18. The whole class is—are to meet in the library.

19. The lowest mechanic, as well as the richest citizen, is-are protected by the new law.

20. To this cause, no doubt, ismare due all the failures.

21. Nothing but trials and disappointments seemseems to await me.

22. A tall man with a little boy was—were walking leisurely through the deserted street.

23. Either of the men is-are worth a million.
24. Was-were you ever in Chicago ?
25. Many a day has—have passed since then.

Exercise 57

1. Till those questions were well answered, trade was in danger of standing still, and that large body of men who were not counted as citizens, and had not so much as a note to serve as an anodyne, was—were likely to get impatient.

2. Who was it that had said five hundred florins was were more than a man's ransom?

3. The blind father sat with head uplifted, as if he were—was gazing into his daughter's face.

4. “Plutarch's Lives” is-are a good book.

5. He was chosen one of the four speakers who waswere to speak on commencement day.

6. The end and aim of his life is—are to get money. 7. This is one of the four metals that is--are available. 8. Ten minutes was-were given him in which to answer.

9. Neither sincerity nor cordiality characterize-characterizes him.

10. Twenty years of his life was—were spent in prison. II. Both physical and manual training are—is necessary.

12. The wife and mother kneel-kneels in prayer.

13. Neither the manager nor his assistants has—have a thorough knowledge of the business.

14. The people of the United States take-takes great interest in political discussions.

15. The violet and the hyacinth bloom-blooms about the same time.

16. My neighbor's dogs do-does nothing but howl.

17. The men that do-does things are is the men that succeed-succeeds.

18. Even the captain and the mate, who usually dodoes not shrink from any danger, has—have been convicted of cowardice.

19. Into every man's life there comecomes at least one great sorrow and one supreme opportunity.

20. The costliness of her dress and jewels was-were evident at a glance.

21. The persecutions of the old college bell, which summoned him every morning from a warm bed to a chilly class-room, interrupt-interrupts his slumbers no longer.

22. The number of men and women present was-were not so large as on former occasions.

23. Many a communication, telegraphic as well as postal, has-have been exchanged between the President and responsible officials of the state of California.

24. The British commander gave notice to the Spanish authorities that if another Englishman or another American was—were shot, he would bombard and destroy the town.

25. Three drops of this medicine is-are a dose.

Exercise 58

Don't and doesn't

Don't is the contraction of do not, therefore plural; it may be used with nouns in the plural, and with the pronouns, I, we, you, they.

With he, she, and it, and nouns in the singular, doesn't or does not should be used.

Write the following sentences, inserting the proper form, don't or doesn't:

I. I .... understand why she ... try to overcome that defect.

2. It .... seem as if it would ever stop raining.

3. He is a foolish man who improve his opportunities.

4. everybody know that "don't" is plural ? 5. Why .... he investigate the matter?

6. It .... make any difference to him, one way or the other.

7. Politics is—are a matter which .... interest him. 8. This year's team compare with the team of

last year.

9. It .... take long to learn shorthand.
10. Yes, he said so; but that .... make it so.
II.
Either they ... know any better, or he ....

care. 12. Clara .. look much like her sister. 13. He .... know his own relatives.

14. I .... understand why every stenographer .... make a special study of English.

Exercise 59

OTHER CONTRACTIONS

Grammarians condemn the use of contractions in formal composition. They are, however, permissible in ordinary conversation; and are used more or less by present-day writers. Ain't and hain't are always wrong.

Attention is here called to the spelling of contractions. Though the rule is simple and invariable, they are frequently misspelled.

An apostrophe is placed where the letter or letters are omitted. In don't the o in not is omitted; in you'll, wi in will, etc.

Write contractions for the following expressions :

I. I will 2. I would 3. I had 4. You will 5. You are 6. He will 7. He would 8. She will 9. She would IO. It is (two forms) II.

14. They will
15. Have not
16. Has not
17. Is not
18. Are not
19. Can not
20. Would not

Did not
22. Will not*
23. It will
24. Ever
25. Never
26. Even

21.

It was
It were

12.

13. They are

*NOTE.-Won't comes from the Middle English"wol not," and is either singular or plural.

Exercise 60

Got

Do not use got with have, has, or had to indicate possession or obligation. Have got means "have secured (obtained)."

Write the following sentences, omitting got where it is incorrectly used :

I. I have got some books on that subject. 2. Have you got a knife?

3. I tried to get permission to go, but I haven't got it yet.

4. Have you got permission to go? 5. I have got to leave at 4 p. m.

Exercise 61

REVIEW OF VERBS

2.

Correct such of the following sentences as are incorrect. Give reasons : 1. Kindly sit the vase on the mantle.

We found the pictures laying in the bottom of the box.

3. The poor crops will cause prices to raise.

4. If the weather was not so cool, it would be better for vegetation.

5. When may I call and show you my samples ?

6. John's employer said he could go an hour earlier on Saturday.

7. When shall it be convenient for you to go over the plans with me?

8. I would be pleased to help you at any time.

9. When I reached the doctor's office, he had went out to see a patient.