Friday, May 25, 2007

A PRONOUN CHALLENGE

LESSER KNOWN PRONOUNS

This is a test of your knowledge of pronouns.

What is a pronominal adjective?
What is a compound personal pronoun?
What is a reflexive pronoun?
Can you give examples of each?
Can you use each type in a sentence?

Answers and explanations will be provided on the weekend.

TODAY'S WORD

The word for today is doddering.
Define the word and use it in a sentence.

Thursday, May 24, 2007

OFT-MISUSED WORDS

LIKE/AS

Commonly Misused Words

What is the difference between "like" and "as"?
What part of speech is "like"?
What part of speech is "as"?
Use both words in sentences.

TODAY'S WORD

The word for today is sycophant.
Define the word. What part of speech is it? Use it in a sentence.

I will explain more about pronouns tomorrow.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

THANKS AGAIN TO THE PRO WRITERS

Try Proof Reading, PLEASE!
"Or Learn Correct Writing!"
Check below.

"The large majority of the 211 plates are held by multi-plate owners - some whom live outside Windsor - who rent them out to drivers for up to $200 per week."
Dave Battagello, "Taxicab industry reforms approved", The Windsor Star, May 23, 2007.

"Installer charged after iPod goes missing"
Headline, From Star Staff, The Windsor Star, May 23, 2007.

TODAY'S WORD

The word for today is slipshod.
Define the word. What part of speech is it? Use it in a sentence.

PRONOUNS (part 1)

Personal pronouns are pronouns that stand for persons.
Interrogative pronouns are used used in asking questions.
Demonstrative pronouns point out particular people or things.
Indefinite pronouns stand for no particular person or thing.

Classify the following pronouns as personal, interrogative, demonstrative or indefinite: him, whom, yours, others, that, mine, somebody, those, we, neither.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

The Constant Need for Correctness

ACCEPTABLE, UNACCCEPTABLE OR POMPOUS?

The girl walked into the room and tried to orientate herself to her surroundings.
What is incorrect? Why?

WHAT IS THE ERROR?

"Also, a patient may not work well with the doctor, in which case the doctor has the right to stop treating them, for a number of reasons."
Doug Williams, "Patients must make grade", The Windsor Star, May 22, 2007.

TODAY'S WORD

The word for today is irrespective.
Define the word. Identify it as a part of speech. Use it in a sentence.

DEAR ANONYMOUS: you missed one!

Tomorrow, I will tackle pronouns.

Monday, May 21, 2007

NEW LOOK

I needed a change.


MONDAY GROANERS

How many errors are there in the efforts below?

"Where are you getting your glasses at?"
"The same place you got your frames from."
"What time are we going at?"

BASIC LANGUAGE (continued)

"In the beginning..."

Identify the nouns in the following as proper or common.
"The town of Whitby is close to Toronto. The city has a library on King Street. It was endowed by Andrew Carnegie."

TODAY'S WORD

The word for today is multifarious.
Define the word. What part of speech is it? Use it in a sentence.