Question

chapter 12: a glossary of usage
usage glossary b
review the glossary entries on pages 312 - 314 of elements of language for information on the correct usage of the following terms: between, among; fewer, less; bring, take; good, well; bust, busted; had ought, hadnt ought; could of; hardly, scarcely; doesnt, dont
exercise two choices appear in parentheses in each of the following sentences. circle the correct choice.
example 1. who would (of, have) guessed wed be studying in paris?

1. even though she was nervous, cleo played (good, well) at the piano recital last night.
2. there are far (fewer, less) bison today than there were one hundred fifty years ago.
3. if you ask me, that little boy (doesnt, dont) look too happy.
4. josé shared the prize money (between, among) his many friends.
5. there are (fewer, less) jobs in manufacturing now than there once were.
6. dont forget to (bring, take) your baseball mitt to my house tonight.
7. the extended school year was discussed (among, between) the three parents.
8. derwood might (have, of) believed that story about loch ness, but i could not tell for sure.
9. mi ling wont be able to (bring, take) her dog along when she goes away to camp.
10. the child got (busted, caught) when he tried to stay up later than the baby - sitter had instructed.
11. many immigrants (brought, took) only what they could carry when they came here to the united states.
12. dinahs opinion is that the novel (ought not, hadnt ought) to have ended so suddenly.
13. she put the flowers (between, among) two pages of a favorite childhood book.
14. jimmy carter (is, is not) hardly idle in his retirement from public office.
15. lets put (fewer, less) walnuts in this batch of muffins than we put in the last.
16. we (ought not, hadnt ought) to wander off too far; the trails in this park can be confusing.
17. i could (of, have) predicted that the most popular song of the year would be that one.
18. not only was the toddlers temperature too high, but we could tell that he did not feel (good, well).
19. when the temperature outside goes below freezing, we let the faucets drip to prevent the pipes from (bursting, busting).
20. the art teacher (dont, doesnt) mind if we talk while we work, as long as we talk quietly.

Explanation:

1. "Well" is an adverb modifying the verb "played". "Good" is an adjective.
2. "Fewer" is used with countable nouns like "bison".
3. "Doesn't" is the correct third - person singular form for "boy".
4. "Among" is used for more than two people, so for "many friends" it's correct.
5. "Fewer" is for countable "jobs".
6. "Take" is used when the direction is away from the speaker.
7. "Among" is used for three or more people (the three parents).
8. "Have" is the correct form in "might have believed".
9. "Take" is appropriate as the dog is going away with Mi Ling.
10. "Busted" is a non - standard form, "caught" is correct.
11. "Brought" is the past tense of "bring" and is correct here.
12. "Ought not" is the correct usage. "Hadn't ought" is incorrect.
13. "Between" is for two items (two pages).
14. "Is not" is correct as "hardly" is already a negative - like word.
15. "Fewer" is for countable "walnuts".
16. "Ought not" is the proper form.
17. "Have" is correct in "could have predicted".
18. "Well" is used to describe a state of health, not "good". "Bursting" is the correct form for the pipes.
19. "Doesn't" is for the third - person singular "art teacher".

Answer:

1. well
2. fewer
3. doesn't
4. among
5. fewer
6. take
7. among
8. have
9. take
10. caught
11. brought
12. ought not
13. between
14. is not
15. fewer
16. ought not
17. have
18. well, bursting
19. doesn't