Hello again,
Sorry I've been posting so sporadically. As you all know, Thanksgiving was not too long ago, Christmas is coming up, we are in the midst of Hanukkah, Christmas is rapidly approaching, and, as fewer of you know, my birthday was yesterday. Not to mention finals are just around the corner (or more like right now). I don't mean to make excuses, but, suffice to say, I have had a very busy past few weeks and have had little-to-no time to post. So, here we go.
This post is about when to pluralize and when not to. What I mean by this is, how you know when a sentence's subject is plural and when it is singular. More precisely, this is called subject-verb agreement. Of course, this seems like a self-evident part of grammar, but it can be surprisingly tricky. For example, "this cat, unlike the other cats, is very quiet." You can see emboldened are the subject and the verb. Although cats is also a part of the above sentence, it is not the subject, and thus the verb we use is is instead of are. Make sense?
We'll go over a few more examples. Pluralistic nouns are a major source of confusion in this grammatical region - words like "pox," for example. Pox is treated as a singular noun even though it has an x at the end, making it sound plural. Here's how you would use it in a sentence, "Chicken pox is such an awful illness." Another confusing piece of subject-verb agreement is portions/fractions. For example, "some meals at this restaurant are good," vs. "some cheese smells bad." In the first example, meals is plural, so we use are. In the second sentence, cheese is singular, so we use smells.
I hope this has helped you understand a very complicated part of grammar! I wasn't nearly as detailed as I could have been (finals, holidays, etc.), so here is a much more comprehensive site. Good luck, and I hope that you feel more confident in your grammatical skills! Happy holidays, talk to you after!
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/sv_agr.htm
Monday, December 6, 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Roll Sheet Etiquette
Hello everyone,
This is an unrelated post. I just want to make it clear that there is one way and one way only to pass a roll sheet, and that is in a zig-zag formation (unless you're seated in a circle). This means that once you receive the roll sheet and sign in, you pass it backwards (assuming you're seated in the front), then it continues backwards, over horizontally one row, then forwards, and so on. This is the ONLY way that the roll can be effectively passed to all in attendance.
I'll admit that every once in a while when I'm in the back of the classroom and I receive the roll, I'll continue to pass it horizontally - MAJOR faux-pas, I know. But those are special circumstances, and also very infrequent circumstances. So please, if this post is applicable to you, remember the zig-zag.
This is a fairly unrelated link, which ties in nicely with this unrelated post. It's about alternate ways to take attendance, I guess in case the middle-section of the class is constantly marked absent the professor might need some new ideas. This woman's are pretty good, but it would be best if college-level students could simply learn to pass an attendance sheet, just sayin'.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiFm_Hg1mTw
This is an unrelated post. I just want to make it clear that there is one way and one way only to pass a roll sheet, and that is in a zig-zag formation (unless you're seated in a circle). This means that once you receive the roll sheet and sign in, you pass it backwards (assuming you're seated in the front), then it continues backwards, over horizontally one row, then forwards, and so on. This is the ONLY way that the roll can be effectively passed to all in attendance.
I'll admit that every once in a while when I'm in the back of the classroom and I receive the roll, I'll continue to pass it horizontally - MAJOR faux-pas, I know. But those are special circumstances, and also very infrequent circumstances. So please, if this post is applicable to you, remember the zig-zag.
This is a fairly unrelated link, which ties in nicely with this unrelated post. It's about alternate ways to take attendance, I guess in case the middle-section of the class is constantly marked absent the professor might need some new ideas. This woman's are pretty good, but it would be best if college-level students could simply learn to pass an attendance sheet, just sayin'.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiFm_Hg1mTw
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Which witch?
Hiya Papayas!
Today we are discussing "which." I really like this word. I don't know exactly why, but I think it goes along well with "whom," because they are both words that are rarely used correctly. The three "wh" words in one sentence was not intentional, by the way.
I suppose that mostly we should emphasize and explain the difference between "which" and "where." Where is a place. Always. "Where are you going?" "where did you get that coffee?" "I don't know where I am." Every time you use the word "where," you should be describing a physical place.
Which, on the other hand, can be one of many things. It can describe an object, item, or person, and it can even describe a metaphysical place, as in "the part of the book in which the Giving Tree provides shade." You would not say "where," because a part of a book is not a physical place. Hopefully you all know other ways to use "which," like "which watermelon will you get?" and "I don't know which one to pick."
There are other, more complicated rules for using which, but they are less important and more confusing, so for now it is only important to remember that you use "which" when you feel like saying "where," but realize you are not describing a physical place (one that you can stand in, etc.).
Update 11/17/10!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwe3xewYWoc
This link will show you a trailer for the new E! show, "Bridalplasty." As abhorrent as I may find the premise of this show, the point of me linking you to it is that in the last few seconds of the promo, the narrator says "the only show where the winner gets cut." The first (and unfortunately not the only) time I saw this trailer, I had just written this post and realized that they use where completely incorrectly! How do we know this? Because where is a place, of course! So what should the narrator actually say? This: "the only show in which the winner gets cut." Excellent work, Watsons.
Today we are discussing "which." I really like this word. I don't know exactly why, but I think it goes along well with "whom," because they are both words that are rarely used correctly. The three "wh" words in one sentence was not intentional, by the way.
I suppose that mostly we should emphasize and explain the difference between "which" and "where." Where is a place. Always. "Where are you going?" "where did you get that coffee?" "I don't know where I am." Every time you use the word "where," you should be describing a physical place.
Which, on the other hand, can be one of many things. It can describe an object, item, or person, and it can even describe a metaphysical place, as in "the part of the book in which the Giving Tree provides shade." You would not say "where," because a part of a book is not a physical place. Hopefully you all know other ways to use "which," like "which watermelon will you get?" and "I don't know which one to pick."
There are other, more complicated rules for using which, but they are less important and more confusing, so for now it is only important to remember that you use "which" when you feel like saying "where," but realize you are not describing a physical place (one that you can stand in, etc.).
Update 11/17/10!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwe3xewYWoc
This link will show you a trailer for the new E! show, "Bridalplasty." As abhorrent as I may find the premise of this show, the point of me linking you to it is that in the last few seconds of the promo, the narrator says "the only show where the winner gets cut." The first (and unfortunately not the only) time I saw this trailer, I had just written this post and realized that they use where completely incorrectly! How do we know this? Because where is a place, of course! So what should the narrator actually say? This: "the only show in which the winner gets cut." Excellent work, Watsons.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Internet and text Grammar/Spelling
Alright folks,
Today is the much anticipated Internet language post. Sorry to keep you on the edge of your seats for so long, I know the suspension must have been excruciating.
This is the problem with the Internet (did you know that's supposed to be capitalized?): People use it as a forum of limitless grammar and spelling errors. I kind of think of it as the Sodom of all grammar/spelling media; it's like people run wild with "words" like "u" and "r" and "kool," etc. I don't even understand words that are equally (or there is a one-letter difference) as long as their legitimate counterparts, like "right" vs. "rite."
My point is this: There is a difference between a fairly harmless spelling or grammar error online, like saying "it's you're fault" instead of "it's your fault." I understand that these things happen from time to time. I even understand that if you're texting in a hurry, it's easier to spell out "r u coming?" than "are you coming?". But because the Internet is the future - business, social media, magazines, newspapers, even secondary education - we must preserve the art of the English language, and if that means adding "Google" to Webster's as a verb, so be it.
Just don't let the future of all things written be filled with sentence fragments, comma splices, dangling modifiers, and worst of all, unnecessary abbreviations/acronyms. PLEASE. Thank you.
http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/04/alot-is-better-than-you-at-everything.html
A hilarious blog which happens to feature this post about errors frequently made and then published to the masses online. Enjoy!
Today is the much anticipated Internet language post. Sorry to keep you on the edge of your seats for so long, I know the suspension must have been excruciating.
This is the problem with the Internet (did you know that's supposed to be capitalized?): People use it as a forum of limitless grammar and spelling errors. I kind of think of it as the Sodom of all grammar/spelling media; it's like people run wild with "words" like "u" and "r" and "kool," etc. I don't even understand words that are equally (or there is a one-letter difference) as long as their legitimate counterparts, like "right" vs. "rite."
My point is this: There is a difference between a fairly harmless spelling or grammar error online, like saying "it's you're fault" instead of "it's your fault." I understand that these things happen from time to time. I even understand that if you're texting in a hurry, it's easier to spell out "r u coming?" than "are you coming?". But because the Internet is the future - business, social media, magazines, newspapers, even secondary education - we must preserve the art of the English language, and if that means adding "Google" to Webster's as a verb, so be it.
Just don't let the future of all things written be filled with sentence fragments, comma splices, dangling modifiers, and worst of all, unnecessary abbreviations/acronyms. PLEASE. Thank you.http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/04/alot-is-better-than-you-at-everything.html
A hilarious blog which happens to feature this post about errors frequently made and then published to the masses online. Enjoy!
Friday, October 29, 2010
Quick!
Good news, everyone! (-Prof. Farnsworth)
This will be a quick post, as the title suggests, but I just wanted to honor Publix with my grammar nod of the week (this is a new thing. From just now.) because they, like Whole Foods, have become grammatical pioneers of the produce world. Here is the proof:
That's all for right now, but next time I will explain "which," and maybe even the difference between "witch" and "which," in the spirit of Halloween. BYE!
UPDATE: Sorry, I just realized that in my last post I promised to explain internet language (and why it's horrible) next time, so I will do "which" after that, and probably no "witch." Ok, bye for real.
http://publix.com/
Also just in case you have the same urge to commend good grammar that I do.
This will be a quick post, as the title suggests, but I just wanted to honor Publix with my grammar nod of the week (this is a new thing. From just now.) because they, like Whole Foods, have become grammatical pioneers of the produce world. Here is the proof:
UPDATE: Sorry, I just realized that in my last post I promised to explain internet language (and why it's horrible) next time, so I will do "which" after that, and probably no "witch." Ok, bye for real.
http://publix.com/
Also just in case you have the same urge to commend good grammar that I do.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
So VANE
Hey everyone! And by everyone, I mean alllll 3 of you. Thanks for tuning in!
Today we will be talking about VA - NE, vane.
So, by request (no, seriously, I had a request) I have been asked to discuss the difference between affect and effect, which is where the VANE acronym comes in. Affect is a verb, effect is a noun, so Verb: Affect, Noun: Effect, VANE. While I'm sure I used colons very incorrectly in that last sentence, I implore you to ignore that improper usage and focus instead on how to apply your newfound knowledge. Let us take the example of a very irritating person; her voice affects people negatively. A poor example, perhaps, but you get the point. In a dialogue about this irritating person (IP), Mary might say to John "IP's voice always gives me a headache," and John might reply, "Yeah, she has that effect on people." As long as you know the difference between a verb and a noun, this is easy to remember and a good trick to keep in your pocket. I have to give credit to my freshman year English professor for teaching it to me!
Next time, INTERNET/TEXT LANGUAGE. Just in time for Halloween. Get it, because it's horrible and scary? Yeah, you got it.
P.S. Here is a funny, more precise explanation of the difference, if you're into that sort of thing (which I assume you are, because you're here).
http://web.ku.edu/~edit/affect.html
Today we will be talking about VA - NE, vane.
So, by request (no, seriously, I had a request) I have been asked to discuss the difference between affect and effect, which is where the VANE acronym comes in. Affect is a verb, effect is a noun, so Verb: Affect, Noun: Effect, VANE. While I'm sure I used colons very incorrectly in that last sentence, I implore you to ignore that improper usage and focus instead on how to apply your newfound knowledge. Let us take the example of a very irritating person; her voice affects people negatively. A poor example, perhaps, but you get the point. In a dialogue about this irritating person (IP), Mary might say to John "IP's voice always gives me a headache," and John might reply, "Yeah, she has that effect on people." As long as you know the difference between a verb and a noun, this is easy to remember and a good trick to keep in your pocket. I have to give credit to my freshman year English professor for teaching it to me!
Next time, INTERNET/TEXT LANGUAGE. Just in time for Halloween. Get it, because it's horrible and scary? Yeah, you got it.
P.S. Here is a funny, more precise explanation of the difference, if you're into that sort of thing (which I assume you are, because you're here).
http://web.ku.edu/~edit/affect.html
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Fewer/Less
Here are the key differences between the two, and the reasons why you would use one and not the other. Less = something that is not in quantifiable units. That's a little vague, I know, so we'll take water as an example. You can have less water, because in the verbal state that it is just water, you cannot measure it. Still vague. Ok, well you can have liters of water, right? So when you have a quantifiable unit, such as liters or items or insects, you use fewer.
For example: "I have less stuff than you" vs. "I have fewer items than you." Stuff is not a unit of measurement, you are not concretely quantifying anything when you say you have more or less stuff. When you are speaking in items, on the other hand, you are measuring stuff with a specific unit, and you have more or fewer units.
Kind of clear? I hope? As always, any questions posted under comments will be answered ASAP, so ask away!
P.S. next time you go to a non-Whole Foods grocery store, try to look for the "__ items or less" aisle. As far as I know, it's still there.
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/
Just in case you felt like rewarding Whole Foods for their excellent employment of proper grammar by shopping there. I hear they have delicious pumpkin butter this time of year...
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