A point of grammar
Dec 17, 2019 11:51:29 #
DeanS wrote:
Here is a partial quote in today’s Raleigh News & Observer from our governor, Mr. Roy Cooper. “ . . . Representation and inclusion leads to equality for all students.” The article is front page, above the fold, addressing the need to recruit a more diverse teacher corps for NC public schools. Seems the good gov needs to brush on subj/verb agreement. Plural subj requires plural verb. Oh well, . . .
Forgive me but I don't see the error you seem to be showing us. It looks fine to me.
Dennis
Dec 17, 2019 12:38:26 #
Yea verily Brotheren, the language hath changest.
Really. it is was not my fault, I am having enough trouble keeping up with emojis, LOL & OMG.
In revenge, I write in cursive so my Grand kids think I know a foreign language. :)
Really. it is was not my fault, I am having enough trouble keeping up with emojis, LOL & OMG.
In revenge, I write in cursive so my Grand kids think I know a foreign language. :)
Dec 17, 2019 13:31:42 #
mikec01
Loc: Georgia, USA
John N:
Maybe your English teacher didn't approve of your use of apostrophes. Every time you use an apostrophe in a plural noun, a puppy dies.
Use them for contractions or to indicate possession, not in random plural words.
Maybe your English teacher didn't approve of your use of apostrophes. Every time you use an apostrophe in a plural noun, a puppy dies.
Use them for contractions or to indicate possession, not in random plural words.
Dec 17, 2019 15:15:24 #
dennis2146 wrote:
Forgive me but I don't see the error you seem to be showing us. It looks fine to me.
Dennis
Dennis
“Representation and inclusion” is the subject, which is compound or plural. “leads” is the verb, which is singular. Plural subj requires a plural verb. The proper construct is “Representation and inclusion lead to . . .”
Back to fifth grade English for you Dennis! 😎😎😎
Dec 17, 2019 23:44:57 #
Dec 18, 2019 12:59:01 #
DeanS wrote:
“Representation and inclusion” is the subject, which is compound or plural. “leads” is the verb, which is singular. Plural subj requires a plural verb. The proper construct is “Representation and inclusion lead to . . .”
Back to fifth grade English for you Dennis! 😎😎😎
Back to fifth grade English for you Dennis! 😎😎😎
I see what you are saying and you may be right. Probably are. But then I think of sentences such as that and when I take out one of the words, Representation or Inclusion, the sentence would be, "leads", would it not? I was taught that when in doubt take away one of the words to see how it sounds.
But however it is I thank you for the discussion. I never did a grade more than once and excelled in English but of course that does not make me perfect.
Dennis
Dec 19, 2019 10:33:52 #
dennis2146 wrote:
I see what you are saying and you may be right. Probably are. But then I think of sentences such as that and when I take out one of the words, Representation or Inclusion, the sentence would be, "leads", would it not? I was taught that when in doubt take away one of the words to see how it sounds.
But however it is I thank you for the discussion. I never did a grade more than once and excelled in English but of course that does not make me perfect.
Dennis
But however it is I thank you for the discussion. I never did a grade more than once and excelled in English but of course that does not make me perfect.
Dennis
The exercise of dropping one of the “subjects” is to determine the correct choice, like “you and me”, or “you and I.” It is not to determine verb choice. Obviously, if you drop one “subject” leaving one, verb choice must be changed to singular. In the example given, to determine the correct pronoun, dropping “you” reveals the correct choice is “I.” You wound’t say “me” was going to the mall, without sounding like a rube, whatever that is.
Dec 19, 2019 10:40:12 #
DeanS wrote:
The exercise of dropping one of the “subjects” is to determine the correct choice, like “you and me”, or “you and I.” It is not to determine verb choice. Obviously, if you drop one “subject” leaving one, verb choice must be changed to singular. In the example given, to determine the correct pronoun, dropping “you” reveals the correct choice is “I.” You wound’t say “me” was going to the mall, without sounding like a rube, whatever that is.
And that is what I was getting at. Thanks.
Dennis
Dec 19, 2019 15:20:40 #
dennis2146 wrote:
And that is what I was getting at. Thanks.
Dennis
Dennis
Dec 19, 2019 19:39:53 #
Hay you guys you gots to remember us sports folks behind the mikes uesd to be foots ball players and we took a lot of shots to the head. Sometimes we cant find our way home after a game.
Dec 19, 2019 19:55:25 #
Hal81 wrote:
Hay you guys you gots to remember us sports folks behind the mikes uesd to be foots ball players and we took a lot of shots to the head. Sometimes we cant find our way home after a game.
Those symptoms are soooo prevalent today, Hal. 😎😎😎
Dec 19, 2019 20:28:42 #
Want to get into pronunciation? Does anyone pronounce the word 'for' correctly? All I hear from educated, uneducated, on-air or off is 'fur'
Dec 19, 2019 21:54:02 #
"Fur" (for) is right up there with "impordant" (important). I cringe when I hear it.
Of course all this makes for entertaining reading. But it is on a par with "How many angles can dance on the head of a pin? Basically an interesting academic study.
The thumbs flying across the phone pad, do not even worry if the auto-correct corrected properly. It simply is not needed in most of today's environments.
Of course all this makes for entertaining reading. But it is on a par with "How many angles can dance on the head of a pin? Basically an interesting academic study.
The thumbs flying across the phone pad, do not even worry if the auto-correct corrected properly. It simply is not needed in most of today's environments.
Dec 20, 2019 08:09:50 #
Grandpa Ron wrote:
"Fur" (for) is right up there with "impordant" (important). I cringe when I hear it.
Of course all this makes for entertaining reading. But it is on a par with "How many angles can dance on the head of a pin? Basically an interesting academic study.
The thumbs flying across the phone pad, do not even worry if the auto-correct corrected properly. It simply is not needed in most of today's environments.
Of course all this makes for entertaining reading. But it is on a par with "How many angles can dance on the head of a pin? Basically an interesting academic study.
The thumbs flying across the phone pad, do not even worry if the auto-correct corrected properly. It simply is not needed in most of today's environments.
I might agree with you somewhat (very little in fact) about the importance of grammar being needed in most of today's environments. Consider reading your last paragraph. I am trying to figure out what you meant by, "it simply is not needed". Are you talking about auto correct or are you talking about proper grammar not being needed? I am not sure what you mean. But the point of speaking and writing is to inform others, to ask questions, to make declarations of love, hate, political ideas, anything under the sun. We need to be able to understand each other.
As for your, angles dancing on the head of a pin, I am guessing you mean, ANGELS, dancing on the head of a pin. I know that as do you but how about someone who does not recognize that old saying? They will have no idea what you mean.
Grammar, spelling and punctuation are words that are the pillars of good writing and speaking. It helps to know how to converse.
Have a great day my friend,
Dennis
Dec 20, 2019 12:00:11 #
Dennis,
Having grown up in the 1950's, my mother was emphatic about proper grammar. Many of my distant relatives came from war torn Europe and "Didunt speak so good na English". My folks spoke and wrote very well and their children would also. So to the schools and my teachers.
Personally I would never discount the importance of proper spelling and grammar but with the exception of those involved with legal and many technical documents, the trend is for short cutting spelling and grammar. Hence my comment about emojis symbols and single letter contractions like OMG and LOL.
It seems that at one time, poor grammar used to be the mark of the illiterate, an accent or a cultural hold over. Today poor grammar seems less important, if not an impediment to quick communications.
Given the ever increasing power of word and grammar processing, I believe improvements to spelling and grammar will be due mainly to artificial intelligence. Of course there will always be those individuals fascinated by proper language. It will be their job to make and change the rules periodically.
All that said, this is only my opinion. I probably still would have missed the "angles" for "Angels" while proof reading my comments. Sometime you see what you want to see. :)
Having grown up in the 1950's, my mother was emphatic about proper grammar. Many of my distant relatives came from war torn Europe and "Didunt speak so good na English". My folks spoke and wrote very well and their children would also. So to the schools and my teachers.
Personally I would never discount the importance of proper spelling and grammar but with the exception of those involved with legal and many technical documents, the trend is for short cutting spelling and grammar. Hence my comment about emojis symbols and single letter contractions like OMG and LOL.
It seems that at one time, poor grammar used to be the mark of the illiterate, an accent or a cultural hold over. Today poor grammar seems less important, if not an impediment to quick communications.
Given the ever increasing power of word and grammar processing, I believe improvements to spelling and grammar will be due mainly to artificial intelligence. Of course there will always be those individuals fascinated by proper language. It will be their job to make and change the rules periodically.
All that said, this is only my opinion. I probably still would have missed the "angles" for "Angels" while proof reading my comments. Sometime you see what you want to see. :)
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