Practical Grammar and Composition Part 19

3. Fifty dollars were given him as a present.

4. There were four men, each of which were sent by a different bank.

5. At that time the morals of men were very low.

6. Mathematics are my most interesting study.

7. There was once two boys who was imprisoned in the Tower.

8. The jury is delivering its verdict.

9. The "Virginians" is a famous book.

10. Ten minutes were given him in which to answer.

11. Everyone of these farms are mine.

12. Lee, with his whole army, surrender.

13. Farm after farm were pa.s.sed by the train.

14. He is one of the greatest men that has ever been president.

15. Three hundred miles of wires were cut down.

16. Three fourths of his time are wasted.

17. Three quarts of oats is all that is needed.

18. A variety of sounds charms the ear.

19. A variety of recitations were given.

20. The committee have adjourned.

21. Washington was one of the greatest generals that has ever lived.

22. Take one of the books that is lying on the table.

23. The house is one of those that overlooks the bay.

24. Question after question were propounded to him.

25. He was one of the best orators that has been produced by the school.

26. He is one of those persons who are quick to learn.

27. A black and white horse were in the ring.

28. A black and a white horse was in the ring.

29. The committee disagree on some points.

30. Mary, where was you yesterday?

31. The end and aim of his life are to get money.

32. All the crop were lost.

33. One of them are gone.

34. There comes the children.

35. Were either of these men elected?

36. The alumni of this school is not very loyal.

37. There seem to be few here.

38. There seems to be a few here.

39. Neither of the letters were received.

40. In all those songs there are a sprightliness and charm.

41. The a.s.sociation of Engineers are still flourishing.

42. Neither John nor Henry have come.

43. Either this book or that are wrong.

44. This book and that is wrong.

45. This book, not that, is wrong.

46. Either this book or those students is wrong.

47. Either those students, or this book is wrong.

48. This chemical with its compounds were the agents used in tanning.

65. USE OF SHALL AND WILL. The use of the auxiliaries, _shall_ and _will_, with their past tenses, is a source of very many errors.

The following outline will show the correct use of _shall_ and _will_, except in dependent clauses and questions:

To indicate simple futurity or probability:

Use _shall_ with _I_ and _we_; use _will_ with all other subjects.

To indicate promise, determination, threat, or command on the part of the speaker; i. e., action which the speaker means to control;

Use _will_ with _I_ and _we_; use _shall_ with all other subjects.

Examine the following examples of the correct use of _shall_ and _will_:

Statements as to probable future events:

_We shall_ probably be there.

I think _you will_ want to be there.

_It will_ rain before night.

Statements of determination on the part of the speaker:

_I will_ come in spite of his command.

_You shall_ go home.

_It shall_ not happen again, I promise you.

66. SHALL AND WILL IN QUESTIONS. In interrogative sentences _shall_ should always be used with the first person. In the second and third persons that auxiliary should be used which is logically expected in the answer.

Examine the agreement in the use of _shall_ and _will_ in the following questions and answers:

QUESTIONS. ANSWERS.

_Shall_ I miss the car? You _will_ miss it.

_Shall_ you be there? I think I _shall_ (probability).

_Will_ he do it? I think he _will_ (a.s.sertion).

_Shall_ your son obey the teacher? He _shall_ (determination).

_Will_ you promise to come? We _will_ come (promise).

67. SHALL AND WILL IN DEPENDENT CLAUSES. In dependent clauses which are introduced by _that_, expressed or understood, the auxiliary should be used which would be proper if the dependent clause were a princ.i.p.al clause. The sentence, _They a.s.sure us that they SHALL come_, is wrong. The direct a.s.surance would be, _We WILL come_.

The auxiliary, then, in a princ.i.p.al clause would be _will_. _Will_ should, therefore, be the auxiliary in the dependent construction, and the sentence should read, _They a.s.sure us that they WILL come_.

Further examples:

I suppose _we shall_ have to pay.

He thinks that _you will_ be able to do it.

He has decided that _John shall_ replace the book.

In all dependent clauses expressing a condition or contingency use _shall_ with all subjects. Examples;

_If he shall_ go to Europe, it will be his tenth trip abroad.

_If you shall_ go away, who will run the farm?

_If I shall_ die, I shall die as an honest man.

EXERCISE 45

_Justify the correct use of SHALL and WILL in the following sentences:_