Page:The king's English (IA kingsenglish00fowlrich).pdf/129
Sir—With reference to this question 'Do we believe?', while recognizing the vastness of the subject, its modern aspect has some definite features.—Daily Telegraph.
Taken in conjunction with the splendid white and brown trout-fishing of the Rosses lakes and rivers, anglers have now the opportunity of fishing one of the best, if not the best, fishery to be obtained in Ireland.—Advt.
Sir—Having read with much interest the letters re 'Believe only' now appearing in the Daily Telegraphy, perhaps some of your readers might be interested to know the following texts which have led some great men to 'believe only'.—Daily Telegraph.
Being pushed unceremoniously to one side—which was precisely what I wished—he usurped my place.—C. Brontë.
The higher forms of speech acquire a secondary strength from association. Having, in actual life, habitually heard them in connexion with mental impressions, and having been accustomed to meet with them in the most powerful writing, they come to have in themselves a species of force.—Spencer.
Standing over one of the sluices of the Aswan dam last January, not only was the vibration evident to the senses...—Times.
The following passage may be commended for use in examination papers. 'Always beloved by the Imperial couple who are to-day the Sovereign lord and lady of Great Britain, their Majesties have, on many occasions since the Devonshire houses rejoiced in a mistress once more, honoured them by visits extending over some days.'—Times.
The last, as the Times reviewer has noticed, will repay analysis in several ways.
9. The absolute construction is not much to be recommended, having generally an alien air in English; but it is sometimes useful. It must be observed, first, that the case used should now invariably be the subjective, though it was otherwise in old English. Secondly, it is very seldom advisable to make an absolute construction and insert a pronoun for the purpose when the participle might simply be attached in ordinary agreement to a noun already to hand. Thirdly, it is very bad to use the construction, but omit to give the participle a noun or pronoun to itself. These three transgressions will be illustrated, in the same order, by the next three examples. But many of the wrong sentences in 5.
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