TRY THIS ONE
What is the error in the entry below?
"A small sample of Windsor business owners and executives are slightly less pessimistic about the city's economic future than a year ago, according to a survey conducted by a research team at the University of Windsor."
Dave Hall, "Windsor business cautiously optimistic", The Windsor Star, Friday, January 18, 2008.
AN ESOTERIC SERIES - Part 5
THE ASSIGNMENTS - Recap
1. Definitions. (Monday)
2. Conjugate the verb "to have". (Tuesday)
3. Conjugate "to have" in the PERFECT TENSE. (Wednesday)
4. Conjugate "to have" in the PROGRESSIVE TENSE. (Thursday)
FRIDAY'S ASSIGNMENT
Conjugate "to have" in the PERFECT PROGRESSIVE TENSE.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "pernicious".
Define "pernicious" and use it today in your speech.
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be posted on Sunday.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Thursday, January 17, 2008
THE CHALLENGE GETS TOUGHER
GAFF/GAFFE
What is the difference between "gaff" and "gaffe".
AN ESOTERIC SERIES - Part 4
I asked you to conjugate the verb "to have".
Yesterday you had to conjugate "to have" in the PERFECT TENSE.
Today, conjugate "to have" in the PROGRESSIVE TENSE.
You think this is tough? Tomorrow is even tougher.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "insipid".
Define "insipid" and use it in a sentence.
REPEAT REQUEST
Please read yesterday's request and vote.
I appreciate your support.
What is the difference between "gaff" and "gaffe".
AN ESOTERIC SERIES - Part 4
I asked you to conjugate the verb "to have".
Yesterday you had to conjugate "to have" in the PERFECT TENSE.
Today, conjugate "to have" in the PROGRESSIVE TENSE.
You think this is tough? Tomorrow is even tougher.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "insipid".
Define "insipid" and use it in a sentence.
REPEAT REQUEST
Please read yesterday's request and vote.
I appreciate your support.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
A REQUEST
MAKE MY DAY
I am proud to report that this blog has been nominated as the best Educational Blog of 2007 by the Canadian Blog Awards 2007.
I am thankful for the nomination and ask you to take Michael's English Usage to the next round by voting at the site below.
http://www.polldaddy.com/poll.aspx?p=230551
If you would like to learn more about the organization and awards, click on the link below:
http://cdnba.wordpress.com/vote/round-1/
DRASTIC/DRAMATIC
Explain the differences in meaning and use in the words "drastic" and "dramatic".
AN ESOTERIC SERIES - Part 3
Yesterday I asked you to conjugate the verb "have".
Today you have to conjugate "have" in the PERFECT TENSE.
If you have no idea what this is about, wait 'til tomorrow; it gets tougher.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "avatar".
Define "avatar" and use it in a sentence. You must use the classical concept and avoid all references to computer gaming.
I am proud to report that this blog has been nominated as the best Educational Blog of 2007 by the Canadian Blog Awards 2007.
I am thankful for the nomination and ask you to take Michael's English Usage to the next round by voting at the site below.
http://www.polldaddy.com/poll.aspx?p=230551
If you would like to learn more about the organization and awards, click on the link below:
http://cdnba.wordpress.com/vote/round-1/
DRASTIC/DRAMATIC
Explain the differences in meaning and use in the words "drastic" and "dramatic".
AN ESOTERIC SERIES - Part 3
Yesterday I asked you to conjugate the verb "have".
Today you have to conjugate "have" in the PERFECT TENSE.
If you have no idea what this is about, wait 'til tomorrow; it gets tougher.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "avatar".
Define "avatar" and use it in a sentence. You must use the classical concept and avoid all references to computer gaming.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
SOME CHALLENGES
DOES THIS MAKE SENSE?
"An Oakville man is behind bars after he stole a car from the Casino Windsor valet stand as the owners were about to claim it and crashed it into a nearby pharmacy."
Trevor Wilhelm, "Stolen auto strikes store", The Windsor Star, Tuesday January 15, 2008.
AN ESOTERIC SERIES - Part 2
TENSE
The change in the form of a verb to show a change in time is called tense.
There can be action in the PRESENT, the PAST and the FUTURE.
CONJUGATION
Conjugation means to give the tense forms of a verb with the first, second and third person pronouns.
QUESTION
What are the pronouns, both singular and plural, that indicate first, second and third person?
ASSIGNMENT
Conjugate the verb "to have".
I told you this was esoteric.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "enervation".
Define "enervation" and use it in a sentence.
"An Oakville man is behind bars after he stole a car from the Casino Windsor valet stand as the owners were about to claim it and crashed it into a nearby pharmacy."
Trevor Wilhelm, "Stolen auto strikes store", The Windsor Star, Tuesday January 15, 2008.
AN ESOTERIC SERIES - Part 2
TENSE
The change in the form of a verb to show a change in time is called tense.
There can be action in the PRESENT, the PAST and the FUTURE.
CONJUGATION
Conjugation means to give the tense forms of a verb with the first, second and third person pronouns.
QUESTION
What are the pronouns, both singular and plural, that indicate first, second and third person?
ASSIGNMENT
Conjugate the verb "to have".
I told you this was esoteric.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "enervation".
Define "enervation" and use it in a sentence.
Monday, January 14, 2008
THE NITTY GRITTY
AN ESOTERIC SERIES - Part 1
Define "tense" as it applies to grammar.
Define "conjugate" as it applies to grammar.
Can you identify the names of the various tenses? (Hint: there are five.)
Can you conjugate a verb? (Try "have".)
A PRO CONSTANT
What is the error in the following?
"Police have said that none of the children were stabbed."
Roberta Pennington, "Father facing murder charges may have ties here", The Windsor Star, Monday, January 14, 2008.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "didactic".
Define "didactic" and use it in a sentence.
Define "tense" as it applies to grammar.
Define "conjugate" as it applies to grammar.
Can you identify the names of the various tenses? (Hint: there are five.)
Can you conjugate a verb? (Try "have".)
A PRO CONSTANT
What is the error in the following?
"Police have said that none of the children were stabbed."
Roberta Pennington, "Father facing murder charges may have ties here", The Windsor Star, Monday, January 14, 2008.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "didactic".
Define "didactic" and use it in a sentence.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - January 13, 2008
Here are the corrections and explanations for last week's postings.
Monday
Correct the errors?
"One in five bishops face axe in shrinking parishes."
The subject is singular; the verb has to agree."
One in five bishops faces axe in shrinking parishes."
"Where do you get your instructors from for the show?"
“From” is redundant and should be eliminated.
"Where do you get your instructors for the show?"
"Not only have the majority of the firm's partners been on board for more than 20 years, Bartlet and Richardes can also boast of having four former partners named to the bench - John Aylesworth, George Urquhart, Arthur Jessop and Richard Gates."
“Majority” is the subject and is a collective singular noun; the verb must agree."Not only has the majority of the firm's partners been on board for more than 20 years, Bartlet and Richardes can also boast of having four former partners named to the bench - John Aylesworth, George Urquhart, Arthur Jessop and Richard Gates."
"In other words, once a deal is in the can, so there can be no backsliding."
This is an incomplete thought which doesn’t make sense; eliminating “so” is necessary.
"In other words, once a deal is in the can, there can be no backsliding."
ANYONE/ANY ONE
“Anyone” is a compound pronoun meaning “any person”.
"Any one” is non-compound and refers to any singular person; it is usually followed by a prepositional phrase.
Wednesday
"Because police seized the machine loaded with customer information, none of the customers at the bank were victimized by the scammers, but the machines are usually reused and it is being reviewed to see what other information it contains."
“None” is the subject of the principal clause’; the verb must agree with it.
“It” is a relative pronoun and seems to refer to “machines”, the noun immediately preceding; this creates confusion. Some rewording is necessary to make proper sense.
"Because police seized the machine loaded with customer information, none of the customers at the bank was victimized by the scammers, but scamming machines are usually reused, so the seized machine is being reviewed to see what other information it contains."
Thursday
SINGLE/SINGULAR
“Single” means one or individual. It also refers to one who is unmarried.
“Singular” means unique, distinctive or odd.
Friday
Are there any errors in the following entry?
"For example, despite a ground breaking ceremony in September for the rebuilding of Benson elementary school, the project that was supposed to start in October is on hold until a financial dispute with the province can be resolved."
“For example” cannot start a sentence; it must attach to that to which it refers, usually through a semi-colon.
I suggest that “Benson Elementary School” is the full title and all words should be capitalized. This is a personal preference and can be debated. I am making a suggestion only.
"Public school board construction worth about $40 million to build new schools and renovate dilapidated one have come to a halt; for example, despite a ground breaking ceremony in September for the rebuilding of Benson Elementary School, the project that was supposed to start in October is on hold until a financial dispute with the province can be resolved."
THE WORDS
“Sophomoric” (adj.) refers to second year students and suggests intellectual pretentiousness and self-assurance.
‘Acuity” (n.) means mental sharpness or keenness.
Asperity (n.) means roughness, brusqueness or cutting sharpness.
Miasma (n.) means a harmful or poisonous emanation or an unhealthy atmosphere.
Ratiocination (n.) refers to the process of thinking or arguing logically.
Monday
Correct the errors?
"One in five bishops face axe in shrinking parishes."
The subject is singular; the verb has to agree."
One in five bishops faces axe in shrinking parishes."
"Where do you get your instructors from for the show?"
“From” is redundant and should be eliminated.
"Where do you get your instructors for the show?"
"Not only have the majority of the firm's partners been on board for more than 20 years, Bartlet and Richardes can also boast of having four former partners named to the bench - John Aylesworth, George Urquhart, Arthur Jessop and Richard Gates."
“Majority” is the subject and is a collective singular noun; the verb must agree."Not only has the majority of the firm's partners been on board for more than 20 years, Bartlet and Richardes can also boast of having four former partners named to the bench - John Aylesworth, George Urquhart, Arthur Jessop and Richard Gates."
"In other words, once a deal is in the can, so there can be no backsliding."
This is an incomplete thought which doesn’t make sense; eliminating “so” is necessary.
"In other words, once a deal is in the can, there can be no backsliding."
ANYONE/ANY ONE
“Anyone” is a compound pronoun meaning “any person”.
"Any one” is non-compound and refers to any singular person; it is usually followed by a prepositional phrase.
Wednesday
"Because police seized the machine loaded with customer information, none of the customers at the bank were victimized by the scammers, but the machines are usually reused and it is being reviewed to see what other information it contains."
“None” is the subject of the principal clause’; the verb must agree with it.
“It” is a relative pronoun and seems to refer to “machines”, the noun immediately preceding; this creates confusion. Some rewording is necessary to make proper sense.
"Because police seized the machine loaded with customer information, none of the customers at the bank was victimized by the scammers, but scamming machines are usually reused, so the seized machine is being reviewed to see what other information it contains."
Thursday
SINGLE/SINGULAR
“Single” means one or individual. It also refers to one who is unmarried.
“Singular” means unique, distinctive or odd.
Friday
Are there any errors in the following entry?
"For example, despite a ground breaking ceremony in September for the rebuilding of Benson elementary school, the project that was supposed to start in October is on hold until a financial dispute with the province can be resolved."
“For example” cannot start a sentence; it must attach to that to which it refers, usually through a semi-colon.
I suggest that “Benson Elementary School” is the full title and all words should be capitalized. This is a personal preference and can be debated. I am making a suggestion only.
"Public school board construction worth about $40 million to build new schools and renovate dilapidated one have come to a halt; for example, despite a ground breaking ceremony in September for the rebuilding of Benson Elementary School, the project that was supposed to start in October is on hold until a financial dispute with the province can be resolved."
THE WORDS
“Sophomoric” (adj.) refers to second year students and suggests intellectual pretentiousness and self-assurance.
‘Acuity” (n.) means mental sharpness or keenness.
Asperity (n.) means roughness, brusqueness or cutting sharpness.
Miasma (n.) means a harmful or poisonous emanation or an unhealthy atmosphere.
Ratiocination (n.) refers to the process of thinking or arguing logically.
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