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170. A common blunder is to leave the Participle without proper agreement or with no
agreement at all ; as,
Sitting on the gate, a scorpion stung him.
Here the word "scorpion" to which the participle "sitting" refers grammatically is not that
with which it is meant to be connected in sense ; in other words, the Participle is left
without proper agreement.
We should therefore recast it as shown below :-
Sitting on the gate, he was stung by a scorpion.
[Or] While he was sitting on the gate, a scorpion stung him.
Now read the following sentence where the Participle is left with no agreement at all:
Being a very hot day, I remained in my tent.
Here the sentence contains no word to which the Participle can possibly refer. We should
therefore write :-
As it was a very hot day, I remained in my tent.
171. Usage, however, permits in certain cases constructions like the following:-
Considering his abilities, he should have done better.
Roughly speaking, the distance from here to the nearest railway station is two miles.
Taking everything into consideration, his lot is a happy one.
It will be noticed that in each sentence the unexpressed subject is indefinite. Thus:-
Taking everything into consideration if one should take everything into consideration.
172. A present participle should not be used to express an action which is not
contemporaneous with the action of the principal verb.
The following sentence is therefore .incorrect;
He sailed for New York on Monday, arriving there on Saturday.
Rewrite it as follows:-
He sailed for New York on Monday, and arrived there on Saturday.
173. The Subjunctive Mood is sometimes wrongly used for the Indicative. When the
statement introduced by if or though is an actual fact, or what is assumed as a fact, the
proper Mood to be used is the Indicative and not the Subjunctive.
Though the war is over, there is much discontent.
If he was there, he must have heard the talk.
But the Subjunctive is correctly used in the following sentences:-
Mere supposition -- If I were you [but I am not ], I should agree.
If he were here, he would support me.
Though he were the Prime Minister, I would say the same.
A work from S. CHAND & COMPANY LTD.
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174. The verb make is followed by noun/pronoun + plain infinitive (= infinitive without
to). Many students wrongly use it with the to infinitive.
She made the boy do the whole work, (not: to do the whole work.)
175. When used in the passive, make is followed by the to-infinitive:
The boy was made to do the whole work,
176. The following verbs are often wrongly used with the to infinitive: enjoy, avoid,
miss, postpone, suggest. They should be used with the gerund.
• He enjoys swimming, (not: to swim)
• She avoids meeting people, (not: to avoid)
• We missed seeing the Prime Minister, (not: to see)
Note the following:-
1. Wrong: -- Suresh told to me about it.
Right: -- Suresh told me about it.
The verb tell is followed by an indirect object (me, him, her, etc.) without to.
2. Wrong: -- She told (that) she wouldn't come.
Right: -- She told me (that) she wouldn't come./She said she wouldn't come.
When used with a that-clause, tell takes an indirect object, while say does not.
3. Wrong: -- I want that you should meet him.
Right: -- I want you to meet him.
The verb want should not be used with a that-clause. It is used with the to-infinitive.
4. Wrong: -- I suggest you to apply for the post.
Right: -- I suggest that you (should) apply for the post.
The verb suggest should be used with a that-clause. It cannot be used with the to-
infinitive.
177. The verbs discuss, describe, order and request are transitive verbs. Students often
wrongly use these verbs with a preposition.
Wrong: -- We discussed about the matter yesterday.
Right: -- We discussed the matter yesterday.
Wrong: -- He described about the scenery.
Right: -- He described the scenery.
Wrong: -- I have ordered for three cups of coffee.
Right: -- I have ordered three cups of coffee.
Wrong: -- She requested for my help.
Right: -- She requested my help.
Exercise 115
Recast the following sentences:-
1. Being condemned to death, the scaffold was erected for his execution.
2. Born in Surat, a part of his education was received in Mumbai.
3. Observing the house on fire, the engines were sent for.
4. Being a wet day, I wore my makintosh.
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5 Having gone to bed very late, the sun woke me at about nine o'clock.
6. Referring to your esteemed inquiry, the prices of the articles are as follows.
7. Standing on the top of the hill, the eye roams over the beautiful landscape.
8. Having failed in the first attempt, no further attempts were made.
9. Bearing this in mind, no particular difficulty will be found.
10. Travelling from Karjat to Khandala, the line is most beautifully laid.
11. Being his sole companion, he naturally addressed himself to me.
12. Crossing the channel, a heavy storm arose.
13. Hoping to hear from you soon, yours sincerely.
14. Calling upon him yesterday, he subscribed a handsome sum to the Famine Relief Fun.
15. Going up the hill, an old temple was seen.
16. Resting in cool shelter, the hours were beguiled with desultory talk.
17. Having obtained information, he was arrested for complicity in the plot.
18. Weary with travelling, the destination seemed a hundred miles away.
19. Meeting my friend in the park, he told me all the news.
20. Entering the room, the light was quite dazzling.
For a detailed treatment of the uses of the Tenses and Auxiliaries, see chapters 25, 26 and
32, Book 1.
CHAPTER 21
ADVERBS
178. Adverbs should be so placed in a sentence as to make it quite clear which word or
words they are intended to modify. Hence Adverbs should come, if possible, next to the
word or words they modify.
He had got almost to the top when the rope broke.
179. As a general rule, only should be placed immediately before the word it is intended
to modify; as,
I worked only two sums.
Only Balu succeeded in scoring a century.
I praise him only when he deserves it.
In spoken English, however, it is usually put before the verb. The required meaning is
obtained by stressing the word which the only modifies ; e.g.,
He only worked two sums.
180. The adverbs ever, never, scarcely, ever are often misplaced, as in the following
sentence :
Quite the most remarkable article we ever remember to have read.
[Say : we remember ever ….]
181. Two negatives destroy each other. Hence" two negatives should not be used in the
same sentence unless we wish to make an affirmation. We should say:
I haven't got any (not none ).
I could not find it anywhere (not nowhere).
I have not got any (not no ) paper for my exercise.
I can't see any (not no ) wit in her.
Scarcely any one believes in such ghost stories nowadays.
(Not, No one scarcely believe ….)
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182. Adjectives should not be used for Adverbs. We should say, for instance:-
He ate the sweets greedily (not greedy).
He will pay dearly (not dear) for his mistake.
183. Ever is sometimes misused for never.
We seldom or never (not ever) see those forsaken who trust in God. Such goods are made
for export, and are seldom or never (not ever) used in the country.
Note:- Seldom or never and seldom if ever are both correct but seldom or ever is
incorrect.
184. Else should be followed by but.
It is nothing else but (not than) pride.
185. The use of never for not is incorrect.
We met the other day, but he never referred to the matter. [Say :- he did not ever refer....]
Kipling was never born in London. [Say :- Kipling was not born ….]
I never remember having met him. [Say:- I do not remember ever having met him.]
186. Except colloquially, so as an adverb of degree must not be used absolutely (i.e.,.
without a correlative.) We should say:-
He is very (not so ) weak.
Cricket is very (not so ) uncertain. I was very (not so ) lonely.
187. That should not be used instead of so as an adverb. We should say :-
He went only so (not that) far.
He was so (not that) tired that he could scarcely stand.
He was so (not that) angry that he slammed the book on the table.
188. The adverb too means “more than enough” and should not be used instead of very or
much. In the following sentences too is used correctly :-
The news is too good to be true.
My heart is too full for words.
The work is too much for any man to do single-handed.
He is too much exhausted to speak.
189. Of course is often loosely used for certainly, undoubtedly. Strictly speaking, of
course should1 be used to denote a natural or an inevitable consequence.
Does she sing well? Certainly (not of course) she does.
Exercise 116
Correct the following sentences and state your reasons for so doing:-
1. It was bitter cold.
2. I couldn't help not laughing at the joke.
3. I never remember to have seen a more excited football match.
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4. This novel is too interesting.
5. I haven't got any money.
6. My friend said he never remembered having read a more enjoyable book.
7. This hardly won liberty was not to be lightly abandoned.
8. I am much glad to see you.
9. No one can write as neat as he does.
10. I cannot by no means allow you to do so.
11. The flowers smell sweetly.
12. I don't know nothing whatever of the matter.
CHAPTER 22
CONJUNCTIONS
190. Except is not now used as a conjunction equivalent to unless.
I shall not come unless (not except) you need me.
Do not trouble yourself about writing to me, unless (not except) you are quite in the
humour for it.
191. The use of without as conjunction equivalent to unless is now bad English.
Unless (not without) you apologize I shall punish you. I shall not go unless (not without)
you do.
192. The adverb like is often wrongly used as a conjunction instead of as.
He speaks as (not tike) his father does.
But it is quite correct to say:
He speaks like his father. [Like is here a preposition.]
193. Directly should not be used as a conjunction where as soon as would in every way
be better.
As soon as [not directly] the session of 1999 commenced, the Government was pressed to
do something for the unemployed.
According to Fowler, “the conjunctional use of directly is quite defensible, but is chiefly
colloquial.”
194. The conjunction that is sometimes redundantly repeated; as,
He must remember that, although the first people in Europe would like his society, and
place him on an equality with themselves, [that] none of them would either give or lend
him a farthing.
195. Instead of repeating the conjunction used in the preceding clause, some writers have
a trick of introducing a subsequent clause by that; as,
If I do not speak of them it is because they do not come within my subject, and not that
they are lightly esteemed by me. [Use because instead of that.]
196. Scarcely should be followed by when, and not by than.
Scarcely had he gone, when (not than) a policeman knocked at the door.
197. No sooner is followed by than, and not by but.
No sooner had he returned than (not but) he was off again.
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198. The phrase “seldom or ever” is meaningless. We should say “seldom or never”
Such goods are made for export, and are seldom or never used in this country.
199. Say:
I gave no more than I could not help (not than I could help).
200. Examine the following sentence:-
This is as good if not better than that.
You will notice that as is omitted after “as good”.
It is better to say:
This is as good as, if not better than, that.
But the best way to correct the sentence is to recast it, thus:
This is as good as that, if not better.
201. Care should be taken, when using correlative conjunctions, such as either.....or,
neither.....nor, not only....but also, that they are followed by the same part of speech ; as,
He lost not only his ticket, but also his luggage.
But the following is incorrect:
He not only lost his ticket, but also his luggage.
202. Neither is followed by nor, not by or.
He washed neither his hands nor (not or) his face.
A work from S. CHAND & COMPANY LTD.
CHAPTER 23
ORDER OF WORDS
203. In English, owing to the fewness of the inflexions, the order (or arrangement) of the
words in a sentence is of the first importance.
The following is the usual order of words in an English sentence:-
(1) The subject usually comes before the verb; as,
The dog bit the horse.
The people rang the bell for joy.
(2) The object usually comes after the verb; as,
The horse bit the dog.
The King wears a crown.
(3) When there is an indirect object and also a direct object, the indirect precedes the
direct; as,
Lend me your ears.
(4) When the adjective is used attributively it comes before the noun which it qualifies;
as,
Few cats Hike cold water.
I like the little pedlar who has a crooked nose.
King Francis was a hearty king, and loved a royal sport.
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(5) When the adjective is used predicatively it comes after the noun; as,
The child is asleep.
The horse became restive.
(6) The adjective phrase comes immediately after the noun; as,
Old Tubal Cain was a man of might.
The tops of the mountains were covered with snow.
(7) The adverb is generally placed close to the word which it modifies; as,
Nothing ever happens by chance.
John is a rather lazy boy.
He worked only two sums.
He never tells a lie.
Note:- When an adverb is intended to modify the sentence as a whole, it is placed at the
beginning of a sentence; as,
Certainly he made a fool of himself.
(8) All qualifying clauses are placed as close as possible to the words which they qualify;
as,
He died in the village where he was born.
The dog that bites does not bark.
People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
204. The normal order of words in a sentence is sometimes altered for emphasis; as,
Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.
Monkeys I detest.
Money you shall have.
Blessed are the merciful.
Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
Great is the struggle, and great is also the prize.
Just and true are all Thy ways.
Fallen, fallen is Babylon! .
Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I unto thee.
205. Owing to faulty arrangement of words a sentence may be turned into perfect
nonsense; as,
Few people learn anything that is worth learning easily.
He blew out his brains, after bidding his. wife goodbye with a gun.
A gentleman has a dog to sell who wishes to go abroad.
It is, therefore, essential that all qualifying words, phrases and clauses should be placed
as near as possible to the words to which they refer.
Exercise 117
Rewrite the following sentences, improving the arrangement:-
1. For sale, piano, the property of a musician, with carved legs.
2. He tore up the tender letter which his mother had written him in a fit of peevish
vexation.
3. The captain took the things which the gods provided with thankful good humour.
4. Sometimes you will see an alligator lying in the sunshine on the bank eight feet long.
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5. All the courtiers told the Queen how beautiful she was all the day long.
6. Mrs. Jeremy Daud was sitting with her husband on the steps of the hotel when Amy
and Dulce came up, with her lap full of newspapers.
7. The man ought to be brought before a magistrate who utters such threats.
8. He visited the battlefield where Napoleon was defeated in his holidays.
9. He killed the sparrow which was eating some crumbs with a gun.
10. No magnanimous victor would treat those whom the fortune of war had put in his
power so cruelly.
11. The constable said that the prisoner seizing a bolster full of rage and fury had
knocked the prosecutor down.
12. A nurse maid is wanted for a baby about twenty years old.
13. I spent the three last days of my holiday in a chair with a swollen leg.
14. This monument has been erected to the memory of John Brown who was accidentally
shot by his brother as a mark of affection.
15. In thirty-seven wrecks only five lives were fortunately lost.
16. The following verses were written by a young man who has long since been dead for
his own amusement.
17. Many works must close if the strike lasts over the weekend owing to lack of fuel.
18. There will be a meeting of all boys who play cricket and football in the long room at
4 o’clock.
Exercise 118
Rewrite the following sentences improving the arrangement;-
1. These acts were pushed through Parliament in spite of opposition with but little
modification.
2. The beaux of that day painted their faces as well as the women.
3. He saw countless number of the dead riding across the field of battle.
4. They only work when they have no money.
5. He refused to relieve the beggar with a frown on his face.
6. His body was found floating lifeless on the water at a short distance from where the
boat was upset by a fisherman.
7. He was very fond of her; he thought of marrying her more than once.
8. It is proposed to construct a bath for males 99 feet long.
9. One day the bird did not perform certain tricks which had thought it to his satisfaction.
10. I have lately received permission to print the following tale from the author's son.
11. They left the hotel where they had been staying in a motor-car.
12. The Board of Education has resolved to erect a building large enough to
accommodate 500 students three storeys high.
13. He spoke of the notion that the national debt might be repudiated with absolute
contempt.
14. One of the combatants was unhurt, and the other sustained a wound in the arm of
no importance.
15. Girl wanted for telephone of nice manners and appearance.
16. He repeated the whole poem after he had read it only once with perfect accuracy.
17. He was shot by a secretary under notice to quit with whom he was finding fault very
fortunately without effect.
18. A clever judge would see whether a witness was deliberately lying a great deal better
than a stupid jury.
19. I was rather impressed by the manner of the orator than by his matter.
20. He was driving away from the church where he had been married in a coach and six.
21. Stories have been related of these animals which are of an entirely fictitious
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CHAPTER 24
IDIOMS
206. Idioms may be defined as expressions peculiar to a language.
They play an important part in all languages.
207. Many verbs, when followed by various prepositions, or ad
verbs, acquire an idiomatic sense; as,
He backed up (supported) his friend's claim.
The present disturbances will soon blow over (pass off)
The police produced evidence to bear out (substantiate) the charge of murder.
You must not build your hopes upon (rely upon) his promises.
The matter has been cleared up (explained).
I readily closed with (accepted) his offer.
He is ready to dispose off (sell) his car for Rs. 1,20,000.
Rust has eaten away (corroded) the plate.
They fixed upon (chose) him to do the work.
My good behaviour so far gained on (won the favour of) the emperor that I began to
conceive hopes of liberty.
The habit of chewing tobacco has been growing upon (is having stronger and stronger
hold over) him.
Please hear me out (i.e., hear me to the end).
I have hit upon (found) a good plan to get rid of him.
About an hour ago I saw a fellow hanging about (loitering about) our bungalow.
These events led up to (culminated in) the establishment of a republic.
During excavations one of the workmen lighted upon (chanced to find, discovered) a gold
idol.
During her long illness she often longed for (desired) death.
I could not pervail on (persuade, induce) him to attend the meeting.
For years I could not shake off (get rid of) my malaria.
I threatened to show him up (expose him).
All eyes turned to him because he was the only person who could stave off (prevent,
avert) the impending war.
He is sticking out for (persists in demanding) better terms.
I must think the matter over (i.e., consider it.)
Train up (educate) a child in the way he should go; and when he is old he will not depart
from it.
That fellow trumped up (concocted, fabricated) a story.
He seems to be well off (in comfortable circumstances).
A work from S. CHAND & COMPANY LTD.
Bear
Satish bore away (won) many prizes at the school sports.
The new leader has been able to bear down (overthrow, crush) all opposition.
His evidence bears out (confirms, corroborates) the evidence of the first witness.
In his misfortune God gave him strength to bear up (to keep up spirits, not to despair).
A religious hope bears up (supports) a man in his trials.
His evidence did not bear upon (was not relevant to) the inquiry.
I trust you will bear with (have patience with, show forbearance to) me a few minutes
more.
289
Break
He broke down (failed) in the middle of his speech.
He broke off (stopped suddenly) in the middle of his story.
I gave him no cause to break with (quarrel with) me.
The burglars broke into (entered by force) the house.
Bring
• His folly has brought about (caused) his ruin.
• Idleness and luxury bring forth (produce, cause) poverty and want.
• He brought forward (adduced) several cogent arguments in support of his scheme.
• That building brings in (yields as rent) Rs. 7000 a month.
• Our teacher often tells us a story to bring out (show) the meaning of a lesson.
• The publishers have recently brought out (published) a cheap edition of their new
dictionary.
• He found great difficulty in bringing her round (converting her) to his views.
• She brought up (reared) the orphan as her own child.
Call
His master called for (demanded) an explanation of his conduct.
New responsibilities often call out (draw forth) virtues and abilities unsuspected before.
Call in (summon, send for) a doctor immediately.
He called on me (paid me a brief visit) yesterday.
The old man could not call up (recollect) past events.
Carry
He agreed to carry out (execute) my orders.
His passion carried him away (i.e., deprived him of self-control).
His son carried on (managed) his business in his absence.
Many persons were carried off (killed) by plague.
Cast
The ship was cast away (wrecked) on the coast of Africa.
He was much cast down (depressed) by his loss.
Come
How did these things come about (happen)?
How did you come by (get) his purse?
When does the Convocation come off (take place)?
At last the truth has come out (transpired).
The taxes come to (amount to) a large sum.
The question came up (was mooted or raised for discussion) before the Municipal
Corporation last week.
I expect he will come round (recover) within a week.
I hope he will come round (agree) to our views.
Cry
Men of dissolute lives cry down (depreciate) religion, because they would not be under
the restraints of it.
He cried out against (protested against) such injustice.
The young author is cried up (extolled) by his friend.
