SET/SIT
This is probably really simple, but too many mistakes are made using these words.
Explain the difference in meaning and use of the words "set" and "sit".
What part of speech is each word.
Create sentences using "set" and "sit" that display each word's meaning clearly.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "sagacious".
What part of speech is "sagacious"?
Create a sentence using "sagacious" in such a way as the word's meaning is displayed.
What other parts of speech can be made of "sagacious"?
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be posted Sunday.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
'F': TODAY'S ALLITERATIVE EFFORTS
FOUNDER/FLOUNDER
Explain the difference between the words "founder" and "flounder"
Use "founder" and "flounder" in sentences that clearly show the meanings of the words.
Use each word as a noun and as a verb.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "fetish".
What party of speech is "fetish"?
Define "fetish" and use it in a sentence.
What other forms of the word can you list?
Explain the difference between the words "founder" and "flounder"
Use "founder" and "flounder" in sentences that clearly show the meanings of the words.
Use each word as a noun and as a verb.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "fetish".
What party of speech is "fetish"?
Define "fetish" and use it in a sentence.
What other forms of the word can you list?
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
THOUGHT REQUIRED
A SIMPLE SLIP?
Find and correct the error in the following piece.
"Clement said the city would one day like to move the fenced and lighted baseball stadium further into the park, clearing the way for a soccer field."
Craig Pearson, "Jackson Park makeover unveiled", The Windsor Star, Wednesday, February 3, 2010.
THINK ABOUT THIS ONE
Identify the author of the following concept. Even if you cannot come up with an answer, think about the depth of the content.
“Truth persuades by teaching, but does not teach by persuading.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "serendipity".
What part of speech is "serendipity"?
Define "serendipity" and use it in a sentence.
Find and correct the error in the following piece.
"Clement said the city would one day like to move the fenced and lighted baseball stadium further into the park, clearing the way for a soccer field."
Craig Pearson, "Jackson Park makeover unveiled", The Windsor Star, Wednesday, February 3, 2010.
THINK ABOUT THIS ONE
Identify the author of the following concept. Even if you cannot come up with an answer, think about the depth of the content.
“Truth persuades by teaching, but does not teach by persuading.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "serendipity".
What part of speech is "serendipity"?
Define "serendipity" and use it in a sentence.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
TEST YOUR AGREEMENT SKILLS
SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
Below are sentences which are not correct.
What is the problem for each sentence?
What is the applicable rule for each sentence?
Correct each problem.
"The climate in both places are mild."
"Neither John nor Mary know what caused the problem."
"Joe and his sister knows what the problem is."
"Every boy and girl have to participate."
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "phlegmatic".
What part of speech is "phlegmatic"?
Define "phlegmatic" and use it in a sentence.
Below are sentences which are not correct.
What is the problem for each sentence?
What is the applicable rule for each sentence?
Correct each problem.
"The climate in both places are mild."
"Neither John nor Mary know what caused the problem."
"Joe and his sister knows what the problem is."
"Every boy and girl have to participate."
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "phlegmatic".
What part of speech is "phlegmatic"?
Define "phlegmatic" and use it in a sentence.
Monday, February 1, 2010
THE WEEK STARTS EASILY
APPOSE/OPPOSE
Explain the difference in meaning between the words "appose" and "oppose".
What part of speech is each word?
Use "appose" and "oppose" in sentences that display their respective meanings.
List other forms or parts of speech of each word.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "traduce".
What part of speech is "traduce"?
Define "traduce" and use it in a sentence.
Explain the difference in meaning between the words "appose" and "oppose".
What part of speech is each word?
Use "appose" and "oppose" in sentences that display their respective meanings.
List other forms or parts of speech of each word.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "traduce".
What part of speech is "traduce"?
Define "traduce" and use it in a sentence.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - January 31, 2010
Here are the corrections and explanations for last week's entries.
Monday
SOLID/STOLID
“Solid”, as a noun, refers to a shape or a substance that is not soft or yielding.
“Solid” as an adjective, means of one substance, heavy, substantial or incapable of being seen through.
“The shot was so solid it broke the plexiglass.”
“Stolid”, an adjective, means dull, tedious, unemotional or dull.
“The preacher’s sermon was stolid and boring.”
BONUS: "MOTLEY"
Explain why "motley" in today's alliterative heading is appropriate.
“Motley” can mean varied and the headline addresses various words. The alliterations contained in Monday’s “Motley Mix” and “stolid and solid” are varied and reflect the meanings of the words.
Tuesday
COMPLIMENT/COMPLEMENT
“Compliment”, a verb, means to hail, to herald, to acclaim or to express respect for.
“I compliment you on your new hairdo.”
several meanings for these words; try to list at least two for each.
“Compliment”, as a noun, refers to the congratulations or praise given to someone.
“”Your compliment is appreciated.”
“Complement”, as a verb, means to complete or to round out or to make full.
“Those earrings complement the dress you are wearing.”
“Complement”, as a noun, refers to a complete number, something added to make perfect or complete or a word or phrase to complete a grammatical construction.
“Putting verbs into sentences is absolutely necessary as a complement to the definition of a sentence as being a group of words expressing a complete thought.”
Wednesday
REEK/WREAK
“Reek”, a verb, means to give off smoke or vapours, to smell or to exude a brutally unpleasant odour such as heavy sweat.
“The smells from the dry forest reek of the recent devastating fire.”
“Wreak” is a verb meaning to cause to happen or to occur, to generate or to bring forth.
“High and low atmospheric pressure often wreak havoc when they come together.”
Thursday
What errors are committed below?
“As many as 200 corporate and private planes lined up at Windsor Airport. Luxury hotel rooms and restaurants filled to capacity. Jet-setters from around the world descending on Windsor.”
There are three incomplete thoughts is this example; all three groups are without verbs. The three are prefaced by the sentence, “Picture it.” But the punctuation must be changed to connect the ideas and to make a complete thought.
“Picture it: as many as 200 corporate and private planes lined up at Windsor Airport; luxury hotel rooms and restaurants filled to capacity; jet-setters from around the world descending on Windsor.”
Friday
BREACH/BREECH
“Breach”, as a verb, means to act in disregard of laws and rules.
“Speeders flagrantly breach the law and should be punished severely.”
“Breach” as a noun, refers to an opening, a gap or a failure to perform some act or obligation.
“The breach in the levee widened disastrously as the unrelenting water drove against it.”
“Breech”, a noun, refers to the rear of a gun barrel where bullets are loaded or to rear-ends.
“The breech of the gun jammed because the gun was never cleaned.”
TOO CYNICAL?
Identify the author of the following observation.
“It has been said that man is a rational animal. All my life I have been searching for evidence which could support this.”
Bertrand Russell, a British author and philosopher who lived from 1872 to 1970, wrote this.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Vituperate” (v.) means to rail against, to revile or to find fault with abusively.
“Vituperation” is the noun form.
“Vituperative” is the adjective form.
“Vituperatively” is the adverb form.
“Capricious” (adj.) Means changeable, impulsive or whimsical.
“Capriciousness” is the adjective form.
“Capriciously” is the adverb form.
“Caprice”, which comes from the same root, refers to the tendency to change one’s mind without reason or apparent motive.
“Quixotic” (adj.) means incapable of dealing sensible with practical matters, romantic or unrealistic. It also means extravagantly chivalrous as was Don Quixote.
“Obnoxious” (adj.) means offensive, unpleasant, detestable or repulsive.
“Bravado” (n.) refers to a swaggering show of courage, fanfare or ostentation.
Monday
SOLID/STOLID
“Solid”, as a noun, refers to a shape or a substance that is not soft or yielding.
“Solid” as an adjective, means of one substance, heavy, substantial or incapable of being seen through.
“The shot was so solid it broke the plexiglass.”
“Stolid”, an adjective, means dull, tedious, unemotional or dull.
“The preacher’s sermon was stolid and boring.”
BONUS: "MOTLEY"
Explain why "motley" in today's alliterative heading is appropriate.
“Motley” can mean varied and the headline addresses various words. The alliterations contained in Monday’s “Motley Mix” and “stolid and solid” are varied and reflect the meanings of the words.
Tuesday
COMPLIMENT/COMPLEMENT
“Compliment”, a verb, means to hail, to herald, to acclaim or to express respect for.
“I compliment you on your new hairdo.”
several meanings for these words; try to list at least two for each.
“Compliment”, as a noun, refers to the congratulations or praise given to someone.
“”Your compliment is appreciated.”
“Complement”, as a verb, means to complete or to round out or to make full.
“Those earrings complement the dress you are wearing.”
“Complement”, as a noun, refers to a complete number, something added to make perfect or complete or a word or phrase to complete a grammatical construction.
“Putting verbs into sentences is absolutely necessary as a complement to the definition of a sentence as being a group of words expressing a complete thought.”
Wednesday
REEK/WREAK
“Reek”, a verb, means to give off smoke or vapours, to smell or to exude a brutally unpleasant odour such as heavy sweat.
“The smells from the dry forest reek of the recent devastating fire.”
“Wreak” is a verb meaning to cause to happen or to occur, to generate or to bring forth.
“High and low atmospheric pressure often wreak havoc when they come together.”
Thursday
What errors are committed below?
“As many as 200 corporate and private planes lined up at Windsor Airport. Luxury hotel rooms and restaurants filled to capacity. Jet-setters from around the world descending on Windsor.”
There are three incomplete thoughts is this example; all three groups are without verbs. The three are prefaced by the sentence, “Picture it.” But the punctuation must be changed to connect the ideas and to make a complete thought.
“Picture it: as many as 200 corporate and private planes lined up at Windsor Airport; luxury hotel rooms and restaurants filled to capacity; jet-setters from around the world descending on Windsor.”
Friday
BREACH/BREECH
“Breach”, as a verb, means to act in disregard of laws and rules.
“Speeders flagrantly breach the law and should be punished severely.”
“Breach” as a noun, refers to an opening, a gap or a failure to perform some act or obligation.
“The breach in the levee widened disastrously as the unrelenting water drove against it.”
“Breech”, a noun, refers to the rear of a gun barrel where bullets are loaded or to rear-ends.
“The breech of the gun jammed because the gun was never cleaned.”
TOO CYNICAL?
Identify the author of the following observation.
“It has been said that man is a rational animal. All my life I have been searching for evidence which could support this.”
Bertrand Russell, a British author and philosopher who lived from 1872 to 1970, wrote this.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Vituperate” (v.) means to rail against, to revile or to find fault with abusively.
“Vituperation” is the noun form.
“Vituperative” is the adjective form.
“Vituperatively” is the adverb form.
“Capricious” (adj.) Means changeable, impulsive or whimsical.
“Capriciousness” is the adjective form.
“Capriciously” is the adverb form.
“Caprice”, which comes from the same root, refers to the tendency to change one’s mind without reason or apparent motive.
“Quixotic” (adj.) means incapable of dealing sensible with practical matters, romantic or unrealistic. It also means extravagantly chivalrous as was Don Quixote.
“Obnoxious” (adj.) means offensive, unpleasant, detestable or repulsive.
“Bravado” (n.) refers to a swaggering show of courage, fanfare or ostentation.
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