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XXV. LETTER WRITING

C. R. Fitch & Co.,

86 Arch St., Philadelphia, Pa., June 9, 1900.

227 Arch St., Philadelphia, Pa.

Gentlemen:

Having heard that you are in need of a stenographer and typewriter, I hereby apply for the place.

I have studied stenography in the Business High School of Washington, D.C., for two years, and have for the past six weeks been employed in the office of C. T. Grover, 146 Maine St., of this city.

I refer you to Mr. Grover, and to the principal of the Washington school, as to my qualifications.

Yours respectfully,

(Miss) M. R. Broughton.

Write a letter applying for some position advertised in the morning

paper.

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Write a telegram of ten words or less, telling that your train has been delayed by an accident in which no one was hurt, and that you will arrive to-morrow but do not wish to be met.

XXVI. PARTICIPLES

I saw a boy writing with a pencil.

In this sentence "writing" denotes what the boy was doing, but it does not affirm anything of the boy. It modifies "boy," like an adjective.

I saw a letter, written by a boy.

In this sentence "written " is used as a modifier of "letter." Both of these words are derived from the verb "to write," and each of them modifies a noun. They partake, therefore, of the properties of the verb and the adjective; i.e. they express action, and they modify nouns.

Writing letters in school hours is forbidden.

In this sentence "writing" is used like a noun, as the subject, yet it is modified by an objective element, like a verb.

I dislike reading novels.

In this sentence "reading" is used as a noun might be, as an objective element, yet it is modified as though it were a verb.

Such words are called participles, a word which means

partaking of.

Some participles end in ing; they are called present participles. Some participles end in d, ed, t, n, or en; they are called perfect participles.

A participle is a word derived from a verb, and partaking of the properties of a verb and of an adjective or a noun; as, "I saw a bird flying." "Flying must be delightful."

Point out the participles in the following sentences:

1. A light was seen, shining from afar. 2. He sent me a shell, picked up on the seashore. 3. A deer was killed by a man, running at full speed. 4. The house struck by lightning belonged to Mr. Ellis. 5. The letter, folded neatly, was put into an envelope. 6. My photograph, taken twenty years ago, has been lost. 7. The enemy, driven from the field, rallied at the fort. 8. My little family were gathered round a charming fire, telling stories of the past and laying schemes for the future. 9. When we visited our trap, we found a poor hedgehog caught by his forepaw. 10. The spider spinning his web was an inspiration to Bruce. 11. The great tree, swaying fearfully, soon yielded to the blast. 12. The camels, loaded with rich goods, picked their way slowly over the desert. 13. Just before midnight, we saw the moon rising above the mountains. parted, the sun was seen far above the horizon. given willingly, but the pound grudgingly.

The boys are running.

14. When we de

15. The penny was

"Running” is a participle, used as a predicate, and its relation to "boys" is affirmed by the copula, "are." As it takes the copula and the participle together to express action and affirm it, both of which offices are performed by the verb "runs," the combined expression "are running" is called the verb.

ADVERBS AND ADVERBIAL ELEMENTS

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XXVII. LETTER WRITING

Write a letter to your teacher telling her what studies you find most troublesome and asking her to advise you what steps to take to improve in them.

Be careful to punctuate and capitalize your letter correctly.

XXVIII. ADVERBS AND ADVERBIAL ELEMENTS

Birds sing sweetly.

In this sentence the word "sweetly" denotes not what the birds sing, but how they sing. It does not complete the meaning of the verb "sing” like an objective element, but modifies the verb in another way.

You are very kind.

What word is modified by "very"?

"kind"?

What part of speech is

He writes too carelessly.

In this sentence the word "carelessly" tells how he writes. "Too" modifies "carelessly," telling how carelessly.

A letter hastily written was sent me.

What does "hastily" modify? What part of speech is "written" ? Words used like "sweetly," "very," "too," and "hastily" are called adverbs.

An adverb is a word used to modify a verb, an adjective, a participle, or another adverb.

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Point out the adverbs, verbs, and adjectives in the following sen

tences:

aged imprudently.

1. He who gives cheerfully gives twice. 2. His affairs were man3. Proceed slowly and cautiously. 4. We shall 5. You have not acted wisely. 6. We 7. Our dinner, cooked hastily, was eaten

never see his like again. must study diligently.

greedily.

The storm rages violently.

What word does the adverb "violently" modify? What part of speech is " rages"?

The storm rages with violenc.

In this sentence the group of words, "with violence," modifies the verb "rages," telling how the storm rages.

The storm rages very violently.

What word does "very" modify? What part of speech is "violently”?

The trees are green in summer.

What does the group of words "in summer" modify? What part of speech is "green"?

A word hastily spoken may cause regret.

What does "hastily" modify? What part of speech is "spoken "?

A word spoken in haste may cause regret.

What does "in haste" modify? What part of speech is "spoken"? Words or groups of words like "violently," "with violence," "very,” "in summer," "hastily," "in haste," are called adverbial elements. All adverbs are adverbial elements.

An adverbial element is a word or group of words used to modify a verb, a participle, an adjective, or an adverb. "The stranger was very kind." "The wind blows fiercely." "Come here." 66 "Who goes there?"

Ex.

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