action, it may be used
without grammatical connection to the sentence; as, _In traveling,
good drinking water is essential_. Compare the following wrong
and right forms:

Wrong: _After seeing his mistake_, a new start was made.

Right: _After seeing his mistake_, he made a new start.

Wrong: _By writing rapidly, the work_ can be finished.

Right: _By writing rapidly, you_ can finish the work.

Wrong: _In copying the exercise_, a mistake was made.

Right: _In copying the exercise, I_ made a mistake.

EXERCISE 52

_In the following sentences, choose the proper form of the substantive
from those italicized:_

1. He spoke of _John John's_ coming down.
2. The idea of _his him_ singing is absurd.
3. Do you remember _me my_ speaking about it?
4. What is the use of _you your_ reading that?
5. _He his him_ being arrested was a sufficient disgrace.
6. _He him his_ being now of age, sold the farm.
7. _He him his_ selling it was very unexpected.
8. You should have heard _him his_ telling the story.
9. You should have heard _his him_ telling of the story.
10. To think of _them they their_ having been seen there!
11. What is the object of _Mary Mary's_ studying French?
12. _It its_ being John was a great surprise.
13. What is the use of _them they their_ talking so much?
14. _John John's_ going to school takes all his evenings.
15. The beauty of _James James's_ writing got him the position.
16. He had heard about _me my_ coming to-day.
17. _John John's_ coming was a surprise.

EXERCISE 53

_Wherever participles or gerunds are improperly used in the following
sentences, correct the sentences so as to avoid such impropriety.
See Sec.107 for rule as to punctuation:_

1. Having assented to your plan, you try to hold me responsible.
2. He asked him to make the plans, owing to the need of an experienced
architect.
3. It was decided to send his son abroad being anxious for his health.
4. On hearing that, a new plan was made.
5. Moving slowly past our window, we saw a great load of lumber.
6. Intending to go to the theater, the whole afternoon was spent in
town.
7. He was taken into the firm, thus gaining an increased income.
8. Not having the lesson prepared, he told John to stay after class.
9. No letter was written for more than a week, causing considerable
anxiety.
10. Expecting us to come, we disappointed him.
11. After telling me the story, I left him.