Business English: A Practice Book

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.

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.

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.)

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

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 ——.

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.

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 ——.

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.