Business English - Part 10
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Part 10

deficit sceptical anniversary rhythm mansion conscience presumption rhubarb mention interruption guaranteed fatigue reckoned approximately prejudice synopsis license avoirdupois privilege emphatic

Lesson 21

scholar Elkhart industrious collision scissors Memphis hideous delusion career Niagara artificial oxygen sincere Raleigh cantaloupe martyr chiffonier Oregon unscrupulous apology

Lesson 22

receipt Cincinnati sovereign chemical welfare Des Moines committee frontier feigned Decatur ingredients fulfilled chord Dubuque counterfeit facsimile scythe Alleghany responsible identical

Lesson 23

exceed Paducah foreign Cheyenne succeed Eau Claire solemnity metallic secede Peoria a.s.sa.s.sinate nauseated immigrant Savannah pneumonia invariably emigrant Manila diphtheria injurious

Lesson 24

adoption Minneapolis fraudulent mahogany scientific Indianapolis negligence corduroy guidance Syracuse diligence Schenectady syllable Milwaukee ridiculous duplicate Fort Wayne Valparaiso comparative reenforce

Lesson 25

Duluth Ma.s.sachusetts preferable periodical Missouri Connecticut preferred insertion Wisconsin enthusiastic publicity excursion luxurious acknowledgment prevailing plateau twelfth professional damageable tragedy

CHAPTER V

THE SENTENCE AND ITS ELEMENTS

In the preceding chapters we have seen words as they are used singly. We studied their p.r.o.nunciation and the way in which they were formed to express a definite meaning. In this chapter we shall begin a review of grammar, a study of words not according to their p.r.o.nunciation or their definition, but according to their use as they are arranged with other words to express complete ideas. The simplest group into which words are thus arranged is the sentence, consisting of two important parts, the subject and the predicate. The subject is the part about which something is told, and the predicate is the part that tells about the subject; as,

_Subject_ _Predicate_ The sun shines brightly

There are several different kinds of sentences, named according to the meaning which they express. They are as follows:

The _declarative_ sentence states a fact.

The _interrogative_ sentence asks a question.

The _imperative_ sentence commands or entreats.

The _exclamatory_ sentence expresses deep feeling.

_Ill.u.s.trations_

_Declarative_: John closed the door.

_Interrogative_: Did John close the door?

_Imperative_: Close the door.

_Exclamatory_: What a noise the door made!

Sentences are cla.s.sified, also, according to their structure or form. If a sentence has one subject and one predicate, it is a _simple_ sentence.

If it is made up of two independent parts, it is a _compound_ sentence.

If it has one independent part and one or more dependent parts, each of which contains a subject and a predicate of its own, the sentence is _complex_. The independent part of the sentence is called a _princ.i.p.al clause_, and the dependent part is called a _subordinate clause_. A _phrase_ is also a dependent part of a sentence, but it differs from a subordinate clause in that it contains no subject or predicate. Both phrases and subordinate clauses are used as parts of speech, as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. Thus we have the following definitions:

A _simple_ sentence contains one princ.i.p.al clause.

A _compound_ sentence contains two or more princ.i.p.al clauses.

A _complex_ sentence contains one princ.i.p.al clause and one or more subordinate clauses.

A _phrase_ is a group of related words used as a part of speech. (See Exercises 68 and 69.)

A _clause_ is a group of words containing a subject and a predicate. A subordinate clause is used as a part of speech. It usually has an introductory word to distinguish it from a princ.i.p.al clause. (See Exercise 71.)

_Ill.u.s.trations_

_Simple sentence_: To-day most of the world's big questions are business questions.

_Complex sentence_: The view _that_ business is only humdrum routine and sordid money-making needs revising, _since_ most of the world's big questions are business questions.

_Compound sentence_: Many people still belittle business, calling it humdrum routine and sordid money-making, _but_ this view needs revising.

_Phrase_: (_a_) _of_ the world's big questions.

(_b_) _calling_ it humdrum routine and sordid money-making.

_Subordinate clause_: (_a_) _that_ business is only humdrum routine and sordid money-making.

(_b_) _since_ most of the world's big questions are business questions.

=Exercise 59=

Write two of each of the following kinds of sentences:

_a._ Declarative, _b._ Interrogative, _c._ Imperative, _d._ Exclamatory.

Examine each of the sentences below and tell

_a._ Whether it is simple, complex, or compound.

_b._ Its subject and its predicate.

_c._ Its phrases and its subordinate clause (if there are any).

1. Your subscription expires with this issue.

2. This special offer will continue until the tenth of November.

3. The last shipment of castings that you made to us is decidedly unsatisfactory.

4. Your imitation typewritten letters have greatly a.s.sisted us in the sale of our property, and we thank you for calling our attention to them.

5. The advertised poster was sent to you to-day in a special tube.