Clay Lane: the Blog

59 1 May 2025

Each of these statements is a little too strong. Tone them down by adding the words almost or hardly, and making any other changes you think necessary.

IHe never misses a chance. IINobody could hear him. IIIThere’s nowhere to park. IVThere’s nothing he wouldn’t do. VHe won without breaking a sweat. VIThe engine is completely silent.

The word ‘hardly’ is used to mean ‘true, but only to an insignificant degree’ e.g. ‘I can hardly [only just] believe my eyes’, ‘I’d hardly [only just] sat down to lunch when the doorbell rang’.

For Example

I cannot keep my hands warm.

I can hardly [only just] keep my hands warm.

Jane Austen

My fingers are numb with cold.

My fingers are so cold I can hardly [only just] feel them.

Developed from an exercise in Straightforward English (1949) by NL Clay.

60 1 May 2025

The Death of Julius Caesar

by Plutarch

Introduction — On March 15th, 44 BC, Julius Caesar, the most powerful man in Rome, was due in the Senate to receive yet more honours from the Republic. But last night his wife Calpurnia had dreamt she held his murdered body in her arms, and her fears had frankly unsettled him. Brutus told him that he must not look weak, and steered him out of the door.

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61 Tuesday

Two Letters Home

by Sir Edward Hamilton Westrow Hulse

Introduction — The Christmas Truce of 1914 was one of the most poignant events in the Great War of 1914-18. The British had poured into Belgium to help drive the German invaders out, and in Flanders the two armies faced each other from trenches only a few hundred yards apart. In a letter to his mother on December 28th that year, Captain Hulse of the Scots Guards told how the spontaneous truce began.

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62 Tuesday

Smile

A ten-out-of-ten smile might be called dazzling or ravishing. But what would you call a smile that was more seven-out-of-ten? Bright, maybe, or fetching. How would you score roguish, disarming, kind or shy? See if you can think of others.

Suggest for each noun an adjective of praise, but moderate praise, and give it a score out of ten.

ISmile. IIDinner. IIIFace. IVExplanation.

Suggestions

Based on an exercise in School Certificate English Practice (1939) by NL Clay.

63 Monday

The Making of Mark

by Eusebius of Caesarea

Introduction — Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea from about 313, tells us here how St Mark’s Gospel came to be written. Drawing on testimony going back to the Apostles themselves, he explains that the Gospel should be heard as an echo of the living voice of St Peter, as he preached the good news in Rome.

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64 Monday

Zheng He and the Rise of Malacca

by Jawaharlal Nehru

Introduction — Bustling trade hub Malacca, on the Malaysian Peninsula, was a British possession from 1825 to 1957. It was founded in about 1400 by Parameswara, ex-king of Singapura, as a refuge from the empire of Majapahit based in Java. That Malacca held out for more than a century was largely owing to Zheng He, the most celebrated admiral in Chinese history.

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65 Sunday

Confusables

To what extent are these words synonymous? Illustrate your answer with sentences in which one of these words is suitable, but the other two are not.

IAcknowledge. IIAdmit. IIIRecognise.

For Example

Admit.

John was admitted to hospital last night.

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66 Saturday

Jill and I

Include yourself in these sentences along with Jill, e.g. Jill went to London → Jill and I went to London.

1 They’ve asked Jill to organise transport.

2 You’ll get your turn after Jill.

3 That’s the man Jill saw in the pharmacy yesterday.

4 Do you want Jill to be there?

5 That’s for Jill to decide.

6 Jill’s the one you’re looking for.

7 Brian said he thought Jill ought to be asked to do it.

8 If you find out, will you let Jill know?

9 Jill will do it, won’t you Jill?

10 You can trust Jill to get it done.

11 Tell him Jill doesn’t like the idea.

12 It’s going to be dark before Jill gets there.

For example:

Jill is delighted with it.

Jill and I are delighted with it.

Let Jill do it.

Let Jill and me do it.

67 24 Apr 2025

Saddled

Use each of the following words in sentences. Try to use your word as a verb in at least one of them.

IPalm. IISaddle. IIIWeed.

Useful Words

Card. Coin. Debt. Garden. List. Responsibility.

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