Present-introduce

1. I was

to my classmates. 2. Columbus was

to the King and Queen of Spain. 3. We were

to the President. 4. The use of the word

for

is an affectation. -W'hite. 5. We ...

foreign ministers to the President; we our friends to each other.-White.

Purpose-propose

1. I .....

to go immediately. 2. Plan and ... as we may, the plans and

will turn only to the final end which he (God) has predetermined.—Herbert. 3. I shall

my plans to him to-morrow. 4. I to do right; I

to do this specific thing because it is right.

Remember-recollect

1. Animais
man alone

:-Draper. 2. Do you

me? 3.

thy Creator in the days of thy youth. 4. That which is

is often more vivid than that which is seen. -Higginson. 5. On my way home I

that I had another engagement.

the incidents of our childhood, we what happened yesterday.

6. We ....

Seem-appear

1. The sun

above the horizon. 2. The sun

to move. 3. The stars

in the firmament at evering. 4. The plan

practicable. 5. The author

to understand his subject. 6. Things

good or bad as far as we can judge by our senses. Things

right or wrong as we determine by reflection. When things are not what they

our senses are deceived; when things are not what they

our judgment is at fault.-Ayres.

.

Transpire-occur-take place 1. A meeting of the council will ....

to-night. 2. The two armies came together unexpectedly, and a battle . 3. It

that this man was not loyal to his cause. 4. The secret finally 5. No, they have no railroad accidents to speak of in France. But why? Because when

somebody has to hang for it.--Mark Twain.

one

LESSON XI

COMMON ERRORS IN THE USE OF VERBS

DON'T SAY:

SAY:
Allowed—thought
I allowed he would go.

I thought he would go.
"Allow” for “think" and "allowed” for “thought” are vulgarisms.
Am going—intend
I am going to study English.

I intend to study English.
Appreciate—increase in value
The stock will appreciate.

The stock will increase in galue.
Be back-come back
I shall be back soon.

I shall come back soon.
"Back" signifies direction toward the starting point.
Beg to say-would say
I beg to say, etc.

I would say, etc.
Business men are not beggars.

Beg to remain—remain
I beg to remain Yours truly.

I remain Yours truly.

Back-direct
Back the letter for me.

Direct the letter for me.
It is also improper to speak of "addressing" envelopes.

Loan-lend
Money to loan.

Money to lend.
The use of “loan" as a verb has some support, but it is avoided by the best writers.
Made an appearance-put in an appearance—appeared
He put in an appearance.

He appeared.
Might of-might have
He might of known better.

He might have known better.

Owned-confessed The man owned that he was in the The man confessed that he was in the wrong

wrong. Past-passed He past me at half passed nine. He passed me at half-past nine.

“Passed" is a verb; “past” is an adjective.

Pardon-excuse
I beg your pardon.

Please e.rcuse me. “We excuse a small fault; we pardon a great fault. We excuse that which personally affects ourselves; we pardon that which offends against morals. We may excuse as equals; we can pardon only as superiors.”—Crabb. Posted informed He is well-posted.

He is well-informed.
People are “informed;" books are "posted."
Ran with-associated with
I ran with her for a year.

I associated with her for a year.

DON'T SAY:

SAY:

Retire-go to bed
I think I shall retire.

I think I shall go to bed.

Stand-bear
I could not stand the pain.'

I could not bear the pain.
State-say
I wish to state that we cannot accept I wish to say that we cannot accept
your prices.

your prices. To "state" a thing is to present it in a concise, formal way. A lawyer "states" his case to the court.

Suspicioned-suspected The man was suspicioned of the The man was suspected of the crime. crime.

"Suspicion” should never be used as a verb. Take a seat-be seated Please take a seat.

Please be scated.

Try and—try to
I will try and see you to-morrow. I will try to see you to-morrow.

"Try and" as an idiom of the language has, however, some support.

Would seem-seems
It would seein to me.

It seems to me.

Want-want to come
Do you want in?

Do you want to come in?
This expression is a provincialism, and should therefore be avoided.
Work on-appeal to
They tried to work on his sympathy. They appealed to his sympathy.

You bet-may be assured
You bet I will be there.

You may be assured I shall be there.