Higher Lessons in English Part 46

2. Churchill received the t.i.tle of a duke.

3. A _hill_ is from the same root as _column_.

4. Dog is a quadruped.

5. I expected some such an offer.

6. The woman is the equal of man.

7. The sculpture is a fine art.

8. Unicorn is kind of a rhinoceros.

9. Oak is harder than the maple.

+Caution.+--Use _an_, _a_, or _the_ before _each_ of two or more connected adjectives, when these adjectives modify different nouns, expressed or understood; but, when they modify the same noun, the article should not be repeated.

+Explanation+.--_A cotton and a silk umbrella_ means two umbrellas--one cotton and the other silk; the word umbrella is understood after _cotton_.

_A cotton and silk umbrella_ means one umbrella partly cotton and partly silk; _cotton_ and _silk_ modify the same noun--_umbrella_. _The wise and the good_ means two cla.s.ses; _the wise and good_ means one cla.s.s.

+Direction+.--_Study the Caution as explained, and correct these errors_:--

1. The Northern and Southern Hemisphere.

2. The Northern and the Southern Hemispheres.

3. The right and left hand.

4. A Pullman and Wagner sleeping-coach.

5. The fourth and the fifth verses.

6. The fourth and fifth verse.

7. A Webster's and Worcester's dictionary.

+Caution+.--Use _an_, _a_, or _the_ before each of two or more connected nouns denoting things that are to be distinguished from each other or emphasized.

+Direction+.--_Study the Caution, and correct these errors_:--

1. There is a difference between the sin and sinner.

2. We criticise not the dress but address of the speaker.

3. A noun and p.r.o.noun are alike in office.

4. Distinguish carefully between an adjective and adverb.

5. The lion, as well as tiger, belongs to the cat tribe.

6. Neither the North Pole nor South Pole has yet been reached.

7. The secretary and treasurer were both absent.

(_The secretary and treasurer was absent_--referring to one person--is correct.)

+Caution+.--_A few_ and _a little_ mean _some_ as opposed to _none_; _few_ means _not many_, and _little_ means _not much_.

+Examples+.--He saved _a few_ things and _a little_ money from the wreck.

_Few_ shall part where many meet. _Little_ was said or done about it.

+Direction+.--_Study the Caution, and correct these errors_:--

1. There are a few pleasant days in March, because it is a stormy month.

2. He saved a little from the fire, as it broke out in the night.

3. Few men live to be & hundred years old, but not many.

4. Little can be done, but not much.

+Direction+.--_Write correct sentences ill.u.s.trating every point in these Cautions_.

LESSON 91.

CONSTRUCTION OF ADJECTIVES--CONTINUED.

+Caution+.--Choose apt adjectives, but do not use them needlessly; avoid such as repeat the idea or exaggerate it.

+Remark+.--The following adjectives are obviously needless: _Good_ virtues, _verdant_ green, _painful_ toothache, _umbrageous_ shade.

+Direction+.--_Study the Caution carefully, and correct these errors_:--

1. It was splendid fun.

2. It was a tremendous dew.

3. He used less words than the other speaker.

4. The lad was neither docile nor teachable.

5. The belief in immortality is common and universal.

6. It was a gorgeous apple.

7. The arm-chair was roomy and capacious.

8. It was a lovely bun, but I paid a frightful price for it.

+Caution+.--So place adjectives that there can be no doubt as to what you intend them to modify. If those forming a series are of different rank, place nearest the noun the one most closely modifying it. If they are of the same rank, place them where they will sound best--generally in the order of length, the shortest first.

+Direction+.--_Study the Caution, and correct these errors_:--

1. A new bottle of wine.

2. The house was comfortable and large.

3. A salt barrel of pork.

4. It was a blue soft beautiful sky.

5. A fried dish of bacon.

6. We saw in the distance a precipitous, barren, towering mountain.

7. Two gray fiery little eyes.

8. A docile and mild pupil.

9. A pupil, docile and mild.

+Direction+.--_Write correct sentences ill.u.s.trating every point in these two Cautions_.

Miscellaneous Errors.

+Direction+.--_Give the Cautions which these expressions violate, and correct the errors_:--

1. I can bear the heat of summer, but not cold of winter.

2. The North and South Pole.

3. The eldest son of a duke is called _a marquis_.

4. He had deceived me, and so I had a little faith in him.

5. An old and young man.

6. A prodigious s...o...b..ll hit my cheek.

7. The evil is intolerable and not to be borne.