Practical Grammar and Composition Part 24

8. He proposed to greatly decrease his son's allowance.

75. AGREEMENT OF VERB IN CLAUSES. In a compound predicate, the parts of the predicate should agree in tense; PAST TENSE SHOULD FOLLOW PAST TENSE, AND PERFECT TENSE FOLLOW PERFECT TENSE. Examine the following:

Wrong: He _has tried_ to do, and really _did_ everything possible to stop his son.

Right: He _has tried_ to do, and really _has done_ everything possible to stop his son.

Right: He _tried_ to do, and really _did_ everything possible to stop his son.

Wrong: I _hoped_ and _have worked_ to gain this recognition.

Right: I _hoped_ and _worked_ to gain this recognition.

Right: I _have hoped_ and _have worked_ to gain this recognition.

EXERCISE 56

_Correct the following sentences:_

1. I went last week and have gone again this week.

2. I have heard of his being here, but not saw him.

3. I saw John, but I have not seen Henry.

4. He desired to see John, but has not wished to see Henry.

5. John was sent for, but has not yet arrived.

6. I endeavored to find a way of avoiding that, but have not succeeded.

7. I have never seen its superior, and, in fact, never saw its equal.

8. She has succeeded in getting his promise, but did not succeed in getting his money.

9. I hoped and have prayed for your coming.

10. I have believed and usually taught that theory.

11. I intended to and have endeavored to finish the work.

12. No one has wished to see so much and saw so little of the world as I.

13. He has gained the favor of the king and was sent to Italy.

14. We have needed you and did our best to find you.

76. OMISSION OF THE VERB OR PARTS OF THE VERB. The verb or some of its parts are often omitted. This omission sometimes makes the sentence ungrammatical or doubtful in its meaning.

_I like him better than John_. This sentence may have the meaning shown in either of its following corrected forms: _I like him better than John DOES_, or _I like him better than I LIKE John_.

As a matter of good usage, the verb or any other part of speech should be repeated wherever its omission either makes the sentence ambiguous or gives it an incomplete sound.

Bad: _He was told to go where he ought not_.

Good: _He was told to go where he ought not to go_.

Good: _He was told to go where he should not go_.

EXERCISE 57

_Correct the following sentences:_

1. I admire Mary more than John.

2. I think she is older than John.

3. He should have succeeded in gaining the end he tried.

4. I asked him to do what I should not have.

5. I did what I ought not.

6. We wish him better luck than Mary.

7. We want to see him more than Henry.

8. I should hate him worse than you.

9. He wanted me to do what I didn't care to.

10. You may, as you please, do it or not.

11. She may go if she wishes or not.

12. We think of you oftener than mother.

77. MODEL CONJUGATIONS OF THE VERBS TO BE AND TO SEE.

CONJUGATION OF TO BE

PRINc.i.p.aL PARTS: AM, WAS, BEEN

INDICATIVE MODE

PRESENT TENSE

_Person Singular Number Plural Number_ 1. I _am_ We _are_ 2. [*]Thou _art_ (you _are_) You _are_ 3. He _is_ They _are_

[Footnote *: The forms, _thou art, thou wast, thou hast_, etc., are the proper forms in the second person singular, but customarily the forms of the second person plural, _you are, you were, you have_, etc., are used also in the second person singular. These distinct second person singular forms will be used throughout the model conjugations.]

PAST TENSE

1. I _was_ We _were_ 2. Thou _wast_ or _wert_ You _were_ 3. He _was_ They _were_

PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

(_Have_ with the past participle, _been_.)

1. I _have been_ We _have been_ 2. Thou _hast been_ You _have been_ 3. He _has been_ They _have been_

PAST PERFECT TENSE

(_Had_ with the past participle, _been_.)

1. I _had been_ We _had been_ 2. Thou _hadst been_ You _had been_ 3. He _had been_ They _had been_

FUTURE TENSE

(_Shall_ or _will_ with the present infinitive, _be_.[*])

_Person Singular Number Plural Number_ 1. I _shall be_ We _shall be_ 2. Thou _shalt be_ You _shall be_ 3. He _shall be_ They _shall be_

[Footnote *: To determine when to use _shall_ and when to use _will_ in the future and future perfect tenses, see ---- 65, 66, and 67.

In these model conjugations the forms of _shall_ are given with the future and the forms of _will_ with the future perfect.]