REAL/REALLY
What is the difference between "real" and really".
Create sentences to illustrate the correct usage of "real" and "really".
Give examples of incorrect use of the words.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "excoriate".
Define "excoriate" and use it in a sentence.
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be posted Sunday morning.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
CHALLENGES: OLD & NEW
HOW MANY?
Can you identify the writing gaffs in the following examples?
Hint: think "four", but think "sense".
Hint: there are no "typos" in the examples.
"He's not one of those guys whose always there hooking, hooking and trying all the time."
Dave Waddell, "Wings in elite class", The Windsor Star, Thursday, March 27, 2008.
"The number of personal and business bankruptcies in Windsor and Essex County have shot up by 30 per cent over last year, a trend that is expected to get worse before it gets better, industry experts say."
Grace Macaluso, "Bankruptcies soar in Windsor", The Windsor Star, Thursday, March 27, 2008.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is " disparagement".
Define "disparagement" and use it in a sentence.
Can you identify the writing gaffs in the following examples?
Hint: think "four", but think "sense".
Hint: there are no "typos" in the examples.
"He's not one of those guys whose always there hooking, hooking and trying all the time."
Dave Waddell, "Wings in elite class", The Windsor Star, Thursday, March 27, 2008.
"The number of personal and business bankruptcies in Windsor and Essex County have shot up by 30 per cent over last year, a trend that is expected to get worse before it gets better, industry experts say."
Grace Macaluso, "Bankruptcies soar in Windsor", The Windsor Star, Thursday, March 27, 2008.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is " disparagement".
Define "disparagement" and use it in a sentence.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
SIMPLE AGREEMENT (Part 2)
SUBJECT/VERB AGREEMENT - Part 2
SIMPLE SOLUTION
EXAMPLE 1: "I criticize."
1. Identify the VERB. That is the word that expresses the action of the clause or sentence.
The action of the sentence is expressed by the word "criticize". Therefore, "criticize" is the VERB.
2. Identify the SUBJECT. That is the word that identifies the doer of the action.
"I" is singular and the doer of the action. Therefore, "I" is the SUBJECT.
3. Make sure that the VERB and the SUBJECT agree. Since "I" is singular, the verb must also be singular.
Easy, isn't it!
Try again. What is correct in the example below? Explain your choice.
EXAMPLE 2: "The group of citizens (want/wants) to serve.
THIS WEEK'S QUOTE
Identify the writer of the following:
"The best portion of a good man's life,
His little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love."
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "lassitude".
Define "lassitude" and use it in a sentence.
SIMPLE SOLUTION
EXAMPLE 1: "I criticize."
1. Identify the VERB. That is the word that expresses the action of the clause or sentence.
The action of the sentence is expressed by the word "criticize". Therefore, "criticize" is the VERB.
2. Identify the SUBJECT. That is the word that identifies the doer of the action.
"I" is singular and the doer of the action. Therefore, "I" is the SUBJECT.
3. Make sure that the VERB and the SUBJECT agree. Since "I" is singular, the verb must also be singular.
Easy, isn't it!
Try again. What is correct in the example below? Explain your choice.
EXAMPLE 2: "The group of citizens (want/wants) to serve.
THIS WEEK'S QUOTE
Identify the writer of the following:
"The best portion of a good man's life,
His little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love."
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "lassitude".
Define "lassitude" and use it in a sentence.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
SUBJECT-PREDICATE AGREEMENT
GET WITH THE PROGRAMME!
(Do not complain about "programme". If you want, use the American version, "program".)
This is really simple! So, I will define it simply!
RULE: SUBJECTS AND THEIR PREDICATES MUST AGREE!
Therefore, if the subject is singular, the predicate MUST be singular.
So too, if the subject is plural, the predicate MUST be plural.
That is it, folks! It is that simple!
Of course, if you can't identify the subject and its predicate, you have a problem.
I will present a "simple" solution to the problem tomorrow.
Now, try your luck with the following examples.
Do the subjects and predicates agree in the following?
"Staff Sgt. Ed McNorton said earlier this month that the number of robberies so far this year have far outpaced the number up to this point last year."
Trevor Wilhelm, "Robber calls ahead, orders money to go", The Windsor Star, Tuesday, March 25, 2008.
"A majority of those robberies, he said, were at convenience stores and committed by people looking for drug money."
Trevor Wilhelm, "Robber calls ahead, orders money to go", The Windsor Star, Tuesday, March 25, 2008.
If you would like more practice with subject/predicate agreement, check yesterday's posting.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "indolence".
Define "indolence" and use it in a sentence.
(Do not complain about "programme". If you want, use the American version, "program".)
This is really simple! So, I will define it simply!
RULE: SUBJECTS AND THEIR PREDICATES MUST AGREE!
Therefore, if the subject is singular, the predicate MUST be singular.
So too, if the subject is plural, the predicate MUST be plural.
That is it, folks! It is that simple!
Of course, if you can't identify the subject and its predicate, you have a problem.
I will present a "simple" solution to the problem tomorrow.
Now, try your luck with the following examples.
Do the subjects and predicates agree in the following?
"Staff Sgt. Ed McNorton said earlier this month that the number of robberies so far this year have far outpaced the number up to this point last year."
Trevor Wilhelm, "Robber calls ahead, orders money to go", The Windsor Star, Tuesday, March 25, 2008.
"A majority of those robberies, he said, were at convenience stores and committed by people looking for drug money."
Trevor Wilhelm, "Robber calls ahead, orders money to go", The Windsor Star, Tuesday, March 25, 2008.
If you would like more practice with subject/predicate agreement, check yesterday's posting.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "indolence".
Define "indolence" and use it in a sentence.
Monday, March 24, 2008
NEW WEEK - SAME OLD
"WHEN WILL THEY EVER LEARN...?
Find and correct the errors in the following sentences.
"Leamington police Sgt. Mike Symons said the crash occurred at 9:17 p.m. in the 200 block of County Road 37, where a group of teens were standing in the rural area."
Sonja Puzic, "Seven struck by car", The Windsor Star, Monday, March 24, 2008.
"None of their injuries are life-threatening, Symons said."
Sonja Puzic, "Seven struck by car", The Windsor Star, Monday, March 24, 2008.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "extirpate".
Define "extirpate" and use it in a sentence.
Find and correct the errors in the following sentences.
"Leamington police Sgt. Mike Symons said the crash occurred at 9:17 p.m. in the 200 block of County Road 37, where a group of teens were standing in the rural area."
Sonja Puzic, "Seven struck by car", The Windsor Star, Monday, March 24, 2008.
"None of their injuries are life-threatening, Symons said."
Sonja Puzic, "Seven struck by car", The Windsor Star, Monday, March 24, 2008.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "extirpate".
Define "extirpate" and use it in a sentence.
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