Exercise 108 — Principal Parts
No one can be certain of using the correct form of a verb unless he knows the principal parts. Some verbs are regular; that is, they form their past tense and their perfect participle by adding ed to the present tense; as,
| Present | Past | Perfect Participle |
| walk | walked | walked |
Some verbs, however, are very irregular, having a different form for each of the principal parts. A list of such verbs follows:
| Present | Past | Perfect Participle |
| arise | arose | arisen |
| awake | awoke or awaked | awaked |
| be | was | been |
| bear (carry) | bore | borne |
| beat | beat | beaten |
| become | became | become |
| begin | began | begun |
| bid | bade | bidden |
| bite | bit | bitten |
| blow | blew | blown |
| break | broke | broken |
| choose | chose | chosen |
| come | came | come |
| do | did | done |
| draw | drew | drawn |
| drink | drank | drunk |
| drive | drove | driven |
| eat | ate | eaten |
| fall | fell | fallen |
| fly | flew | flown |
| forbid | forbade | forbidden |
| forsake | forsook | forsaken |
| freeze | froze | frozen |
| give | gave | given |
| go | went | gone |
| grow | grew | grown |
| hide | hid | hidden |
| know | knew | known |
| lie (to rest) | lay | lain |
| ride | rode | ridden |
| ring | rang | rung |
| rise | rose | risen |
| run | ran | run |
| see | saw | seen |
| shake | shook | shaken |
| show | showed | shown |
| shrink | shrank | shrunk |
| sing | sang | sung |
| slay | slew | slain |
| slide | slid | slidden |
| sow | sowed | sown |
| speak | spoke | spoken |
| spring | sprang | sprung |
| steal | stole | stolen |
| strive | strove | striven |
| swear | swore | sworn |
| swell | swelled | swelled, swollen |
| swim | swam | swum |
| take | took | taken |
| tear | tore | torn |
| throw | threw | thrown |
| wear | wore | worn |
| weave | wove | woven |
| write | wrote | written |
Exercise 109
Some verbs, though irregularly formed, have the past tense and perfect participle alike. A list of such verbs follows:
| Present | Past | Perfect Participle |
| bend | bent | bent |
| behold | beheld | beheld |
| beseech | besought | besought |
| bind | bound | bound |
| bleed | bled | bled |
| bless | blessed, blest | blessed, blest |
| bring | brought | brought |
| build | built | built |
| burn | burned, burnt | burned, burnt |
| buy | bought | bought |
| catch | caught | caught |
| cling | clung | clung |
| clothe | clothed, clad | clothed, clad |
| creep | crept | crept |
| deal | dealt | dealt |
| dig | dug | dug |
| dream | dreamed, dreamt | dreamed, dreamt |
| dwell | dwelt | dwelt |
| flee | fled | fled |
| grind | ground | ground |
| hang | hung, hanged | hung, hanged |
| have | had | had |
| hear | heard | heard |
| hold | held | held |
| kneel | knelt | knelt |
| lay | laid | laid |
| lead | led | led |
| leap | leapt | leapt |
| lend | lent | lent |
| pay | paid | paid |
| say | said | said |
| shine | shone | shone |
| sit | sat | sat |
| sleep | slept | slept |
| sling | slung | slung |
| speed | sped | sped |
| spin | spun | spun |
| stand | stood | stood |
| sting | stung | stung |
| strike | struck | struck |
| string | strung | strung |
| sweep | swept | swept |
| swing | swung | swung |
| teach | taught | taught |
| think | thought | thought |
| weep | wept | wept |
| win | won | won |
| wind | wound | wound |
| wring | wrung | wrung |
Exercise 110
Some verbs have all three forms alike. A list of such follows:
| Present | Past | Perfect Participle |
| bet | bet | bet |
| burst | burst | burst |
| cast | cast | cast |
| cost | cost | cost |
| cut | cut | cut |
| hit | hit | hit |
| hurt | hurt | hurt |
| knit | knit | knit |
| let | let | let |
| put | put | put |
| rid | rid | rid |
| set | set | set |
| shed | shed | shed |
| spread | spread | spread |
| sweat | sweat | sweat |
| wet | wet | wet |
Exercise 111
Choose the correct form of the italicized words below, and give the reason for your choice.
1. If it don’t—doesn’t fit you, we shall alter it.
2. I knew—knowed I was right.
3. Aren’t—ain’t you glad we came?
4. Ain’t—isn’t he well?
5. We done—did the right thing.
6. Let—leave the book on the table.
7. Let—leave me do as I planned.
8. Mary has broke—broken her arm.
9. My mother has gone—went to Boston.
10. Where was—were you yesterday?
11. When the dinner bell rang—rung, we all come—came running in.
12. He don’t—doesn’t know what you said.
13. To what hospital have they taken—took him?
14. I saw—seen him a few minutes ago.
15. I saw—seen him yesterday.
16. I should have—of brought my book.
17. My winter coat is wore—worn out.
18. Have you ever rode—ridden in an aeroplane?
19. I have shown—showed you all the styles I have.
20. Don’t—doesn’t it seem odd that he don’t—doesn’t come?
21. She don’t—doesn’t remember you.
22. We began—begun the work yesterday.
23. I’m afraid my foot is froze—frozen.
24. We ran—run all the way.
25. I’ve shook—shaken him three times, but he don’t—doesn’t awake.
26. The bell rang—rung just before you entered.
27. She sang—sung very well.
28. He swam—swum all yesterday morning.
29. Why don’t—doesn’t some one tell John that his coat is tore—torn?
30. Don’t—doesn’t mother know that the vase is broke—broken?
Exercise 112—Troublesome Verbs
Lie, Lay
Lie is intransitive; lay is transitive. Lie signifies to rest; lay, to place. Insert the correct form in the following:
1. He told me to —— the book on the table. It —— there now.
2. I —— all day waiting for help to arrive.
3. Where did you —— the purse?
4. I —— it on your desk.
5. I have —— the letters on your desk.
6. They told me to —— down. I —— down for about two hours.
7. As I wished to bleach the clothes, I —— them on the grass.
8. —— the bundle down and listen to me.
9. You will probably find your cap ——ing where it has —— since you dropped it.
10. They let the field —— fallow.
11. How long has it —— fallow?
12. Yesterday he —— on the grass almost all day.
13. The hunter —— still and watched.
14. He —— his gun beside him and waited.
15. It will —— undisturbed till morning.
16. —— down awhile before dinner.
17. I don’t know how long he has —— here.
18. He let his tools —— in the rain.
Exercise 113—Troublesome Verbs
Sit, Set
Sit is intransitive and signifies to rest. Set is transitive and means to place. Insert the correct form:
1. I have —— the ferns in the rain.
2. —— down for a few minutes.
3. She drew up a chair and —— down, while we were ——ting down the probable expenses of the new house.
4. Why don’t you —— us a good example?
5. ——ting the table is not strenuous enough for one who has been ——ting all day.
6. The hen is ——ting on her eggs.
7. The man is ——ting out trees.
8. —— still; I’ll go.
Fly, Flow, Flee
Remember that birds fly; rivers flow; hunted creatures flee.
9. Still the river —— on its accustomed course.
10. Every autumn the birds —— south.
11. The birds have not yet —— away.
12. The deer —— before the dogs.
Rise, Raise
Rise is intransitive; raise is transitive.
13. I have been trying all morning to —— this window.
14. I set the bread to ——.
15. He will surely —— in his profession.
Teach, Learn
16. Will you —— me how to play tennis?
17. I thought you had —— how to play tennis.
18. I —— (past tense) her the new system of filing.
May, Can
May signifies permission; can denotes possibility.
19. —— I use your book?
20. —— you write shorthand?
21. —— I go with you?
22. My mother says that I —— go with you.
Might, Could
Might is the past tense of may, and could is the past tense of can.
23. He said that I —— go.
24. He —— do the work if he wished.
25. Did you say I —— use your typewriter?
Exercise 114—Accept, Except
Accept means to receive. Except as a verb means to exclude; as a preposition it means with the exception of. Insert the correct form in the following:
1. Did you —— the position? Yes, no one applied for it —— me.
2. I have no other reason for not ——ing your invitation —— that I shall not be in the city.
3. —— Mary all ——ed the invitation.
4. He would not —— the money —— on one condition.
5. Why do you —— him from the general offer that you are making?
6. I agree with you —— on one point.
7. He ——ed the rebuke in silence.
8. We were forced to —— their conditions.
9. He said he would not —— the money —— that he knew he could return it.
10. You have answered everything —— what I asked you.
Exercise 115—Affect, Effect
Affect means to influence. It is always a verb. Effect as a verb means to bring to pass; as a noun it means result. Insert the correct form in the following sentences:
1. His opinion does not —— the case.
2. How does war —— trade?
3. His walking has had a good —— upon his health.
4. The ruling did not —— the wholesale dealers, but it had a big —— upon us.
5. What —— did the loss have upon him?
6. The failure of the bank ——ed the small depositors but had no —— upon the big business men.
7. The —— of the law has been startling because of the number of people ——ed by it.
8. They ——ed the consolidation, but thereby produced a bad —— upon the price of their stock.
9. The accident seriously ——ed his nervous system. In fact, the —— of the fall is only gradually disappearing.
10. Did the celebrated physician really —— a cure?
Exercise 116—Lose, Loose
Lose is a verb, while loose is usually an adjective. The two should be carefully distinguished. Insert the correct form:
1. I have a note book with —— leaves.
2. Aren’t you afraid you will —— some of the —— leaves of that book?
3. Be careful that you don’t —— that —— bolt.
4. Do you remember that you had warned me that I’d —— the —— button on my coat? I did —— it not five minutes afterward.
5. One of the hinges of the door has become ——.
6. Do not —— the —— change in that pocket.
7. He will —— the parcel as the cord is ——.
8. Did you —— the —— leaf journal?
9. She may —— the money, as the clasp of her purse is ——.
10. I keep my —— journal paper together by a rubber band so that there will be no chance of ——ing it.
Exercise 117—Had ought
Wrong: We had ought to go.
Right: We ought to go.
Wrong: We had ought to have gone.
Right: We ought to have gone.
Correct the following sentences:
1. I had ought to have studied harder.
2. You ought to do it, hadn’t you?
3. Hadn’t you ought to have gone?
4. Yes, I had ought to have gone yesterday.
5. Do you think I had ought to have accepted?
6. He had ought to come to-morrow.
7. The tickets had ought to have come from the printer’s yesterday.
8. We had not ought to stay out so late.
9. You had ought to wear your coat.
10. He had ought to have become naturalized.
11. You had ought to have washed the dishes before you went out.
12. You had ought to take an umbrella.
13. You had ought to have heard what she said.
14. We hadn’t ought to disagree.
15. You ought to have invested, hadn’t you?
Exercise 118
Conjugation of the verb be in the
Indicative Mode
| Present Tense | |
| Singular | Plural |
| I am | We are |
| You are | You are |
| He is | They are |
| Past Tense | |
| I was | We were |
| You were | You were |
| He was | They were |
| Future Tense | |
| I shall be | We shall be |
| You will be | You will be |
| He will be | They will be |
| Present Perfect Tense | |
| I have been | We have been |
| You have been | You have been |
| He has been | They have been |
| Past Perfect Tense | |
| I had been | We had been |
| You had been | You had been |
| He had been | They had been |
| Future Perfect Tense | |
| I shall have been | We shall have been |
| You will have been | You will have been |
| He will have been | They will have been |
The verb be is used to form the progressive tenses of the active voice (See Exercise 102) and the simple tenses of the passive voice; as,
Passive Voice
| Present Tense | |
| Singular | Plural |
| I am followed | We are followed |
| You are followed | You are followed |
| He is followed | They are followed |
| Past Tense | |
| I was followed | We were followed |
| You were followed | You were followed |
| He was followed | They were followed |
| Future Tense | |
| I shall be followed | We shall be followed |
| You will be followed | You will be followed |
| He will be followed | They will be followed |
| Present Perfect Tense | |
| I have been followed | We have been followed |
| You have been followed | You have been followed |
| He has been followed | They have been followed |
| Past Perfect Tense | |
| I had been followed | We had been followed |
| You had been followed | You had been followed |
| He had been followed | They had been followed |
| Future Perfect Tense | |
| I shall have been followed | We shall have been followed |
| You will have been followed | You will have been followed |
| He will have been followed | They will have been followed |
If we add the progressive form wherever it may be used, we have the following synopsis of the indicative mood:
Passive Voice
| Tenses | Primary | Present | I am followed (simple) | ||
| I am being followed (progressive) | |||||
| Past | I was followed (simple) | ||||
| I was being followed (progressive) | |||||
| Future | I shall be followed | ||||
| Perfect | Present Perfect | I have been followed | |||
| Past Perfect | I had been followed | ||||
| Future Perfect | I shall have been followed |
Exercise 119
Conjugate the following in the passive voice:
1. Simple present of pay.
2. Progressive past of pay.
3. Present perfect of throw.
4. Future of praise.
5. Past perfect of forget.
6. Progressive present of choose.
7. Past progressive of choose.
8. Future of choose.
9. Future perfect of choose.
10. Past perfect of choose.
Exercise 120
Supply the verb forms indicated. Use the active unless the passive is definitely called for.
1. The vegetables (present perfect of lie) in water all the morning.
2. Rumors (past progressive passive of spread) far and wide that Germany would fight England.
3. I thought the gingham (past perfect passive of shrink) before the dress (past passive of made).
4. I am afraid my ear (present progressive of freeze).
5. Is it true that your ring (present perfect passive of steal)?
6. A sudden storm (past of arise) yesterday afternoon, and a little boy (past passive of drown) in the river where he and several of his companions (past perfect progressive of swim) since noon.
7. I (present perfect of speak) of the matter to no one.
8. I suppose that it (present perfect passive of break).
9. I must (present perfect of show) him twenty different styles, but he (past of choose) none of them, for as soon as I (past of show) him one, he (past of shake) his head.
10. She (past progressive of wring) out the clothes when the door bell (past of ring).
11. I am afraid my purse (present passive of lose).
12. The knight (past of say) that he (past perfect of decide) (infinitive of follow) the quest.
13. I thought I (past perfect of bring) you the morning paper.
14. He (past of swim) the river twice yesterday.
15. There he stood (present participle of ring) the dinner bell.
16. His coat (present perfect passive of wet) through more than once.
17. The trip (past of cost) him a hundred dollars.
18. I (past of see) the superintendent yesterday, but he said that there (present of be) no vacancies at present.
19. They (past of lay) the clippings on the desk, and then they (past of sit) down.
20. As he (past of speak), he (past progressive of shake) from head to foot.
21. The clouds (past of lie) low on the horizon.
22. The building in which I work (present perfect passive of burn).
23. Your employer (present perfect deal) fairly with you.
24. I (present perfect of have) the same position for three years.
25. I (future of lend) him no money.
26. The floor (past passive of lay) by an expert workman.
27. The beads (past passive of string) on a waxed thread.
28. He (present perfect of throw) the whole office into confusion.
29. Before he came forward, he (past of set) the child down.
30. After the storm, leaves and twigs (past progressive of lie) thick upon the roads.
31. He (past of drive) to town yesterday. He (future of go) again to-morrow.
32. The dictionary (present progressive of lie) on the table where you (past of lay) it.
33. The dog (past of lay) the bone down, and then he (past of lie) down.
34. He (past of set) the chair by the window and then (past of sit) down.
35. I think we (future of see) him as we pass, for he usually (present of lie) on a couch by the window.
36. The snow (past perfect progressive of fall) for several hours and now (past of lie) deep on every path.
37. Everything (present perfect passive of lay) in readiness.
38. (Present participle of lie) in the hammock, he soon fell asleep.
39. I saw the man (present participle of lie) on the ground.
40. After he (past perfect of lie) there a few minutes, he suddenly (past of sit) up.
41. The biplane, which (past perfect progressive of lie) in the hangar since it (past perfect passive of raise) from the water in which it (past perfect of lie) for two weeks, (past of rise) up over the city.
42. Large crowds (past progressive of sit) on the fields, (present participle of wait) for the aeroplane (infinitive of rise).
43. Many people (past perfect of set) tents on the field during the night and now (past progressive of get) a good view of the flight.
44. All eyes (past progressive of turn) toward the aeroplane, which (past progressive of rise) steadily.
45. The biplane (past of rise) until it (past perfect of rise) about five hundred feet above the tallest building; then it (past passive of raise) about fifty feet more to get it out of an air current that (past progressive of raise) one end of it.
Exercise 121—Infinitives and Participles
Infinitives are verb forms that are used as nouns, as adjectives, or as adverbs. Participles are verb forms that are used as adjectives. Thus at the same time each acts as two parts of speech. As verbs both have the meaning of the verbs from which they are made; both have tense and voice; both may be modified by adverbial expressions; and, if they are made from transitive verbs, both may take objects.
The Participle
The tenses and voices of the participle are as follows:
| Active Voice | |
| Present | |
| Simple | Progressive |
| selling | —— |
| Perfect | |
| having sold | having been selling |
| Passive Voice | |
| Present | |
| being sold | —— |
| Perfect | |
| having been sold | —— |
The participle frequently introduces a phrase. Usually the phrase is used like an adjective; occasionally it is used like a noun (sometimes called the gerund phrase).
Adjective: Seeing your perplexity, I’ll offer a suggestion. (Notice the punctuation.)
Noun(Gerund): Playing tennis is good exercise.
The Infinitive
The infinitive is distinguished by the word to, either expressed or understood. The tenses and voices of the infinitive are as follows:
| Active Voice | |
| Present | |
| Simple | Progressive |
| to sell | to be selling |
| Perfect | |
| to have sold | to have been selling |
| Passive Voice | |
| Present | |
| to be sold | —— |
| Perfect | |
| to have been sold | —— |
The infinitive is often used to introduce a phrase; as,
Noun: To get to the top of the hill was a difficult matter.
Adverb: I went to buy the sugar.
Adjective: It’s a drawing to be proud of.
Grouping all the facts that we have thus far learned about phrases, and expressing them in diagram form, we have the following:
Phrases may be classified:
| According to Form | According to Use |
| Prepositional | Adverbial |
| Participial (Gerund) | Adjective |
| Infinitive | Noun |
The prepositional and infinitive phrases may have all three uses; the participial phrase has two—adjective and noun (gerund).
Variety of Expression2
Phrases are important because, like clauses, they help us to vary the form of our sentences. They help us, above all, to avoid the childish so habit. Thus, instead of They wished to make the ice smooth so they flooded the pond, we may use, for example:
Subordinate clause: Because (as, since) they wished to make the ice smooth, they flooded the pond.
Participial phrase: Wishing to make the ice smooth, they flooded the pond.
Infinitive phrase: To make the ice smooth, they flooded the pond.
Gerund phrase: Flooding the pond made the ice smooth.
Prepositional phrase modifying noun subject: The flooding of the pond made the ice smooth.
Recast each of the following sentences in at least two of the ways shown above:
1. They wished to finish the work so they stayed till six o’clock.
2. John hoped to arrive before the others so he started early.
3. He saw that the cars were not running so he walked so he would be on time.
4. They needed some gasoline so they had to stop at a garage.
5. He wished to make a tool chest so he bought some lumber.
6. They saw that he liked to read so they gave him several books.
7. She wished to make a good appearance at the party so she bought a new dress.
8. He was in a hurry so he walked fast.
9. We were afraid that we’d be late so we ran.
10. The campers thought they’d like a fire so they gathered a quantity of dry leaves and wood.
11. I was very tired when I reached home so I couldn’t go to the lecture.
12. The work was difficult so it took three hours to finish it.
13. The clock needed repairing so he took it to a jeweler’s.
14. The coat did not fit so she sent it back.
15. She didn’t know where to take the train so she asked a policeman.
Exercise 122—Mode
Mode is the form of the verb that indicates the manner of expressing the thought. The modes, or moods, that every one should be able to distinguish are the indicative and the subjunctive. If the verb indicates a fact, we say it is in the indicative mode; if it expresses a supposition, a doubt, a statement contrary to fact, or a wish, we say it is in the subjunctive mode.
| You are good. | (A fact—indicative.) |
| I wish I were good. | (Contrary to fact, a wish—subjunctive.) |
In form the indicative and the subjunctive differ in the present and the past tenses of the verb to be, as follows:
| Indicative of be | |||
| Present | Past | ||
| I am | We are | I was | We were |
| You are | You are | You were | You were |
| He is | They are | He was | They were |
| Subjunctive of be | |||
| Present | Past | ||
| If I be | If we be | If I were | If we were |
| If you be | If you be | If you were | If you were |
| If he be | If they be | If he were | If they were |
Other verbs in the subjunctive mode do not end in s in the third person singular number, but use the same form as the other persons in the singular number; as, if he go, if she walk.
If, though, although, or lest usually introduce the subjunctive form.
In modern English, the use of the subjunctive is becoming rare except in the past and past perfect tenses in statements contrary to fact, and in wishes, which are really statements contrary to fact; as,
1. If I were a king (but I’m not), I’d see that my laws were obeyed.
2. I wish I were a king! (but I’m not).
3. If I had been careful, my work would be good. (I was not careful.)
4. I wish I had been careful! (I was not.)
Notice that the verb is in the past or in the past perfect tense.
There are some careful writers who still use the present subjunctive to show a possibility; as,
Lest he start too late, remind him again that he must meet the 4:15 train.
In the following sentences, which form is better? May any of the sentences use either form?
1. I wish I was—were rich.
2. If I was—were you, I should go at once.
3. If his work was—were exact, he would have no trouble in holding a position.
4. If it was—were true, why didn’t you say so?
5. If he was—were a millionaire, he could not have been more lavish.
6. If such a thing was—were possible, our government would be no government.
7. If the election was—were postponed, we should have been informed.
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 class, 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 grass 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 to him? | Did you invite 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 to me yesterday. | A strange thing happened to me 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 that problem. | I seem unable to understand that problem. |
| 21. I don’t take any stock in such schemes. | I have no confidence in such schemes. |
| 22. How do you size up the situation? | What do you think of the 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 deceived. | He asserts (maintains) that he was deceived. |
| 26. Can I take your pencil? | May I take your pencil? |
| 27. We expect to get up a club. | We expect to organize a club. |
| 28. Did you notice how that show window was got up? | Did you notice how that show window was decorated? |
| 29. It is going on ten o’clock. | It is almost ten o’clock. |
| 30. He said to go at once. | He said that we should go at once. |
Note.—The secretary’s daily report will be found an excellent means of securing variety of expression in pupils’ writing. A different pupil is elected each Monday to act as the secretary of the class for the ensuing week, his duty being to report each day the doings of the class on the preceding day. The conditions are that not more than one and be used in each report and not more than one sentence begin with the subject.