CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - October 5, 2008

Here are the corrections and explanations for last week's posts.

Monday

THEN/THAN

“Then” is an adverb and it is used in reference to time.
I did my work. Then I went out to play.

“Than” is a conjunction. It is used to make comparisons.
His head is bigger than mine.


Tuesday

DID/DONE


EXERCISE

An auxiliary verb must be inserted in order to use “done” in any of the sentences.

1. I (did, done) all the chores before I went out to play.

I did all the chores before I went out to play.
I had done all the chores before I went out to play.

2. Grandmother (did, done) all her housework before she went to the casino.

Grandmother did all her housework before she went to the casino.
Grandmother had done all her housework before she went to the casino.

3. The boy told his mother that he (did, done) all his homework at school.

The boy told his mother that he did all his homework at school.
The boy told his mother that he had done all his homework at school.


Wednesday

EACH/EVERYBODY/SOMEBODY

The words "each", "everybody" and "somebody" are all indefinite pronouns.
They are all singular.

Each of us is able to do the job.

Everybody is ready to get started.

We are waiting to go because somebody is late.


Thursday

LEND/LOAN

“Lend” is a verb.
I will lend her the money.

“Loan” is a noun.
I gave her a loan so she could pay her bills.

They are not interchangeable.


Friday

GOOD/WELL

“Good” is an adjective and describes nouns and pronouns.

“Well” is normally an adverb that describes verbs and sometimes adjectives.
“Well”, when referring to health, acts as an adjective.

EXERCISE

1. He swims and dives(good, well).

An adverb is needed to describe the verbs “swims” and “dives”.

He swims and dives well.

2. The child does not feel (good, well)

An adjective is needed because the reference is to a state of health. “Well” is used in this case.

The child does not feel well.

3. The cake tastes (good, well).

A predicate adjective is needed to describe cake.

The cake tastes good.


4. He played (good, well).

An adverb is needed to describe the verb “played”. “Well” acts as an adverb in this case.

He played well.


THE WEEK'S THOUGHT

“Education's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.”
Malcolm Forbes made this statement.


LAST WEEK’S WORDS

“venality” (n.) means the prostitution of talents or principles for money or reward. It means the selling of one’s services or influence unscrupulously.

“Alacrity” (n.) means eagerness, enthusiasm, quickness or speed.

“Recalcitrant” (adj.) means disobedient, wayward, headstrong or obstinate.

“Polemic” (n.) is a controversial argument or an argument against some opinion or doctrine.

“Polemics” (n.) is the art or practice of disputation or controversy, especially in theology.

“Poltergeist” (n.) is a ghost, an apparition, a spectre or a phantom.