Dear Readers,
It's time we had a memorial service for the sadly departed adjective fewer.
It has been replaced by the similar but different word less. What is the difference?
Fewer is an adjective which means "of a smaller number," the key word being number.
Less, as an adverb, means "to a smaller extent, amount or degree." Less, as an adjective, means "smaller in size, amount, degree." According to
Elements of Style by Strunk and White, "Less refers to quantity, fewer to number." Quantity refers to mass nouns (like milk, e.g. less milk) and number refers to count nouns, or things that can become plural (like books, e.g. fewer books). They are not interchangeable.
Let's take a look at some instances where less has been substituted for fewer.
EXAMPLE: On America's Got Talent, Episode 18 of 2012, Judge Howie Mandel explains to a musical group about the audience voters at home. He says, "If they just like you, but they don't know the song, you get less votes." Since "votes" is a plural noun, the phrase should be "fewer votes."
EXAMPLE: In the episode entitled "Noosphere Rising" of the tv show "Touch," a girl is writing a blog about the boys she has dated. In it she says, "The world needs more Paolos and less Daryls."
Since "Daryls" can be counted, the word should be "fewer Daryls."
EXAMPLE: In a People magazine interview with singer/songwriter Vince Gill, he is quoted as saying, "I know I have less years left than I've already lived." Of course he should have said,
"fewer years" because we can count the years.
EXAMPLE: On KABC Talkradio at 10:29am July 17, 2012, host Joe Krumme uses the expression
"less taxes." No doubt it should be "fewer taxes" since taxes is a count noun.
EXAMPLE: The logo for TNT television network says, "More movie ... less commercials."
What should it be? You now know, "fewer commercials" because commercials can be counted.
Here is an example of both wrong and right usage of the word less heard uttered by Jim Caviezel's character John Reese in tv's "Person of Interest": "It's safer for both of them. The less people that know about [detective] Fusco, the less danger he's in." Using less with "people" is incorrect since the word people refers to plural individuals. It should be fewer people. In the second part, "danger" is a mass noun and therefore less is correct.
These examples use few + less together, which is just so wrong it's laughable.
EXAMPLE: In the novel "Four to Score" by Janet Evanovich, bounty hunter Stephanie Plum describes a lustful evening with cop friend Joe Morelli: "Two hours later there were a few less condoms in the box..." Why didn't she just say "FEWER condoms"???
EXAMPLE: On tv's "Criminal Minds" episode "The Fallen," FBI Agent Rossi is talking to his former Marine sergeant who is now homeless and a witness to an abduction. The sergeant says,
"I let him get away. I had that son of a bitch right in my hands." Rossi responds, "A few less drinks might have helped." Of course we now know it should be "FEWER drinks."
Now for some examples of the happily resurrected word fewer.
EXAMPLE: In Dennis Prager's book Happiness is a Serious Problem, he writes, "... how different the world would be if everyone were raised from birth by a happy, healthy, loving, attentive, and ethical mother and father. There would be far fewer police officers needed, far fewer wars fought, and far fewer books on happiness written." Yea for Dennis!
EXAMPLE: Sean Hannity, on KABC Talkradio from October 16, 2012 at 2:12pm said, "We've created fewer jobs in September than in July." Good job, Sean, "jobs" is a plural noun.
EXAMPLE: On the September 23, 2012 airing of "60 Minutes," President Obama said, "When it comes to regulations, I've issued fewer regulations than my predecessor George Bush did." Hurray, Mr. President.
EXAMPLE: Narrator Josh Brolin of the series "Mankind: The Story of All of Us" explains:
"At the beginning of mankind, there are perhaps only 10,000 humans on the planet, fewer people than are born in a single hour today." Correct! "People" being plural needs fewer as the adjective.
Well done.
In the future, I hope you will encounter fewer misuses of the word LESS. The less said the better.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
The Object of the Preposition
Dear Readers,
What is a preposition? As I used to explain to my students, it is whatever you can do to a house.
For example: to the house, from the house, on the house, under the house, of the house, for the house, in front of the house, behind the house, near the house, far from the house, in the house, with the house, beneath the house
You get the picture.
Now, what happens when we use personal references after the preposition instead of a thing (the house)? The personal pronoun we must use when it comes after one of these prepositions is not the same as the personal pronoun used as the subject of the sentence.
Here are the subject pronouns categorized for your understanding:
SINGULAR subject PLURAL subject
I We
You You
He, She, It They
Here are the pronouns used after a preposition. Please note that they are not the same and they are not interchangeable, with the exception of the pronouns "You" and "It".
SINGULAR object PLURAL object
me us
you you
him, her, it them
Here are some examples of the wrong use of a pronoun after a preposition.
Example: In the 1998 movie "A Perfect Murder," Steven Taylor (played by Michael Douglas) knows that his wife is having an affair with artist David. His plan to have David murder the wife goes awry and she does not die. After spinning the truth, he asks his wife: "Is there anything in his loft that could link David to you or I?" Since, I is a subject pronoun, it should not be used after the preposition to. Of course it should be "to you or me?"
Example: When Katie Couric interviewed Prince William on the Queen's Jubilee Special, aired on May 29, 2012, William says of his wedding: "It was very important to both Catherine and I that we, um, gave a day that was true to ourselves." The explanation is the same as in the above example, but here we have the Prince of Wales speaking incorrectly.
Example: On the tv show "The King of Queens" episode entitled "Inner Tube", Doug has a dream where he is Ralph Kramden of the Honeymooners. Ralph says to Norton, "That's the difference between you and I." Here the preposition in use is between and the pronoun should be me.
I have heard and read on many other occasions phrases like these:
"for she and I" or "about he and I". In these instances, both pronouns are subject pronouns being used in the position after the preposition. Now we know that these phrases should read:
"for her and me" and "about him and me." If you find yourself unsure of which is the correct pronoun to use in situations like the ones above, simply take out one of the objects. You will instantly hear what the actual pronoun should be.
Example: My parents ate dinner with he and I. => My parents ate dinner with he. NOPE.
My parents ate dinner with him. YES. My parents ate dinner with I. NOPE.
My parents ate dinner with me. YES.
My parents ate dinner with him and me. Now it is correct.
See how easy this is?
Here are a few examples of good writing:
Example: In the movie "No Time For Sergeants" released in 1958, new Army recruits Ben Whitledge and Will Stockdale are arguing over the top bunk. Another recruit butts in so Ben says,
"That's between him and me." Hurrah!
Example: In the cop show "Major Crimes" episode "Long Shot," there is a shooting involving a new school superintendant. LAPD Commander Taylor says, " [FBI] Agent Howard and I have been arranging protection for her and her family until we can sort this whole thing out." Bravo!
Example: In the episode entitled "The Hamburger Postulate" of "The Big Bang Theory", Leonard introduces his neighbor Penny to a friend who stops by: "Leslie, this is Penny. She lives across the hall from Sheldon and me." Excellent writers on this show.
Well, I hope this has been enlightening for you (same pronoun for the object of the preposition and the subject).
What is a preposition? As I used to explain to my students, it is whatever you can do to a house.
For example: to the house, from the house, on the house, under the house, of the house, for the house, in front of the house, behind the house, near the house, far from the house, in the house, with the house, beneath the house
You get the picture.
Now, what happens when we use personal references after the preposition instead of a thing (the house)? The personal pronoun we must use when it comes after one of these prepositions is not the same as the personal pronoun used as the subject of the sentence.
Here are the subject pronouns categorized for your understanding:
SINGULAR subject PLURAL subject
I We
You You
He, She, It They
Here are the pronouns used after a preposition. Please note that they are not the same and they are not interchangeable, with the exception of the pronouns "You" and "It".
SINGULAR object PLURAL object
me us
you you
him, her, it them
Here are some examples of the wrong use of a pronoun after a preposition.
Example: In the 1998 movie "A Perfect Murder," Steven Taylor (played by Michael Douglas) knows that his wife is having an affair with artist David. His plan to have David murder the wife goes awry and she does not die. After spinning the truth, he asks his wife: "Is there anything in his loft that could link David to you or I?" Since, I is a subject pronoun, it should not be used after the preposition to. Of course it should be "to you or me?"
Example: When Katie Couric interviewed Prince William on the Queen's Jubilee Special, aired on May 29, 2012, William says of his wedding: "It was very important to both Catherine and I that we, um, gave a day that was true to ourselves." The explanation is the same as in the above example, but here we have the Prince of Wales speaking incorrectly.
Example: On the tv show "The King of Queens" episode entitled "Inner Tube", Doug has a dream where he is Ralph Kramden of the Honeymooners. Ralph says to Norton, "That's the difference between you and I." Here the preposition in use is between and the pronoun should be me.
I have heard and read on many other occasions phrases like these:
"for she and I" or "about he and I". In these instances, both pronouns are subject pronouns being used in the position after the preposition. Now we know that these phrases should read:
"for her and me" and "about him and me." If you find yourself unsure of which is the correct pronoun to use in situations like the ones above, simply take out one of the objects. You will instantly hear what the actual pronoun should be.
Example: My parents ate dinner with he and I. => My parents ate dinner with he. NOPE.
My parents ate dinner with him. YES. My parents ate dinner with I. NOPE.
My parents ate dinner with me. YES.
My parents ate dinner with him and me. Now it is correct.
See how easy this is?
Here are a few examples of good writing:
Example: In the movie "No Time For Sergeants" released in 1958, new Army recruits Ben Whitledge and Will Stockdale are arguing over the top bunk. Another recruit butts in so Ben says,
"That's between him and me." Hurrah!
Example: In the cop show "Major Crimes" episode "Long Shot," there is a shooting involving a new school superintendant. LAPD Commander Taylor says, " [FBI] Agent Howard and I have been arranging protection for her and her family until we can sort this whole thing out." Bravo!
Example: In the episode entitled "The Hamburger Postulate" of "The Big Bang Theory", Leonard introduces his neighbor Penny to a friend who stops by: "Leslie, this is Penny. She lives across the hall from Sheldon and me." Excellent writers on this show.
Well, I hope this has been enlightening for you (same pronoun for the object of the preposition and the subject).
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
until, 'til, till - clearing up the confusion
Dear Readers,
Here is a pop quiz for you. Fill in the blank:
1. I will love you ____ the end of time.
A. until
B. 'til
C. till
D. all of the above
E. answers A and B only
If you chose answer D, give yourself an A+. Let me explain.
According to the Oxford American Dictionary, until is a preposition and conjunction. The definition goes like this: up to (a specified time), up to the time when, wait until evening,
> use until rather than till, especially when it stands first, as in Until last year, we had never been abroad, and in formal use, as in He lived there until his death.
For answer C above, were you surprised at the inclusion of the spelling of the word till as a synonym of this preposition? This spelling has actually been in use since at least 1957. The Random House Dictionary has this entry for till: 1. till: preposition, up to the time, until
2. verb: to labor, as by plowing 3. noun: a drawer or box in which money is kept.
Of course, option B above is the abbreviation or shortened form of until.
Let's see some examples of each of the three options.
UNTIL
In the novel "Joanna's Husband and David's Wife" by Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey, the heroine, Joanna, is writing about her future husband David. She writes, "I didn't even want to marry him until he said he wanted out of it."
10 year old Felix Funicello, the narrator of Wally Lamb's "Wishin' and Hopin', a Christmas Story",
is recounting an experience he had. " 'Scuse me, 'scuse me,' I kept saying until I'd squeezed my way up to the front."
On the television show "Major Crimes" episode Before and After, Captain Sharon Raydor says to the wife of a murdered victim: "You just need to stay strong until we can arrest the man who killed your husband."
'TIL
There is a bus stop billboard that advertises for Monday Night Football on ESPN. The sign reads:
"It ain't over 'til it's Tuesday."
A television sitcom is entitled 'Til Death, starring Brad Garrett.
In the movie "The Wendell Baker Story", released in 2007, Wendell's voice over says, "They say you don't know what you have 'til it's gone." So reads the closed caption.
TILL
In Jane Langton's novel "Murder at Monticello", the character Oliver Pratt says, "Well, I've been working on my talk ...Wait till you hear this."
"The Dogs of Babel" is a novel by Carolyn Parkhurst. In it, the main character and narrator Paul describes a trip to Mardi Gras in New Orleans that he and his wife had taken: "Easter was late that year, not till mid-April..."
Rhonda Pollero, author of "Knock 'em Dead", has her heroine, Finley Tanner saying, "Be here at eight. It's ... five till."
Observed on a sign over a restaurant entrance on Reseda Blvd., "Open Till Midnight".
I believe that this last spelling undoubtedly came from hearing the abbreviated form 'til and incorrectly writing it as it sounded: till.
The point of this posting is to show how misspellings of words often become accepted into our ever evolving English language.
Until, 'til, till we meet next month - speak Good English!
Here is a pop quiz for you. Fill in the blank:
1. I will love you ____ the end of time.
A. until
B. 'til
C. till
D. all of the above
E. answers A and B only
If you chose answer D, give yourself an A+. Let me explain.
According to the Oxford American Dictionary, until is a preposition and conjunction. The definition goes like this: up to (a specified time), up to the time when, wait until evening,
> use until rather than till, especially when it stands first, as in Until last year, we had never been abroad, and in formal use, as in He lived there until his death.
For answer C above, were you surprised at the inclusion of the spelling of the word till as a synonym of this preposition? This spelling has actually been in use since at least 1957. The Random House Dictionary has this entry for till: 1. till: preposition, up to the time, until
2. verb: to labor, as by plowing 3. noun: a drawer or box in which money is kept.
Of course, option B above is the abbreviation or shortened form of until.
Let's see some examples of each of the three options.
UNTIL
In the novel "Joanna's Husband and David's Wife" by Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey, the heroine, Joanna, is writing about her future husband David. She writes, "I didn't even want to marry him until he said he wanted out of it."
10 year old Felix Funicello, the narrator of Wally Lamb's "Wishin' and Hopin', a Christmas Story",
is recounting an experience he had. " 'Scuse me, 'scuse me,' I kept saying until I'd squeezed my way up to the front."
On the television show "Major Crimes" episode Before and After, Captain Sharon Raydor says to the wife of a murdered victim: "You just need to stay strong until we can arrest the man who killed your husband."
'TIL
There is a bus stop billboard that advertises for Monday Night Football on ESPN. The sign reads:
"It ain't over 'til it's Tuesday."
A television sitcom is entitled 'Til Death, starring Brad Garrett.
In the movie "The Wendell Baker Story", released in 2007, Wendell's voice over says, "They say you don't know what you have 'til it's gone." So reads the closed caption.
TILL
In Jane Langton's novel "Murder at Monticello", the character Oliver Pratt says, "Well, I've been working on my talk ...Wait till you hear this."
"The Dogs of Babel" is a novel by Carolyn Parkhurst. In it, the main character and narrator Paul describes a trip to Mardi Gras in New Orleans that he and his wife had taken: "Easter was late that year, not till mid-April..."
Rhonda Pollero, author of "Knock 'em Dead", has her heroine, Finley Tanner saying, "Be here at eight. It's ... five till."
Observed on a sign over a restaurant entrance on Reseda Blvd., "Open Till Midnight".
I believe that this last spelling undoubtedly came from hearing the abbreviated form 'til and incorrectly writing it as it sounded: till.
The point of this posting is to show how misspellings of words often become accepted into our ever evolving English language.
Until, 'til, till we meet next month - speak Good English!
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Do you mind?
Have you ever been asked by someone, "Do you mind if....?" What is your response? Since the question implies that what he or she may do would bother you, shouldn't you respond with, "No, I don't mind."? In other words, "No, it doesn't bother me." Why then has there been a shift in the meaning of this phrase? People seem to think that "Do you mind if ...?" is synonymous with "Is it OK if ...?" In actuality, it is not.
Here are some examples of the incorrect way in which to answer that pesky question:
Example: During the episode "Fool's Gold" of "The Closer", LAPD Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson asks Lieutenant Tao, "Do you mind helping Captain Raydor?" He replies, "Sure." I am sure he does not mind since that is his job.
Example: In the 2001 movie "What Girls Learn", 14 year old Tilden's step-father is going outside for a smoke. She asks, "Mind if I come?" He answers, "Sure." and she joins him.
Example: On "Royal Pains", episode "A Guesthouse Divided", Dr. Hank Lawson is having a farewell lunch with his friend and former lover Jill who is about to leave to work in Africa. As he moves from across the table in order to sit beside her, he inquires, "Do you mind if I ...?" She says, "Yes." and makes room for him on the bench.
Example: On an episode of "Frasier", the titular Doctor Crane is sick in bed. His brother Niles comes to visit. When the phone rings, Frasier says, "Oh Niles, would you mind?" indicating that Niles should answer the phone. Niles responds, "Of course." Perhaps Niles was put out by having to answer his brother's phone but he answered it anyway.
Example: On "The Big Bang Theory" episode entitled "The Terminator Decoupling", Howard says to an actress that he meets on a train, "Would you mind if I just take one picture of us together for my Facebook page?" She answers, "Sure." In this case, she probably does mean "Sure I mind. That would bother me." But I don't think that's what the writers intended since Howard then goes ahead and takes the picture.
Notice that the question can be asked in a number of ways: "Do you mind...?" " Mind if ....?"
"Would you mind if ...? And there are a variety of answers as well: "Yes." "Sure." "Of course."
Rarely is the answer "No, I don't mind." or "Not at all." But here are a few cases when the query was answered correctly.
Example: On tv's "Modern Family", episode "Egg Drop", Mitchell and Cam are interviewing a possible surrogate. She says, "Do you mind if I use your bathroom?" Mitchell responds, "Not at all."
Bravo Mitchell!
Example: In the movie "The Recruit", Colin Ferrell's character James Clayton runs into his friend Layla at a bar. She wants to sit down at his table and politely inquires, "Do you mind?" He says, "No, of course not." Excellent response, James.
Example: In "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins, Peeta and Katniss are in the arena. Peeta is wearing a mockingjay medallion around his neck and asks her, "Do you mind that I used your mockingjay? I wanted us to match." Katniss responds, "No, of course I don't mind." Perfect!
Example: In Wendy Wasserstein's book "Elements of Style", Charlie asks Francesca, "Darling, do you mind if I smoke?" She answers, "No, fine with me." Hurrah.
Well, Readers, I ask you, "Did you mind reading about this common mistake?" I sure hope that you respond, "No, not at all. I rather enjoyed it."
Until my next posting...
Here are some examples of the incorrect way in which to answer that pesky question:
Example: During the episode "Fool's Gold" of "The Closer", LAPD Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson asks Lieutenant Tao, "Do you mind helping Captain Raydor?" He replies, "Sure." I am sure he does not mind since that is his job.
Example: In the 2001 movie "What Girls Learn", 14 year old Tilden's step-father is going outside for a smoke. She asks, "Mind if I come?" He answers, "Sure." and she joins him.
Example: On "Royal Pains", episode "A Guesthouse Divided", Dr. Hank Lawson is having a farewell lunch with his friend and former lover Jill who is about to leave to work in Africa. As he moves from across the table in order to sit beside her, he inquires, "Do you mind if I ...?" She says, "Yes." and makes room for him on the bench.
Example: On an episode of "Frasier", the titular Doctor Crane is sick in bed. His brother Niles comes to visit. When the phone rings, Frasier says, "Oh Niles, would you mind?" indicating that Niles should answer the phone. Niles responds, "Of course." Perhaps Niles was put out by having to answer his brother's phone but he answered it anyway.
Example: On "The Big Bang Theory" episode entitled "The Terminator Decoupling", Howard says to an actress that he meets on a train, "Would you mind if I just take one picture of us together for my Facebook page?" She answers, "Sure." In this case, she probably does mean "Sure I mind. That would bother me." But I don't think that's what the writers intended since Howard then goes ahead and takes the picture.
Notice that the question can be asked in a number of ways: "Do you mind...?" " Mind if ....?"
"Would you mind if ...? And there are a variety of answers as well: "Yes." "Sure." "Of course."
Rarely is the answer "No, I don't mind." or "Not at all." But here are a few cases when the query was answered correctly.
Example: On tv's "Modern Family", episode "Egg Drop", Mitchell and Cam are interviewing a possible surrogate. She says, "Do you mind if I use your bathroom?" Mitchell responds, "Not at all."
Bravo Mitchell!
Example: In the movie "The Recruit", Colin Ferrell's character James Clayton runs into his friend Layla at a bar. She wants to sit down at his table and politely inquires, "Do you mind?" He says, "No, of course not." Excellent response, James.
Example: In "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins, Peeta and Katniss are in the arena. Peeta is wearing a mockingjay medallion around his neck and asks her, "Do you mind that I used your mockingjay? I wanted us to match." Katniss responds, "No, of course I don't mind." Perfect!
Example: In Wendy Wasserstein's book "Elements of Style", Charlie asks Francesca, "Darling, do you mind if I smoke?" She answers, "No, fine with me." Hurrah.
Well, Readers, I ask you, "Did you mind reading about this common mistake?" I sure hope that you respond, "No, not at all. I rather enjoyed it."
Until my next posting...
Friday, August 17, 2012
Adverbs and how to use them correctly
Hello Readers,
What is the difference between an adjective and an adverb? An adjective is a word that describes a noun (a person, place, thing or idea). For example: Bobby Fischer is a confident chess player.
In this sentence, both confident and chess are describing the noun "player".
An adverb is a word that describes a verb (an action word) or modifies an adjective.
Example: Bobby Fischer plays chess confidently.
Example: Bobby Fischer is a truly confident player.
In the first example, the adverb confidently is describing how Bobby Fischer plays.
In the second example, truly is modifying the adjective confident.
Knowing the difference, it amazes me how often I see or hear adjectives used in place of an adverb. It's as if some people have never heard an adverb used or do not know how to use one.
Example: In the novel "One For The Money" by Janet Evanovich, the main character Stephanie Plum says, "My New Jersey heritage weighed heavy ..." WRONG. The correct adverb is heavily, describing the verb weighed.
Example: In the series "Necessary Roughness" episode "Might As Well Face It", the General Manager of the fictitious New York Hawks football team says about one of his players, "He's playing erratic." WRONG. It would be correct to say erratically, describing how he is playing.
Example: In the program "Harry's Law", episode "Onward and Upward", an associate of the titular attorney Harry Korn says to his colleague: "Can we just agree to disagree and not take it personal, OK?" WRONG. The correct adverb is personally, describing the verb take.
Example: In the medical drama "House" episode "The C-word", Dr. Wilson is speaking to his oncologist about his treatment. He asks, "How do you plan to do that, Mike?" The oncologist replies, "We start conservative ..." WRONG. The verb is start and the adverb should be conservatively.
Example: On an episode of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" , crime lab chief D.B. Russell remarks about a dead body's killer: "He killed her quick." WRONG. Of course it should be, "He killed her quickly."
In the last three examples, the character who uttered the egregious phrase was supposed to be a highly educated person (lawyer, doctor, lab scientist). Therefore I lay blame with the script writers who may or may not be educated.
Here are some examples of adverbs used correctly.
In "The King of Queens" episode "Court Date", Doug is talking to his wife Carrie about how her traffic ticket will affect their car insurance. "You are a persistent violator. That means you violate persistently." WELL DONE of both adjective and adverb!
On "The Bachelorette" Emily's season, she meets suitor Arie at the Phoenix International Speedway where he takes her for a ride in his Indy car. She says, "Are you gonna drive slow?" He answers, "I'll drive safely." GOOD JOB, Arie, not so good for Emily.
While we are on the subject of adjective versus adverb, one more issue needs to be addressed.
Not good versus evil but good versus well.
Good is an adjective, describing a noun. For example, Bobby Fischer is a good chess player. Good describes the noun "player".
Well is an adverb, describing a verb. For example, Bobby Fischer plays well. Well describes how Bobby Fischer plays.
Example: In "Boardwalk Empire" season 1 episode 5 "Nights in Ballygran", Eli Thompson, the brother of Nucky Thompson, says, "Maybe one day I'll be as good as you." Nucky retorts, "It's 'be as well as me,' you dolt. Want to be taken seriously? Then learn how to f*#*ing speak."
Actually, Eli is using good correctly and Nucky is wrong. However, Nucky does use seriously well.
Example: In the 2007 film "The Brave One", the heroine Erica Bane says to Detective Mercer after hearing him give a statement to reporters about a killing, "You handled yourself really well back there." CORRECT.
Example: In the movie "Post Grad" released in 2009, little boy Hunter is entering a box car derby. He says, "What if I don't drive good?" His mother says, "...it's drive well, honey, not drive good. Proper English is 'drive well'. I want you to drive well." RIGHT ON, Mom. She gets an A+.
Stay tuned for next month when I address, "Do you mind ...?"
What is the difference between an adjective and an adverb? An adjective is a word that describes a noun (a person, place, thing or idea). For example: Bobby Fischer is a confident chess player.
In this sentence, both confident and chess are describing the noun "player".
An adverb is a word that describes a verb (an action word) or modifies an adjective.
Example: Bobby Fischer plays chess confidently.
Example: Bobby Fischer is a truly confident player.
In the first example, the adverb confidently is describing how Bobby Fischer plays.
In the second example, truly is modifying the adjective confident.
Knowing the difference, it amazes me how often I see or hear adjectives used in place of an adverb. It's as if some people have never heard an adverb used or do not know how to use one.
Example: In the novel "One For The Money" by Janet Evanovich, the main character Stephanie Plum says, "My New Jersey heritage weighed heavy ..." WRONG. The correct adverb is heavily, describing the verb weighed.
Example: In the series "Necessary Roughness" episode "Might As Well Face It", the General Manager of the fictitious New York Hawks football team says about one of his players, "He's playing erratic." WRONG. It would be correct to say erratically, describing how he is playing.
Example: In the program "Harry's Law", episode "Onward and Upward", an associate of the titular attorney Harry Korn says to his colleague: "Can we just agree to disagree and not take it personal, OK?" WRONG. The correct adverb is personally, describing the verb take.
Example: In the medical drama "House" episode "The C-word", Dr. Wilson is speaking to his oncologist about his treatment. He asks, "How do you plan to do that, Mike?" The oncologist replies, "We start conservative ..." WRONG. The verb is start and the adverb should be conservatively.
Example: On an episode of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" , crime lab chief D.B. Russell remarks about a dead body's killer: "He killed her quick." WRONG. Of course it should be, "He killed her quickly."
In the last three examples, the character who uttered the egregious phrase was supposed to be a highly educated person (lawyer, doctor, lab scientist). Therefore I lay blame with the script writers who may or may not be educated.
Here are some examples of adverbs used correctly.
In "The King of Queens" episode "Court Date", Doug is talking to his wife Carrie about how her traffic ticket will affect their car insurance. "You are a persistent violator. That means you violate persistently." WELL DONE of both adjective and adverb!
On "The Bachelorette" Emily's season, she meets suitor Arie at the Phoenix International Speedway where he takes her for a ride in his Indy car. She says, "Are you gonna drive slow?" He answers, "I'll drive safely." GOOD JOB, Arie, not so good for Emily.
While we are on the subject of adjective versus adverb, one more issue needs to be addressed.
Not good versus evil but good versus well.
Good is an adjective, describing a noun. For example, Bobby Fischer is a good chess player. Good describes the noun "player".
Well is an adverb, describing a verb. For example, Bobby Fischer plays well. Well describes how Bobby Fischer plays.
Example: In "Boardwalk Empire" season 1 episode 5 "Nights in Ballygran", Eli Thompson, the brother of Nucky Thompson, says, "Maybe one day I'll be as good as you." Nucky retorts, "It's 'be as well as me,' you dolt. Want to be taken seriously? Then learn how to f*#*ing speak."
Actually, Eli is using good correctly and Nucky is wrong. However, Nucky does use seriously well.
Example: In the 2007 film "The Brave One", the heroine Erica Bane says to Detective Mercer after hearing him give a statement to reporters about a killing, "You handled yourself really well back there." CORRECT.
Example: In the movie "Post Grad" released in 2009, little boy Hunter is entering a box car derby. He says, "What if I don't drive good?" His mother says, "...it's drive well, honey, not drive good. Proper English is 'drive well'. I want you to drive well." RIGHT ON, Mom. She gets an A+.
Stay tuned for next month when I address, "Do you mind ...?"
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Diagramming Sentences
Hello Readers,
The novel Wishin' and Hopin' by Wally Lamb takes place in the mid-1960s when LBJ was in the White House. Our narrator, Felix Funicello, is a 5th grader in parochial school. He tells about one time during confession, "I admitted that, having forgotten to do my sentence diagramming homework one night, I had copied someone else's paper on the bus."
Sentence diagramming. How many of you remember doing it in school? I do, and I believe that by diagramming sentences, I gained the understanding of how parts of speech work. That plus 35 years of teaching French and Spanish where it was helpful to identify the parts of speech to the students before introducing a new concept. For example, explaining to them what the subject of the sentence was, or the verb, or the adverb.
If you were unlucky enough not to have had the experience of diagramming sentences, then you will learn from my blog just how the parts of speech work and how to work them correctly.
Let's start with the subject and verb. The subject of the sentence is who or what is doing the action, which is the verb. = Bobby Fischer plays chess.
Bobby Fischer is the subject.
or The man plays chess.
The man is the subject.
His name or description can be replaced by a subject pronoun.
He plays chess.
The verb, of course, is plays.
Another example: The plane will arrive on time.
The plane is the subject.
The plane can be replaced by a subject pronoun.
It will arrive on time.
The verb in the future tense is will arrive.
The subject and the verb must agree. What does this mean?
Example: In the "Seinfeld" episode entitled "The Dinner Party", Jerry, Elaine, George and Kramer are on their way to a dinner party. Jerry and Elaine stop at a bakery to buy a babka while Kramer and George go to a liquor store. After a while, Elaine asks Jerry, "Where is George and Kramer?" WRONG.
George and Kramer is the subject, and the verb should be are because two people are the subject, therefore plural. Is is used for a singular subject. "Where is George?"
Example: In the Jodie Foster movie "The Brave One", Detective Mercer says to Erica Bain (victim of a brutal crime), "We got two of the best detectives in this city that's working on this." WRONG.
It should be "Two of the best detectives...who are working on this case." Plural subject needs a plural verb.
Example: In the series "Boardwalk Empire" season 1, episode 1, Nucky Thompson says to his girl friend,
"....Arnold Rothstein and $90,000 is more important than you." WRONG.
Arnold Rothstein and $90,000 = plural; are more important = plural.
Example: In the series "Fairly Legal" episode entitled "Force Majeure", San Francisco ADA Justin Patrick is being deposed by another ADA and close colleague. To diffuse the tense situation, Justin asks, "How is Sheila and the baby doing?" WRONG. Of course it should be "How are Sheila and the baby doing?"
Example: On "The Bachelorette", during one of the rose ceremonies, Emily says, "Each of you are so wonderful." WRONG. It should be "Each of you is so wonderful" because "each" indicates one.
Example: In "Blue Lagoon: The Awakening", Dean and Emma are stranded on an island. He says to her, "None of us are cave dwellers." WRONG. None indicates "not one", therefore singular. It should be "None of us is a cave dweller."
Example: On "America's Got Talent", Sharon asks, "Where's the pirates?" It should be "Where are the pirates?"
Last example: On the show "Dogs in the City", New York City dog guru Justin Silver says, "The fashion district is right off of Times Square, so there's people everywhere." People refers to more than one, therefore plural: There are people everywhere.
Here are two examples of CORRECT usage:
In the novel The Last Time They Met by Anita Shreve, someone says, "None of us is safe here."
On "The Big Bang Theory" episode "The Roommate Transmorgrification", Howard Wolowitz asks his girl friend what type of research she will be doing at her new job in a pharmaceutical company. She replies, "There are a couple of opportunties available..."
Good job shout out to Ms. Shreve and to the writers of "The Big Bang Theory".
Next post: Adverbs and how to use them correctly.
The novel Wishin' and Hopin' by Wally Lamb takes place in the mid-1960s when LBJ was in the White House. Our narrator, Felix Funicello, is a 5th grader in parochial school. He tells about one time during confession, "I admitted that, having forgotten to do my sentence diagramming homework one night, I had copied someone else's paper on the bus."
Sentence diagramming. How many of you remember doing it in school? I do, and I believe that by diagramming sentences, I gained the understanding of how parts of speech work. That plus 35 years of teaching French and Spanish where it was helpful to identify the parts of speech to the students before introducing a new concept. For example, explaining to them what the subject of the sentence was, or the verb, or the adverb.
If you were unlucky enough not to have had the experience of diagramming sentences, then you will learn from my blog just how the parts of speech work and how to work them correctly.
Let's start with the subject and verb. The subject of the sentence is who or what is doing the action, which is the verb. = Bobby Fischer plays chess.
Bobby Fischer is the subject.
or The man plays chess.
The man is the subject.
His name or description can be replaced by a subject pronoun.
He plays chess.
The verb, of course, is plays.
Another example: The plane will arrive on time.
The plane is the subject.
The plane can be replaced by a subject pronoun.
It will arrive on time.
The verb in the future tense is will arrive.
The subject and the verb must agree. What does this mean?
Example: In the "Seinfeld" episode entitled "The Dinner Party", Jerry, Elaine, George and Kramer are on their way to a dinner party. Jerry and Elaine stop at a bakery to buy a babka while Kramer and George go to a liquor store. After a while, Elaine asks Jerry, "Where is George and Kramer?" WRONG.
George and Kramer is the subject, and the verb should be are because two people are the subject, therefore plural. Is is used for a singular subject. "Where is George?"
Example: In the Jodie Foster movie "The Brave One", Detective Mercer says to Erica Bain (victim of a brutal crime), "We got two of the best detectives in this city that's working on this." WRONG.
It should be "Two of the best detectives...who are working on this case." Plural subject needs a plural verb.
Example: In the series "Boardwalk Empire" season 1, episode 1, Nucky Thompson says to his girl friend,
"....Arnold Rothstein and $90,000 is more important than you." WRONG.
Arnold Rothstein and $90,000 = plural; are more important = plural.
Example: In the series "Fairly Legal" episode entitled "Force Majeure", San Francisco ADA Justin Patrick is being deposed by another ADA and close colleague. To diffuse the tense situation, Justin asks, "How is Sheila and the baby doing?" WRONG. Of course it should be "How are Sheila and the baby doing?"
Example: On "The Bachelorette", during one of the rose ceremonies, Emily says, "Each of you are so wonderful." WRONG. It should be "Each of you is so wonderful" because "each" indicates one.
Example: In "Blue Lagoon: The Awakening", Dean and Emma are stranded on an island. He says to her, "None of us are cave dwellers." WRONG. None indicates "not one", therefore singular. It should be "None of us is a cave dweller."
Example: On "America's Got Talent", Sharon asks, "Where's the pirates?" It should be "Where are the pirates?"
Last example: On the show "Dogs in the City", New York City dog guru Justin Silver says, "The fashion district is right off of Times Square, so there's people everywhere." People refers to more than one, therefore plural: There are people everywhere.
Here are two examples of CORRECT usage:
In the novel The Last Time They Met by Anita Shreve, someone says, "None of us is safe here."
On "The Big Bang Theory" episode "The Roommate Transmorgrification", Howard Wolowitz asks his girl friend what type of research she will be doing at her new job in a pharmaceutical company. She replies, "There are a couple of opportunties available..."
Good job shout out to Ms. Shreve and to the writers of "The Big Bang Theory".
Next post: Adverbs and how to use them correctly.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Introduction to my postings
Dear Readers,
By reading my blog, you will learn a lot.
For starters, about me. I am now officially retired after teaching for over 35 years. You will learn about my tastes in reading materials, radio listening preferences, and television or movie choices.
You will also learn a lot about the English language and how it is supposed to work. The fact that it is no longer working properly is my raison d'etre.
If I have grabbed your attention thus far, you will want to continue checking in to read future posts. I look forward to enlightening the English-speaking world, one post at a time.
J. Baker
By reading my blog, you will learn a lot.
For starters, about me. I am now officially retired after teaching for over 35 years. You will learn about my tastes in reading materials, radio listening preferences, and television or movie choices.
You will also learn a lot about the English language and how it is supposed to work. The fact that it is no longer working properly is my raison d'etre.
If I have grabbed your attention thus far, you will want to continue checking in to read future posts. I look forward to enlightening the English-speaking world, one post at a time.
J. Baker
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