Friday, November 27, 2009

GO FOR BROKE

F.Y.I

I gladly accept comments on any posting that I make but I will not accept comments that include advertising or links to other sites.
This blog is meant to be a teaching tool, not a free billboard for advertisers, regardless of their worth.
If advertisers wish to place ads on my blog, they can make arrangements by contacting me and expressly stating their intent and willingness to compensate me accordingly; I am not opposed to capitalism.



BREAK/BROKE/BROKEN

Explain the correct uses of the words "break", "broke" and "broken".
What part of speech is each word? Be very specific.
Identify the misuses of these words.
Create a sentence for each word to illustrate its correct meaning and use.


TODAY'S WORD

The word for today is "fatalism".
What part of speech is "fatalism"?
Define "fatalism" and use it in a sentence.
Identify three other forms of the word. Create a sentence for each word.


CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS

Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be posted Sunday.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

V AS IN "VALIDATION"

VERACIOUS/VORACIOUS

Define and explain the difference between the words "veracious" and "voracious".
What part of speech is each word?
Create sentences using "veracious" and "voracious" is such a way as to convey their meanings.


TODAY'S WORD

The word for today is "vainglorious".
What part of speech is "vainglorious"?
Define "vainglorious"" and use it in a sentence.


BONUS

Define the title word "validation" and list all the forms of the word that you can.
Be sure to identify what part of speech each is.
Create a new sentence for each word you list.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

TEST YOUR VERB SKILLS

GRAMMAR REVIEW

What is the active voice of a verb?
Create a sentence using the active voice of a verb.

What is the passive voice of a verb?
Create a sentence using the passive voice of a verb.


WORTH REMEMBERING

Identify the author of the following thought.

“There is no remedy for love but to love more.”


TODAY'S WORD

The word for today is "remonstrate".
What part of speech is "remonstrate"?
Define "remonstrate" and use it in a sentence.
What is the noun form of this word?

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

EASY TUESDAY FARE

AFFLUENCE/EFFLUENCE

Explain the difference in meaning between the words "affluence" and "effluence".
What part of speech is each word?
Use "affluence" and "effluence" in sentences that demonstrate their meanings.
Identify another form for each word.


TODAY'S WORD

The word for today is "gregarious".
What part of speech is "gregarious"?
Define "gregarious" and use it in a sentence.

Monday, November 23, 2009

GOOD MONDAY MORNING?

"WHEN WILL THEY EVER LEARN...?"

Identify and correct the errors in the following pieces.

You get a GOLD STAR if you can identify the irony in the last entry. You must be sure to read the entire entry to find it.
You go to the head of the class if you can explain what is wrong with the word order of example three.



"Just as it would be for a CUPE insider to whisper the union's plans to management in the midst of a bitter stand-off."
Chris Vander Doelen, "Playing a dangerous game", The Windsor Star, Saturday, November 21, 2009.

"But my sense is Jones is going to need that lawyer; unfortunately for him."
Chris Vander Doelen, "Playing a dangerous game", The Windsor Star, Saturday, November 21, 2009.

"A group of homeowners on Windsor's west side have hired a lawyer and will approach city council tonight to push for demolition of dozens of unsightly homes on Indian Road owned by Ambassador Bridge owner Matty Maroun."
Dave Battagello, "Group pushes for demolitions", The Windsor Star, Monday, November 23, 2003.


TODAY'S WORD

The word for today is "paroxysm".
What part of speech is "paroxysm"?
Define "paroxysm" and use it in a sentence.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - Novenber 22, 2009

Here are the corrections and explanations forlast week's entries.

Monday

PERSPECTIVE/PROSPECTIVE

“Perspective” is usually a noun and has to do with displaying objects to express dimensions and spatial relations. It also refers to the relationship of parts to one another or a mental view of things.

“The architectural perspective was a three-dimensional drawing of beauty and functionality.”

“Prospective” is usually an adjective and refers to the future or one’s expectations of the future.

“The prospective future for the young physics genius, Einstein, was immortality and he achieved it.”


Tuesday

LITERAL/LITTORAL

“Literal” (adj.) means following the exact words of an original text, following the letter of the law or sticking to the strict meaning of something.
“The literal translation of the Bible is often changed to ease understanding for children.”

“Littoral” (adj.) refers to the region of the shore of a lake, sea or ocean.
“The littoral region of east Florida is beautifully sandy and is saturated with tourists.”


PUNCTUATION REVIEW - PERIOD

A “period” is punctuation used to end a sentence that is declarative or a command. It is also used with abbreviations.

“The cat sat on the mat.”
“Marcus Welby M.D. was a well-known TV doctor.”


Wednesday

PUNCTUATION REVIEW - COMMA

A “comma” is used to indicate a pause in a sentence, to separate elements in a series or to separate coordinate conjunctions with different subjects.

A “COMMA” CANNOT BE USED IN PLACE OF A PERIOD even though Dickens did.

Get a Gold Star if you can identify Dickens’s very famous misuse of the comma.

“Tom is wise, intuitive and fully in love with himself.”
“Tom looked at himself in the mirror, and Mary gagged.”


Thursday

PUNCTUATION REVIEW - SEMI-COLON

A “semi-colon" can be used in place of a period to connect sentences that are related to each other or to help sort out a huge list.

“Tom looked at himself in the mirror; Mary gagged.”
“The candidates in the race are: John, from Windsor; Mary, from, Winnipeg; Isabelle, from Belle River; and Angelo, from Amherstburg.”


Friday

PUNCTUATION REVIEW - COLON

A “colon” is used before a list or explanation that is preceded by a clause that can stand by itself.

See the use of the colon in the example for semi-colons for the use of a colon in a list.
“There is one thing yet to do: confess your wrongs and beg forgiveness.”


WORTH A SECOND GLANCE

“There's no trick to being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you.”

There is a clue to the identity of the author of the line. You get a gold star if you can find and explain the clue.

The clue is the word “humorist”. The saying was penned by Will Rogers, an American humorist (1879 - 1935).


LAST WEEK’S WORDS

“Obdurate” (adj.) means stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing, perverse or unrepentant.

“Rancid” (adj.) means sour, foul, stale or smelly.

“Irreconcilable” (adj.) means cannot be harmonized or adjusted, incompatible or opposed to agreement.

“Presumptuous” (adj.) means excessively forward, brash, cheeky, nervy or assumptive.
“Presumption” is the noun form.
“Presumptive” is another adjectival form meaning affording grounds for presumption or assuming to be true.

“Pedantry” (n.) is a ostentatious, undue or inappropriate display of learning.