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

The
Grammar
Logs
# 125

Question As a teacher, when my students say, "What do we do when we get done?" I reply, "Turkeys get done, students get finished." They think I'm picky because they hear "get done" from other teachers. Am I wrong?
Thanks
Source & Date
of Question Jonesboro, Georgia
14 May 1998
Grammar's
Response It sounds like a distinction worth remembering -- and I will, now that I have that turkey to remind me. It's certainly a distinction we need to remember in formal prose. Most semesters, I am finished by this time of year; this semester, I'm done -- well done.

Question We have a Japanese visitor where I work. He asked the following question and I did not have an accurate, good answer. What is the difference between saying: We will order the filter? and We will be ordering the filter? Obvioulsy the y are both future, is one incorrect grammatically? How does saying will be differ from saying will? Hopefully you understand what I am asking.
Thank You
Source & Date
of Question Norman, Oklahoma
14 May 1998
Grammar's
Response There's not a big difference in meaning, but there is a difference. The simple future, "We will order," is just that, a simple statement of fact. The "will be ordering," the future progressive, means that there will be a time when you will be in the act of ordering. It's not quite as definite and, therefore, is kind of a weasel -- as in "I'm not going to tell you when, exactly, but sometime, eventually, we will be ordering. . . ." The simpler the better.

Question What is the past tense of sneak? When would you use snuck?
Source & Date
of Question Syosset, New York
14 May 1998
Grammar's
Response The past tense of sneak is sneaked. My Oxford American doesn't even mention "snuck." However, the Merriam-Webster's online dictionary (which is rather liberal in such matters) this to say about how this word has snuck into our vocabulary:
From its earliest appearance in print in the late 19th century as a dialectal and probably uneducated form, the past and past participle snuck has risen to the status of standard and to approximate equality with sneaked. Indications are that it is continuing to grow in frequency. It is most common in the U.S. and Canada, but has also been spotted in British and Australian English.
Thus you can say snuck whenever you feel like it.

Question Is it correct for someone to say: "I'm not understanding you." when a simple "I don't understand you." will suffice. I prefer the latter, but find that the former has gained an unusually large following. Please advise as to whether the former is correct, and, if so, under what circumstances. Thanks.
Source & Date
of Question Hartford, Connecticut
14 May 1998
Grammar's
Response I think it's supposed to sound less harsh when you say it that way, but that's nonsense. You're right. A simple "I don't understand you" or even "I don't understand" will suffice nicely. I don't think there's anything particularly incorrect about "not understanding"; it's just silly.

Question I don't think I have received the answer of the question below from you. Or maybe i've just missed it. could you please re-answer it. Thank you very very much.
When you're referring to something that might happens in the future, can you explain it with "would've"?
Source & Date
of Question Sunray, Texas
14 May 1998
Grammar's
Response Please check out the new section on the uses of the Conditional. Frankly, it's kind of tough going, but if you have any questions about it afterward, please get back to us.

Question Can you explain the concept of "objects" in a sentence. Thanks much!
Source & Date
of Question New York, New York
15 May 1998
Grammar's
Response An "object" can be either a direct object, which means it is the recipient of action (as in "He kissed the girls.") or in indirect object, which means it explain for whom or what an action is done or directed (as in "He threw his wife a kiss."). You can also have an object of a preposition(as in "in the back of the car").

Question Do you put a comma in front of word "that" - for example:
It is emphasized, that the record is sans evidence that the Employer abused its discretion.
Another example -
In contrast to the Employer's position, the Union argues, that the Quantum of proof required in the instant matter is proof "beyond a reasonable doubt."
Please - any punctuation help would be very appreciated.
Source & Date
of Question Ennis, Montana
15 May 1998
Grammar's
Response You certainly don't want a comma in front of that in either one of those sentences. You may end up with a comma in front of the word that -- say, if you had a parenthetical element in front of it. There could be a variety of reasons for a comma in front of it, but you would never set it off with a comma because it's introducing a clause that can be left out of a sentence: the word that doesn't work that way.

Question Please tell me which sentence is hyphenated correctly.

A subsequent 0.7 cm segment has tan-red to gray thrombus material filling its lumen.
A subsequent 0.7 cm segment has tan-red-to-gray thrombus material filling its lumen.
Thanks!
Source & Date
of Question Corydon, Indiana
15 May 1998
Grammar's
Response It feels very funny, punctuating a sentence when you haven't the slightest idea what it means! The use of hyphens in that color is going to depend on whether you're talking about one color or one mix of colors, which you characterize as being tan-red-to-grey, or a range of colors (which, I suspect, is what's meant here) going from tan-red to grey. Incidentally, we would put a hyphen between 0.7 and cm, so it would read 0.7-cm segment.

Question A large number of investigators (has/have) developed constitutive laws for elastomers.
Source & Date
of Question Ann Arbor, Michigan
15 May 1998
Grammar's
Response "A number" is going to be plural (so you want "have"); "the number" will be singular.

Question I have always been taught that it is incorrect to begin a sentence with words like 'They are', 'It is', etc. However, in a recent discussion with a peer, I could not remember why this should be or what it is called when you begin a sent ence in such a manner.
Am I correct in stating that the sentence should not begin with such phrases, what are they called, and could you cite a reference for my future edification.
Thank you
Source & Date
of Question Boston, Massachusetts
15 May 1998
Grammar's
Response It's not exactly incorrect to begin a sentence with "there is" or "there are" or "it is." These are called Expletive Constructions, and they are usually a waste of time. It's better to wipe them out and begin with the real subject of your sentence. (Click on the name to see examples.)

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Question	As a teacher, when my students say, "What do we do when we get done?" I reply, "Turkeys get done, students get finished." They think I'm picky because they hear "get done" from other teachers. Am I wrong? Thanks
Source & Date of Question	Jonesboro, Georgia 14 May 1998
Grammar's Response	It sounds like a distinction worth remembering -- and I will, now that I have that turkey to remind me. It's certainly a distinction we need to remember in formal prose. Most semesters, I am finished by this time of year; this semester, I'm done -- well done.

Question	We have a Japanese visitor where I work. He asked the following question and I did not have an accurate, good answer. What is the difference between saying: We will order the filter? and We will be ordering the filter? Obvioulsy the y are both future, is one incorrect grammatically? How does saying will be differ from saying will? Hopefully you understand what I am asking. Thank You
Source & Date of Question	Norman, Oklahoma 14 May 1998
Grammar's Response	There's not a big difference in meaning, but there is a difference. The simple future, "We will order," is just that, a simple statement of fact. The "will be ordering," the future progressive, means that there will be a time when you will be in the act of ordering. It's not quite as definite and, therefore, is kind of a weasel -- as in "I'm not going to tell you when, exactly, but sometime, eventually, we will be ordering. . . ." The simpler the better.

Question	What is the past tense of sneak? When would you use snuck?
Source & Date of Question	Syosset, New York 14 May 1998
Grammar's Response	The past tense of sneak is sneaked. My Oxford American doesn't even mention "snuck." However, the Merriam-Webster's online dictionary (which is rather liberal in such matters) this to say about how this word has snuck into our vocabulary: From its earliest appearance in print in the late 19th century as a dialectal and probably uneducated form, the past and past participle snuck has risen to the status of standard and to approximate equality with sneaked. Indications are that it is continuing to grow in frequency. It is most common in the U.S. and Canada, but has also been spotted in British and Australian English. Thus you can say snuck whenever you feel like it.

Question	I don't think I have received the answer of the question below from you. Or maybe i've just missed it. could you please re-answer it. Thank you very very much. When you're referring to something that might happens in the future, can you explain it with "would've"?
Source & Date of Question	Sunray, Texas 14 May 1998
Grammar's Response	Please check out the new section on the uses of the Conditional. Frankly, it's kind of tough going, but if you have any questions about it afterward, please get back to us.

Question	Do you put a comma in front of word "that" - for example: It is emphasized, that the record is sans evidence that the Employer abused its discretion. Another example - In contrast to the Employer's position, the Union argues, that the Quantum of proof required in the instant matter is proof "beyond a reasonable doubt." Please - any punctuation help would be very appreciated.
Source & Date of Question	Ennis, Montana 15 May 1998
Grammar's Response	You certainly don't want a comma in front of that in either one of those sentences. You may end up with a comma in front of the word that -- say, if you had a parenthetical element in front of it. There could be a variety of reasons for a comma in front of it, but you would never set it off with a comma because it's introducing a clause that can be left out of a sentence: the word that doesn't work that way.

Question	Is it correct for someone to say: "I'm not understanding you." when a simple "I don't understand you." will suffice. I prefer the latter, but find that the former has gained an unusually large following. Please advise as to whether the former is correct, and, if so, under what circumstances. Thanks.
Source & Date of Question	Hartford, Connecticut 14 May 1998
Grammar's Response	I think it's supposed to sound less harsh when you say it that way, but that's nonsense. You're right. A simple "I don't understand you" or even "I don't understand" will suffice nicely. I don't think there's anything particularly incorrect about "not understanding"; it's just silly.

Question	Can you explain the concept of "objects" in a sentence. Thanks much!
Source & Date of Question	New York, New York 15 May 1998
Grammar's Response	An "object" can be either a direct object, which means it is the recipient of action (as in "He kissed the girls.") or in indirect object, which means it explain for whom or what an action is done or directed (as in "He threw his wife a kiss."). You can also have an object of a preposition(as in "in the back of the car").

Question	Please tell me which sentence is hyphenated correctly. A subsequent 0.7 cm segment has tan-red to gray thrombus material filling its lumen. A subsequent 0.7 cm segment has tan-red-to-gray thrombus material filling its lumen. Thanks!
Source & Date of Question	Corydon, Indiana 15 May 1998
Grammar's Response	It feels very funny, punctuating a sentence when you haven't the slightest idea what it means! The use of hyphens in that color is going to depend on whether you're talking about one color or one mix of colors, which you characterize as being tan-red-to-grey, or a range of colors (which, I suspect, is what's meant here) going from tan-red to grey. Incidentally, we would put a hyphen between 0.7 and cm, so it would read 0.7-cm segment.

Question	A large number of investigators (has/have) developed constitutive laws for elastomers.
Source & Date of Question	Ann Arbor, Michigan 15 May 1998
Grammar's Response	"A number" is going to be plural (so you want "have"); "the number" will be singular.

Question	I have always been taught that it is incorrect to begin a sentence with words like 'They are', 'It is', etc. However, in a recent discussion with a peer, I could not remember why this should be or what it is called when you begin a sent ence in such a manner. Am I correct in stating that the sentence should not begin with such phrases, what are they called, and could you cite a reference for my future edification. Thank you
Source & Date of Question	Boston, Massachusetts 15 May 1998
Grammar's Response	It's not exactly incorrect to begin a sentence with "there is" or "there are" or "it is." These are called Expletive Constructions, and they are usually a waste of time. It's better to wipe them out and begin with the real subject of your sentence. (Click on the name to see examples.)