The Grammar Logs -- Number One Hundred, Twenty-Two

The
Grammar
Logs
# 122

Question Hello! I am studying in ESL program. May I have an answer and an explanation of following question.
_________social crusade aroused Elizabeth Williams' enthusiasm more than the expansion of educational facilities for immigrats to the United States.

No
Nothing
Not
None
Thank you very much!
Source & Date
of Question San Jose, California
8 May 1998
Grammar's
Response The only choice that would work in that sentence is "NO" because you're looking for an adjective to modify "crusade," and "no" is the only word there that can function as an adjective.

Question When using a correlative conjunction, such as "Neither...nor," as the subject of a sentence, should the verb be singular or plural?
Thank you.
Source & Date
of Question Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
9 May 1998
Grammar's
Response You can use neither as the subject of a sentence, but not nor. When neither acts as the subject, however, it's no longer acting as a conjunction but as a pronoun. And, yes, it's always singular -- which is sometimes weird, because it feels like you're talking about two things, but you're not really. It's as if you're saying "neither one of them . . ."
There are two lamps in this room; neither is working.
The same is true of "either," by the way.

Question Some dogs have tails.
Some dogs have a tail.
Which would be correct? I surveyed a number of other English teachers and can't seem to get any agreement. Couldn't find it in any of my grammars either. What do you think, Grammar?
Thanks
Source & Date
of Question Tokyo, Japan
9 May 1998
Grammar's
Response In this case, I think you're going to have to let the sound of things dictate the grammar. We don't want a bunch of two-tailed dogs running around, so I think we want "Some dogs have a tail." (Though "most dogs. . ." would be better, I think.) We have a similar problem in something like "Students will have to make up their mind/minds." In that case, though, I'd go with "minds" to have avoid students sharing a brain (which is only an illusion).

Question I have been asked to write a sentence with a GERUND SUBJECT and one with a SUBJECT OF A GERUND...what is the difference? I know that a gerund subject is like, 'Running is fun," but I am confused about subject of a gerund...
Thank you,
Source & Date
of Question College Station, Texas
9 May 1998
Grammar's
Response I don't know. I've never heard that phrase. Perhaps it means the gerund serving as the subject of a gerund phrase? so that "running" would be the subject of the phrase "running in the park" and "running in the park" would be the sentence subject of "Running in the park is fun"? But I have a weird feeling that somene has made a mistake in writing up your assignment.

Question Hi! Grammar,
I need help. Please help me out. I'm not good in using grammar. Please send me everything about verb tenses and the sequence of tense.
SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
PRESENT PROGRESSIVE
PRESENT PERFECT
PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE
AND PAST TENSE
FUTURE TENSE
AND THE SEQUENCE OF TENSES.
HOW MANY IN TENSES IN THE SEQUENCE OF TENSE.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT THE USE OF GRAMMAR LIKE I EXPLAIN ABOVE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
Source & Date
of Question Lowell, Massachusetts
9 May 1998
Grammar's
Response I recommend you begin by reviewing the Verbs and Verbals and then write back if you have some specific question. You might also want to find out what's available in the way of a writing course at a community college near you. It could be a wonderful investment.

Question I wonder about the question why we can't choose (A)? for following question?

The company she works employs many people.
The company which she works employs many people.
The company for which she works employs many people. The answer ( C ) is absolutely correct, but one of my Taiwanese English teachers chose ( A ) and told us that "for which" = "where" and the relative adverb, where, could be omitted. What do you think about his explanation?
One more question, what are the differences among "except," "except for," "but," & "but for"?

Your essay is good except for the spelling.
All the essays are good except John's.
Nothing but disaster would come from such a plan.
But for your help we should not have finished in time.
The uses of 4 words in above 4 sentences seem similar. Could you please tell me their differences. Thanks!!
And what's the difference between "raise"(vt) & "rise"(vi)? How do we know when to use "raise" and "rise"?
Source & Date
of Question Taiwan
11 May 1998
Grammar's
Response I hate to disagree with your hard-working English instructor, but there's no way you can leave out the "where" in that sentence (assuming you've substituted "where" for "for which." In any case, "C" would be the best response. Those expressions for negation are all perfectly acceptable. I'm not sure what you mean by explaining the differences since they're all pretty much the same. "Nothing but" and "but for" are relatively rare, but still good choices. As for "raise" and "rise," see the Notorious Confusables.

Question Which is correct:

He had written a letter this morning.
or
He has written a letter this morning.
had or has? Is "this morning" a time in the past?
Source & Date
of Question Koala Lumpur, Malaysia
11 May 1998
Grammar's
Response "This morning" could be in the past. Later on, this afternoon, I can refer to what I did this morning: "I worked out in the gym this morning." It is possible, then, to use either the present perfect or the past perfect with that sentence. I would say, however, that the present perfect would normally suggest that you are still inthe present time of "this morning." Remember, too, that the past perfect is usually used to talk about something that happened prior to something else happening. So "I had worked out in the gym this morning -- just before I went out and ate a half-gallon of ice cream." (And the simple past would work fine in that sentence also.)

Question Hello. I am wondering what "ticklers" mean in the following sentence.
{A young oak had taken root in your house, and two or three ferns, unrolling like the ticklers at a banquet.}
Nobody in my class seems to know the meaning of the word (tickler). I did look up a few dictionaries but couldn't find an appropriate definition.
Source & Date
of Question Somewhere, Korea
11 May 1998
Grammar's
Response I have no idea, but I'll post this question in case someone else would know. My very ancient Unabridged says that a tickler (besides being someone or something that tickles -- pleases, amuses, makes you laugh) is a "bung extracting prong," a definition that made me laugh out loud and now everyone in the house thinks I'm nuts. I guess that's a tickler for you.

Question I occasionally find the verb 'were' paired up with singular pronouns, such as 'I' and 'it', in magazine and newspaper articles. In your section on conditional verb tenses, I discovered that the verb 'were' is used to convey an untrue condition or state at the present time. My question is this: why is 'were' used and not 'was'?
Source & Date
of Question Winnipeg
11 May 1998
Grammar's
Response You are referring to a use of the subjunctive in a conditional expression. The use of the subjunctive to express wishes and hypothetical conditions, etc. is common among many languages. Why? I don't know why and I would be suspicious of anyone who says he or she knows. Somehow, though, there is a need for a different Mood when one switches from stating the factual (the indicative) to expressing something hypothetical or a wish or something untrue or imagined.

Question Why is it so hard to find help on the parts of speech!!!! I have a major project due TOMORROW and I need help!!!!! Please help me by telling me the parts of speech and where to find printable info on them. Please do not send any attachments, as my tempermental computer will not allow for downloading. Thank you for your help.
Source & Date
of Question Somewhere, Florida
11 May 1998
Grammar's
Response I hope you can find some help in the Definitions section and in the Verbs and Verbals section of the Guide.

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Question	Hello! I am studying in ESL program. May I have an answer and an explanation of following question. _________social crusade aroused Elizabeth Williams' enthusiasm more than the expansion of educational facilities for immigrats to the United States. No Nothing Not None Thank you very much!
Source & Date of Question	San Jose, California 8 May 1998
Grammar's Response	The only choice that would work in that sentence is "NO" because you're looking for an adjective to modify "crusade," and "no" is the only word there that can function as an adjective.

Question	When using a correlative conjunction, such as "Neither...nor," as the subject of a sentence, should the verb be singular or plural? Thank you.
Source & Date of Question	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 9 May 1998
Grammar's Response	You can use neither as the subject of a sentence, but not nor. When neither acts as the subject, however, it's no longer acting as a conjunction but as a pronoun. And, yes, it's always singular -- which is sometimes weird, because it feels like you're talking about two things, but you're not really. It's as if you're saying "neither one of them . . ." There are two lamps in this room; neither is working. The same is true of "either," by the way.

Question	Some dogs have tails. Some dogs have a tail. Which would be correct? I surveyed a number of other English teachers and can't seem to get any agreement. Couldn't find it in any of my grammars either. What do you think, Grammar? Thanks
Source & Date of Question	Tokyo, Japan 9 May 1998
Grammar's Response	In this case, I think you're going to have to let the sound of things dictate the grammar. We don't want a bunch of two-tailed dogs running around, so I think we want "Some dogs have a tail." (Though "most dogs. . ." would be better, I think.) We have a similar problem in something like "Students will have to make up their mind/minds." In that case, though, I'd go with "minds" to have avoid students sharing a brain (which is only an illusion).

Question	I have been asked to write a sentence with a GERUND SUBJECT and one with a SUBJECT OF A GERUND...what is the difference? I know that a gerund subject is like, 'Running is fun," but I am confused about subject of a gerund... Thank you,
Source & Date of Question	College Station, Texas 9 May 1998
Grammar's Response	I don't know. I've never heard that phrase. Perhaps it means the gerund serving as the subject of a gerund phrase? so that "running" would be the subject of the phrase "running in the park" and "running in the park" would be the sentence subject of "Running in the park is fun"? But I have a weird feeling that somene has made a mistake in writing up your assignment.

Question	Hi! Grammar, I need help. Please help me out. I'm not good in using grammar. Please send me everything about verb tenses and the sequence of tense. SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE PRESENT PROGRESSIVE PRESENT PERFECT PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE AND PAST TENSE FUTURE TENSE AND THE SEQUENCE OF TENSES. HOW MANY IN TENSES IN THE SEQUENCE OF TENSE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT THE USE OF GRAMMAR LIKE I EXPLAIN ABOVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
Source & Date of Question	Lowell, Massachusetts 9 May 1998
Grammar's Response	I recommend you begin by reviewing the Verbs and Verbals and then write back if you have some specific question. You might also want to find out what's available in the way of a writing course at a community college near you. It could be a wonderful investment.

Question	I wonder about the question why we can't choose (A)? for following question? The company she works employs many people. The company which she works employs many people. The company for which she works employs many people. The answer ( C ) is absolutely correct, but one of my Taiwanese English teachers chose ( A ) and told us that "for which" = "where" and the relative adverb, where, could be omitted. What do you think about his explanation? One more question, what are the differences among "except," "except for," "but," & "but for"? Your essay is good except for the spelling. All the essays are good except John's. Nothing but disaster would come from such a plan. But for your help we should not have finished in time. The uses of 4 words in above 4 sentences seem similar. Could you please tell me their differences. Thanks!! And what's the difference between "raise"(vt) & "rise"(vi)? How do we know when to use "raise" and "rise"?
Source & Date of Question	Taiwan 11 May 1998
Grammar's Response	I hate to disagree with your hard-working English instructor, but there's no way you can leave out the "where" in that sentence (assuming you've substituted "where" for "for which." In any case, "C" would be the best response. Those expressions for negation are all perfectly acceptable. I'm not sure what you mean by explaining the differences since they're all pretty much the same. "Nothing but" and "but for" are relatively rare, but still good choices. As for "raise" and "rise," see the Notorious Confusables.

Question	Which is correct: He had written a letter this morning. or He has written a letter this morning. had or has? Is "this morning" a time in the past?
Source & Date of Question	Koala Lumpur, Malaysia 11 May 1998
Grammar's Response	"This morning" could be in the past. Later on, this afternoon, I can refer to what I did this morning: "I worked out in the gym this morning." It is possible, then, to use either the present perfect or the past perfect with that sentence. I would say, however, that the present perfect would normally suggest that you are still inthe present time of "this morning." Remember, too, that the past perfect is usually used to talk about something that happened prior to something else happening. So "I had worked out in the gym this morning -- just before I went out and ate a half-gallon of ice cream." (And the simple past would work fine in that sentence also.)

Question	Hello. I am wondering what "ticklers" mean in the following sentence. {A young oak had taken root in your house, and two or three ferns, unrolling like the ticklers at a banquet.} Nobody in my class seems to know the meaning of the word (tickler). I did look up a few dictionaries but couldn't find an appropriate definition.
Source & Date of Question	Somewhere, Korea 11 May 1998
Grammar's Response	I have no idea, but I'll post this question in case someone else would know. My very ancient Unabridged says that a tickler (besides being someone or something that tickles -- pleases, amuses, makes you laugh) is a "bung extracting prong," a definition that made me laugh out loud and now everyone in the house thinks I'm nuts. I guess that's a tickler for you.

Question	I occasionally find the verb 'were' paired up with singular pronouns, such as 'I' and 'it', in magazine and newspaper articles. In your section on conditional verb tenses, I discovered that the verb 'were' is used to convey an untrue condition or state at the present time. My question is this: why is 'were' used and not 'was'?
Source & Date of Question	Winnipeg 11 May 1998
Grammar's Response	You are referring to a use of the subjunctive in a conditional expression. The use of the subjunctive to express wishes and hypothetical conditions, etc. is common among many languages. Why? I don't know why and I would be suspicious of anyone who says he or she knows. Somehow, though, there is a need for a different Mood when one switches from stating the factual (the indicative) to expressing something hypothetical or a wish or something untrue or imagined.

Question	Why is it so hard to find help on the parts of speech!!!! I have a major project due TOMORROW and I need help!!!!! Please help me by telling me the parts of speech and where to find printable info on them. Please do not send any attachments, as my tempermental computer will not allow for downloading. Thank you for your help.
Source & Date of Question	Somewhere, Florida 11 May 1998
Grammar's Response	I hope you can find some help in the Definitions section and in the Verbs and Verbals section of the Guide.