Business English Part 39

=Exercise 123=

Insert _was_ or _were_ in each of the following sentences, in each case giving a reason for your choice. Remember that the indicative _was_ is used to denote a statement of fact in the past time, and the subjunctive _were_ (singular and plural) is used to denote a possibility, something that is supposed to be true, or a statement entirely contrary to fact, as in a wish.

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 cla.s.s, 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 gra.s.s 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?

=Exercise 124--Verbs Incorrectly Used=

_Wrong_ _Right_ 1. _Let_ the book on the table. _Leave_ the book on the table.

2. _Leave_ me go with you. _Let_ me go with you.

3. Don't _blame it on_ me. Don't _accuse_ me.

4. Do you _carry_ stationery? Do you _sell_ stationery?

5. The child _aggravates_ me. The child _irritates_ me.

6. Please _except_ my invitation. Please _accept_ my invitation.

7. Where have you _located_? Where have you _settled_?

(_Locate_ is a transitive verb.)

8. I _expect_ you are very busy. I _suppose_ you are very busy.

9. I _disremember_ seeing him. I _don't remember_ seeing him.

10. Do you _mind_ where you saw it? Do you _remember_ where you saw it?

11. Where are you _stopping_? Where are you _staying_?

12. Did you _extend an invitation_ Did you _invite_ him?

to him?

13. This clock needs _fixing_. This clock needs _repairing_.

14. I should _admire_ to go. I should _like_ to go.

15. I'd _love_ to go. I'd _like_ to go.

16. He didn't _show up_ on time. He didn't _appear_ on time.

17. I _had_ a strange thing _happen_ A strange thing _happened_ to me to me yesterday. yesterday.

18. I didn't _get to go_. I _was unable to go_.

19. _Loan_ me your pencil. _Lend_ me your pencil.

(_May I borrow your pencil?_ is correct. _Loan_ is a noun.)[3]

20. I _can't seem_ to understand I _seem unable_ to understand that problem. that problem.

21. I don't _take any stock_ in I _have no confidence_ in such such schemes. schemes.

22. How do you _size up_ the What _do you think_ of the situation? situation?

23. I _beg to state_... . Omit.

(This expression has been so overdone in business letters that it should be avoided)

24. He _dove_ off the pier. He _dived_ off the pier.

25. He _claims_ that he was He _a.s.serts_ (maintains) that he deceived. was deceived.