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Fun facts about translation
Source: Quizzes on the Language Portal of Canada
Know your adjectives
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Qualifying or classifying adjective?
Source: Quizzes on the Language Portal of Canada
Agile adverbs
Source: Quizzes on the Language Portal of Canada
Poor or poorly?
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Adjectives: Keep them in order!
Source: Quizzes on the Language Portal of Canada
Bad vs. badly
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A question of sound, not sight: “A” or “an”
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A question of sound, not sight: Choose the correct article
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3 stylistic differences between English and French
Source: Our Languages blog (posts from our contributors)
Review exercise: Adverbs and adjectives
Choose the correct answer for each of the following sentences. 1. Many people have tried to sell us vacuum cleaners, but you are certainly one of the placeholder for the answer salespeople we have met. more persuasive most persuasive 2. The sound quality of this film is poor, and the picture is focused placeholder for the answer. bad badly 3. My brother’s roommate this year is placeholder for the answer than the graduate student he lived with last…Source: HyperGrammar 2 (basics of English grammar)
Review exercise: Parts of speech
Identify the part of speech of the highlighted word in each of the following sentences. 1. The clown chased a dog around the ring and then fell flat on her face. verb noun pronoun adjective adverb preposition conjunction interjection 2. The geese indolently waddled across the intersection. verb noun pronoun adjective adverb preposition conjunction interjection 3. Yikes! I’m late for work. verb noun pronoun adjective adverb preposition conjunction…Source: HyperGrammar 2 (basics of English grammar)
Test yourself—Adjective/adverb aptitude
Choose the correct word. Read the article Adjective/Adverb Aptitude to help you out.1. You shouldn’t feel (bad/badly) because you missed the submission deadline; so did many others, and as a result the cookbook schedule has been rejigged.badbadly2. I like both your charcoal sketches, but I prefer the one of the sasquatch because it’s the (most/more) lifelike.mostmore3. Septima is one of the (more/most) outrageous performance artists New York has ever seen.moremost4. The deadly rat poison did not kill Hugo, but he felt (strange/strangely) for nearly a week after swallowing it with his cocoa.strangestrangely5. Allan and Craig are both bright, well spoken and handsome, but Allan is by far the (best/better) dressed.bestbetter6. The panel of deejays has unanimously chosen the Tragically Hip as the most (unique/creative) Canadian rock band.uniquecreativeSource: Peck’s English Pointers (articles and exercises on the English language)
Wordsleuth (2003, volume 36, 3): Absolute Adjectives—Not So Absolute After All
Sheila Sanders(Terminology Update, Volume 36, Number 3, 2003, page 40) English, with its many exceptions, is a challenging language to master: there are few things always right or invariably wrong. Wouldn’t it be refreshing to find some "unexceptionable" rules? Until recently, I thought absolute adjectives were such a wonder. Yet further research proved that these adjectives were anything but absolute—controversial adjectives would be a more fitting name. Be that as it may, let us look at which adjectives, if any, are absolute and how to avoid incorrectly qualifying these contentious words. Most adjectives have a comparative form (e.g. stronger, more careful, less difficult) and a superlative one (e.g. strongest, most careful, least difficult). The exceptions, of course, are absolute adjectives, which cannot be compared or intensified because they describe qualities that cannot logically be modified. For example, Diane found herself in an impossible situation. In the sentence above, impossible is an absolute adjective because it is already a superlative. There are no degrees of impossibleness (either something is impossible or it is not), so impossible cannot be modified by a comparative or superlative. Consequently, if we wanted to add a qualifier, we might write: Diane found the situation more difficult than any she had previously undergone. Not: Diane found the situation more impossible than any she had previously undergone. Other examples of absolute adjectives include adjacent, chief, circular, supreme, total, unanimous and utter. Try qualifying these words with more, most, less or least and you will see that it is impossible, as the absolutes already express the extreme. Other words are absolutes—sometimes. For instance, complete is an absolute adjective when it means whole or total: François has a complete collection of hockey cards from the 1940s. In this context, complete cannot be qualified by a comparative or superlative because there are no degrees of completeness; François either has all the cards or he does not. More and most are generally not accepted as qualifiers for absolutes, though more nearly and most nearly are. And yet complete can also mean comprehensive or extensive, and in this sense it can be graded—and so it is no longer an absolute. For example, one can have a more extensive collection than someone else, and for this reason some authorities condone the use of comparatives and superlatives when complete means extensive: François has a more complete collection of hockey cards than Janet has. The details won’t be known until a more complete investigation takes place. This is the most complete review the company has ever undertaken. And here lies the nub of the problem. Many writers accept certain words as always being absolute, while a few recognize that some of these words have other, non-absolute meanings. The first group (the "Absolutely Absolutes") rejects comparative and superlative qualifiers, while the second approves such qualifiers when the words are not being employed in their absolute sense. Similarly, perfect is often considered an absolute adjective. Perfect cannot be compared or intensified when it refers to something flawless because perfection doesn’t exist in degrees: either something is perfect or it is not. But the other meaning of perfect is whole or complete, and for this reason some critics feel comfortable modifying it: Jamie Sale skated the most perfect triple axel during last night’s performance. They argue that Sale’s jump approximated perfection because it was complete, comprising all the necessary elements of a triple axel. Traditionalists dispute this usage, stating that more perfect and most perfect are illogical expressions, and recommend using nearly, more nearly or most nearly to indicate nearing that ideal: The novice gymnast from Saskatchewan performed the most nearly perfect routine. In this case, most nearly indicates that this athlete’s routine was not perfect, but was the closest to being flawless. Of course, one could sidestep the controversy surrounding absolutes by using qualifiers such as almost or virtually: After a month of practising, Don gave an almost (or nearly) perfect performance. Catching the eye of servers in restaurants is a virtually impossible task. Obviously, there is little agreement among the authorities. Some consider certain words to always be absolutes, while others recognize that many of them have more than one meaning and are not inevitably absolute. Some condone using comparatives and superlatives with absolutes, while others condemn the practice even though they recognize that rules sometimes bow to usage. Though there is little consensus about which words are considered "absolute," you may wish to give a second thought to modifying the following: absolute adequate adjacent chief circular complete correct dead empty entire equal eternal excellent extreme full ideal illimitable immaculate impossible infinite paramount perfect perpendicular possible preferable priceless right round square supreme total true unanimous unique universal utter wrong In the end, you may decide to risk criticism and employ comparatives and superlatives with absolutes when they have a non-absolute meaning. Or, you might avoid the controversy altogether by using other qualifiers (e.g. almost, hardly, nearly, more nearly, most nearly, or virtually) or by replacing the absolutes with undisputed alternatives. Here are some examples: Jamie Sale skated an outstanding (instead of most perfect) triple axel during last night’s performance. There could not be a better (instead of more perfect) fit with the Canadian speed skating team than Catriona LeMay Doan. The aging of the population tended to make the distribution of wealth better balanced (instead of more equal). Select the best (instead of the most correct) answer to the questions. The tuatara is the world’s most unusual (instead of most unique) reptile. And despite the controversy, not only have some authors employed comparatives with absolutes, but their deliberate use has become legendary, as in George Orwell’s Animal Farm: All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others. The phrase more equal than others is illogical, but doesn’t it speak volumes? Bibliography A Canadian Writer’s Reference, Diana Hacker (1996) College English and Communication, McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited (1978) Longman Guide to English Usage (1988) Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of English Usage (1994) Oxford Guide to Canadian English Usage (1997) Prentice-Hall Reference Guide to Grammar (1997) The Canadian Style (1997) The Complete Plain Words (1988) The Gregg Reference Manual, Fifth Canadian Edition (1999) The Little, Brown Compact Handbook, First Canadian Edition (1997) The New Fowler’s Modern English Usage (1996)Source: Favourite Articles (language professionals’ insights on English language issues)
Adjective/adverb aptitude
Just as we put salt and pepper in our food, we sprinkle adjectives and adverbs throughout our writing to add flavour, subtlety, variety and character. These parts of speech usually pose few problems for writers, especially because their functions are so distinct: adjectives describe nouns and pronouns, while adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, other adverbs and sometimes whole sentences. But there are still tricky errors to watch for. Here are the ones you’re most likely to stumble on. Comparative and superlative Wise, wiser, wisest—from an early age we understand how to use these three forms of a modifier. The basic form, wise, describes a single thing or group. The comparative form, wiser, compares two. And the superlative form, wisest, compares three or more. The wise old owl swooped down on the unsuspecting field mouse. The mouse, wiser than the owl, escaped his wily predator by scampering into a nearby hole. But the fox lurking inside the hole was the wisest of all, and he congratulated himself on his easy dinner. These uses may seem fairly basic. But if we rely on our ear to tell us what sounds right, we may overlook the distinction between comparative and superlative. To many people, for instance, the following sentence seems perfectly fine: Both witnesses provided accounts of the fatal landslide, but Ms. Wimplemeyer’s proved the most accurate. Yet because only two witnesses are being compared, the comparative, not the superlative, is the correct form: Ms. Wimplemeyer’s proved the more accurate. (of the two) One footnote on these forms: beware of what is beyond compare. Certain adjectives cannot logically be expressed in comparative and superlative forms because their meaning is absolute, without degrees. Take pregnant, for example. As any drugstore kit will tell you, either you are or you aren’t. I can’t be more pregnant than my friend, and no one, regardless of belly size, can be the most pregnant. Other absolutes include perfect, false, fatal, complete, unanimous and, perhaps the best known yet still worst abused, unique. After a linking verb Your office phone rings. It’s your colleague. "I have been stricken with chicken pox," he announces. "Tell Ms. Wimplemeyer I’ll be off sick for the next two weeks." "Oh, no," you say. "I feel so badly for you." Wrong. You may feel sorry, sympathetic, sad or . . . bad. But you do not feel badly. Using an adverb instead of an adjective to complete a verb like feel, be or seem—a linking verb—is a widespread error. Linking verbs, or copulas, as they were once known, convey the condition or state of the subject rather than expressing an action. A linking verb serves as a kind of footbridge between the subject of the sentence and a word or words that refer back to the subject. The linkage is obvious in sentences like these: I was irate. She seems snooty. You feel happy. Notice that in all three cases, the word completing the verb is an adjective, not an adverb. An adverb won’t work, because the word after the linking verb refers back to and describes the subject, always a noun or pronoun. And no matter how hard it tries, an adverb can’t describe a noun or pronoun. For the same reason you wouldn’t say you feel happily or sadly, you shouldn’t say you feel badly. The stranded adverb Adjectives and adverbs are grammatically needy; they have to attach themselves to specific words in a sentence. Without that attachment, they are nothing but drifters, modifiers desperately seeking something to modify. Adverbs in particular easily become stranded. Consider, for instance, this impressive-sounding statement: I would like to close with some observations on Canada’s position internationally. Just what is internationally modifying? As an adverb, the only part of the sentence it can grammatically describe is the verb phrase, would like to close, but that makes for an incoherent match. What’s really being described is position, a noun. That means the author needs an adjective: I would like to close with some observations on Canada’s international position. There are adverbs that naturally form looser ties, that modify an entire clause or sentence instead of one word. These sentence adverbs, as they’re usually known, may provide transitions between ideas. Here are two examples: Unfortunately, Ruth’s husband plays his drums long into the night. Ruth consequently takes a nap every afternoon. Adjective and adverb frugality Mark Twain once wrote: "As to the Adjective: when in doubt, strike it out." His advice holds for adverbs too. Workplace writing needn’t, and indeed shouldn’t, be dull, uninteresting or devoid of detail. But it should steer clear of the gushing tone that can accompany an overdose of description. Should your report describe a new printing process as "highly and exceptionally interesting, creative and engaging" or just "original"? In nearly all situations, one or two well-chosen words (or perhaps none) will do the job better than three or four weaklings. Anyone who has put too much salt in the soup knows there’s a fine line between enhancing the flavour and overloading the palate. Use descriptive words judiciously and accurately, and readers will savour your writing for its precision and balance. Related quiz Test yourself—Adjective/adverb aptitudeSource: Peck’s English Pointers (articles and exercises on the English language)
Adjective
An adjective modifies a noun or a pronoun by describing, identifying or quantifying it. An adjective usually precedes the noun or pronoun that it modifies. In the following examples, the words in italics are adjectives: The truck-shaped hot-air balloon floated over the treetops. Joe covered his bedroom walls with hideous posters. The small boat foundered on the wine-dark sea. The coal mines are dark and dank. Many stores have already begun to play irritating Christmas music. A battered music box sat on the mahogany sideboard. The mud room was filled with large, yellow rain boots. An adjective can be modified by an adverb or by a phrase or clause functioning as an adverb. In the following sentence, the adverb intricately modifies the adjective patterned: My husband knits intricately patterned mittens. Some nouns, many pronouns and many participle phrases can also act as adjectives. In the following sentence, both highlighted adjectives are past participles: Eleanor listened to the muffled sounds of the radio hidden under her pillow. Note that grammarians also consider articles (the, a, an) to be adjectives. Possessive adjectives A possessive adjective (my, your, his, her, its, our, their) is similar or identical to a possessive pronoun; however, it is used as an adjective and modifies a noun or noun phrase, as in the following: Example Explanation I can’t complete my assignment because I don’t have the textbook. The possessive adjective my modifies assignment, and the noun phrase my assignment functions as an object. Note that the possessive pronoun form mine never modifies a noun or noun phrase. What is your phone number? The possessive adjective your modifies the noun phrase phone number. The entire noun phrase your phone number functions as a subject complement. Note that the possessive pronoun form yours never modifies a noun or noun phrase. The bakery sold his favourite type of bread. The possessive adjective his modifies the noun phrase favourite type of bread. The entire noun phrase his favourite type of bread is the direct object of the verb sold. After many years, Magda returned to her homeland. The possessive adjective her modifies the noun homeland. The noun phrase her homeland is the object of the preposition to. Note also that the possessive pronoun form hers never modifies a noun or noun phrase. We have lost our way in this wood. The possessive adjective our modifies the noun way. The noun phrase our way is the direct object of the compound verb have lost. Note that the possessive pronoun form ours never modifies a noun or noun phrase. In many fairy tales, children are neglected by their parents. The possessive adjective their modifies parents. The noun phrase their parents is the object of the preposition by. Note that the possessive pronoun form theirs never modifies a noun or noun phrase. The cat chased its tail down the stairs. The possessive adjective its modifies tail. The noun phrase its tail is the object of the verb chased. Note that its is the possessive adjective and it’s is a contraction for it is. Demonstrative adjectives A demonstrative adjective (this, these, that, those and what) is identical to a demonstrative pronoun but is used as an adjective to modify a noun or noun phrase, as in the following: Example Explanation When the librarian tripped over that cord, she dropped a pile of books. The demonstrative adjective that modifies the noun cord. The noun phrase that cord is the object of the preposition over. This apartment needs to be fumigated. The demonstrative adjective this modifies the noun apartment. The noun phrase this apartment is the subject of the sentence. Even though my friend preferred those CDs, I bought these. The demonstrative adjective those in the subordinate clause modifies CDs. The noun phrase those CDs is the object of the verb preferred.(In the independent clause, these stands alone as the direct object of the verb bought and is therefore a demonstrative pronoun, not a demonstrative adjective.) Note that the relationship between a demonstrative adjective and a demonstrative pronoun is similar to the relationship between a possessive adjective and a possessive pronoun, or to that between an interrogative adjective and an interrogative pronoun. Interrogative adjectives An interrogative adjective (which or what) is like an interrogative pronoun, except that it modifies a noun or noun phrase rather than standing on its own, as in the following: Example Explanation Which plants should be watered twice a week? The interrogative adjective which modifies the noun plants. The noun phrase which plants is the subject of the compound verb should be watered. What book are you reading? The interrogative adjective what modifies the noun book. The noun phrase what book is the direct object of the compound verb are reading. Indefinite adjectives An indefinite adjective is similar to an indefinite pronoun, except that it modifies a noun, pronoun or noun phrase, as in the following: Example Explanation Many people believe that corporations are insufficiently taxed. The indefinite adjective many modifies the noun people. The noun phrase many people is the subject of the sentence. I will send you any mail that arrives after you have moved to Sudbury. The indefinite adjective any modifies the noun mail. The noun phrase any mail is the direct object of the compound verb will send. The caretakers found a few goldfish floating belly-up in the pond. The indefinite adjective few modifies the noun goldfish. The noun phrase a few goldfish is the direct object of the verb found. The title of the next short story on our list is “All Summer in a Day.” The indefinite pronoun all modifies summer. The title “All Summer in a Day” is a subject complement of the verb is.Source: HyperGrammar 2 (basics of English grammar)
Using adverbs and adjectives
Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, and sometimes clauses and whole sentences. Adjectives modify nouns and pronouns. Be careful not to use an adjective where you need an adverb. Consider the following sentences, for instance: [WRONG] Once the interview was over, Sharon walked slow out of the room. [RIGHT] Once the interview was over, Sharon walked slowly out of the room. The sentence needs an adverb (slowly), not an adjective (slow), to modify the verb walked. [WRONG] We tried real hard to get the muffin mixture perfect. [RIGHT] We tried really hard to get the muffin mixture perfect. The sentence needs an adverb (really), not an adjective (real), to modify the adjective hard. (Note that really is a substitute for very that should be avoided in formal writing.) Using good, bad, well and badly Note the distinctions between the adjectives good and bad and the adverbs well and badly: The actor’s performance was good even though he felt bad that night. Shelley plays the piano well and the drums badly. Well is an adjective only when it refers to health or condition: Joe protested that he was well enough to start playing sports again. Using adjectives with linking verbs In the same vein, remember that adjectives modify nouns and pronouns. Do not use an adverb to modify these parts of speech. For example, after a linking verb you may be tempted to use an adverb instead of an adjective. However, the linking verb connects its subject to a subject complement, which can be either a noun (renaming the subject) or a modifier (describing the subject). When a subject complement is a modifier it must be an adjective because it describes the subject (always a noun or pronoun). It does not modify the linking verb itself and should therefore not be an adverb: [WRONG] We felt badly about having caused the accident. [RIGHT] We felt bad about having caused the accident. Using conjunctive adverbs The conjunctive adverb often serves as a transition between two independent clauses in a sentence. Some common conjunctive adverbs are therefore, however, moreover, nevertheless, consequently and furthermore. When using a conjunctive adverb at the beginning of the second independent clause, be sure to precede it with a semicolon and not a comma: My colleague usually listens to rock music; however, he also likes John Coltrane and several other jazz musicians.Source: HyperGrammar 2 (basics of English grammar)
Using the comparative and superlative
The comparative form of an adjective or adverb compares two things. The comparative is formed by adding the suffix er to the modifier (for some short words) or by using the word more with the modifier: Of the two designs, the architect is convinced that the city will select the more experimental one. (comparing two designs) Now that it is March, the days are getting longer. (longer now than before) The superlative form compares three or more things. The superlative is formed by adding the suffix est to the modifier (for some short words) or by using the word most with the modifier: This is definitely the smartest, wittiest and most imaginative comic strip I have ever seen. (implying that I have seen more than two) If you are not certain, consult a dictionary to see which words take more and most and which words take the suffixes er and est. Common problems with the comparative and superlative There are certain modifiers that cannot logically be used in the comparative and superlative forms. Adjectives like perfect and unique, for instance, express absolute conditions and do not allow for degrees of comparison. Something cannot be more perfect than another thing: it is either perfect or not perfect. Avoid the double comparison—that is, using both a suffix and an adverb to indicate the comparative or superlative: [WRONG] I am convinced that my poodle is more smarter than your dachshund. [RIGHT] I am convinced that my poodle is smarter than your dachshund. [WRONG] Laurel and Hardy are the most funniest slapstick comedians in film history. [RIGHT] Laurel and Hardy are the funniest slapstick comedians in film history. Similarly, avoid the double negative —the use of two negative words together to form a single negative idea. While the double negative is common in speech and has a long history in the English language, it should not be used in formal writing: [WRONG] We decided there wasn’t no point in pursuing our research. [RIGHT] We decided there wasn’t any point in pursuing our research. OR We decided there was no point in pursuing our research. [WRONG] I can’t get no satisfaction. [RIGHT] I can’t get any satisfaction. OR I can get no satisfaction. Double negatives involving not and no are fairly easy to spot and fix. However, some adverbs (for example, hardly, scarcely, barely) imply the negative and should not be used with another negative: [WRONG] Even though Joe has lived in Toronto for four years, he does not have hardly any friends there. [RIGHT] Even though Joe has lived in Toronto for four years, he has hardly any friends there. OR Even though Joe has lived in Toronto for four years, he does not have many friends there.Source: HyperGrammar 2 (basics of English grammar)
The parts of speech: Introduction
Traditional grammar classifies words based on eight parts of speech: the verb, the noun, the pronoun, the adjective, the adverb, the preposition, the conjunction and the interjection. Each part of speech explains not what the word is, but how the word is used. In fact, the same word can be a noun in one sentence and a verb or adjective in another. The next examples show how the part of speech of a word can change from one sentence to the next. Following these examples is a series of sections on the individual parts of speech and an exercise. Example Explanation Books are made of ink, paper and glue. In this sentence, books is a noun, the subject of the sentence. Joe waits patiently while Bridget books the tickets. Here books is a verb and its subject is Bridget. We walk down the street. In this sentence, walk is a verb and its subject is the pronoun we. The letter carrier stood on the walk. In this example, walk is a noun that is part of a prepositional phrase describing where the letter carrier stood. The town council decided to build a new jail. Here jail is a noun, which is the object of the infinitive phrase to build. The police officer told us that if we did not leave immediately he would jail us. Here jail is part of the compound verb would jail. The parents heard high-pitched cries in the middle of the night. In this sentence, cries is a noun acting as the direct object of the verb heard. Their colicky baby cries all night long and all day long. Here cries is a verb that describes the actions of the subject of the sentence, i.e. the baby. The next sections explain each of the parts of speech in detail. When you have finished looking at them, you might want to test yourself by trying the exercise. The details Verb - Next Page Noun Pronoun Adjective Adverb Preposition Conjunction Interjection Review exercise: Parts of speechSource: HyperGrammar 2 (basics of English grammar)
Modifiers: Introduction
A modifier can be an adjective, an adverb, or a phrase or clause acting as an adjective or adverb. In every case, the basic principle is the same: the modifier adds information to another element in the sentence. In this module, you will begin by working with single-word modifiers—adjectives and adverbs—but the information here will also apply to phrases and clauses that act as modifiers. The details Using adverbs and adjectives - Next Page Using the comparative and superlative Misplaced and dangling modifiers Review exercise: Adverbs and adjectives Review exercise: Identifying misplaced or dangling modifiers Review exercise: Fixing misplaced modifiersSource: HyperGrammar 2 (basics of English grammar)
Pronoun reference
Pronouns generally refer to other words called antecedents because they generally appear before the pronoun. A pronoun’s antecedent may be either a noun or another pronoun, but in either case it must be clear what the antecedent is. Consider this example: Bridget told Ruth that she would take Joe to the barn dance. It is not clear whether the pronoun she in this sentence refers to Ruth or Bridget. A pronoun must refer unmistakably to a single antecedent. If not, readers will never know with certainty who is going to the barn dance with whom. Single antecedent If there is more than one possible antecedent for a personal pronoun in a sentence, make sure that the pronoun clearly refers to only one of them: [WRONG] In the jacket Alyson had borrowed, Maria found the ring she had lost. The personal pronoun she could refer to either Alyson or Maria. [WRONG] Jerry called Steve twelve times while he was in Vancouver. The pronoun he could refer either to Jerry or to Steve. Specific versus implied antecedent Make sure that a pronoun refers to a specific rather than an implicit antecedent. When an antecedent is implied instead of stated explicitly, the reader has to guess the meaning of the sentence. [WRONG] John put a bullet in his gun and shot it. The pronoun it can refer either to the noun gun or to the implied object of the verb shot. [WRONG] If I told him he had a beautiful body would he hold it against me? The pronoun it can refer to the noun body or to the entire statement. [WRONG] The union reached an agreement on Ruth’s fine, but it took time. The pronoun it can refer to the noun union or to the implied process of decision making. Possessives and ajectives as antecedents You should not use adjectives or nouns and pronouns in the possessive case as antecedents because reference to them will be ambiguous: In Ruth’s apology she told Jerry she’d loved him for years. In this case, the pronoun she seems to refer to the noun phrase Ruth’s apology. However, the pronoun she was probably meant to refer to the possessive noun Ruth’s. Jerry wore that awful green shirt; it was his favourite colour. In this example, the pronoun it seems to refer to the noun shirt, although it was probably meant to refer to the adjective green. Misuse of pronouns referring to titles When drafting a document, do not start an opening paragraph with a pronoun referring directly to the title. Often the title appears on a separate page, and as a result the opening is confusing. Imagine, for example, a document entitled How to Sew Green Shirts. You should not begin the first paragraph with a sentence such as This is not as easy as it looks. The writer probably wanted the pronoun this to refer to the idea of sewing shirts, but since the idea is not in the body of the text itself, the reference does not make sense. Using it, they and you In conversation people often use expressions such as It says in this book that . . . and In my home town they say that . . . . These constructions are informal and allow ideas to be presented casually, without supporting evidence. For formal writing, however, these constructions are either too imprecise or too wordy. [WRONG] In my biography it says that I was born in Whitehorse. It is unclear in the biography what says that the speaker was born in Whitehorse. [WRONG] In the restaurant they gave me someone else’s linguine. Who gave the speaker someone else’s linguine? It would be better to rewrite these two sentences as follows: [RIGHT] My biography states that I was born in Whitehorse. [RIGHT] In the restaurant, the server gave me someone else’s linguine. In these revised sentences, there is no doubt about what or who is doing what. The same basic rule applies to the pronoun you. In informal conversation and instructional writing, English speakers often use the pronoun you to mean a hypothetical person or people in general. Formal writing, however, needs to be more precise, and you should be used only when the author would like to address the reader directly (as I am doing here). Consider this example: [WRONG] In the fourteenth century, you had to struggle to survive. In this case, you obviously does not refer to the reader (who was not alive during the fourteenth century). The sentence can be easily edited so that it expresses the idea more precisely, [RIGHT] In the fourteenth century, people had to struggle to survive. Or even better yet, [RIGHT] In the fourteenth century, English peasant farmers had to struggle to survive. Using it consistently There are three common uses of the pronoun it: As an idiom It is snowing. To postpone the subject It is untrue that a rhinoceros can run faster than me. As a personal pronoun I wanted a rhinoceros for my birthday, but did not get it. All three uses are found in formal writing, but the pronoun it should not be used more than once within a single sentence to avoid awkwardness: [WRONG] When it is my birthday, I hope to receive a rhinoceros, and I will walk it often. It would be better to eliminate the first (idiomatic) it: On my birthday, I hope to receive a rhinoceros, and I will walk it often. Using who, which and that Writers, editors and publishers have had difficulty establishing clear guidelines for using the relative pronouns who, which and that in formal writing. However, during the last fifty years they have generally agreed that the pronoun who refers to people and may also refer to animals that have names: My mother, who gave me a potbellied pig, must love me very much. My pig, whom I call Spike, wanders at will through the house. The pronoun which refers to animals and things: The pig, which is a much maligned and misunderstood animal, is really quite affectionate. Lastly, the pronoun that refers to animals or things and occasionally to people when they are anonymous or part of a group: The hamster that hid behind the television went missing for days. Shaggy dogs that like to swim in the bathtub cause plumbing and enamelling problems for their owners. The answer that everyone missed was Etruscan.Source: HyperGrammar 2 (basics of English grammar)
accurate, precise
These two words are frequently misused. Something accurate has no errors. The inclusion of leap years keeps the solar calendar accurate. Something precise is exact or specific. The pair’s skating figures were precise. Hank entered the room at the precise moment the phone rang. However, despite being exact or specific, a precise answer may still be incorrect. For example, an accurate measurement is always exact, while a precise measurement is exact but not necessarily accurate (without error); Sinead was precise in calculating the answer to the fourth decimal place; however, her answer was not accurate. The weather channel forecast precisely 2 cm of snow; I only wish it had been accurate.Source: Writing Tips Plus (English language problems and rules)
subject complement
A complement (spelled with an e) is something that completes. And a subject complement is something that completes our idea of the subject of a sentence by giving us more information about it. Usually, the subject complement is a noun, a pronoun or an adjective. Location in the sentence A subject complement is found in the predicate of a sentence (the part of the sentence that contains the verb and makes a statement about the subject). The subject complement follows a linking verb (a verb that expresses a state of being). A verb of being is called a linking verb because it simply links the subject with the subject complement, without expressing any action. In a sentence with a linking verb and a subject complement, the subject is not doing anything; instead, the subject is being something. Our most common linking verb is the verb be and its forms am, is, are, was, were, been and being. In addition, the verbs seem, appear, become, grow, look, feel, sound, smell and taste can all act as linking verbs. Examples Here are some examples of sentences with linking verbs and subject complements: Jan is an excellent doctor. Here, the subject complement is the noun doctor (along with its modifiers an excellent), which tells us something about the subject Jan; the verb is simply links them without expressing any action. The winners of the bubble-tea-drinking contest are you and Wang. In the above example, the pronoun you and the noun Wang are the subject complements identifying the subject winners; the verb are simply links them without expressing any action. Arabella’s recipe for turnip cordial tasted unusual. Here, the subject complement unusual is an adjective describing the subject recipe; the verb tasted simply links them without expressing any action. The players seem excited about the upcoming game. In this last example, the subject complement excited is an adjective describing the subject players; the verb seem simply links them without expressing any action.Source: Writing Tips Plus (English language problems and rules)
subject predicate order
Any complete sentence has two main parts, called the subject and the predicate. The subject is what the sentence is about; it is often a noun or a pronoun. The predicate is the part of the sentence that makes a statement about the subject; the main part of the predicate is the verb. Usually, the subject comes before the predicate in an English sentence: Janet and Alex went out for dinner. [subject = Janet and Alex; predicate = went out for dinner] They ordered green curry and rice. [subject = They; predicate = ordered green curry and rice] However, the subject isn’t always first. There are three situations in which the subject appears after the verb instead of before it. In most questions: Are you ready? (The subject you appears after the verb are.) Did I forget to feed my iguana again? (The subject I is placed after the helping verb did.) In many sentences beginning with here or there: Here comes the jury. (The subject jury appears after the verb comes.) There were fifteen cats and an eviction notice on Janet’s front porch. (The subject fifteen cats and an eviction notice is placed after the verb were.) In some sentences beginning with one or more prepositional phrases: Across the clearing and through the stream ran the frightened deer. (The subject deer appears after the verb ran.)Source: Writing Tips Plus (English language problems and rules)
stay-at-home
Both as an adjective and as a noun, stay-at-home is hyphenated. Guy was a stay-at-home dad until his twins were in Grade 1. Carissa loves to travel, but her husband is a real stay-at-home.Source: Writing Tips Plus (English language problems and rules)
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