Business English: A Practice Book

Exercise 92

Explain the proper position of the italicized adverbs in the following sentences. Remember that an adverb must stand as closely as possible to the word that it modifies, but remember also that an infinitive, although made up of two parts, is one word and should not be split by an adverb.

1. I merely want the Milwaukee list of customers.
2. You almost write like her.
3. Your writing is like hers almost.
4. I can not find one of the papers I had on the desk.
5. He told me to carefully add the figures in the column.
6. I expect to quickly finish my dictation.
7. I don’t even understand the first problem in the lesson.
8. Don’t say you don’t ever expect to go to school again.
9. All the statements are not on my desk.
10. He promised to quickly settle the matter.
11. I wish you to clearly understand the situation.
12. I only have two more items to enter.
13. I only expect to take a short vacation this year.
14. He only spoke of two causes of the loss in trade.

15. I only decided to take the Western instead of the Eastern trip at the last moment.

Exercise 93—Comparison

Adjectives are compared so as to express different degrees of quality. There are three degrees of comparison, the positive, the comparative, and the superlative. When the object modified or described by the adjective is not compared with another, the first or positive degree is used. When two objects are compared, the second or comparative degree is used to denote more or less of the quality expressed by the adjective. When several objects are compared, the superlative degree of the adjective is used to express the highest or the lowest possible degree of the adjective.

The usual method of comparing an adjective is to add er to the positive to form the comparative, and est to form the superlative. Frequently, however, especially for an adjective of two or more syllables, the comparative is formed by prefixing more or less to the positive, and the superlative by prefixing most or least. Besides the adjectives in these two classes there are some which do not follow any regular method and must, therefore, be watched a little more closely.

The following table illustrates the different methods of comparison:

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
bright	brighter	brightest
dangerous	more dangerous	most dangerous
beautiful	more beautiful	most beautiful
good	better	best
bad	worse	worst
ill	worse	worst

Be careful to avoid using a double sign for the comparative degree; as,

Wrong: This writing is more neater than yours.

Some adverbs are also compared; as,

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
well	better	best
quickly	more quickly	most quickly

Some adjectives and adverbs cannot be compared because the positive degree in itself expresses a complete or absolute meaning; as,

absolute,-ly	eternal	perfect	sufficient
circular	extreme	perpendicular	supreme
continual	faultless	perpetual	unanimous
dead	full	right	unique
decisive	impossible	round	universal
empty	incurable	square	white

Compare those of the following adjectives that may be compared. Explain why some do not admit of comparison.

great	spotless	expensive	wise
tall	dear	parallel	high
desirable	east	old	new
honorable	early	exclusive	blank

Exercise 94

In the following exercise, select the correct one of the two italicized forms. Remember that the comparative degree is used in comparing two objects, the superlative in comparing three or more.

1. I had three pens. I have lost the better—best one.

2. I have two clerks. John is the older—oldest.

3. Of the two colors, I think the tan is the more—most becoming to you.

4. You are the taller—tallest of all the boys.
5. Of two professions, choose the more—most honorable.
6. He is the faster—fastest workman in the shop.
7. Which of your hands is the cleaner—cleanest?
8. Which do you like better—best, skating or sleighing?
9. Which of your eyes has the better—best vision?
10. Of all the shops, she likes Leslie’s better—best.
11. Which is more—most durable, serge or broadcloth?
12. Which tree lives longer—longest, the poplar or the elm?
13. Which is the best—better policy, honesty or dishonesty?
14. He is the wittier—wittiest one in the class.

15. He is the wittier—wittiest boy in the class. There is only one boy in the class besides him.

16. Of our twenty salesmen, he is considered better—best because he is quicker—quickest witted than any other.

17. You should not mention the two men in one breath. The former—first is famous and the latter—last infamous.

18. Which of you two do you think deserves more—most praise?
19. Which of you two deserves less—least praise?
20. Which of you two can run the faster—fastest?

Exercise 95

Remember that the double negative is wrong; as,

Wrong: I haven’t no paper.
Right: I have no paper.

Correct any of the following sentences that contain this mistake:

1. None of them didn’t come.
2. I couldn’t do the problem neither.
3. This paper isn’t very good, I don’t think.
4. Couldn’t you find no better pen?
5. I didn’t choose none of them.
6. I don’t see nothing to complain of.
7. He couldn’t hardly see across the street.
8. We didn’t find the paper nowhere.
9. They can’t scarcely believe the report.
10. She couldn’t stay with us only a few minutes.

Exercise 96—Fewer, Less

Fewer refers to a smaller number by counting, less refers to a smaller quantity by measuring. Insert the correct word:

1. You are making —— mistakes each day.
2. I am having —— difficulty in writing shorthand.
3. There are —— houses on this street than I had thought.
4. The farther inland we went the —— signs of habitation we saw.
5. Each year there is —— opportunity for an uneducated man to rise.
6. Each year there are —— opportunities for the uneducated man to rise.

Most, Almost

Most refers to quantity or number; almost means not quite. Insert the correct word:

7. —— people enjoy their work.
8. I have —— finished the course in stenography.
9. —— European cities are beautiful.
10. —— all European cities are beautiful.

Real, Very

Real is an adjective meaning actual; very is an adverb of degree. Insert the correct word:

11. I’m —— glad to see you.
12. Is your comb —— amber?
13. The men of the Titanic were —— heroes.
14. He is a —— good soloist.

15. She is —— entertaining in conversation; it was a —— pleasure to meet her.

Exercise 97—Adjectives and Adverbs Incorrectly Used

Wrong	Right
1. I don’t like those kind of pens.	I don’t like that kind of pens.
2. What sort of a course are you taking?	What sort of course are you taking?
3. His statements made me mad.	His statements made me angry.
4. Yours respectively.	Yours respectfully.
(Consult a dictionary for the correct use of respectively)
5. Do you want in?	Do you want to come in?
6. Go some place with me.	Go somewhere with me.
7. My father is some better.	My father is somewhat better.
8. He comes every once in a while.	He comes occasionally.
9. Did you recognize the girl who drove past?	Did you recognize the girl who drove by?
10. The two are both alike.	The two are alike.
11. He is liable to come any minute.	He is likely to come at any minute.
12. That ring has a funny design.	That ring has an odd design.
13. I’d sooner stay at home.	I’d rather stay at home.
14. Are you most ready?	Are you almost ready?
15. I’m kind of sleepy.	I’m rather sleepy.
16. What size hat do you wear?	What sized hat do you wear?
17. This here book is the one I wish.	This book is the one I wish.
18. He spoke angry like.	He spoke angrily.
19. His ideas are no good.	His ideas are worthless (or not good).
20. He seldom ever makes a mistake.	He seldom (hardly ever) makes a mistake.
21. I didn’t work any last night.	I didn’t work at all last night.
22. I walked this far yesterday.	I walked as far as this yesterday.
23. I want to see you badly.	I want to see you very much.
24. He sells insurance on the side.	In addition to his other business he sells insurance.
25. Don’t talk out loud.	Don’t talk aloud.
26. She is very disappointed.	She is very much disappointed.
(Before a perfect participle too or very may not be used without the addition of the adverb much)
27. She is a cute (or cunning) child.	She is a pretty child.
(Look up the words cute and cunning in a dictionary)
28. He was lying face down on the grass.	He was lying face downward on the grass.