Business English Part 23

9. If you think you can use this type of machine, we shall be glad to send you same on ten days' trial.

10. We have decided to use your machine if you will give us a satisfactory guarantee as to strength, efficiency, and freedom from leaks. As soon as possible let us hear from you in regard to same.

=Exercise 89--Nouns and p.r.o.nouns Incorrectly Used=

_Wrong_ _Right_

1. We saw _lots_ of curious things. We saw _a number_ of curious things.

2. Do you know that _party_? Do you know that _man_?

3. I stayed at home the _balance_ I stayed at home the _rest_ of of the day. the day.

4. What _business_ have you to go? What _right_ have you to go?

5. The dress will be done in a The dress will be done in a _couple_ of days. _few_ days.

6. I'll walk a _piece_ with you. I'll walk a _short distance_ with you.

7. Did you get a _raise_ in pay? Did you get an _increase_ in pay?

8. I'll send you a _postal_. I'll send you a _postal card_.

9. Christmas is still a long _ways_ Christmas is still a long _way_ off. off.

10. What _line_ of business are you What _kind_ of business are you in now? in now?

11. If you expect to open a grocery, If you expect to open a grocery, let me give you a little let me give you a little advice _along that line_. advice _on the subject_.

12. Have you anything new in the Have you any new neckwear?

neckwear _line_?

13. I have a _date_ with the dentist. I have an _appointment_ with the dentist.

14. Have you a _date_ for this evening? Have you an _engagement_ for this evening?

15. He always does his work in good He always does his work _well_.

_shape_.

16. That is a good _write-up_ on the That is a good _article_ on the tariff. tariff.

17. _Yourself_ and friends are invited. _You_ and your friends are invited.

18. Don't _they_ have street cars in Are there no street cars in your town? your town?

19. _It_ said in this morning's paper This morning's paper said that that the traffic men would the traffic men would strike. strike.

20. The book _what_ he advised is not The book _that_ he advised is fiction. not fiction.

CHAPTER VII

THE ADJECTIVE AND THE ADVERB

AS a rule, adverbs present more difficulty than do adjectives. Careless pupils frequently use an adjective when an adverb is necessary; as,

_Wrong_: He solved the problem very _quick_.

_Right_: He solved the problem very _quickly_.

_Wrong_: This is _real_ good candy.

_Right_: This is _really_ (or _very_) good candy.

Until the habit of correct usage is formed, every sentence must be watched. When a word modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb, another adverb must be used, and an adjective may not correctly be subst.i.tuted. As a rule, adverbs express the following ideas:

_Time_: We arrived _early_.

_Place_: We have been _here_ since January.

_Manner_: He walked _steadily_ onward.

_Cause_: _Why_ did you refuse the offer?

_Degree_: I am _very much_ surprised.

_Number_: I did it _once_ not _twice_.

_a.s.sertion_: } _Denial_: } I do _not_ agree.

Adverb modifying a verb: See how _slowly_ the man walks!

Adverb modifying an adjective: The weather has been _extremely_ warm.

Adverb modifying an adverb: He dictates _very_ rapidly.

It must be remembered, however, that verbs of the senses--_taste_, _feel_, _look_, _smell_, _sound_, and the like--are sometimes almost equal in meaning to the verb _be_. In that case, they are followed by adjectives and not by adverbs; as,

_Adjective_: He looked _angry_.

_Adverb_: He looked _angrily_ at us.

=Exercise 90=

Name the adjectives in the following selection, explaining with what noun each belongs.

Name the adverbs, explaining what part of speech each modifies.

Since 1904 the number of live cattle exported from this country has been steadily growing smaller.

Exports of dressed beef have also shrunk to such insignificant proportions that the United States is no longer an important factor in the foreign markets for beef. Often has it been said that the compet.i.tion of cheap Argentine beef has deprived us of foreign markets. It would be more nearly true to say that foreigners buy the inferior article only because we cannot supply them with all they want of the best grade. Take, for instance, the Englishman's willingness to pay considerably more for American corn-fed beef than for Argentine.

The raising of cattle is important, also, from the standpoint of the leather business. Obviously, with a 21 per cent increase in population in each decade, many more shoes are necessary. Automobile and other industries are making constantly increasing demands for leather. Shoes cannot become cheaper in the face of increased demand and diminished supply. Too much depends upon the cattle industry for us to allow it to wane.

=Exercise 91=

Which of the italicized words should you use in the following, and why?