Here is another tricky area of verb use.
ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE
Verb voice can be active or passive.
What is an active verb?
What is a passive verb?
What are the guidelines or rules for the use of the active and passive voices of verbs?
Using the verbs, "revise" and "approve", create both active and passive sentences.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "ineffable".
What part of speech is "ineffable"?
Define "ineffable" and use it in a sentence.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
A SLIGHT DEPARTURE
This is a tricky area, but I will try to make some sense of it.
COPULA VERBS
What is a copula verb?
What verbs can be considered copula verbs?
Explain the differences between a sentence with a copula verb and a normal sentence.
Analyse, or parse, the following sentences which have copula verbs in them.
"I am the man."
"This room smells bad."
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "predilection".
What part of speech is "predilection"?
Define "predilection" and use it in a sentence.
COPULA VERBS
What is a copula verb?
What verbs can be considered copula verbs?
Explain the differences between a sentence with a copula verb and a normal sentence.
Analyse, or parse, the following sentences which have copula verbs in them.
"I am the man."
"This room smells bad."
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "predilection".
What part of speech is "predilection"?
Define "predilection" and use it in a sentence.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - August 9, 2009
Here are the corrections and explanations for last week's abbreviated entries.
Tuesday
Find and correct the three errors in the following entries.
“There were a total of 168 passengers on the plane.”
The verb “were” must be in agreement with “total”, the singular subjective completion.
“There was a total of 168 passengers on the plane.”
“‘I use to live in Amherstburg and get to see a lot of people I've not seen in a long time.’”
“Use” is incorrect. It should be “used”.
“Used”, the verb of the principal clause, is past tense, so the verb, “get”, in the second clause must also be past tense.
To remain consistent, the verb in the third clause should be the past perfect tense, not the present perfect tense.
Because I thoroughly dislike the word “got” and all its forms and since I think that “got” should be banned from the English language, I am recommending changing it.
Because “a lot” is such a trite expression, it should be changed to “many”.
“‘I used to live in Amherstburg and I saw, at the gathering, many people I had not seen in a long time.’”
Wednesday
The construction of both entries below is weak. Determine what is incorrect and could be improved.
Read the second entry closely. Does it even make sense? Explain.
“Renaud said staff at America's Most Wanted have told her they will try and have his case featured on the broadcast version of the show.”
In the context of the sentence, “try and have” does not make sense. It should be changed to “try to have”.
“Renaud said staff at America's Most Wanted have told her they will try to have his case featured on the broadcast version of the show.”
“Police believe he may have been depressed when he went missing but not to the event of being suicidal.”
People and things do not “go missing”; to say that they do is inane!
“To the event” is completely incorrect. It is akin to using “prostrate” when meaning “prostate”.
Does the second clause even connect to the first? You be the judge; but read it very carefully.
“Police believe he may have been depressed when he disappeared but not to the extent of being suicidal.”
Friday
UNCHARTERED/UNCHARTED
“Unchartered” (adj.) means lacking a charter, lawless or unregulated.
“Uncharted” (adj.) means unmapped or unexplored.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Prescience” (n.) means the power to foresee the future or the knowledge of things before they exist.
“Evocation” (n.) means an imaginative recreation, a calling forth or a summoning.
“Deleterious" (adj.) means having adverse effects on living things, injurious, noxious or abusive.
Tuesday
Find and correct the three errors in the following entries.
“There were a total of 168 passengers on the plane.”
The verb “were” must be in agreement with “total”, the singular subjective completion.
“There was a total of 168 passengers on the plane.”
“‘I use to live in Amherstburg and get to see a lot of people I've not seen in a long time.’”
“Use” is incorrect. It should be “used”.
“Used”, the verb of the principal clause, is past tense, so the verb, “get”, in the second clause must also be past tense.
To remain consistent, the verb in the third clause should be the past perfect tense, not the present perfect tense.
Because I thoroughly dislike the word “got” and all its forms and since I think that “got” should be banned from the English language, I am recommending changing it.
Because “a lot” is such a trite expression, it should be changed to “many”.
“‘I used to live in Amherstburg and I saw, at the gathering, many people I had not seen in a long time.’”
Wednesday
The construction of both entries below is weak. Determine what is incorrect and could be improved.
Read the second entry closely. Does it even make sense? Explain.
“Renaud said staff at America's Most Wanted have told her they will try and have his case featured on the broadcast version of the show.”
In the context of the sentence, “try and have” does not make sense. It should be changed to “try to have”.
“Renaud said staff at America's Most Wanted have told her they will try to have his case featured on the broadcast version of the show.”
“Police believe he may have been depressed when he went missing but not to the event of being suicidal.”
People and things do not “go missing”; to say that they do is inane!
“To the event” is completely incorrect. It is akin to using “prostrate” when meaning “prostate”.
Does the second clause even connect to the first? You be the judge; but read it very carefully.
“Police believe he may have been depressed when he disappeared but not to the extent of being suicidal.”
Friday
UNCHARTERED/UNCHARTED
“Unchartered” (adj.) means lacking a charter, lawless or unregulated.
“Uncharted” (adj.) means unmapped or unexplored.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Prescience” (n.) means the power to foresee the future or the knowledge of things before they exist.
“Evocation” (n.) means an imaginative recreation, a calling forth or a summoning.
“Deleterious" (adj.) means having adverse effects on living things, injurious, noxious or abusive.
Friday, August 7, 2009
A SUMMER FRIDAY'S FARE
UNCHARTERED/UNCHARTED
Define and explain the difference between the words "unchartered" and "uncharted".
Use each word in a sentence that clearly shows its meaning.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "deleterious".
What part of speech is "deleterious"?
Define "deleterious" and use it in a sentence.
Try using it in your speech today.
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will beposted on Sunday.
Define and explain the difference between the words "unchartered" and "uncharted".
Use each word in a sentence that clearly shows its meaning.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "deleterious".
What part of speech is "deleterious"?
Define "deleterious" and use it in a sentence.
Try using it in your speech today.
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will beposted on Sunday.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
GOOD CHALLENGES
PICKY! PICKY!
The construction of both entries below is weak. Determine what is incorrect and could be improved.
Read the second entry closely. Does it even make sense? Explain.
"Renaud said staff at America's Most Wanted have told her they will try and have his case featured on the broadcast version of the show."
Chris Thompson, "Missing man featured on America's Most Wanted", The Windsor Star, Wednesday, August 5, 2009.
"Police believe he may have been depressed when he went missing but not to the event of being suicidal."
Chris Thompson, "Missing man featured on America's Most Wanted", The Windsor Star, Wednesday, August 5, 2009.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "evocation".
What part of speech is "evocation"?
Define "evocation" and use it in a sentence.
ANNOUNCEMENT - SHORT WEEK
There will be no posting tomorrow.
The next posting will occur on Friday, August 7, 2009.
The construction of both entries below is weak. Determine what is incorrect and could be improved.
Read the second entry closely. Does it even make sense? Explain.
"Renaud said staff at America's Most Wanted have told her they will try and have his case featured on the broadcast version of the show."
Chris Thompson, "Missing man featured on America's Most Wanted", The Windsor Star, Wednesday, August 5, 2009.
"Police believe he may have been depressed when he went missing but not to the event of being suicidal."
Chris Thompson, "Missing man featured on America's Most Wanted", The Windsor Star, Wednesday, August 5, 2009.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "evocation".
What part of speech is "evocation"?
Define "evocation" and use it in a sentence.
ANNOUNCEMENT - SHORT WEEK
There will be no posting tomorrow.
The next posting will occur on Friday, August 7, 2009.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
LITTLE THINGS MEAN A LOT
A CROWD OF THREE
Find and correct the three errors in the following entries.
Explain your error choices.
"There were a total of 168 passengers on the plane."
Jennifer Ward, CTV News Channel, Monday, August 3, 2009.
"'I use to live in Amherstburg and get to see a lot of people I've not seen in a long time.'"
Dave Battagello, "Variety at A'burg car show attracts thousands of fans", The Windsor Star, Tuesday, August 4, 2009.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "prescience".
What part of speech is "prescience"?
Define "prescience" and use it in a sentence.
Find and correct the three errors in the following entries.
Explain your error choices.
"There were a total of 168 passengers on the plane."
Jennifer Ward, CTV News Channel, Monday, August 3, 2009.
"'I use to live in Amherstburg and get to see a lot of people I've not seen in a long time.'"
Dave Battagello, "Variety at A'burg car show attracts thousands of fans", The Windsor Star, Tuesday, August 4, 2009.
TODAY'S WORD
The word for today is "prescience".
What part of speech is "prescience"?
Define "prescience" and use it in a sentence.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - August 2, 2009
Here are the corrections for last week’s entries.
Monday
PURPOSELY/PURPOSEFULLY
“Purposely” (adv.) means to do something not by accident or with planning.
“Purposefully” (adv.) means acting or doing with a specific purpose in mind.
Tuesday
FAINT/FEINT
“Faint” (adj.) means very soft, muffled, muted, weak or lacking in courage.
“Feint” (n.) refers to a daring move, a trick or a distracting manoeuver, particularly on the battlefield.
Wednesday
HERE WE GO AGAIN
Identify and correct the errors in the following pieces.
(The pun is free. Identify it and you get a bonus star for your forehead.)
The Bonus Star is awarded to anyone who connected the title of today's posting, "Here We Go Again", with the example below about the overactive bladder. If that has to be further explained, you have to reread every blog entry that I have posted since I started.
“Council voted Monday to reconsider the issue. Why? Because the people spoke.”
“Because the people spoke,” is not a complete thought. “Because” is a subordinate conjunction.
“Council voted Monday to reconsider the issue. Why? They will reconsider because the people spoke.”
“ 1 in 6 adults have overactive bladder.”
“1" is singular and is the subject of the sentence. It needs a singular verb.
“In 6" is an adjective clause modifying “1".
Both numbers should be written out.
“Overactive bladder” is a moronic advertising cliché which should be preceded by the indefinite article “an”.
“ One in six adults has an overactive bladder.”
“Chicagoans Maggie and John Anderson have dedicated themselves to living off of only black-owned businesses in an effort called The Empowerment Experiment.”
“Off of” is incorrect for two reasons: two prepositions such as “off” and “of” cannot be used together; notwithstanding that, the meaning of the sentence precludes the use of “off of” and another phrase should be used.
“Chicagoans Maggie and John Anderson have dedicated themselves to living and buying from only black-owned businesses in an effort called The Empowerment Experiment.”
Thursday
FORTUITOUS/FORTUNATE
“Fortuitous” (adj.) refers to events that have no apparent cause or by chance. They are random but usually positive.
“Fortunate” (adj.) means of unexpectedly good fortune, lucky or favourable.
Friday
REPEL/REPULSE
“Repel” (v.) means to force back, fight off or reject.
“Repellence” is the noun form of the word.
“Repulse” (v.) also means to fight off , drive back or rebuff.
“Repulsion” is the noun form of the word.
The difference is that if you are disgusted with someone, you are repelled, not repulsed, by that person.
GENEROSITY
Identify the author of the following concept.
“Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need.”
Kahlil Gibran, Lebanese artist and poet, wrote these words.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Magnanimous” (adj.) means great-hearted, ennobling, generous, understanding and tolerant.
“Munificence” (n.) refers to largesse, openhandedness, philanthropy or liberality of giving.
“Vicarious” (adj.) means alternate or experienced secondhand.
“Mastication” (n.) refers to biting or chewing of food in the mouth.
“Nebulous” (adj.) means lacking distinctness or definiteness of content.
Monday
PURPOSELY/PURPOSEFULLY
“Purposely” (adv.) means to do something not by accident or with planning.
“Purposefully” (adv.) means acting or doing with a specific purpose in mind.
Tuesday
FAINT/FEINT
“Faint” (adj.) means very soft, muffled, muted, weak or lacking in courage.
“Feint” (n.) refers to a daring move, a trick or a distracting manoeuver, particularly on the battlefield.
Wednesday
HERE WE GO AGAIN
Identify and correct the errors in the following pieces.
(The pun is free. Identify it and you get a bonus star for your forehead.)
The Bonus Star is awarded to anyone who connected the title of today's posting, "Here We Go Again", with the example below about the overactive bladder. If that has to be further explained, you have to reread every blog entry that I have posted since I started.
“Council voted Monday to reconsider the issue. Why? Because the people spoke.”
“Because the people spoke,” is not a complete thought. “Because” is a subordinate conjunction.
“Council voted Monday to reconsider the issue. Why? They will reconsider because the people spoke.”
“ 1 in 6 adults have overactive bladder.”
“1" is singular and is the subject of the sentence. It needs a singular verb.
“In 6" is an adjective clause modifying “1".
Both numbers should be written out.
“Overactive bladder” is a moronic advertising cliché which should be preceded by the indefinite article “an”.
“ One in six adults has an overactive bladder.”
“Chicagoans Maggie and John Anderson have dedicated themselves to living off of only black-owned businesses in an effort called The Empowerment Experiment.”
“Off of” is incorrect for two reasons: two prepositions such as “off” and “of” cannot be used together; notwithstanding that, the meaning of the sentence precludes the use of “off of” and another phrase should be used.
“Chicagoans Maggie and John Anderson have dedicated themselves to living and buying from only black-owned businesses in an effort called The Empowerment Experiment.”
Thursday
FORTUITOUS/FORTUNATE
“Fortuitous” (adj.) refers to events that have no apparent cause or by chance. They are random but usually positive.
“Fortunate” (adj.) means of unexpectedly good fortune, lucky or favourable.
Friday
REPEL/REPULSE
“Repel” (v.) means to force back, fight off or reject.
“Repellence” is the noun form of the word.
“Repulse” (v.) also means to fight off , drive back or rebuff.
“Repulsion” is the noun form of the word.
The difference is that if you are disgusted with someone, you are repelled, not repulsed, by that person.
GENEROSITY
Identify the author of the following concept.
“Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need.”
Kahlil Gibran, Lebanese artist and poet, wrote these words.
LAST WEEK’S WORDS
“Magnanimous” (adj.) means great-hearted, ennobling, generous, understanding and tolerant.
“Munificence” (n.) refers to largesse, openhandedness, philanthropy or liberality of giving.
“Vicarious” (adj.) means alternate or experienced secondhand.
“Mastication” (n.) refers to biting or chewing of food in the mouth.
“Nebulous” (adj.) means lacking distinctness or definiteness of content.
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