CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - April 20, 2008

Here are the corrections and explanations for last week's posts.

Monday

WENT/GONE

“Gone” is the past participle of the verb “go”.

“Went” is the past tense of “go”.

“Went” and “gone” are not interchangeable.

I “went” to the store.
I “have gone” to the store in the past.
WRONG: I should “have went” to the store yesterday.


Tuesday

WRAPPED/RAPT/RAPPED - Part 1

“Wrapped” means to be enclosed, hidden or covered.

“Rapt” means to be deeply involved with something, to be deeply engrossed with something, to be carried away or awed by something.

“Rapped” is the past participle of the verb rap and means to hit or strike.

WRAPPER/RAPTOR/RAPPER - Part 2

A “wrapper” is someone who wraps or covers a present or object.

“A “raptor” is a carnivorous bird. “Raptor” has no real connection with “rapt” other than the concept of being carried away as a carnivorous bird might do with its prey..

“A “rapper” is someone who knocks on a door or someone who performs a genre of music.


Wednesday

DIFFUSE/DEFUSE

“Diffuse” means to spread out, to fan out or to permeate the air.

“Defuse” means to remove the trigger or the fuse, to disarm.


Thursday

Choose the correct form of the verb in each example below:

1. Occasionally I (lie, lay) on the couch.
Occasionally I lie on the couch.

2. Yesterday I (laid, lay) in the sun.
Yesterday I lay in the sun.

3. Usually I (lie, lay) on my right side.
Usually I lie on my right side.

4. The town (lies, lays) in a pleasant valley.
The town lies in a pleasant valley.

5. The responsibility (lies, lays) with you.
The responsibility lies with you.

6. When school closed I (laid, layed) my books away.
When school closed I laid my books away.

7. He (laid, layed) claim to the insurance payment.
He laid claim to the insurance payment.

8. That book (has lain, has laid) on my desk for several days.
That book has lain on my desk for several days.

9. Shall I (lie, lay) your book on the desk?
Shall I lay your book on the desk?

10. You cannot (lie, lay) down to sleep but you can (lie, lay) down to sleep.
You cannot lay down to sleep but you can lie down to sleep.


Friday

BACKWARD/BACKWARDS

“Backward” is the only acceptable form when used as an adjective.
“He left the room without even a backward glance.”

“Backwards” or “backward” can be used as an adverb.
“She put her shirt on backwards.”
“He copied her and put his on backward.”


QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“A handful of patience is worth more that a bushel of brains.”
This was said by Cato the Elder.


THIS WEEK’S WORDS

“Imperturbable” (adj.) means unshakably calm, collected, unemotional or cool.

“Hypothetical” (adj) means theoretical, abstract, notional or not based on fact.

“Imperturbable” (adj.) means cool, unexcitable, unflappable or giving no sign of feeling

“Stultify” (v.) means to cause to appear foolish, to show to be incompetent or irresponsible.

“Diffidence” (n.) means self-distrust, a lack of self-confidence a reticence or doubt.