Business English Part 19

_Mr. Brown_ having gone, we told the gentleman to see Mr. Jones.

_He_ being the guide, we asked no questions.

It is much better to use a clause to express such an idea; as,

As Mr. Brown had gone, we told the gentleman to see Mr. Jones.

Write a sentence containing a noun and one containing a p.r.o.noun in each of the following uses of the nominative case:

1. Subject.

2. Predicate Nominative.

Write a sentence containing a noun used

1. In direct address.

2. In exclamation.

3. In apposition with another noun in the nominative case.

=Exercise 81--The Objective Case=

A noun or a p.r.o.noun may be used in the objective case in the following ways:

1. Direct object of a transitive verb; as,

I have a good _position_.

Do you know _him_?

2. Object of a preposition; as,

I have just returned from the _library._ Bring the book to _me_.

3. Indirect object of such verbs as _ask_, _give_, _teach_, showing the person for whom or to whom the action is done; as,

She brought _her mother_ some flowers.

I gave _her_ singing lessons.

4. A noun as _second object_ after verbs of _making_, _choosing_, _calling_, _electing_; as,

They chose John _secretary_.

5. A noun in _apposition_ with another objective; as,

Send your report to the secretary, _John Wilson_.

6. Adverbial modifier; as,

We are going _home_.

Write a sentence containing a noun and one containing a p.r.o.noun in each of the following uses of the objective case:

1. Direct object of a transitive verb.

2. Indirect object.

3. Object of a preposition.

Write a sentence containing a noun used as

1. Adverbial objective.

2. Second object.

3. Appositive of another noun in the objective case.

=Exercise 82--The Possessive Case=

To form the possessive case of nouns add an _apostrophe_ and _s_ to all singular nouns, and to all plural nouns that do not end in _s_; if a plural _noun_ ends in _s_ add only an apostrophe; as, _child's_, _children's_, _boys'_.

_Exception._--When, in long words, the additional _s_ in the singular would cause a disagreeable sound, some writers use only the apostrophe; as,

We awaited the _princess's_ decision. We awaited the _princess'_ decision.

It is often better in such cases to use a phrase; as,

We awaited the decision _of the princess_.

Thus, an _of_ phrase may be used instead of the possessive case. In speaking of an inanimate object one should use it instead of the apostrophe and _s_; as, _the top of the mountain_. However, we use such expressions as _last year's prices_.

When, as in the name of a firm, two or more nouns are taken together with the idea of common possession, the sign of the possessive is added to the last noun only. If separate possession is implied, the sign of the possessive is added to each noun; as,

Have you seen _Wilson & King's_ new building?

This is _Mary and Helen's_ room.

Is this _Mary's or Helen's_ coat?

A noun or p.r.o.noun is in the possessive case before a verbal noun; as,

I prefer to have _John's_ studying done before dinner.

I prefer to have _his_ studying done before dinner.

Write sentences expressing relation between the words in the following pairs. Use one of them in the possessive case or use an _of_ phrase, whichever seems better.

the manager, desk city, harbor desk, top drawer proprietor, private office book, cover typewriter, keys city, mayor ledger, first page

Bring to cla.s.s five incorrect possessive phrases taken from advertis.e.m.e.nts. Explain and correct the mistakes.

=Exercise 83=

Which of the italicized words would you use? Why?