Graded Lessons in English Part 42

---- by foretelling storms. ---- by helping others. ---- on approaching the house. ----- in catching fish.

Use the following phrases as subjects.

Walking in the garden ----. His writing that letter ----. Breaking a promise ----.

Use each of the following phrases in a complex sentence. Let some of the dependent clauses be used as adjectives, and some, as adverbs.

---- in sledges. ---- up the Hudson. ---- down the Rhine. ---- through the Alps. ---- with snow and ice. ---- into New York Bay. ---- on the prairie. ---- at Saratoga.

Build a short sentence containing all the parts of speech.

Expand the following simple sentence into twelve sentences.

Astronomy teaches the size, form, nature, and motions of the sun, moon, and stars.

Contract the following awkward compound sentence into a neat simple sentence,

Hannibal pa.s.sed through Gaul, and then he crossed the Alps, and then came down into Italy, and then he defeated several Roman generals.

Change the following complex sentences to compound sentences.

When he asked me the question, I answered him courteously.

Morse, the man who invented the telegraph, was a public benefactor.

When spring comes, the birds will return.

Contract the following complex sentences into simple sentences by changing the verb in the dependent clause to a participle. Notice all the other changes.

A s.h.i.+p which was gliding along the horizon attracted our attention.

I saw a man who was plowing a field.

When the shower had pa.s.sed, we went on our way.

I heard that he wrote that article.

That he was a foreigner was well known.

I am not sure that he did it.

Every pupil who has an interest in this work will prepare for it.

Change the following compound sentences to complex sentences.

+Model+.--Morning dawns, and the clouds disperse. When morning dawns, the clouds disperse.

Avoid swearing; it is a wicked habit.

Pearls are valuable, and they are found in oyster sh.e.l.ls.

d.i.c.kens wrote David Copperfield, and he died in 1870.

Some animals are vertebrates, and they have a backbone.

Expand each of the following sentences as much as you can.

Indians dance. The clock struck. The world moves.

LESSON 99.

MISCELLANEOUS ERRORS.

CORRECT THE FOLLOWING ERRORS.

I have got that book at home.

+Model+.--Wrong, because _have_, alone, a.s.serts possession. _Got_, used in the sense of _obtained_, is correct; as, _I have just got the book_.

Have you got time to help me?

There is many mistakes in my composition.

+Model+.--Wrong, because _is_ should agree with its plural subject _mistakes_. The adverb _there_ is often used to introduce a sentence, that the subject may follow the predicate. This often makes the sentence sound smooth, and gives variety.

There goes my mother and sister.

Here comes the soldiers.

There was many friends to greet him.

It ain't there.

+Model+.--_Ain't_ is a vulgar contraction. Correction--It _is not_ there.

I have made up my mind that it ain't no use.

'Tain't so bad as you think.

Two years' interest were due.

Every one of his acts were criticised.

I, Henry, and you have been chosen.

+Model+.--Wrong, for politeness requires that you should mention the one spoken to, first; the one spoken of, next; and yourself, last.

He invited you and I and Mary.

Me and Jane are going to the fair.

I only want a little piece.

He is a handsome, tall man.

Did you sleep good?

How much trouble one has, don't they?

He inquired for some tinted ladies' note-paper.

You needn't ask me nothing about it, for I haven't got no time to answer.

Him that is diligent will succeed.

He found the place sooner than me.

Who was that? It was me and him.

If I was her, I would say less.

Bring me them tongs.

Us boys have a base-ball club.

Whom did you say that it was?

Who did you speak to just now?

Who did you mean, when you said that?

Where was you when I called?