Here are the corrections for last week’s entries.
Monday
HE/HIM/SHE/HER
All the words are pronouns.
“He” and “she” are the subjective case.
“Him” and “her” are the objective case.
The subjective case and the objective case are not interchangeable. The biggest error is in a sentence such as: “Him and her went on a date.” It should be: “He and she went on a date.”
Tuesday
Find and correct the errors in the following pieces.
“The Ontario Court of Appeal issued the decision upholding damages for 'lost housekeeping capacity' making Claudia McIntyre the first person in Ontario to be awarded compensation for injuries affecting a person's ability to clean their house.”
“Person’s” is singular; “their”, which refers to “person’s”, is plural.
“The Ontario Court of Appeal issued the decision upholding damages for 'lost housekeeping capacity' making Claudia McIntyre the first person in Ontario to be awarded compensation for injuries affecting a person's ability to clean her house.”
“Both passenger and commercial traffic was flowing in typical fashion at North America's busiest border crossing that links to Windsor with only brief warnings issued by U.S. border guards for those without the proper documents.”
Ha! Fooled you! This is correct if you accept "passenger" and "commercial" as adjectives modifying "traffic".
Wednesday
PREDOMINATE/PREDOMINANT
“Predominate” is a verb meaning to be larger in number, quantity, importance or power.
“Predominant” is an adjective meaning continual, the most frequent or common.
Thursday
Identify and correct the error in the following sentence.
“Appreciate the brave young Canadian men and women who have gone to Afghanistan to fight the war on terrorism, especially those who have lost their lives in defence of our shared freedoms?”
This is an incomplete sentence because there is no subject.
“We must appreciate the brave young Canadian men and women who have gone to Afghanistan to fight the war on terrorism, especially those who have lost their lives in defence of our shared freedoms?”
Friday
PARTS OF SPEECH
Identify and define the eight parts of speech.
A noun is a word that names a person, place or thing. (coat, girl, tree)
A verb is a word that shows action or being. (fight, are)
An adjective is a word that modifies a noun. (big, red, fat, emotional)
An adverb is a word that modifies a verb, an adjective or another adverb. (greatly, quickly)
A preposition is a word that starts a phrase and takes an object. (in, on, for)
A conjunction is a word that connects words, phrases, clauses or sentences. (that, when, who)
An interjection is a word that expresses emotion and that can stand alone. (Oh! Gee! Golly! Rats!)
An article is a word that designates a noun or pronoun. (the, a, an)
WORTH THINKING ABOUT
Identify the author of the following truism.
“You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.”
Dale Carnegie said this.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Endemic” (n.) refers to a constantly present disease in people of a certain area.
“Endemic” (adj.) means of a disease or anything disease-like constantly present to a greater or lesser degree in a region.
“Pariah” (n.) is a castaway, an outcast or a person who is rejected from society.
“Predilection” (n.) means a liking, a preference or a penchant for something or someone.
“Fractious” (adj.) means cranky, peevish irritable or petulant.
“Stilted” (adj.) Means stiffly dignified, formal or pompous as one on stilts.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
A TOUGH CHALLENGE
PARTS OF SPEECH
There are eight parts of speech.
Identify and define the eight parts of speech.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "stilted".
What part of speech is "stilted"?
Define "stilted" and use it in a sentence.
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be posted Sunday.
There are eight parts of speech.
Identify and define the eight parts of speech.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "stilted".
What part of speech is "stilted"?
Define "stilted" and use it in a sentence.
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be posted Sunday.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
ELUSIVE CORRECTNESS
A LONG ONE
Identify and correct the error in the following sentence.
"Appreciate the brave young Canadian men and women who have gone to Afghanistan to fight the war on terrorism, especially those who have lost their lives in defence of our shared freedoms?"
Star Editorial Opinion, "Border rules", The Windsor Star, Thursday, June 4, 2009.
TODAY' WORD
The word for today is "fractious".
Define "fractious" and use it in a sentence.
What part of speech is "fractious"?
Identify and correct the error in the following sentence.
"Appreciate the brave young Canadian men and women who have gone to Afghanistan to fight the war on terrorism, especially those who have lost their lives in defence of our shared freedoms?"
Star Editorial Opinion, "Border rules", The Windsor Star, Thursday, June 4, 2009.
TODAY' WORD
The word for today is "fractious".
Define "fractious" and use it in a sentence.
What part of speech is "fractious"?
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
FRIENDLY ADVICE
PREDOMINATE/PREDOMINANT
Explain the difference between the words "predominate" and "predominant".
What part of speech is each word?
Create a sentence for each word. Be sure the meaning of the word is evident in your sentence.
WORTH THINKING ABOUT
Identify the author of the following truism.
“You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "predilection".
What part of speech is "predilection"?
Define "predilection" and use it in a sentence.
Explain the difference between the words "predominate" and "predominant".
What part of speech is each word?
Create a sentence for each word. Be sure the meaning of the word is evident in your sentence.
WORTH THINKING ABOUT
Identify the author of the following truism.
“You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.”
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "predilection".
What part of speech is "predilection"?
Define "predilection" and use it in a sentence.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
READ VERY CAREFULLY
A GOOD CHALLENGE
Find and correct the errors in the following pieces.
Bonus: read the entries carefully and determine if they both make complete sense; if not, identify and correct the problem.
"The Ontario Court of Appeal issued the decision upholding damages for 'lost housekeeping capacity' making Claudia McIntyre the first person in Ontario to be awarded compensation for injuries affecting a person's ability to clean their house."
Trevor Wilhelm, "Court awards 'neat freak' $60,000", The Windsor Star, Tuesday, June 2, 2009.
"Both passenger and commercial traffic was flowing in typical fashion at North America's busiest border crossing that links to Windsor with only brief warnings issued by U.S. border guards for those without the proper documents."
Dave Battagello, "No passport? Border guards cutting drivers some slack", The Windsor Star, Tuesday, June 2, 2009.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "pariah".
Define "pariah" and use it in a sentence.
What part of speech is "pariah"?
Find and correct the errors in the following pieces.
Bonus: read the entries carefully and determine if they both make complete sense; if not, identify and correct the problem.
"The Ontario Court of Appeal issued the decision upholding damages for 'lost housekeeping capacity' making Claudia McIntyre the first person in Ontario to be awarded compensation for injuries affecting a person's ability to clean their house."
Trevor Wilhelm, "Court awards 'neat freak' $60,000", The Windsor Star, Tuesday, June 2, 2009.
"Both passenger and commercial traffic was flowing in typical fashion at North America's busiest border crossing that links to Windsor with only brief warnings issued by U.S. border guards for those without the proper documents."
Dave Battagello, "No passport? Border guards cutting drivers some slack", The Windsor Star, Tuesday, June 2, 2009.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "pariah".
Define "pariah" and use it in a sentence.
What part of speech is "pariah"?
Monday, June 1, 2009
PERENNIAL PRONOUN PROBLEMS
HE/HIM/SHE/HER
Explain the difference between "he" and "him".
Explain the difference between "she" and "her".
What is the correct use of each word?
How are the words misused?
Create sentences for each word.
WORD OF THE DAY
The word for today is "endemic".
What part of speech is "endemic"?
Define "endemic" and use it in a sentence.
Explain the difference between "he" and "him".
Explain the difference between "she" and "her".
What is the correct use of each word?
How are the words misused?
Create sentences for each word.
WORD OF THE DAY
The word for today is "endemic".
What part of speech is "endemic"?
Define "endemic" and use it in a sentence.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - May 31, 2009
Here are the corrections and explanations for last weeks entries.
Monday
LONELY/LONESOME
“Lonely” (adj.) means apart from others, isolated, solitary or without company.
“Lonesome” (adj.) means a feeling of being depressed by solitude or a sense of being by oneself.
Tuesday
Identify and correct the errors in the following pieces.
“An attack that left a Windsor cab driver with 15 stab wounds, slashes to both arms and lacerations to the top of his head after being beaten with a hammer.”
This is an incomplete thought; there is no main verb.
“It was an attack that left a Windsor cab driver with 15 stab wounds, slashes to both arms and lacerations to the top of his head after being beaten with a hammer.”
“Willistead Park is bordered by black metal fencing, not the green chain-linked fencing the wire pieces are believed to have originated from.”
This sentence ends in a preposition and should be reworded.
“Willistead Park is bordered by black metal fencing, not the green chain-linked fencing from which the wire pieces are believed to have originated.”
Wednesday
AMBIVALENT/INDIFFERENT
“Ambivalent” (adj.) means indecisive, divided, of two minds or uncertain.
The noun form is “ambivalence”.
“Indifferent” means showing a lack of concern or interest or neither good nor bad.
The noun form is “indifference”.
Thursday
DYEING/DYING
“Dyeing” is the present participle of the verb “dye” and refers to the process of colouring fabrics or yarns.
“Dying” is the present participle of the verb “die” meaning approaching death or ceasing to live.
Friday
ORDINANCE/ORDNANCE
“An “ordinance” is a law, a statute or a rule.
“Ordnance” is military weaponry of all kinds including equipment and ammunition.
SO TRUE!
Identify the author of the following.
“The price of greatness is responsibility.”
Sir Winston Churchill said this.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Nexus” (n.) means an attachment, a tie, a link or a relationship.
“Capitulate” (v.) means to surrender under agreed conditions, to succumb, give in or knuckle under.
“Omnipotence” (n.) means a state of having unlimited or absolute power, almighty or of infinite authority.
“Disconsolate” (adj.) means sad beyond comforting or inconsolable.
“Ululate” (v.) means to utter a prolonged cry, to howl or to wail.
Monday
LONELY/LONESOME
“Lonely” (adj.) means apart from others, isolated, solitary or without company.
“Lonesome” (adj.) means a feeling of being depressed by solitude or a sense of being by oneself.
Tuesday
Identify and correct the errors in the following pieces.
“An attack that left a Windsor cab driver with 15 stab wounds, slashes to both arms and lacerations to the top of his head after being beaten with a hammer.”
This is an incomplete thought; there is no main verb.
“It was an attack that left a Windsor cab driver with 15 stab wounds, slashes to both arms and lacerations to the top of his head after being beaten with a hammer.”
“Willistead Park is bordered by black metal fencing, not the green chain-linked fencing the wire pieces are believed to have originated from.”
This sentence ends in a preposition and should be reworded.
“Willistead Park is bordered by black metal fencing, not the green chain-linked fencing from which the wire pieces are believed to have originated.”
Wednesday
AMBIVALENT/INDIFFERENT
“Ambivalent” (adj.) means indecisive, divided, of two minds or uncertain.
The noun form is “ambivalence”.
“Indifferent” means showing a lack of concern or interest or neither good nor bad.
The noun form is “indifference”.
Thursday
DYEING/DYING
“Dyeing” is the present participle of the verb “dye” and refers to the process of colouring fabrics or yarns.
“Dying” is the present participle of the verb “die” meaning approaching death or ceasing to live.
Friday
ORDINANCE/ORDNANCE
“An “ordinance” is a law, a statute or a rule.
“Ordnance” is military weaponry of all kinds including equipment and ammunition.
SO TRUE!
Identify the author of the following.
“The price of greatness is responsibility.”
Sir Winston Churchill said this.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Nexus” (n.) means an attachment, a tie, a link or a relationship.
“Capitulate” (v.) means to surrender under agreed conditions, to succumb, give in or knuckle under.
“Omnipotence” (n.) means a state of having unlimited or absolute power, almighty or of infinite authority.
“Disconsolate” (adj.) means sad beyond comforting or inconsolable.
“Ululate” (v.) means to utter a prolonged cry, to howl or to wail.
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