Past perfect of choose.

    
    

Exercise 120 Supply the verb forms indicated. Use the active unless the passive is definitely called for.

1. The vegetables (present perfect of lie) in water all the morning.

2. Rumors (past progressive passive of spread) far and wide that Germany would fight England.

3. I thought the gingham (past perfect passive of shrink) before the dress (past passive of made).

4. I am afraid my ear (present progressive of freeze).

5. Is it true that your ring (present perfect passive of steal)?

6. A sudden storm (past of arise) yesterday afternoon, and a little boy (past passive of drown) in the river where he and several of his companions (past perfect progressive of swim) since noon.

7. I (present perfect of speak) of the matter to no one.

8. I suppose that it (present perfect passive of break).

9. I must (present perfect of show) him twenty different styles, but he (past of choose) none of them, for as soon as I (past of show) him one, he (past of shake) his head.

10. She (past progressive of wring) out the clothes when the door bell (past of ring).

11. I am afraid my purse (present passive of lose).

12. The knight (past of say) that he (past perfect of decide) (infinitive of follow) the quest.

13. I thought I (past perfect of bring) you the morning paper.

14. He (past of swim) the river twice yesterday.

15. There he stood (present participle of ring) the dinner bell.

16. His coat (present perfect passive of wet) through more than once.

17. The trip (past of cost) him a hundred dollars.

18. I (past of see) the superintendent yesterday, but he said that there (present of be) no vacancies at present.

19. They (past of lay) the clippings on the desk, and then they (past of sit) down.[108]

20. As he (past of speak), he (past progressive of shake) from head to foot.

21. The clouds (past of lie) low on the horizon.

22. The building in which I work (present perfect passive of burn).

23. Your employer (present perfect deal) fairly with you.

24. I (present perfect of have) the same position for three years.

25. I (future of lend) him no money.

26. The floor (past passive of lay) by an expert workman.

27. The beads (past passive of string) on a waxed thread.

28. He (present perfect of throw) the whole office into confusion.

29. Before he came forward, he (past of set) the child down.

30. After the storm, leaves and twigs (past progressive of lie) thick upon the roads.

31. He (past of drive) to town yesterday. He (future of go) again to-morrow.

32. The dictionary (present progressive of lie) on the table where you (past of lay) it.

33. The dog (past of lay) the bone down, and then he (past of lie) down.

34. He (past of set) the chair by the window and then (past of sit) down.

35. I think we (future of see) him as we pass, for he usually (present of lie) on a couch by the window.

36. The snow (past perfect progressive of fall) for several hours and now (past of lie) deep on every path.

37. Everything (present perfect passive of lay) in readiness.

38. (Present participle of lie) in the hammock, he soon fell asleep.

39. I saw the man (present participle of lie) on the ground.

40. After he (past perfect of lie) there a few minutes, he suddenly (past of sit) up.

41. The biplane, which (past perfect progressive of lie) in the hangar since it (past perfect passive of raise) from the water in which it (past perfect of lie) for two weeks, (past of rise) up over the city.

42. Large crowds (past progressive of sit) on the fields, (present participle of wait) for the aeroplane (infinitive of rise).

43. Many people (past perfect of set) tents on the field during the night and now (past progressive of get) a good view of the flight.[109]

44. All eyes (past progressive of turn) toward the aeroplane, which (past progressive of rise) steadily.

45. The biplane (past of rise) until it (past perfect of rise) about five hundred feet above the tallest building; then it (past passive of raise) about fifty feet more to get it out of an air current that (past progressive of raise) one end of it.

    
    

Exercise 121—Infinitives and Participles

Infinitives are verb forms that are used as nouns, as adjectives, or as adverbs. Participles are verb forms that are used as adjectives. Thus at the same time each acts as two parts of speech. As verbs both have the meaning of the verbs from which they are made; both have tense and voice; both may be modified by adverbial expressions; and, if they are made from transitive verbs, both may take objects.

The Participle

The tenses and voices of the participle are as follows:

The participle frequently introduces a phrase. Usually the phrase is used like an adjective; occasionally it is used like a noun (sometimes called the gerund phrase).[110]

Adjective: Seeing your perplexity, I'll offer a suggestion. (Notice the punctuation.)

Noun(Gerund): Playing tennis is good exercise.

The Infinitive

The infinitive is distinguished by the word to, either expressed or understood. The tenses and voices of the infinitive are as follows:

The infinitive is often used to introduce a phrase; as,

Noun: To get to the top of the hillwas a difficult matter.
Adverb: I went to buy the sugar.
Adjective: It's a drawing to be proud of.

Grouping all the facts that we have thus far learned about phrases, and expressing them in diagram form, we have the following:

Phrases may be classified:

The prepositional and infinitive phrases may have all three uses; the participial phrase has two—adjective and noun (gerund).

Variety of Expression

Phrases are important because, like clauses, they help us to vary the form of our sentences. They help us, above all, to avoid the childish so habit. Thus, instead of They wished to make the ice smooth so they flooded the pond, we may use, for example:

Subordinate clause: Because (as, since) they wished to make the ice smooth, they flooded the pond.

Participial phrase: Wishing to make the ice smooth, they flooded the pond.

Infinitive phrase: To make the ice smooth, they flooded the pond.

Gerund phrase: Flooding the pond made the ice smooth.

Prepositional phrase modifying noun subject: The flooding of the pond made the ice smooth.

Recast each of the following sentences in at least two of the ways shown above:

1. They wished to finish the work so they stayed till six o'clock.
2. John hoped to arrive before the others so he started early.
3. He saw that the cars were not running so he walked so he would be on time.
4. They needed some gasoline so they had to stop at a garage.
5. He wished to make a tool chest so he bought some lumber.
6. They saw that he liked to read so they gave him several books.
7. She wished to make a good appearance at the party so she bought a new dress.
8. He was in a hurry so he walked fast.
9. We were afraid that we'd be late so we ran.
10. The campers thought they'd like a fire so they gathered a quantity of dry leaves and wood.
11. I was very tired when I reached home so I couldn't go to the lecture.
12. The work was difficult so it took three hours to finish it.
13. The clock needed repairing so he took it to a jeweler's.
14. The coat did not fit so she sent it back.
15. She didn't know where to take the train so she asked a policeman.

Exercise 122—Mode

Mode is the form of the verb that indicates the manner of expressing the thought. The modes, or moods, that every one should be able to distinguish are the indicative and the subjunctive. If the verb indicates a fact, we say it is in the indicative mode; if it expresses a supposition, a doubt, a statement contrary to fact, or a wish, we say it is in the subjunctive mode.

In form the indicative and the subjunctive differ in the present and the past tenses of the verb to be, as follows:

Other verbs in the subjunctive mode do not end in s in the third person singular number, but use the same form as the other persons in the singular number; as, if he go, if she walk.

If, though, although, or lest usually introduce the subjunctive form.

In modern English, the use of the subjunctive is becoming rare except in the past and past perfect tenses in statements contrary to fact, and in wishes, which are really statements contrary to fact; as,

1. If I were a king (but I'm not), I'd see that my laws were obeyed.
2. I wish I were a king! (but I'm not).
3. If I had been careful, my work would be good. (I was not careful.)
4. I wish I had been careful! (I was not.)

Notice that the verb is in the past or in the past perfect tense.

There are some careful writers who still use the present subjunctive to show a possibility; as,

Lest he start too late, remind him again that he must meet the 4:15 train.

In the following sentences, which form is better? May any of the sentences use either form?

1. I wish I was—were rich.

2. If I was—were you, I should go at once.

3. If his work was—were exact, he would have no trouble in holding a position.

4. If it was—were true, why didn't you say so?

5. If he was—were a millionaire, he could not have been more lavish.

6. If such a thing was—were possible, our government would be no government.

7. If the election was—were postponed, we should have been informed.

   
   

Exercise 123

Insert was or were in each of the following sentences, in each case giving a reason for your choice. Remember that the indicative was is used to denote a statement of fact in the past time, and the subjunctive were (singular and plural) is used to denote a possibility, something that is supposed to be true, or a statement entirely contrary to fact, as in a wish.

1. I wish I —— going with you.
2. As he —— not well, he could not go.
3. If he —— well, he could go.
4. If he —— attentive in class, he would not fail.
5. They treated me as if I —— one of the family.
6. When I —— in the South I visited New Orleans.
7. Suppose she —— your guest, how would you entertain her?
8. He would appear very tall —— it not for the breadth of his shoulders.
9. We decided that if it —— still raining by seven o'clock, we should not go.
10. If our strawberries —— ripe, I'd give you some.
11. If the package —— left yesterday, as you say, it must have been while I —— not at home.
12. If he —— late yesterday, he must start earlier to-day.
13. If every man —— honest, business life would be very pleasant.
14. I saw that he —— not interested.
15. If he —— not interested, he surely looked as if he ——.
16. —— I certain that the bonds —— safe, I should invest in them.
17. As the tablecloth —— stained, we laid it on the grass to bleach it.
18. If that stained tablecloth —— mine, I'd try bleaching it.
19. If I —— as interested in farming as you are, I'd buy a farm.
20. If her work —— best, why didn't she get the higher salary?

Exercise 124—Verbs Incorrectly Used

Note.—The secretary's daily report will be found an excellent means of securing variety of expression in pupils' writing. A different pupil is elected each Monday to act as the secretary of the class for the ensuing week, his duty being to report each day the doings of the class on the preceding day. The conditions are that not more than one and be used in each report and not more than one sentence begin with the subject.

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