256. Fact 8. In subordinate clauses of condition (188) introduced by if, though, or unless, the past were is used in the present time, with either singular or plural subjects. Were is also used to denote present time in an objective clause after a wish, and after as if, or as though, connecting an adverbial clause to a present-time verb. (188 a, b.)

"If I were a voice, a persuasive voice, I would travel this wide world o'er." "Would she were mine, and I today, like her a harvester of hay."

[For further examples, see 188.]

Correct the errors in the following: [One is correct. ]

I. If I was him I should go. 2. If he was here he would decline the nomination. 3. If I was him I should resign. 4. If we was to tell you, you would not believe it. 5. Would that she was here. 6. I wish you was going with us. 7. Don't you wish it were yours? 8. Was he ever so great his conduct would debase him. 9. If it was otherwise we might consider your proposal. 10. Unless I was sure of it I should not stay. 11. They act as if they was glad of it.

257. Fact 9. Shall with the first person, and will with the second and third persons, denote simply future time, so far as the speaker is concerned. Will with the first person, and shall with the second and third persons, indicate a promise or determination on the part of the speaker.

Note.-Should and would follow the rule for shall and will.

[For examples, see paragraph 173 b; also 366, and the last exercise on p. 97.] Correct the following:

I. I promise you it will be as you wish it. 2. He will do the work for I shall compel him to do it. 3. I will drown for nobody shall help me. 4. I hope I I will see you soon. 5. You will hear from me tomorrow. 6. He will obey my rules or I shall punish him. 7. When will we three meet again? 8. I think I will not go. 9. Shall you promise me to see to it ? 10. Will we go to the concert tonight?

MISCELLANEOUS ERRORS.

258. 1. Using a perfect participle to express past time. Correct the following:

1. We are quite sure he done it. 2. I seen him there yesterday. 3. They come

by boat last night. 4. The boy run as fast as he could. 5. I eat my breakfast in a hurry. 6. He rung the bell violently and we all sprung to our feet. 7. She sung two pieces. 8. The sun sunk from sight.

2. Using a present perfect verb-phrase to denote a time previous to that indicated by a subordinate clause following it.

Example: I have graduated from the high school, since when I have been attending the business college. Omit the first have.

3. Using the "auxiliary" part of a verb-phrase by itself after as or than, when the rest of the phrase has not been given in the preceding clause.

Note. This is one of the most common errors in every-day talk and writing.

Examples: I will give as much as he has. You had done more for me than they would. In these examples, the rest of the verb-phrase after has and would cannot be supplied from the same sentence; for "as he has give" and "than they would done" do not make sense. Say 'as much as he has given;' 'more than they would do,' or 'would have done.'

Remark. When the correct form of the principal verb can be supplied from the same sentence, it may be omitted; as, "You have not tried as hard as he has," or simply, as hard as he." (351.)

sign" without its verb; as

4. Using the infinitive “sign

"I have never gone there and do not intend to." "He has not paid it nor does he expect to." [See Error 3 above. However, the Remark under Error 3 does not apply to the use of the infinitive “sign” by itself.] Say 'and do not intend to go;' ' nor does he expect to do so,' or 'to pay it.'

5. Using the present perfect form of an infinitive after the past form of a verb, or after a present perfect verb-phrase; as— He intended to have gone. They had hoped to have been invited. Say 'He intended to go.' 'They had hoped to be invited.'

6. Using an indefinite expression as to time before a definite time mentioned in the same sentence; as

I used to do that last fall. We used to go there last year. Say 'I did that last fall.' 'We went there last year.'

7. Using the active form of a verb with a passive meaning; as— One tires of hearing it. The reader soon wearies of such stuff. Say 'becomes tired,' 'grows, or becomes weary '— etc.

8. Using the wrong subject for a passive verb-phrase; as—

All bills are requested to be paid at once.

By which is meant 'All persons

(or customers) are requested to pay their bills at once.'

9. Using the archaic and the common forms of verbs in the same sentence.

(169.)

Example: If thou will be diligent thou shall succeed. Use you instead of thou, or change will and shall to the archaic forms—wilt and shalt. (377.)

10. Aint, etc.-The use of aint for 'is not,' or 'am not;' haint for 'has not,' or 'have not;' taint for it is not.' Such expressions are very slovenly.

II. As follows, As follow.-When that which may be inserted after as, the verb should be follows; but when the construction requires those which, the verb should be follow. Examples: "His statement was as [ that which] follows." "His words were as [those which] follow."

When the predicate before as is complete, or when the things referred to are mixed with other matter, as follows should be used, the meaning in such cases being 'as [shown by that which] follows.' For examples, see paragraphs 55, 69, 70, 85, 168, 25819, and 3031.

error.

12. Don't for doesn't.-The use of don't for doesn't is a very common The former is a contraction of 'do not,' the latter of 'does not.' When you are in doubt as to which you should use, think or speak the two words in full to see if the verb agrees with the subject. For example: "He don't understand it." This sentence in full would read "He do not understand it," which is incorrect, just as it would be incorrect to say "We doesn't understand it," both being contrary to Fact 1 (249). The former should be 'He doesn't understand it;' the latter, 'We don't understand it.' I is the only singular subject with which don't should be used.

13. Daresn't.—This contraction is often incorrectly used with a plural subject; as, You daresn't do it,” which is equivalent to "You dares not do it." [See remarks under Error 3.] Daren't and daresn't are not, however, good contractions, and should not be used.

14. Had rather, Had better.-These very common expressions are not logically correct. They should be would rather, and might better; as

I would rather stay at home than to go, not I had rather stay at home-etc. You might better leave your work for a while, not You had better leave-etc. Remark. In these two sentences, rather and better are merely adverbs, hence they are not a part of the verb-phrases. 'Had stay,' and 'had leave' are incorrect combinations of the past had with the present stay and leave. [See Error 15, next page; also paragraph 380.]

15. Had have.-Had may follow have; as- "I have had the letter copied," "We have had several liberal offers," etc., but have should never be used after had in a verb-phrase, since the past form of a verb should never precede the present or present perfect form. Hence, such expressions as "If I had have known that," Had you have kept your promise," are incorrect. Omit have.

16. Had ought.-For the reason given above, had is not only superfluous, but incorrect in sense in such sentences as- "He had ought to go," "You had ought to have seen it." Say 'He ought to go,' 'You ought to have'

17. It's. The use of it's for 'tis. [See Error 5, paragraph 239.]

etc.

18. Lie and Lay.-Much of the confusion and misuse of these troublesome words may be avoided by remembering that lie means 'rest,' while lay means transitive action, that is, action affecting an object. Their principal parts are Lie, lay, lain; active, lying. Lay, laid, laid; active, laying.

Examples of correct usage:

Lie.-I lie down a while each day. The book lies on the table. They are lying on the grass. He lay abed yesterday until nine o'clock. It had lain there all day. The farm has lain idle a long time.

Lay.—I will lay it away for you. Lay the book on the table. She laid her gloves on the counter. We have laid their plans well. We were laying the walk yesterday. (381.)

Correct the following: 1. It laid there all day. 2. Lie the ruler on the desk. 3. You might better lay down and rest awhile. 4. They have lain the boards cross-wise. 5. I would rather lie my money by for a rainy day." 6. I had been laying on the grass. 7. The hen has lain four, eggs. 8. Go and lay down on the lounge. 9. They were laying in ambush. IO. Lie the books on the table and let them lay there.

19. Mistaken.—“You are mistaken." Say 'You mistake,' or 'in error,' or 'incorrect,' if such is your meaning. Mistaken has a different meaning.

20.

Of for have. Of is sometimes carelessly used in the place of have after might, could, would, should, or ought to; as, “You might of gone with us." "You ought to of told us."

ཙན་

21. Raise for rise.-These words are both verbs, but raise is transitive and must have an object. Thus, the following sentences are correct:

Did you raise the money? The farmer raises corn. They will raise the barn, They raised the flag. Each one in favor of this may raise his right hand. The following are incorrect:

Do you think the river will raise? When will the moon raise? The bread

did not raise. The balloon began to raise. The sun raises at five o'clock. The river is raising. The price of wheat did not raise after all.

"There was

(a) Raise (always a verb) is incorrectly used as a noun, thus: a slight raise in the land." "There was a general raise in prices." The noun

in these and similar sentences should be rise.

22. Says for said.—In such expressions as "Says I, what will you do?" "Says he, that's what I think," the past form of the verb (said) should be used. 23. See for saw." I see him there yesterday." Say 'I saw him '—etc.

24. Sit and Set.-These two words are often misused, but most of the errors may be avoided by remembering that sit means to rest, to be in a position of rest, or to be in session, as of a court; while set means action, 'to put a thing in place,' 'to appoint;' as 'to set a day' for doing something. principal parts of the two words are as follow:

Sit, sat, sat; active, sitting. Set, set, set; active, setting.

Examples of correct usage:

The

Sit.-Will you sit and talk awhile? Please sit in the easy chair. We sat and talked for an hour. They had been sitting but a short time. The hen is sitting. The court sits the first Tuesday in October. [See 382.]

Set. You have set the lamp in the wrong place. I had set a time for doing the work. They are setting out trees. The sun sets at six o'clock.

Correct the following:

(382 a.)

1. He set as still as a mouse. 2. We have set until we are tired. 3. He sits a bad example. 4. We sat the hen and she is setting. 5. Please set down and stay a while. 6. How long have you been setting here? 7. The sun is sitting. 8. When will the court set again. 9. The blind man was setting by the wayside. 10. They are sitting fence posts.

25. Thinks I, or thinks's I, for I thought; as, "Thinks I, I'll watch and see." "Thinks's I to myself, I'll see about that." Say 'I thought '—etc.

MISCELLANEOUS EXERCISES TO BE CORRECTED.

[Three are correct.]

259. I. A bushel of apples sell for a dollar. 2. They expected to have arrived by boat. 3. The tide is raising. 4. Haint you going with us? 5. It had been lain carefully. 6. We shall have ran the race. 7. No, I aint. 8. To set up late is bad for one's health. 9. The price of wheat did not raise after all. 10. We had hoped to have heard from him again. 11. It has laid there for some time. 12. Taint very far. 13. The fireworks was what they was depending on to draw the crowd. 14. I sat my watch by correct time yesterday. 15. I hoped to have seen you before you left the city. 16. Set the pail on the bench and