Practical Exercises in English Part 4

1. _Write the plural of_: Alumna, a.n.a.lysis, beau, cherub, crisis, curriculum, genus, genius, hypothesis, nebula, oasis, parenthesis, phenomenon, synopsis, seraph, stratum, tableau.

2. _Write the singular of_: Alumni, curricula, data, bacteria, cherubim, oases, phenomena, seraphim, strata, theses.

GENDER.--The following nouns of different genders are sometimes confounded or otherwise misused:--

_Masculine_. _Feminine_.

abbot abbess actor actress bachelor spinster, maid buck doe (fallow deer) bullock heifer czar czarina drake duck duke d.u.c.h.ess earl countess Francis Frances gander goose hero heroine lion lioness marquis, marquess marchioness monk nun ram ewe stag, hart hind (red deer) sultan sultana tiger tigress wizard witch

[20] TO THE TEACHER.--To have any value this must be given as a dictation exercise.

EXERCISE XV.[21]

1. _Write the feminine word corresponding to:_ Abbot, actor, bachelor, buck, bullock, czar, duke, drake, earl, Francis, hero, lion, marquis, monk, ram, stag, sultan, hart, tiger.

2. _Write the masculine word corresponding to:_ Spinster, duck, doe, Frances, goose, heifer, ewe, hind, witch.

[21] TO THE TEACHER.--This should be used as a dictation exercise.

EXERCISE XVI.

_Correct the following sentences:_--

1. The marquess was the executor of her husband's estate.

2. He married a beautiful actor.

3. The tiger broke from its cage.

4. The duck was pluming his feathers after his swim, and the goose had wandered from his companions across the meadows.

5. The baby girl in "The Princess" may be called the real hero of the tale.

ABBREVIATIONS.--For the following exercise consult Hill's Foundations of Rhetoric, pp. 49-50.

EXERCISE XVII.

_Which of these words are in good use?_--

Pianist, harpist, poloist, violinist, phiz, ad, co-ed, curios, exam, cab, chum, gent, hack, gym, pants, mob, phone, proxy, photo, prelim, van, prof, varsity.

MISUSED NOUNS.[22]--Many errors in English consist in using words in senses which are not authorized. Sometimes the use of a word in a wrong sense makes the speaker's meaning obscure. Sometimes it makes him seem ridiculous, as when a person of the writer's acquaintance told a friend to clean an oil-painting by was.h.i.+ng it in "torpid" water. In every case the misuse of a word leaves an unpleasant impression on the mind of a cultivated person, and, like all bad English, should be avoided as we avoid bad manners. In the following definitions and exercises a few nouns[23] are selected for study. The distinctions given are not always observed by reputable authors, but they indicate the _tendency_ of the best modern usage.

I. A RESEMBLANCE IN SENSE MISLEADS.[24]

HOUSE, HOME.--A _house_ is a building. _Home_ means one's habitual abode, "the abiding place of the affections." It may or may not be in a house, and it may include the surroundings of a house.

PERSON, PARTY.--A _person_ is an individual, a _party_ is a company of persons, or, in legal usage, a person who is concerned in a contention or agreement.

SERIES, SUCCESSION.--A _series_ is a succession of similar things mutually related according to some law. _Succession_ is properly used of several things following one after the other; it denotes order of occurrence only, and does not imply any connection.

STATEMENT, a.s.sERTION.--A _statement_ is a formal setting forth of fact or opinion; an _a.s.sertion_ is simply an affirmation of fact or opinion.

VERDICT, TESTIMONY.--A _verdict_ is a decision made by a number of men acting as a single body. _Testimony_ is an expression of individual knowledge or belief.

THE WHOLE, ALL.--_The whole_ is properly used of something which is considered as one thing. When a number of persons or things are spoken of, the proper word is _all._

[22] TO THE TEACHER.--It may not be desirable to drill pupils on all the words whose meanings are discriminated here and in chapters V. and VI. In that case it will be easy to select for study those words which the pupils are most likely to misuse. The words discriminated in this book are for the most part those which are mentioned in the "Foundations of Rhetoric,"

and they have been arranged in the same order. A few other words often misused by my pupils have been added.

[23] For misused _verbs_ and _adjectives_ see pages 92 and 119.

[24] "Foundations," pp. 50-53.

EXERCISE XVIII.

_Tell the difference in meaning between the following:--_ 1. Mr. Roscoe has no house (home).

2. The hotel clerk says he expects three more parties (persons) on the six o'clock train.

3. There are three persons (parties) concerned in this contract.

4. A succession (series) of delays.

5. This morning's papers publish an a.s.sertion (a statement) by Mr.

Pullman, which throws new light on the strike.

EXERCISE XIX.

_Insert the proper word in each blank, and give the reason for your choice.--_

HOUSE, HOME.

1. Whenever a tramp comes to our ----, the dog is untied.

2. His new ---- will be finished in November.

3. Mr. S. owns a beautiful ---- and has a happy ----.

4. One can build a very good ---- for $6000.

5. ----s are built to live in, not to look on.

PARTY, PERSON.

6. There is another ---- coming on the evening train, but he will leave to-morrow.

7. A cross-looking ---- alighted from the stage-coach and entered the inn.

8. The cause of both ----s shall come before the court.

9. Is the ---- that wants a carriage at dinner or in his room?

10. He is attached to the king's ----.

11. Who was that fat old ---- who kept us all laughing?

SERIES, SUCCESSION.

12. The ---- of Presidents is a long one.

13. This stamp belongs to the ---- of 1864.

14. A ---- of calamitous events followed this mistake in policy.

15. A ---- of accidents prevented the sailing of the yacht.

STATEMENT, a.s.sERTION.

16. The last ---- of the bank has been examined.

17. ---- unsupported by fact is worthless.

18. The Declaration of Independence contained a clear ---- of grievances.

19. The orator's ---- was shown to be false.