Criteria’ is a plural form of ‘criterion’ which assumes a singular verb “is”.
The correct sentence is ‘The criterion for the contest is not specified / The criteria for the contest are not specified.’
As the pronoun is the object of the verb, we have to use “whom”. “Who” is used when the pronoun is the subject of the verb.
The correct sentence is - I am not sure whom you hate.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Mrs. Simons said that only 29 percent of the earth consisted of land.
If the subordinate clause states a universal truth, it assumes a present tense. ‘Consisted’ is past tense.
The correct sentence is, ‘ Mrs. Simon said that only 29 percent of the earth consists of land’.
The soldiers said that they will be ready for the attack.
If the main clause is stated in the past tense, the following subordinate clause assumes a conditional past tense. ‘Will be’ is future tense which has to be turned into a conditional ‘would be’.
The correct sentence is ‘The soldiers said that they would be ready for the attack’.
I study hard so that I scored good grades.
A sentence wherein the subordinate clause indicates purpose, if the main clause is stated in present or future tense, the subordinate clause assumes a present tense. Here, the purpose is to score good grades.
Hence the correct sentence is, ‘I study hard so that I may score good grades’.
The teacher said that she is happy with Sam’s results.
If the main clause is stated in the past tense, the following subordinate clause also assumes a past tense. ‘Is’ is simple present tense which has to be turned into past tense ‘was’.
The correct sentence is, ‘The teacher said that she was happy with Sam’s results’.
If the subordinate clause states a universal truth, it assumes a present tense. ‘Consisted’ is past tense.
The correct sentence is, ‘ Mrs. Simon said that only 29 percent of the earth consists of land’.
The soldiers said that they will be ready for the attack.
If the main clause is stated in the past tense, the following subordinate clause assumes a conditional past tense. ‘Will be’ is future tense which has to be turned into a conditional ‘would be’.
The correct sentence is ‘The soldiers said that they would be ready for the attack’.
I study hard so that I scored good grades.
A sentence wherein the subordinate clause indicates purpose, if the main clause is stated in present or future tense, the subordinate clause assumes a present tense. Here, the purpose is to score good grades.
Hence the correct sentence is, ‘I study hard so that I may score good grades’.
The teacher said that she is happy with Sam’s results.
If the main clause is stated in the past tense, the following subordinate clause also assumes a past tense. ‘Is’ is simple present tense which has to be turned into past tense ‘was’.
The correct sentence is, ‘The teacher said that she was happy with Sam’s results’.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Noun Pronoun
I am not sure who you hate.
As the pronoun is the object of the verb, we have to use “whom”. “Who” is used when the pronoun is the subject of the verb.
The correct sentence is - I am not sure whom you hate.
The criteria for the contest is not specified.
‘Criteria’ is a plural form of ‘criterion’ which assumes a singular verb “is”.
The correct sentence is ‘The criterion for the contest is not specified / The criteria for the contest are not specified.’
As the pronoun is the object of the verb, we have to use “whom”. “Who” is used when the pronoun is the subject of the verb.
The correct sentence is - I am not sure whom you hate.
The criteria for the contest is not specified.
‘Criteria’ is a plural form of ‘criterion’ which assumes a singular verb “is”.
The correct sentence is ‘The criterion for the contest is not specified / The criteria for the contest are not specified.’
Monday, November 8, 2010
8 oct
Sensous vs sensual
“Sensuous” implies ‘gratification of the senses for the sake of aesthetic pleasure’; the sensuous delights of great music.
“Sensual” tends to imply ‘the gratification of the senses or the indulgence of the physical appetites as ends in themselves’.
Luxurious vs voluptous
“ Luxurious” suggests the ‘providing of or indulgence of sensuous pleasure inducing bodily ease and languor’; a luxurious hotel.
“Voluptuous” implies ‘more strongly abandonment especially to sensual pleasure’; a voluptuous feast.
Veracious vs voracious
“Veracious” is ‘truthful, honest or accurate’.
“Voracious” means ‘ravenous or having a huge appetite’ and is the correct word in this context.
Tertiary vs ternary
‘Ternary’ is ‘based on the number three’.
‘Tertiary’ means ‘third in place, order, degree, or rank’. Here, we want to express a number system based on the number three.
Premier vs Premiere
“Premier” (adj) means ‘first in rank’
“Premiere” as a noun means ‘first performance’.
“Sensuous” implies ‘gratification of the senses for the sake of aesthetic pleasure’; the sensuous delights of great music.
“Sensual” tends to imply ‘the gratification of the senses or the indulgence of the physical appetites as ends in themselves’.
Luxurious vs voluptous
“ Luxurious” suggests the ‘providing of or indulgence of sensuous pleasure inducing bodily ease and languor’; a luxurious hotel.
“Voluptuous” implies ‘more strongly abandonment especially to sensual pleasure’; a voluptuous feast.
Veracious vs voracious
“Veracious” is ‘truthful, honest or accurate’.
“Voracious” means ‘ravenous or having a huge appetite’ and is the correct word in this context.
Tertiary vs ternary
‘Ternary’ is ‘based on the number three’.
‘Tertiary’ means ‘third in place, order, degree, or rank’. Here, we want to express a number system based on the number three.
Premier vs Premiere
“Premier” (adj) means ‘first in rank’
“Premiere” as a noun means ‘first performance’.
8 oct
punitive
Presently / Currently
comprises (A) / consists (B)
confidant (A) / confident (B)
Despite (A) / In spite (B)
dinning (A) / dining (B)
----------------------------------------------------
demure and demur. The difference of the final “silent” E is critical not only to the pronunciation but to the meanings of these two words. Demure is pronounced [de-myure] while demur is pronounced [duh-murr]. Big difference there.
Demure, of course, is an adjective meaning, roughly, “coyly shy”. If someone asks you whether you know something about a topic on which you happen to be an expert, a demure reply is appropriate: “Do you know anything about words?” “A little,” would be a demure reply from a lexicographer or lexicologist.
The verb means to show reluctance in doing something, to hold back or hesitate in an open-ended fashion. You would (I hope) demur from sharing the password to your online bank account with anyone.
I exemplified the disparity between this word and demur with a comment about one of my favorite co-diners, Cherry Pitt: “Cherry Pitt demurred from the offer of a second dessert, waiting until asked a second time, at which point she demurely accepted.”
It just occurred to me that the difference between a lexicographer and a lexicologist might make an interesting note. I won’t devote a whole essay to the topic but just say here that a lexicographer is someone who compiles dictionaries while a lexicologist is someone who scientifically (linguistically) studies the nature of words in the mental lexicon.
How to use Affect
Affect is commonly used as a verb. Unless your topic is psychology, you will rarely need to use affect as a noun.
Typically, when people want to say that one thing has had an impact on another, they will use the verb affect.
For example:
* It’s hard to say how the price of gasoline will affect the economy in the long run.
* Growing up with three older sisters affected me greatly as a person.
* When someone affects you strongly, you may develop affection for them. (Notice in this example that the root of affection is affect.)
How to use Effect
Effect is almost always used as a noun. Typically, when people talk about causes, they also talk about effects. An effect is what is created by some cause. Here are some examples of effect being used as a noun that means “the result of a cause”:
* It’s hard to say what effect the rising price of gasoline will have on the world economy.
* One undesirable effect of not wearing shoes is getting really dirty feet.
* The hurricane caused many tragedies, and the victims are still feeling its effects.
* However, it can also be used as a verb, meaning to bring about, as in her actions effected a change in the situation.
narration
aparthield
Presently / Currently
comprises (A) / consists (B)
confidant (A) / confident (B)
Despite (A) / In spite (B)
dinning (A) / dining (B)
----------------------------------------------------
demure and demur. The difference of the final “silent” E is critical not only to the pronunciation but to the meanings of these two words. Demure is pronounced [de-myure] while demur is pronounced [duh-murr]. Big difference there.
Demure, of course, is an adjective meaning, roughly, “coyly shy”. If someone asks you whether you know something about a topic on which you happen to be an expert, a demure reply is appropriate: “Do you know anything about words?” “A little,” would be a demure reply from a lexicographer or lexicologist.
The verb means to show reluctance in doing something, to hold back or hesitate in an open-ended fashion. You would (I hope) demur from sharing the password to your online bank account with anyone.
I exemplified the disparity between this word and demur with a comment about one of my favorite co-diners, Cherry Pitt: “Cherry Pitt demurred from the offer of a second dessert, waiting until asked a second time, at which point she demurely accepted.”
It just occurred to me that the difference between a lexicographer and a lexicologist might make an interesting note. I won’t devote a whole essay to the topic but just say here that a lexicographer is someone who compiles dictionaries while a lexicologist is someone who scientifically (linguistically) studies the nature of words in the mental lexicon.
How to use Affect
Affect is commonly used as a verb. Unless your topic is psychology, you will rarely need to use affect as a noun.
Typically, when people want to say that one thing has had an impact on another, they will use the verb affect.
For example:
* It’s hard to say how the price of gasoline will affect the economy in the long run.
* Growing up with three older sisters affected me greatly as a person.
* When someone affects you strongly, you may develop affection for them. (Notice in this example that the root of affection is affect.)
How to use Effect
Effect is almost always used as a noun. Typically, when people talk about causes, they also talk about effects. An effect is what is created by some cause. Here are some examples of effect being used as a noun that means “the result of a cause”:
* It’s hard to say what effect the rising price of gasoline will have on the world economy.
* One undesirable effect of not wearing shoes is getting really dirty feet.
* The hurricane caused many tragedies, and the victims are still feeling its effects.
* However, it can also be used as a verb, meaning to bring about, as in her actions effected a change in the situation.
narration
aparthield
8 oct
the american type
squinting
dangling
participal pharases
gerund phrases
infinitive phrases
elliptical clauses
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
perquisite vs prerequisite
shear vs sheer
peddle vs pedal
oral vs aural
perspicuous vs perspicacious
historic vs historical
antics vs antiques
wreathe vs wreath
proclivity vs
squinting
dangling
participal pharases
gerund phrases
infinitive phrases
elliptical clauses
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
perquisite vs prerequisite
shear vs sheer
peddle vs pedal
oral vs aural
perspicuous vs perspicacious
historic vs historical
antics vs antiques
wreathe vs wreath
proclivity vs
8 oct
correlative conjunctions
we provide an explanation for something not on/of
what is time
general theory of relativity
quantam theory
we have misapprehension of something and not misapprehension about somehting
what makes the universe tick
http://www.stealthskater.com/Documents/Time_05.pdf
corn laws in the 19th century britain
melodramatic
he'd done all that , as part of a larger than life life
the sun hinted at(not towards) signs of retarding
being a very sociable person she can strike up a conversation even with a complete stranger
his officious behaviour is becoming increasingly unbearable, i wish someone could cut him down to size.
call it sleep(1934)
posthumous
we provide an explanation for something not on/of
what is time
general theory of relativity
quantam theory
we have misapprehension of something and not misapprehension about somehting
what makes the universe tick
http://www.stealthskater.com/Documents/Time_05.pdf
corn laws in the 19th century britain
melodramatic
he'd done all that , as part of a larger than life life
the sun hinted at(not towards) signs of retarding
being a very sociable person she can strike up a conversation even with a complete stranger
his officious behaviour is becoming increasingly unbearable, i wish someone could cut him down to size.
call it sleep(1934)
posthumous
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