USAGE FREAK SHOW NAME PERIOD ________

TASKS ______1. Read and discuss the two sections on Troublesome Verbs. Complete the practice exercises that accompany this section. ______ 2. Read and discuss the practice involving Common Usage Problems. Complete the practice work in this section. ______ 3. Read and discuss the paragraph that accompanies the section called Words Often Confused. Fill in the chart with the appropriate choices. ______ 4. Scan the list of singular spelling words in the section Irregular Plurals of Nouns. Write the plural forms of those words in the appropriate spaces.

Two Troublesome Verbs The verb lie means "to recline," "to stay lying down," or "to rest." Its principal parts are lie, lying, lay, and (have) lain. The verb lie never takes an object. For example, Grandfather is lying down for his afternoon nap. The verb lay means "to put sormething down." Its principal parts are lay, laying, laid, and (have) laid. The verb lay takes an object. For example, Sophie laid the silverware on the table . EXERCISE. Fill in the blank with the form of lie or lay called for in parentheses. 1. It took a lot of planning, time, and energy to railroad. 2. The two tired dogs have 3. The boys them to Uncle Jack. 4. The white hen has 5. Last night Tom store for him. 6. Having meals. 7. Mabel's car has 8. The baby the track for the trans-continental

down under the oak tree. the tools on the workbench and counted them before returning the greatest number of eggs. in his bed dreaming what the future might hold in on the riverbank all day, the young vacationers missed their in the ditch since the storm. quietly in her cradle. on the

9. When Sam, the night watchman, returned home, he his equipment closet shelf. 10.

your clothes out at night, and you will have a head start in the morning.

A few quick alternatives for a lot AMOUNT: volume, quite a bit, bulk, essential parts, torrents, endless supply, a good deal, large amount, great quantities NUMBER: cluster, assortment, great number, multiplicity, several, very many, throng, array, assortment

Two More Troublesome Verbs The verb sit means "to sit down" or "to rest." Its principal parts are sit, sitting, sat, and (have) sat. The verb sit does not take an object. For example, John and Anne sat on the couch. The verb set means "to place" or "to put." Its principal parts are set, setting, set, and (have) set. The verb set takes an object. For example, Louise set the table for dinner.

EXERCISE Fill in the blank with the form of sit or set called for in parentheses. 1. Mother 2. 3. Babies learn how to 4. In class he 5. The doctor will 6. Uncle Jack has often 7. We 8. the plant on the table. the alarm for five o'clock, please. in highchairs. near the door. with the sick man. and rested in the lounge chair.

and waited all day. the salt and pepper on the table. in the car? .and watched the stars.

9. Where do children usua1ly 10. On clear summer nights we have

Common Usage Problems Educational writers and speakers generally use standard English. In nearly all of your school assignments, you will be expected to follow the rules and conventions of standard English. EXERCISE In each of the following sentences, CIRCLE the choice that is considered standard English. EXAMPLE: This classroom was designed for (fewer, less) students. 1. The difference (between, among) British English and American English is greater than I thought. 2. (Them, Those) flowers smell sweet. 3. I asked Seth to (bring, take) his guitar to my party. 4. Joyce thought that it was (a, an) honor to be nominated. 5. Marian (accepted, excepted) the offer. 6. I (should have, should of) memorized my speech. 7. Robert enjoys fishing more (than, then) he does swimming. 8. Ms. Lewis read (where, that) a new shopping center has opened in town. 9. This cottage cheese tastes (bad, badly). 10. It (ain't, isn't) true that Wednesday is a holiday. 11. Will you (bring, take) this salad to Mr. Haselwood? 12. The store manager divided the tasks (between, among) the seven clerks. 13. Our television set is (broken, busted). 14. My sister is going to (learn, teach) me to speak French. 15. Prepare the dough and (than, then) let it chill for two hours.

Words Often Confused EXERCISE. On each numbered line at the bottom of the page, write the correct word of the two words that appear after that number in the following paragraphs. EXAMPLE: I read a play by Shakespeare during my vacation (brake, break) . break

You may have heard of the play Macbeth, a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The (1. principal, principle) character, Macbeth, was {2. altogether, all together) (3. to, too, two) ambitious for his own good. When he heard three witches prophesy that he would be the new king, he (4. accepted, excepted) (5. their, there, they're) prediction as true and decided to bring it to pass immediately. His wife did not remain (6. quiet, quite). She was eager for Macbeth to kill the king. Her (7. advice, advise) was to act at once. In fact, her (8. council, counsel) was largely responsible for his (9. coarse, course) of action. When the king visited Macbeth's castle, Macbeth and his wife greeted him with (10. complements, compliments). They were (11. already, all ready) to proceed with their plan. That night, while the king was sleeping, Macbeth slipped (12. past, passed) the guards and (13. threw, through) the open the door of the king's chamber. As the king slept, Macbeth plunged a dagger into his heart. Nothing now could (14. altar, alter) Macbeth's plan to be king. But his deed had its (15. affect, effect) on Macbeth's conscience. He gained the throne but lost his (16. peace, piece) of mind. From that night on, while others slept, Macbeth lay awake. Macbeth had murdered the king, and he had murdered sleep, (17. to, too, two). His bloody deed (18. lead, led) him on to still other crimes, which eventually caused Lady Macbeth to (19. loose, lose) her sanity and Macbeth to (20. loose, lose) his life. 1. 2. 3. 4.

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Irregular Plurals of Nouns EXERCISE On the line provided after each of the following nouns, write the plural of that noun. EXAMPLE: knife knives

1. wish 3. rally 5. valley 7. rodeo 9. child 11. mix 13. volcano 15. leaf 17. woman 19. squash 21. loaf 23. appendix 25. scenario 27. camera 29. buffalo

2. elf 4. twelve-year-old 6. roof 8. briefcase 10. goose 12. house 14. hero. 16. panda 18. thief 20. radio 22. pulley 24. mouth 26. church 28. lady 30. ax