Mis(s)Usage
Friday, June 5, 2009
Teem: to rain heavily
I know the phrasal verb "teem with sth," which means "to contain large numbers of animals or people."
Today, as torrential rains batter Metro Manila, I just typed the word "rain heavily" on Google, and I found out this new word, "teem." It means "to rain heavily."
Interesting! ;)
The mall was teeming with shoppers last weekend.
Today, as torrential rains batter Metro Manila, I just typed the word "rain heavily" on Google, and I found out this new word, "teem." It means "to rain heavily."
Examples:
- It's been teeming down all day.
- It's teeming with rain.
Interesting! ;)
Labels: diction, English usage, teem, word
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
You and Me v. You and I
Have you been following US. President Barack Obama and his speeches?
If yes, then you know what I'm talking about. If no, don't fret. I, too, didn't know about Obama's lapses on the use of the phrases, "you and I" or "you and me."
We learn that we use You and I as a subject of the sentence, and you and me as the object.
Read on...
If yes, then you know what I'm talking about. If no, don't fret. I, too, didn't know about Obama's lapses on the use of the phrases, "you and I" or "you and me."
We learn that we use You and I as a subject of the sentence, and you and me as the object.
For example:In any case, New York Times has an interesting article on the use of You and I or You and Me. There was a time in the history of letters that the I and me are interchangeable. Pretty interesting!
You and I deserve this scholarship.
This is just between you and me.
Read on...
Labels: grammar, Obama, Obama's speech, you and I, you and me
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Between... and
Between 2006 or 2007, she was working for a PR company.
I often read this "between... or" combination. The correct form of this connector is "between... and." Thus the sentence above should read:
Between 2006 and 2007, she was working for a PR company.
Labels: conjunctions, grammar
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Client and Customer
In business, the terms client and customer have become interchangeable. The use of the terms also is tricky.
In the rules of usage, however, although the terms are closely related in meaning, they are not interchangeable.
"Client" refers to a person who pays for the advice or services of a professional person.
Source:
Webster's Universal Spelling Grammar & Usage
In the rules of usage, however, although the terms are closely related in meaning, they are not interchangeable.
"Client" refers to a person who pays for the advice or services of a professional person.
For example: They are both clients of Atty. Reyes."Customer," on the other hand, refers to a person who purchases goods from a shop, etc.
For example: Many customers are complaining about high prices and poor service.Now, there is also an instance that the term "client" refers to "customer." In this case, "client" is used in the sense of "customer" by shops that regard it as a more superior word.
For example: The clients of an exclusive dress boutique were treated to a dinner dance.
Source:
Webster's Universal Spelling Grammar & Usage
Labels: client, customer, English usage, nouns
Friday, December 12, 2008
Where is the Pronoun Antecedent?
Look at this sentence:
We sure can find many nouns before the 'his.' There are six nouns before 'his' - Sr. Leni, Religion, teacher, conference, part, preparation. Can 'his' replace any of these nouns? I don't think so.
The only noun that 'his' can replace in that sentence would have been 'Gabo.' But the form of 'Gabo' is not a noun, it's in the possessive, Gabo's, so that doesn't count.
In other words, the pronoun 'his' has no antecedent in this sentence. The sentence should be:
Sr. Leni is Gabo's Religion teacher, and the conference was part of the preparation for his first communion.Notice the 'his' in bold font. We call that a pronoun, and a pronoun replaces a noun. So we look back in the sentence and look for that noun that the pronoun 'his' replaces. Can you find it?
We sure can find many nouns before the 'his.' There are six nouns before 'his' - Sr. Leni, Religion, teacher, conference, part, preparation. Can 'his' replace any of these nouns? I don't think so.
The only noun that 'his' can replace in that sentence would have been 'Gabo.' But the form of 'Gabo' is not a noun, it's in the possessive, Gabo's, so that doesn't count.
In other words, the pronoun 'his' has no antecedent in this sentence. The sentence should be:
Sr. Leni is Gabo's Religion teacher, and the conference was part of the preparation for Gabo's first communion.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Watch Those S's, Please
On my way home from work tonight, I overheard two people talking. Their conversation went:
Lady 1: Kaya nga every minute count.
(That's why every minute count.)
Lady 2: Sinabi mo. Every seconds count talaga!
(You said it! Every seconds really count!)
By omitting an S on "count," Lady 1 violated the subject-verb agreement. The subject is singular, therefore the verb takes on the plural form. She should have said: "... every minute counts."
By putting an S to "seconds" and not ending "count" with S, Lady 2 violated two rules:
(1) "every" should be followed by a singular noun
(2) subject-verb agreement
She should have said, "... every second really count!"
Lady 1: Kaya nga every minute count.
(That's why every minute count.)
Lady 2: Sinabi mo. Every seconds count talaga!
(You said it! Every seconds really count!)
By omitting an S on "count," Lady 1 violated the subject-verb agreement. The subject is singular, therefore the verb takes on the plural form. She should have said: "... every minute counts."
By putting an S to "seconds" and not ending "count" with S, Lady 2 violated two rules:
(1) "every" should be followed by a singular noun
(2) subject-verb agreement
She should have said, "... every second really count!"
Labels: grammar, subject-verb agreement
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Me, Either or Me, Too?
How often do you hear these expressions? I bet all the time! :)
But when to use Me, either! and Me, too!? (oops is my double punctuation correct there?)
Let's take a look at the following sentences.
Are these sentences correct? Yes!
In these expressions, we use "too" in affirmative or interrogative sentence to add an agreeing thought. On the other hand, we use "either" in negative sentence/idea to add an agreeing thought.
"Too" or "either" usually comes at the end of the clause. Formal English often requires that we put a comma before it.
But when to use Me, either! and Me, too!? (oops is my double punctuation correct there?)
Let's take a look at the following sentences.
Boy: I loved the movie!
Girl: Me, too!
Girl: I didn't quite get that.
Boy: Me, either.
Or the more formal reply would be: I didn't get it, either.
Girl: Me, too!
Girl: I didn't quite get that.
Boy: Me, either.
Or the more formal reply would be: I didn't get it, either.
Are these sentences correct? Yes!
In these expressions, we use "too" in affirmative or interrogative sentence to add an agreeing thought. On the other hand, we use "either" in negative sentence/idea to add an agreeing thought.
"Too" or "either" usually comes at the end of the clause. Formal English often requires that we put a comma before it.
Labels: conjunctions, either, too
