Name..

Grade...

EXERCISE 42

Insert the apostrophes in the following sentences. Add an s where one is needed.

(Deduct two per cent for each error.)

1. The steamers dead-weight capacity is 6410 tons.

2. He had one eye out and one ear cropped as close as was Archbishop Leightons fathers.

3. These figures are a considerable increase over last years quotations.

5. Please make application to the Womens College, 17 Jefferson street.

6. Good friend, for Jesus sake, forbeare

To digg the dust encloased heare.

7. I frequently visited the sessions of the girls college.

8. Her name is Portia, nothing undervalued

To Catos daughter, Brutus Portia.

9. You are entitled to one terms tuition in Quantitative Analysis, and two terms tuition in advanced Physics.

10. But there is no serpent here-at worst only a bumblebee or yellow-jackets nest.

11. We also inclose application for Employers Liability policy.

12. They knelt under the vast dome of St. Peters.

13. John W. Lister is Chief Clerk of the Coroners office.

14. It was called Our Ladys Chapel of the Forest.

15. Mens Republican Club.

16. They were summoned to vengeance by the bells dismal murmurs.

17. The new schedule for the increase of teachers salaries seems to me to be very faulty. 18. Who can tell what share of this nights good success we owe to the holy mans wrestling with God?

19. The Womens Committee of the Newsboys Club is at the head of the movement.

20. Lafayette came to gather in his half-centurys harvest of gratitude.

21. I shall have the entry made in the sheriffs office and attachment issued.

22.

He was bearing a psalm book and a stove for his mistress feet.

23. We wish to call your attention to Maddens steel pens.

24. Can honours voice provoke the silent dust?

25. Some mute inglorious Milton here may rest

Some Cromwell, guiltless of his countrys blood.

26. We presume the inspectors objection could not be overruled.

27. We have pleasure in sending you sample of Woods steel corner for plaster walls. 28.

Their masters and their mistress command,

The younkers are warned to obey.

29. This magazine will be about the size and shape of the Ladies Home Journal.

30. The childs home is properly quarantined.

31. We take pleasure in offering a suggestion for this seasons advertising.

32. He gave me a beautiful Teachers Bible.

33. These goods are to be settled for on the basis of to-morrows highest price for white

goods.

34. This years crop will average in bales as follows:

35. I send to you under separate cover, in to-days mail, a copy of our latest general

catalog.

36. This is an increase of several thousand over last seasons yield.

37. We did not think of the man killing himself.

38. We should like a few days notice of your beginning the work.

39. This will reduce the time of the train crossing to ten minutes.

40.

We will transfer the goods from the railroad companys pier to our warehouse. 41. We should like from three weeks to a months time in which to deliver the goods.

42. After thirty years experience, this company is especially fitted to offer a protection

43.

that is absolute.

We wish to have no delay in this paper reaching our customer.

44. I do not like Mr. Francis suggestion.

45. The trouble is in the men not understanding it.

LESSON XXII

MODIFICATION OF ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS

COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES

Most adjectives are inflected or modified to express different degrees of quality. This modification is called comparison.

DEGREES OF COMPARISON

Adjectives may express three degrees of quality: the positive, the comparative, and the superlative. The positive degree expresses the simple quality, and is used when the object modified by the adjective is not compared with any other. The comparative degree denotes a higher or lower degree of quality than is expressed by the positive, and is used when two objects are compared. The superlative denotes the highest or lowest degree of quality, and is used when more than two objects are compared.

METHODS OF COMPARISON

The comparative degree is formed by adding r or er to the positive form or by prefixing "more" or "less." The superlative degree is formed by adding st or est to the positive form or by prefixing "most" or "least." Some adjectives are compared irregularly.

A few adverbs admit of comparison; as, well, better, best; badly or ill,

worse, worst; fast, faster, fastest.

ABSOLUTE ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS

Adjectives and adverbs that are absolute in meaning should not be compared. A few of these are:

Caution. Remember to use the comparative degree when comparing two persons or things, the superlative when comparing three or more.

"OTHER" IN COMPARISON

In making comparisons with adjectives in the positive or comparative degree, the word "other" should be inserted to prevent one of the terms compared from including the other; as, "No other boy in the class is so witty as John." "John is wittier than any other boy in the class."

DOUBLE COMPARISON

Avoid double comparisons; as, more clearer, more happier, most unkindest, more preferable, etc.

POSITION OF ADVERB

The adverb should always be placed as near to the word that it modifies as possible, or in such position as to make the meaning perfectly clear; for example, "I do not think I shall go" should read “I think I shall not go."

THE SPLIT INFINITIVE

It has long been considered incorrect to place an adverb between the infinitive and the sign "to," but you will note that this construction is used by our very best writers, and often brings out the meaning more clearly than could be accomplished in any other way.

Name....

Grade..

EXERCISE 43

Compare those of the following adjectives that admit of comparison:

Indicate which of the italicized forms in each sentence is correct by cross

ing out the incorrect form:

1. Which is the older-oldest, John or James?

(Deduct six per cent for each error.)

2. Which is the more-most expensive, this or that?

3.

I like this one the better-best of the two.

4. Of these boys, John, Harry, and Thomas, the former-first is a clerk and the latter

6.

Solomon was of all men the wiser-wisest.

7. New York is the larger-largest of the two cities.

8. Chicago is the larger-largest of the three cities.

9. I injured my best-better eye.

10. Which is the faster-fastest operator of these two students?

11. Which is the larger-largest, London or Paris?

12. Rhode Island is the smallest-smaller of the United States.

13. Which do you like better-best, apples or peaches?

14. Of all my studies, I like grammar best-better.

15. Of two evils, choose the least-less.

16. John is the eldest-elder of the five brothers.