Business English Part 68

20. While a child, my father often told me stories of Indian days.

21. Absorbed all day in superintending his work, in the evening the newspaper brought him political news enough to fill the hours between dinner and bed-time.

22. Discussing the happenings in the ward with an old crony, his daughter would often sit near him listening.

23. He is failing in his work, caused by his laziness.

24. Although a good tonic, I did not gain weight while taking it.

25. In the new telephone, upon lifting the receiver, a ticking sound is heard.

26. Leaving the window open when she went to lunch, of course the papers were disarranged on her return.

27. Dictionaries must be returned to the desk after using.

=Exercise 203--p.r.o.nouns with Uncertain Antecedents=

Sometimes the meaning of a sentence is not clear because the p.r.o.nouns have uncertain antecedents.

1. Sometimes a p.r.o.noun may refer to either of two antecedents; as,

_Wrong_: He gave his brother John the umbrella and then _he_ left.

_Right_: He gave the umbrella to his brother John, who then left.

2. Sometimes the sentence must be entirely recast and a direct quotation used before the p.r.o.nouns can be made clear; as,

_Wrong_: Tom told his father that _his_ suit case was lost.

_Right_: _a._ Tom said, "Father, your suit case is lost."

_b._ Tom said, "Father, my suit case is lost."

3. Sometimes the p.r.o.noun refers to a word that has not been expressed or to an _idea_. In that case, the antecedent must be supplied; as,

_Wrong_: If any one wishes to contribute to the cause, let him send _it_ in the enclosed envelope.

_Right_: If any one wishes to contribute to the cause, let him send _his contribution_ in the enclosed envelope.

_Wrong_: I wouldn't wear mittens. n.o.body does _that_ nowadays.

_Right_: I wouldn't wear mittens. n.o.body wears _them_ nowadays.

4. A sentence containing an indefinite _they_ or _it_ is corrected thus:

_Wrong_: Don't _they_ have street cars where you live?

_Right_: Are there _no_ street cars where you live?

Recast the following:

1. She asked her mother if she could go, and she said she thought she ought to stay at home.

2. John told James he was sure he did not know the office that he meant.

3. George told his father his watch had stopped.

4. The manager asked the clerk to bring his book.

5. A light touch is important in a typewriter, because it makes it easy to write upon it.

6. The size of the crops is important to the farmers, because they have to live by them.

7. They decided to reorganize the company, which is always a difficult task.

8. They went into the hands of a receiver, which is an indication that the affairs of the company had been poorly managed.

9. There is a boat on the lake over which there is a pleasant view, in which there is a club for working girls.

10. He stole some money which brought about an investigation.

11. She asked her aunt how old she was.

12. John is famous for telling anecdotes, and he got it by remembering every story he reads.

13. The sleighing party last night was a success, which is not always the case.

14. He told a lie, which is a bad thing to do.

15. They engaged a gardener, which doubled their monthly expenses.

16. Why don't you get some of that new fur tr.i.m.m.i.n.g for your blue dress?

17. They had an accident on the street car this morning.

18. In the newspaper it said that the lecture would begin at 8:15.

19. They don't find iron in Illinois, do they?

20. Do they have the original paintings in our art gallery?

21. It says "Closed" on that door.

22. It doesn't mention a bank draft in this book.

23. They have a great many foreigners in New York City.

24. John accompanied his brother to the city where he bought a typewriter.

25. I had expected to take the 9:30 train, but I couldn't do it.

26. Going up to the horse he put a lump of sugar into his mouth.