Business English Part 44

9. Neither the doctor _or_--_nor_ his wife was at home.

10. Both the books look shop-worn. I'll take _neither_--_none_.

=Exercise 131--Except, Without, Unless=

_Except_ and _without_ are prepositions, and are used, therefore, to introduce phrases; _unless_ is a conjunction, and is used to introduce a clause.

In the following sentences insert the correct form, giving a reason for your choice:

1. ---- you leave at once, you will miss your train.

2. I cannot learn to swim, ---- some one teaches me.

3. I cannot learn to swim ---- a teacher.

4. No one could do the work ---- me.

5. John expects to learn ---- studying.

6. John will discover that he cannot win promotion ---- he works hard.

7. No one can learn how to spell ---- first learning how to observe.

8. No one will learn to spell ---- he learns to observe.

9. No one will succeed ---- he has energy and patience.

10. No one will succeed ---- energy and patience.

11. You cannot succeed in any way ---- by seizing each opportunity as it comes.

12. It is impossible to grow beautiful flowers ---- the soil is good.

=Exercise 132--Like, as=

_Like_ is followed by a noun or p.r.o.noun in the objective case. _As_ is a conjunction and introduces a clause, and is therefore followed by a verb. _Like_ is not a conjunction and therefore may not be subst.i.tuted for _as_ or _as if_.

_Wrong_: I wish I could play _like_ you can.

_Right_: I wish I could play _as_ you can.

Insert the correct word in the following sentences:

1. The picture looks just ---- you.

2. I haven't a voice ---- my brother's.

3. I cannot sing ---- my brother can.

4. He walks just ---- you do.

5. I hope you will all enjoy the trip ---- I did.

6. For pleasure and exercise I think there is no game ----tennis.

7. He said that the town looked just ---- it had when he was a boy.

8. I cut the paper just ---- you said I should.

9. He talks ---- his father.

10. He has the same sort of drawl ---- his father [has].

11. She was there ---- you said she would be.

12. They worked ---- beavers.

13. He looked ---- a tramp.

14. To give the st.i.tch the proper twist throw the thread over the needle ---- I do.

15. He walks ---- he were lame.

=Exercise 133--As--as, So--as=

Use _as_--_as_ in stating equality; use _so_--_as_ in negative comparisons.

1. You will find the new clerks fully ---- courteous as were the old.

2. You will not find the new clerks ---- courteous as were the old.

3. Elms do not grow ---- well in this climate as do poplars.

4. We did not carry ---- much advertising this year as we did last year, and we find that our receipts are smaller.

5. Under our system of individual instruction a student may advance ---- rapidly as his ability permits.

6. You are not ---- tall as your sister.

7. I do not seem to learn languages ---- easily as mathematics.

8. This house is not ---- large as the other.

9. He is ---- active as he was twenty years ago.

10. He is not ---- active as he was twenty years ago.