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Principles of GrammarLeonard Peikoff

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LECTURE ONE—Basic Grammatical Concepts

1. Subject-Predicate ManyarethedaysImethim. Whereisyourmother? Therearethreedogsonthecorner.

2. Phrases Thecowjumpedoverthemoon. Thecowwasjumpingupanddown. Jumpingupanddownlikeamaniac,thecowhadaheartattack.

3. Clauses whenIleftforParis whathesaid

4. Gerund Runningisalotofwork. Participle Runningquickly,hesoontired. Infinitive Torunissweet.

5.SimpleSubject,SimplePredicate Mostgovernmentsintheworldemployevilformsofcoercion. Sickwithgrief,Ihavebeensufferingforweeks.

6. AdverbasSentenceorClauseModifier Honestly,sheisnearlyalwayssloppy. Hecheated,sohefailed.

7. SpeechPartdeterminedbyroleinSentence Myhomeisyours. Homeinontheenemyplan. Thehometeamlostthegame. Iwenthomefordinner. Welosttheround. Shewentroundthebend. Hewentroundandround. Weroundthecorneratnoon. Hisshouldersareround.

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8. Noun-Verb-ModifierstructureThetallboysreadeasilyandquickly.Manymenaretoostudious.

9. Complement-ObjectJohnhittheball.Johnhitit.Helikesrunning.Hewantstogo.Heishappy.

10. AdjectivePhrases—PrepositionalThemanfromDenvercratesofgreenvegetablesaknifeforcuttingmeat

11. AdverbPhrases—PrepositionalIdivedintothewater.Hemissedthewallbysixfeet.Neverinamillionyearswillheadmitdefeat.Itwastoocloseforcomfort.

12. ParticipialPhrase—AdjectiveDartingupthewall,themouseescaped.GerundPhrase—NounTheknockingatthegatewasirksome.InfinitiveasAdverbSheputapieintotheoventobake.InfinitiveasAdjectiveHeisamantoreckonwith.InfinitiveasNounToheckleaspeakerisrude.

13. AdjectiveClauseIneedahatthatislightbutwarm.AdverbClauseAfterhereflectedonthematter,heapologized.NounClause—SubjectWhathewilldecideisimportant.NounClause—ObjectSheknowswhathewilldecide.

(Mainclausesunderscored.)

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HOMEWORK �

Parsethefollowing.

1. WhenJackcameintotheroom,hebegantoremovehiscoat.Awisemove.

2. Comingintotheroom,Jackbegantoremovehiscoat.

3. Italyowesahistoricdebttohergreatsculptors.Adebtshecanneverrepay.

Appositives: JohnSmith,myuncle,wasveryfamous. Myuncle,J.Smith,theauthorofDestiny,wasfamous. Theword“ain’t”isnotingoodrepute. Theideathatwealthisimportantistrue.

4. Learningmaybeeasy,ifyouarelearningfromagoodteacher,butteachingiswork.

5. Theworldwilllittlenote,norlongremember,whatwesayhere,butitcanneverforgetwhattheydidhere.

6. Itisnotenoughthatamandotherightthing,thathisactsbeinaccordwithduty;themoralmanmustactfromduty;hemustdohisdutysimplybecauseitishisduty.

7. ThiswastheTaggartTerminal,shethought,thisroom,notthegiantconcourseinNewYork—thiswashergoal,theendoftrack,thepointbeyondthecurveoftheearthwherethetwostraightlinesofrailmetandvanished,drawingherforward—astheyhaddrawnNathanielTaggart—thiswasthegoalNathanielTaggarthadseeninthedistanceandthiswasthepointstillholdingthestraight-lineglanceofhisliftedheadabovethespiralmotionofmeninthegraniteconcourse.

Identifyanyerrorsintheuseofmodifiers.

1. Thebellsoundedloudlyandclearly,andstillwatersrundeeply,butevensoIfeelrealwell.

2. Wherevacationdissatisfactionexisted,advancerecreationplanninghadbeeninsignificant—aproblemparticularlyacuteamongmathematicsstudentswhoforgetbasicphilosophyprinciples.

3. Newspaperheadline:Macmillanrefusesbankrateriseleakprobe.

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LECTURE TWO—Subordination and Coordination

1. FragmentsHethoughtasmuchasheobserved,moreinfact.Hethoughtasmuchasheobserved.Moreinfact.

2. SimpleSentencesTheboyspoketotheteacher.Hewasfrightened.Theteacherwasangry.Theboyspokesoftly.Hewantedtoappeasetheteacher.Theboywantedahighergrade.Theteacherrefused.Theteacheriscruel.Maybeheistryingtobefair.

3. CompoundSentencesTheboyspoketotheteacher.Hewasfrightened,andtheteacherwasangry.Theboyspokesoftly,forhewantedtoappeasetheteacher.Theboywantedahighergrade,buttheteacherrefused.Theteacheriscruel,ormaybeheistryingtobefair.

4. ComplexSentences(a)Althoughtheteacherwasangryandtheboyfrightened,theboyspoketotheteacher.Speakingsoftly,sothathemightappeasetheteacher,heaskedforahighergrade.Buttheteacher,whoiseithercruelortryingtobefair,refused.(b)Whentheyspoke,theteacherwasangryandtheboywasfrightened.Byspeakingsoftlyasheaskedforahighergrade,theboytriedtoappeasetheteacher.Buttheteacher,whorefusedtherequest,iscruel.

5. EffectsofSubordinationImethim.Iwasimpressed.Imethim,andIwasimpressed.WhenImethim,Iwasimpressed.Imethim,whichimpressedme.

6. TheSenatorrosetohisfeet,announcingWorldWarIII.Risingtohisfeet,theSenatorannouncedWorldWarIII.

7. Thestudentfailedhisexam.Hebecameagenerallater.

Thestudentwhofailedhisexambecameagenerallater.Thestudentwholaterbecameageneralfailedhisexam.Afterthestudentfailedhisexam,hebecameageneral.Althoughthestudentfailedhisexam,hebecameageneral.Becausethestudentfailedhisexam,hebecameageneral.

8. CoordinatingConjunctions:and,but,or,for,nor,yet

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9. ConjunctiveAdverbs(coordinating):so,therefore,hence,moreover,also,thus,still,accordingly,however,consequently,furthermore,nevertheless,besides,etc.

10. Hecameandheran.Hecame;healsoran.Hecamesothathemightrun.

11. SubordinatingConjunctions:if,unless,when,before,after,while,since,aslongas,where,although,because,sothat,as,why,who,which,what,that,etc.

12. Asherose,thealarmsounded.Ashehadfailedtheexam,hewasexpelled.HewroteasIexpectedhimto.

13. OverlappingSubordinationHewasdifferentfromtheotherRepublicans,whofoundthathewasamanwhohadnochildrenwhowereoldenoughtovote.

14. MisplacedAdjectiveClauseHeputtheringonherfingerwithasmilethathehadboughtatTiffany’s.

15. SquintingConstructionThemanwhowasaddressingusloudlycondemnedtheproposal.

16. MainClauseinplaceofNounClauseAugustineconsideredtheessenceofsinistorebelagainstGod.

17. AdverbClauseinplaceofNounClauseThereasonIfailedwasbecauseIdidn’tstudy.

18. “Like”and“As”Fewhaveobservedlikeyouhavedone.(Darwin,quotedinF.)Noneofthemtalkedliketheybelongedinauniversity.Fewmenlikeyouhavebeenobserved.Youaretreatingmelikeafool.Youaretreatingmeasafoolwould.

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HOMEWORK �

�Identify�the�errors—in�subordination�and/or�the�use�of�conjunctions—in�the�following,�and�rewrite�appropriately.

1. Therearethousandsofboyswithcollegeeducationsthatareoutofwork.(F&S)

2. Now,likethetwenties,inflationisarealdanger.

3. Ashepredictedtheenslavementanddestructionofmankind,thePresidenttookasipofwater.

4. Adebateiswheretwopeoplearguebackandforth.

5. Ihadbeenstandingidlyonthecornerforanhourwhenanexplosionthatkilledhundredsofmenoccurred.

6. Itwasraininginthemorning,whileitcleareduplater.

7. LastTuesday,aneventoccurredinmylifethatIshallalwaysremember.

8. AsAristotlebeforehim,Aquinaswasachampionoflogic.

9. Wearesayingthingsherewhichtheworldwilllittlenote,whiletheydidthingsherewhichtheworldcanneverforget.

10. Apsychologicalsessionwhichwastheturningpointinherrecoveryfromschizophreniathenbegan.

11. HeofferedaproposaltorepealtheIncomeTaxAmendmentwhichisextremelycontroversial.

12. HelikedthebookswhichwereinthebookcasewhichhehadboughtattheauctionheattendedduringtheFairwhichwasheldatChristmasandwhichheldvolumeswhichwerefamousinmanycircleswhichheencounteredwhenhepursuedhisavocationwhichheenjoyed.

13. Likehiscolleague,hisconductwaswicked.

14. Mostofourtroubleisbecausewethinktoolittleaboutethics.

15. Ithoughtaboutmyproblemsagreatdeal,finallyconcludingthatIambasicallyworthless.

Combinethefollowingintoaunifiedsentence,withappropriatesubordination.

Englishisadifficultlanguage.Thehomeworkinthiscoursetakestoomuchtime.Grammarisworthstudying.Theteachergoestoofast.SubordinationinEnglishisespeciallydifficult.

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LECTURE THREE—Subordination and Coordination

1. SentenceendingasEmphaticIbelieve,however,thatyouhavefailed.However,youhavefailed,Ibelieve.Ibelievethatyouhavefailed,however.

2. PeriodicSentenceandClimaxTheleadingfigureofGermanphilosophy,theauthoroftheanti-Enlightenment,thefinaldestroyerofcivilization,isKant.

TheleadingfigureofGermanphilosophyisKant,whowastheauthoroftheanti-Enlightenmentandthefinaldestroyerofcivilization.

3. RepetitionandEmphasisNowletusturntothebranchofphilosophycalledmetaphysics.Metaphysicsstudiestheuniverseasawhole.Thenatureofreasonisnotpartofthefield.Metaphysicsstudiesreality,notknowledge—facts,notcognition—thatwhichis,nothowmancomestodiscoverit.

4. ImproperRepetitionHebelievedthatpeoplewouldbelievehisstory,sincehehadreportedonthetripsinceseeingyou.

5. ExcessiveNegationHedidnotthinkthatstudyingLatinwasmuchuse,sohewasnotoftenontimeanddidnotpayanyattentiontohisteacher,inwhomhedidnothavemuchconfidence.

6. ParallelismThefirstwasMr.A,andthesecondwasMr.B.ThefirstwasMr.A,thesecondbeingMr.B.ThefirstwasMr.A,andthesecond’snamewasB.

Ifyoustudy,andifyoureadthenotes,youwilldowell.Ifyoustudy,andassumingthatyouread...Ifyoustudy,andshouldyouread...

7. Hesaidthatitwaswrongandthatheforhispartwouldnotdoit.

8. ParallelismafterCorrelativesJusticeisacrucialvirtueforanemployer,notonlyintheselectionofemployees,butalsointhetreatmentofthem.

Justiceisacrucialvirtueforanemployer,notonlyintheselectionofemployees,butalsointreatingthem.

Justiceisacrucialvirtueforanemployer,notonlyasregardstheselectionofemployees,butalsointreatingthem.

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9. FaultyParallelismThepatientwastoldtocallthedoctorandthathewouldhearthediagnosisfromhim.

Thisbookiswell-plotted,profound,andentertainsmostofitsreaders.

10. Wordiness Thereisnodoubtbutthatheistall. Afterhecomesin,hethentakesoffhisclothes. Courage,independence,strength—thesearethreenecessaryessentialsthateveryexplorer

musthave.

11. ExcessivePredication ThetouristsdroveforaperiodofthreedaysandtheythenarrivedatPadua;thisisabustling

city,anditislocatedquiteclosetoVenice.

12. ReductionofPredication Wegazedatthewaterofthelake,anditwasasclearascrystal. Wegazedatthewaterofthelake,whichwasasclearascrystal. Thewaterofthelake,clearascrystal,heldourgaze. Wegazedatthecrystal(-clearwaterofthe)lake.

13. IncompleteThought Inmyyearsatschool,Ihavewrittenmanyfinalexaminations,andIalwaysfeelstarkterror. Russiaisanexcellentexampleofnoelementofindividualism. Shewasasloud,ifnotlouderthan,hersister.

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HOMEWORK �

Identifytheerrors(faultyparallelism,incompletethought,orwordiness),andrewritecorrectly.

1. Theyalwayshaveandalwayswilltaketheircartowork.

2. Allofthepeoplethatarerequiredtobehereforustobeabletomakeupaquorumarenowphysicallypresentandinattendance.

3. Eitheryoumustobeylogicorcourtdisaster.

4. Asregardstheresponsibilityofthechildrenfortheirbehavior,ImustobservethatIagreewiththecommitteewhofoundthatnosuchresponsibilitycouldbediscoveredorverifiedinanyway,shapeorform.

5. Thisashtrayisinasenselargeandalso,ifthewordmaybeused,expensive.

6. Peopletakemanyrisksforvariousreasons,suchasmakingmoney,forthefunofit,andbecausetheyareforcedtodoso.(F&S)

7. GermanyrecentlyacquiredacountrywhichwasformedfromtheWorldWar.(F&S)

8. ThenewPresidentisveryconservativeandhatedbyliberals.

9. Thevealwassogood;Icouldn’thavefoundabetterrestaurantifIhadtriedtolookbefore.

10. Oursisapoliticalpartythatisdevotednottowordsbutaction.

11. Ihaveaninterestandfeelingforsculpture.

12. ItwasalongtimeafterwehadgrownupthatIsawmysisteragain andthistimeitwasnotthesameasithadbeenwhenweusedtomeetinalittletownwhichwasnearL.A.wherewehadgrownup,becauseshehadababywithherwhohadjustbeenbornandIwasyearsolderandfeltmuchmoremature.

13. ThereareseveralpeoplenotinterviewedyetandwhomIshallseenow.

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LECTURE FOUR—Verbs and Pronouns

1. PastPerfect PresentPerfect FuturePerfect (had) (have) (willhave) __________________________________________________ PAST PRESENT FUTURE

2. UseofPluperfectThenewscheduleexcitedmemorethanI(had)anticipated.

3. UseofPresentPerfect Hemadeseveralvisitslastyear. Hehasmadeseveralvisitsthisyear.

4. SequenceofTenses Sheisaskingustobringasmuchaswecan. Sheaskedustobringasmuchaswecould. Sheaskedustobringasmuchaswecan. Sheisaskingustobringasmuchaswecould.

5. ShiftofTense Firstontheprogramwastheconcerto,inwhichallthesoloiststakepart. Thechildrenhavebeguntocrybecausetheirfather(has)abandonedthem.

6. UseofSubjunctive Theprisonerseeshislawyer. Irecommendthattheprisonerseehislawyer.

7. Subjunctiveincontrary-to-factconditions IfIwereyou,Iwouldfindoutthetruth. Evenifhewerehere,itwouldmakenodifference. Heactsasifhewereanathlete. Heactsasifhewere(is)sick.

8. SequenceofMoods Ifheisapainter,hewillnotignoreFlorence. Ifhewereapainter,hewouldnotignoreFlorence. Ifhewasapainter,hedidnotignoreFlorence. Ifhehadbeenapainter,hewouldnothaveignoredFlorence.

9. ShiftofMood Ajudgeoughttopunishtheguiltymen,andabovealldon’tletanybodytrytobribehim. Laceiseffeminateandfrillsbehanged! Ifheisapainter,hewouldnotignoreFlorence.

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10. Activevs.PassiveVoice Withasmile,Billhitthefinalrunofthegame. ThefinalrunofthegamewashitbyBillwithasmile.

11. ShiftofVoiceorPerson Marystudiedart,andherfreetimewasspentplayingcards. Workerswilllikethenewcafe,becauseyouneednotleaveworktoeat. Wehavereachedastagewhereoneoughttobereadyforwar.

12.PastParticiples Dismayedbythepoorlylightedstreets,theyturnedbackhome.

13. TenseofParticiples Runningquickly,hepassedhiscompetitors. Havingrunhome,hewasexhausted.

14. PastPassiveGerund Ilearnedagreatdealbyhavingbeentakentothecleaners.

15. Participle Womenhavingthevotesharepowerwithmen.

Gerund Women’shavingthevotereducesmen’spower.

“FusedParticiple”(F) Womenhavingthevotereducesmen’spower.

16.Participlevs.Gerund Uponyouleavingtheroom,IshallpaytherentIowe. WecaughtJohnrunningaway. Wecouldnotthinkofhim/hisactingthepart.

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HOMEWORK �

Writeoutthefollowingforms

1. firstpersonsingularpluperfect(progressive)indicativepassiveofHOLD

2. secondpersonpluralpresentperfectindicativeactiveofKILL

3. thirdpersonsingularpresentsubjunctivepassiveofBLESS

Correctanyerrorsinverbsorverbals.

1. Didshefinishyet?

2. TheDavidisthegreatestworkMichelangelohasevercreated.

3. Itisabsolutelycrucialthatyouarereadytoleavebynoon.

4. Theofficewasverybusy,butfinallywehadcaughtuponthework.

5. Ifamanfindsthatothermenbericherthanhe,hemustchangehiscourse.

6. IfAristotleandLockeacceptedPlato’spolitics,wewouldnothavefreedomtoday.

7. Iamoutragedbyyoubeggingformoney,althoughitshouldresultinusgettingahandout.

8. Goldmayseemtobeagoodinvestment,butitmightnotremainoneforlong.

9. ReturningtoNewYorkCity,theSenatorwentatoncetothetheater.

10. IfSmithshouldbenominated,hewillagreetorun.

11. Youwouldnothavesaidthatword,Iassume,ifyouhadknownhowmuchitwouldhaveshockedme.

12. IhavestoppeddrinkingbecauseIheardnomorecriticism.

13. HeexplainedindetailwhattheLawofGravitationmeans.

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LECTURE FIVE—Verbs and Pronouns

1. SubjectandObjectofInfinitive Iwantedhimtocry. Toeatapplesisgood.

2. PerfectInfinitive IwouldliketohavelivedinAristotle’stime. IwouldhavelikedtoliveinAristotle’stime. IwouldhavelikedtohavelivedinAristotle’stime.

3. SplitInfinitive(F&S) Itfrightenedthegirltosuddenlyfindherselfinthisposition.

4. DanglingParticiple Watchingthemovie,thecandysoondisappeared.

DanglingGerund Bypolishingthesilver,yourtablecanbepretty.

DanglingInfinitive Toseeproperly,eyeglassesmustbeclean.

5. RelativePronounvs.PureConjunction ThecarthatIboughtwasexpensive. Thecarthatisonthestreetismine. Theideathatmancanliftatonisabsurd.

6. “FearfulSubjective” ThismoneybelongsonlytoyouandI. EveryonebutTomandheenteredtherace. Agroupofwegirlswentshoppingyesterday.

7. “FearfulObjective” Twoandtwo,Iknow(hesays,wemaythink,etc.),isfour. O’HenryisawriterwhomIthinkwillbereadforcenturies. Who/WhomshallIsayiscalling?

8. CaseinSubordinateClause Hewillfinewho(m)everwastestime,andwho(m)everhehates. Hehasrespectforwho(m)everhasmoney.

9. AgreementwithproperAntecedent PlatoisamongtheGreekswhohaveinfluencedmankind. PlatoistheonlyoneoftheGreekswhohaswrittenmanydialogues.

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10. Noun-VerbAgreement Alistofmanybooks,inadditiontothousandsofphonographrecords,havebeengiventothe

publiclibrary.Thestaffhasconflictingopinionsaboutthisgift.TheonethingImyselfdonotlikearetheobscenitiesinthesebooks.

11. PronounswithmorethanonepossibleAntecedent BillwarnedhisunclethathewouldbeleavingonTuesday. Hesatbythewindowalldayandworkedsteadilyathiseditingofthemagazinethathadbeen

lyingonthecornertable.Itwastoosmalltogivemuchlight.

12. BroadReference BabeRuthwashitlessduringthegame,whichcausedmuchcomment.

...,whichmanymenattended.

13. EcholovedNarcissus,buthelovedhimselfevenmore;thisistrueinreallife,too. Wewereaskedtoremoveourcoats,whichwedidhappily.

13. SamePronounwithdifferentAntecedents Althoughitiscoolbythelake,itlooksfullofswimmers.

14. Restrictivevs.Non-restrictiveClauses Grandpianos,whichareuncommon,arenecessaryto

modernorchestras. Grandpianoswhichareoutoftuneareaperformer’snightmare.

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HOMEWORK �

Correctanyerrorsintheuseofverbalsorpronouns.

1. PeoplelikesheandTedaredisgusting;Iwouldhavebeenashamedtohavetoldtheirstorytomyfather,whoisanoldandtiredman.

2. Icannotaffordmyhobby,whichisthecauseofallmytrouble.

3. Ishallfollowwhoevertheychooseastheirleader—orwhomeverelseisincharge.

4. Thedaypassedquickly,eatingcakeandplayingpoker.

5. WhenontopoftheEmpireStateBuilding,happinesswaseasytofeel.

6. YouknewittobeI,andIknewitwashim.

7. IleftherandhitchhikedtoDenver.Itwasterrible.

8. Dictatorshipissaidtocausemoreevilinhistorythanwardid.

9. Eachofuswhoisnowlivingisdestinedtowitnesstherebirthofreason.

10. Threeshotsrangout.Twooftheservantsfelldead.Theotherwentthroughhishat.(F&S)

11. Towintheelection,apropercampaignisneeded.

12. Myworstfaultismyinabilitytoexpressmyselfemphaticallyonpaper.ButthisisnottruewhenIamspeakingaloud.

13. Rewritewithoutanypronouns. Thebabylostthetoy.Whenitlostit,itwastoodark,itseems,todoanythingaboutit.

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LECTURE SIX—Punctuation

1. Womanwithouthermanwouldbelost.

2. Thejar,however,beinglight,and,therefore,notround,wascostly.

3. CommaseparatingMainClauses Iwenttothebank,andthetellertoldmeIwasbankrupt. Jackcameintotheroom,forHarrydidnotwanttogo. Heateandhedrankuntilhefainted. Heaskedfortheanswer;butIdidnotknowit.

4. Semi-colonseparatingMainClause(S&W) Itisnearlyhalfpastfive;wecannotreachtownbeforedark. Itisnearlyhalfpastfive.Wecannotreachtownbeforedark. Itisnearlyhalfpastfive,andwecannotreachtownbeforedark.

5. Semi-colonwithConjunctiveAdverb Heaskedifwewantedtoleave;therefore,wetooktheelevator.

6. CommasseparatingParentheticalElements GiventhehugenumberofAmericanswhodonotbelongtoanyunion,wehaveagood

chanceofcombattingtheinfluenceoftheAFL-CIO. Hismouth,thoughfilledwithpeanuts,stillissuedcommands. Hewill,withoutanyhesitation,betrayhiscountry. Wesang,thatis,untilitwasdark.

7.U.S.foreignpolicy,orlackofit,isthecauseofRussia’ssuccess.U.S.foreignpolicy—orlackofit—isthecauseofRussia’ssuccess.U.S.foreignpolicy(orlackofit)isthecauseofRussia’ssuccess.

8. Restrictivevs.Non-restrictiveClauses Grandpianos,whichareuncommon,arenecessaryto

modernorchestras. Grandpianoswhichareoutoftuneareaperformer’snightmare.

9. ImproperuseofRelativePronoun“that” Agrandpiano,thatisexpensive,isaneedlessluxury.

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10. RoleofCommastoindicateNon-restrictiveRelativeClauses Peoplewholiveinglasshousesshouldnotthrowstones. Yournewcarwhichisparkedinthegarageisbadlydented. Shespenthertimefeedingicecreamtothechildrenwhoweregood. ThebestideathatJackgotwastogodancing. Thedogwholoveshismasterisanidealpet. Astudyofspaceleadsustocontradictionswhichareimpossible,accordingtothehuman

mind,butwhichexistnevertheless.

11. CommaswithotherNon-restrictiveElements AttheendofAugust,whenfallwasapproaching,Idecidedtoquitmyjob. Beaten,Ifelltomyknees. Shelovesmyfavoritecomposer,Rachmaninoff. Theideathatsocialismisgoodisridiculous. Manyevilpeople,suchasHitlerandStalin,wereonceinpower. PeoplesuchasHitlerandStalinwereevil.

12. SerialComma HelikestospeakFrench,GermanandItalian. Modernwomendonotwishtoremainhome,cook,andnursechildren.(F&S)

13. Commatopreventmisreading Beforeeatingthegirlspeeledthevegetables. Afterallthetroublewetookisworthit.

14. CommawithConfluence Many,ifnotmostofthechildrenweretired.

15. InvalidComma—separatingVerbandObject Thebooksays,thattheshipsankwithoutatrace.

16. Indirect-DirectDiscourseSwitch—InvalidQuestionMark MyfriendaskedwhetherIknewthetruth,and,ifso,woulditbeimportantforhimtolearnitalso?

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HOMEWORK �

Addorsubtractcommasasrequired.

1. Wedidnotseethewomeninrags,northemenintatters.Wedonotliketoseesuchcarelessshoddyapparelinourbrightpublicdiningroomnordowefeelthatallthingsconsidered,itisproper.

2. ThemanwhomIsawyesterdaytoldmethatJoneswhomIcalledlastweekwasoutoftown;neverthelessImadealistofbookswhichhaveinfluencedmegreatly.(IalwaysbuyJones’sbookswhichhaveinfluencedmegreatly.)

3. Thatofficerdowntheblockhas,inhardlyasinglecase,givenspeedersaticket.

4. Anotherofthechangessuggestedbytheboard,isthesuspensionoffinalexams.Astudent,itseems,shouldnothavetowork,whenhereacheshissenioryear.

5.Theybroughtourmealswhich,whetherhotorcold,sweetorspicy,madeoftomatoesimportedfromFranceorbakedwithcheeseflowndirectlyfromItaly,weateuncomplaininglyalldaylongandintothenight.

6. Ilovedthesmoothgreyofthebeechstem,thesilkytextureofthebirchandtheruggedpine.(F)

7. Walkingtowardsthebuilding,Isawherconfidingtoherloverwhat,shethought,thetruthwas.

8. Tobeginwithmyunclehadanannoyinghabit:whilehewascookinghisdogalwaysjumpedontothetable.

9. Bythetimehehadreachedsixtyyearsofageontheotherhand,suchmemories,althoughstillrecurrent,anddisturbing,hadbecome,increasingly,infrequent.

10. Goingtoatop-ratedIvyLeaguecollegewasahideousbrain-corrodingpsychologicalexperiencebutittaughtme,andmyfriends,agoodlesson.

11. SinclairLewis’snovel,MainStreet,neverusedthesentence,“Astitchintimesavesnine.”

12. Thepresidentissotiredwhenhegetshome,thathefallsasleepimmediately.Atleastheismorepolished,moreintellectualthanhispredecessor.

13. Likeaspoiled,disillusionedchild,whohadexpectedpredigestedcapsulesofautomaticknowledge,alogicalpositiviststampshisfootatreality....

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LECTURE SEVEN—Choosing the Right Word

HOMEWORK �

Identifyanyerrorsordeficienciesindiction.

1. ThesoloistatCarnegieHallscamperedacrossthestageandtuckedhisfiddleunderhischin.

2.Hewasoblivioustothenoise,beingcompletelyabsorbedinthechemicalsolutionwhichhewaspreparing.(F&S)

3. Healludedtothefactinnouncertainterms.Thedoctors,hesaid,hadneverdiscoveredthesourceofhisheadache.

4. Althoughheisacyniccertainofnothing,hewasverypreparedforourmeetingandanxioustogetaraise;infact,hewasliabletodoanythingtogetit.

5. InancientEgypt,thestatureofstatueswasestablishedbystatute.

6. Theseactivitiesareemployedsoonerorlaterbylotsofvisitors.Somegetahugekickoutoffootball;thebalanceareintotennisorgolf.

7. Theshiplimpedintoportinthenickoftimewithitsbestfootforward.Doyouplanonboardingher?

8. Thankstopragmatism,themeansofeducationatthedisposalofAmericansarestuntedandsterilized.(F)

9. (a) TheresettlingofhisestablishmentinNewYorkengenderedinhimasubstantivedegreeofvituperativeaffect.

(b) HegotplentymadafterlocatinginN.Y.10. RewriteinformalEnglish. Hecould’vebeencoolifhe’dhaditmoretogether.

11. Distinguishamongthefollowing: motive- end- purpose- goal-

12. Rewrite,makingtheadjectivesmorespecific. Thegirllookednice(thoughherboyfriendwasbig),andthemoviewasnogood.SoBill

decidedtospeaktoher.Itwasabadmistake.

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PrinciPles of Grammar

FINAL EXAMINATION

i.Althoughstudentsofgrammarwhoareeducatedusuallywantnotonlytostudy,butalsotomastertheirsubject,some,sufficeittosay,seemincapableofsucceedingatthisgoal.Thetheorythateverymanisanaturalgrammarian—whichIhadalwaysheardwhenIwasachild—givesmethecreeps,forithasbeenprovedtobebaseless.

Usingtheaboveparagraph,citeoneexampleofthefollowing.Ineachcase,writeonlythenecessaryword(s).

1. Aninfinitivethatistheobjectofaverbintheindicativemood.

2. Acoordinatingconjunction.

3. Anindirectobject.

4. Apairofcorrelativeconjunctions.

5. Averbinthepluperfecttense.

6. Averbinthepassivevoice.

7. Averbinthesubjunctivemood.

8. Anappositivenounclause.

9. Asubordinatingconjunctionthatintroducesanadverbialclause.10. Amainclause.

11. Arestrictiverelativeclause.

12.Anon-restrictiverelativeclause.13. Anindefinitepronoun.

14. Anadjectivalprepositionalphrase.

15. Apersonalpronounthatisthesubjectofamainclause.

16. Apastparticipleusedasanadjective.

17. Agerund.

18. Aslangexpression.

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Leonard Peikoff

19. Aninflectionthatindicatesaplural.

20. Thetotalnumberofclausesinthesecondsentenceis:

(2�points�each)

ii. Thereare31deliberateerrors—ingrammar,punctuationanddiction—inthefollowing.Identifyatleasttwentyofthem,andcorrecteach.Onlyoutrighterrorsqualify,notinadequaciesorinfelicitiesthatarewithintherangeoftheoptional.

Badlyfrightened,thebulletmissedthemanagerwhofelltohiskneesanhourearlierbutitdecimatedacustomer,Louise,aladywhoisveryattractiveandreveredbyall.Atragicoutcome—tragedybeingwhereamajorvalueisdestroyed.Themanagerwasprofoundlyshockedovertheevent.Hesoundedstrangelywhenhespoke,likehehadjustawakened.“Iwantedtohavehiredguards,”hesaid,“butitwasnodice.NewYorkisbothcomplicatedanditcoststoomuch.Icouldnotapproveofusspendingmoneyonthem.”Themanagerhadhoweveroncegivengiftstohisbestcustomersbeingfranticallyworriedaboutthenewstoreacrossthestreet.

Thekillerwasneithercontritenordidhegrieveformydearfriend,Louise.“Ihaveasmuchrighttomoneyasher,”theslobsaid,“andIwillkillwhomsoeverstandsinmypath.”Ifoneweretoconverthimphilosophically,perhapshewillrepent.Iknowphilosophersswellwithindignationwhentheirconceptstructuresareundermined.Butsuchmenaredangerousandeachofthemdeservetobeattacked.Theymerelywritewordsontopaper,thuscausingsufferinganddestruction.Thisiswhatcanhappeninlife.

(3�points�each,�for�first�20;�and�a�one�point��bonus�for�each�additional�error�identified)