The Grammar Logs -- Number One Hundred, Five

The
Grammar
Logs
# 105

Question The use of that seems to be more than one. As in the dictionary, there are five parts of speech. I am still out of the use of that. I hope futher explanation and more details can be given to me.
Source & Date
of Question Unknown
17 April 1998
Grammar's
Response Please go to the Notorious Confusables and select "that/which." What isn't explained there will probably be explained in Michael Quinion's article (find the hyperlink in the Confusables item).

Question Sometime I am confused by this sentence: My being here in only for a short term.
and what about this sentence? His speaking in front public was so loud My question is all the gerunds (verb + ing ) can be used the same as noun ?
Source & Date
of Question Indonesia
17 April 1998
Grammar's
Response That first sentence is going to confuse because it doesn't have a verb (unless you've mis-typed something). That second sentence might be rebuilt into something like "His speaking before the public was too loud," although even that is a strange use of "speaking." "His public speaking was so/too loud," maybe? There is a new section on gerunds' noun role that might answer your questions. If it doesn't, let me know.

Question Can you suggest an easy way to determine if "none" takes a plural or singular verb?
Many thanks.
Source & Date
of Question Unknown
17 April 1998
Grammar's
Response More often than not, it doesn't matter. Sometimes, however, something else in the sentece will dictate whether the "none" should be regarded as plural or singular. In the sentence, "None have done their homework." the plural possessive indicates that we have a plural subject in mind. If we had written, "None has done his/her homework," (yecch!), it would have been singular because of the singular possessive.

Question Can you please give me a definition and usage explanation for the phrase "by the time" - eg. By the time I am 60 years old, I will have had many experiences in the classroom. Thank you.
Source & Date
of Question Calgary, Alberta, Canada
17 April 1998
Grammar's
Response That's a prepositional phrase functioning as an adverbial phrase, modifying the verb "am." It's kind of hard to define: "when that point in history is reached"?

Question The use of [ the ] before a musical instrument. Is it better to say:

I like the guitar very much.
or
I like guitar very much.
I opt for #1, but my college says liking the guitar means liking a specific guitar. #2 sounds awkward to me. Can it mean:
I like the guitar (as an instrument) and I enjoy playing or listening to it.
I am much obliged
Source & Date
of Question Koryo, Shimane, Japan
17 April 1998
Grammar's
Response You might want to check out our section on the use of articles and other determiners. Musical instruments are one of the more difficult categories of nouns, as we sometimes use articles with them and sometimes we don't: "I play the sousaphone (which doesn't necessarily mean any specific instrument, just that I play that kind of instrument)" and "I play sousaphone in the band" mean the same thing. In your particular sentence, however, I think version #1 is preferred. Whoever said that "liking the guitar means that you like a specific guitar was mistaken. It is possible to use the definite article with a generic noun: "Of all the big cats, I like the lion best."

Question Is impact a noun or a verb? thank you
Source & Date
of Question Ann Arbor, Michigan
17 April 1998
Grammar's
Response Many writers object to the use of impact as a verb: "How will this impact our operations?" is, for them, worse than scratching your nails across a chalkboard. Actually impact has been a verb for as long as people have had impacted molars. As a verb, however, it probably means that something that gets scrunched, smooshed out of shape (Do you like my new verbs?), like a tooth that you don't have room for in your mouth. It doesn't mean something that is struck (as might be suggested by the noun, the impact of something on something else). Because so many writers react so violently to the use of impact as a verb, you're wise to avoid that usage -- unless you're talking to your dentist.
Incidentally, the online Merriam-Webster's lists impact as a verb.

Question Grammar, perhaps you can help me win a bet with your answer. I say the following sentence is grammatically incorrect:
"After an early Wednesday morning check to see if there is any late-breaking news, the last page or two are finished and sent to the pressroom."
The phrase, 'page or two are finished' does not seem correct to me. What do you think?
Thanks for your help.
Source & Date
of Question Nobleboro, Maine
17 April 1998
Grammar's
Response I agree that it sounds clumsy. It's unusual, but I think the "or" is creating a collective noun, the same kind of thing you get with "macaroni and cheese." It's really one thing, isn't it, that last page or two? The sentence has a greater problem, however, in that the beginning modifying phrase (ending with the comma), is a bit of a dangler; it's trying to modify "the last page or two," and of course, the last page or two isn't capable of checking anything.

Question I want to know why Agnes's is correct. I was taught that if a noun ends in "s," it is unnecessary to add the "s" after the apostrophe. I thought it should be Agnes'. Help me with this.
Source & Date
of Question Unknown
17 April 1998
Grammar's
Response I think that most writers will say that if you actually sound out that second "s," you should add the apostrophe and the second "s": Agnes's car. In Elements of Style, William Strunk cites the U.S. Government Printing Office and the Oxford University Press as arbiters in this matter, concluding that we should form the singular possessive with an apostrophe and an "s" "whatever the final consonant." So there you have it. On the other hand, there are plenty of authorities who will tell you to put only the apostrophe after Agnes -- Agnes' car -- and be done with it. So, I hate to end with such ambiguity, but. . .. I would write "Agnes's car," but if you don't want to, you're among friends.

Question My question is about capitalization:
Do you capitalize the word "chairperson" i.e. The chairperson adjourned the meeting.
Do you capitalize the name of a specific grade level i.e. The sixth grade went on a field trip. Many thanks in advance.
Source & Date
of Question Woodstock, Georgia
17 April 1998
Grammar's
Response No, don't capitalize those words in those contexts.

Question Are these both correct? Or is there a difference in their meanings?

We managed to find the software and had it installed in our computer. - ie We managed . . . and had . . .
We managed to find the software and have it installed in our computer. - here, we managed to find . . . and [to] have . . .
Another question I have:
Should we say, "Get it? Got it.", or "Got it? Got it."
Thanks for your help. Your service has been great.
Source & Date
of Question Unknown
17 April 1998
Grammar's
Response Your second version of that first sentence makes for a very nice parallel construction. Go with it. Although that "get it" thing is a colloquialism and therefore not subject to strict rules of usage, I think it translates into "Did you get it? Yes, I have got [gotten] it." I suppose someone could say it translates into "Have you got [gotten] it? Yes, I have got [gotten] it." So there you have it. I love it when I can answer both ways and be right.

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Question	Sometime I am confused by this sentence: My being here in only for a short term. and what about this sentence? His speaking in front public was so loud My question is all the gerunds (verb + ing ) can be used the same as noun ?
Source & Date of Question	Indonesia 17 April 1998
Grammar's Response	That first sentence is going to confuse because it doesn't have a verb (unless you've mis-typed something). That second sentence might be rebuilt into something like "His speaking before the public was too loud," although even that is a strange use of "speaking." "His public speaking was so/too loud," maybe? There is a new section on gerunds' noun role that might answer your questions. If it doesn't, let me know.

Question	Can you suggest an easy way to determine if "none" takes a plural or singular verb? Many thanks.
Source & Date of Question	Unknown 17 April 1998
Grammar's Response	More often than not, it doesn't matter. Sometimes, however, something else in the sentece will dictate whether the "none" should be regarded as plural or singular. In the sentence, "None have done their homework." the plural possessive indicates that we have a plural subject in mind. If we had written, "None has done his/her homework," (yecch!), it would have been singular because of the singular possessive.

Question	The use of [ the ] before a musical instrument. Is it better to say: I like the guitar very much. or I like guitar very much. I opt for #1, but my college says liking the guitar means liking a specific guitar. #2 sounds awkward to me. Can it mean: I like the guitar (as an instrument) and I enjoy playing or listening to it. I am much obliged
Source & Date of Question	Koryo, Shimane, Japan 17 April 1998
Grammar's Response	You might want to check out our section on the use of articles and other determiners. Musical instruments are one of the more difficult categories of nouns, as we sometimes use articles with them and sometimes we don't: "I play the sousaphone (which doesn't necessarily mean any specific instrument, just that I play that kind of instrument)" and "I play sousaphone in the band" mean the same thing. In your particular sentence, however, I think version #1 is preferred. Whoever said that "liking the guitar means that you like a specific guitar was mistaken. It is possible to use the definite article with a generic noun: "Of all the big cats, I like the lion best."

Question	Is impact a noun or a verb? thank you
Source & Date of Question	Ann Arbor, Michigan 17 April 1998
Grammar's Response	Many writers object to the use of impact as a verb: "How will this impact our operations?" is, for them, worse than scratching your nails across a chalkboard. Actually impact has been a verb for as long as people have had impacted molars. As a verb, however, it probably means that something that gets scrunched, smooshed out of shape (Do you like my new verbs?), like a tooth that you don't have room for in your mouth. It doesn't mean something that is struck (as might be suggested by the noun, the impact of something on something else). Because so many writers react so violently to the use of impact as a verb, you're wise to avoid that usage -- unless you're talking to your dentist. Incidentally, the online Merriam-Webster's lists impact as a verb.

Question	Grammar, perhaps you can help me win a bet with your answer. I say the following sentence is grammatically incorrect: "After an early Wednesday morning check to see if there is any late-breaking news, the last page or two are finished and sent to the pressroom." The phrase, 'page or two are finished' does not seem correct to me. What do you think? Thanks for your help.
Source & Date of Question	Nobleboro, Maine 17 April 1998
Grammar's Response	I agree that it sounds clumsy. It's unusual, but I think the "or" is creating a collective noun, the same kind of thing you get with "macaroni and cheese." It's really one thing, isn't it, that last page or two? The sentence has a greater problem, however, in that the beginning modifying phrase (ending with the comma), is a bit of a dangler; it's trying to modify "the last page or two," and of course, the last page or two isn't capable of checking anything.

Question	The use of that seems to be more than one. As in the dictionary, there are five parts of speech. I am still out of the use of that. I hope futher explanation and more details can be given to me.
Source & Date of Question	Unknown 17 April 1998
Grammar's Response	Please go to the Notorious Confusables and select "that/which." What isn't explained there will probably be explained in Michael Quinion's article (find the hyperlink in the Confusables item).

Question	Can you please give me a definition and usage explanation for the phrase "by the time" - eg. By the time I am 60 years old, I will have had many experiences in the classroom. Thank you.
Source & Date of Question	Calgary, Alberta, Canada 17 April 1998
Grammar's Response	That's a prepositional phrase functioning as an adverbial phrase, modifying the verb "am." It's kind of hard to define: "when that point in history is reached"?

Question	I want to know why Agnes's is correct. I was taught that if a noun ends in "s," it is unnecessary to add the "s" after the apostrophe. I thought it should be Agnes'. Help me with this.
Source & Date of Question	Unknown 17 April 1998
Grammar's Response	I think that most writers will say that if you actually sound out that second "s," you should add the apostrophe and the second "s": Agnes's car. In Elements of Style, William Strunk cites the U.S. Government Printing Office and the Oxford University Press as arbiters in this matter, concluding that we should form the singular possessive with an apostrophe and an "s" "whatever the final consonant." So there you have it. On the other hand, there are plenty of authorities who will tell you to put only the apostrophe after Agnes -- Agnes' car -- and be done with it. So, I hate to end with such ambiguity, but. . .. I would write "Agnes's car," but if you don't want to, you're among friends.

Question	My question is about capitalization: Do you capitalize the word "chairperson" i.e. The chairperson adjourned the meeting. Do you capitalize the name of a specific grade level i.e. The sixth grade went on a field trip. Many thanks in advance.
Source & Date of Question	Woodstock, Georgia 17 April 1998
Grammar's Response	No, don't capitalize those words in those contexts.

Question	Are these both correct? Or is there a difference in their meanings? We managed to find the software and had it installed in our computer. - ie We managed . . . and had . . . We managed to find the software and have it installed in our computer. - here, we managed to find . . . and [to] have . . . Another question I have: Should we say, "Get it? Got it.", or "Got it? Got it." Thanks for your help. Your service has been great.
Source & Date of Question	Unknown 17 April 1998
Grammar's Response	Your second version of that first sentence makes for a very nice parallel construction. Go with it. Although that "get it" thing is a colloquialism and therefore not subject to strict rules of usage, I think it translates into "Did you get it? Yes, I have got [gotten] it." I suppose someone could say it translates into "Have you got [gotten] it? Yes, I have got [gotten] it." So there you have it. I love it when I can answer both ways and be right.