Fifteen Institute Lessons in Language, Arithmetic, and U.S. History

INSTITUTE LESSONS. Language.

1.: A verb must agree with its subject in number and person.
2.: Use either or neither with reference to one of two objects.
3.: Use any one or no one with reference to one of more than two objects.
4.: Each, every, either, or neither requires a verb or a pronoun in the same connection to be in the singular number.
5.: Two or more subjects taken together require a verb or a pronoun in the same connection to be in plural number.
6.: Two or more subjects taken separately require a verb or a pronoun in the same connection to be in the singular number.
7.: A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in person and number.
8.: When subjects of different numbers are joined by or, the verb must agree with the one next to it.
9.: These or those should not be used with the singular noun kind or sort.
10.: Use plural nouns with adjectives denoting more than one.
11.: Use a before words beginning with a consonant sound.
12.: Use an before words beginning with a vowel sound.

13.: Use the adjective in expressing condition, appearance, quality, or kind. (Use the adj. to modify a noun or a pronoun.)
14.: Use the adverb in expressing manner or degree.
15.: Use less to denote size or quantity; use fewer to denote number.
16.: Omit the article before a noun used in a general sense.
17.: Use the article before a noun used in a particular sense.
18.: Before two or more words denoting the same object, use the article but once.
19.: If the different words denote objects to be distinguished use the article with each word.
20.: Place a modifier where it will affect only the element to be modified.
21.: Do not use of between both or all and its noun.
22.: Use next to the noun the adjective of broadest signification; or, the one denoting the quality most easily recognized.
23.: Avoid using an adverb between the parts of an infinitive.

(a): Since he was sick, he looks badly (13).
(b): The rose smells sweetly (13).
(c): I feel queerly (13).
(d): He looks tolerable well (14).
(e): He acted very different from his brother (14).
(f): There was no less than five squirrels on the tree (1, 15).
(g): Such a man does not deserve the name of a gentleman (16).
(h): I do not despise the giver, but gift (17).
(i): She referred to Patrick Henry, the patriot and the orator (18).
(j): What is the difference between a siderial and solar day (19)?
(k): His dexterity almost appeared miraculous (20).
(l): I forgot to sign my name to a letter once (20).
(m): He only rents the store, not the dwelling (20).
(n): Did you bring both of the books (21)?
(o): He saw all of the animals (21).
(p): He was an old respectable man (22).
(q): They tried to thoroughly educate her (23).
(r): Everybody thought that it was destined to be a great city, twenty years ago (20).
(s): He examined the trachea, or the windpipe (18).
(t): Not one in ten of them are likely to pass (1).

24.: Do not neglect to form the possessive case properly.
25.: The apostrophe is not used with the possessive pronouns.
26.: Let the sign of possession be as close as possible to the modified noun.
27.: Indicate separate ownership by using the sign with each name.
28.: Indicate joint ownership by using the sign but once.
29.: Avoid the use of two or three possessives in close connection.
30.: When the comparative degree is used the latter term must exclude the former.
31.: When the superlative degree is used the latter term must include the former.
32.: When the latter term excludes the former the comparative degree must be used.
33.: When the latter term includes the former the superlative degree must be used.
34.: For two objects use the comparative degree.
35.: For more than two objects use the superlative degree.
36.: When a comparison or contrast is made neither term must

(a): He has childrens’ gloves and mens’ shoes (24).
(b): This is a later edition than your’s (25).
(c): He does not like to ride any one’s else horse (26).
(d): Do you prefer Webster or Worcester’s Dictionary (27)?
(e): He left his bundle at Smith’s and Brown’s Store (28).
(f): That is my brother James’ wife’s youngest sister (29).
(g): He had a better memory than any boy I knew (30).
(h): His paper has the largest circulation of any other in the county (31).
(i): He was the most active of his other companions (32).
(j): China has a greater population than any nation on the earth (33 or 30).
(k): He is the wisest of the two (34).
(l): Which of these three men is the taller (35)?
(m): No city in Canada has suffered so much from fires as Quebec (36).
(n): It is one of the best answers that has yet been given to the question (1).
(o): A large part of the exports consist of spices (1).
(p): One after another arose and offered their services (7).
(q): Actions speak plainer than words (14).