The
Grammar
Logs
# 156

QUESTION
Hello.
Is there any difference between these 2 sentences:
  1. Mother suggested that Bob should go abroad.
  2. Mother suggested Bob go abroad.
For sentence No. 2, can I change "go" to "went" ?

Best regards

SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Auckland, New Zealand Wednesday, July 1, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
I think the best way to write this would be "Mother suggested that Bob go abroad." It's a use of the Subjunctive. If you change "go" to "went," it means something entirely different. Maybe you're trying to figure out what happened to Bob, and Mom suggests [the possibility] that he went abroad.

QUESTION
I would like to know if there is/are sources to find out about how the meaning of the word "time" changes, especially regarding usage of articles in front of it. For example, if you put the article "a" in front of "time" as in: "A time was had by all." the meaning changes drastically from putting the word "the" in front: "I remember the time I missed the bus and got to work late."
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
New York, New York Wednesday, July 1, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
I suppose a really good dictionary would help. You could start with Merriam-Webster's online WWWebster's Dictionary which lists 95 definitions for time. You're right, though, it changes with the nature of the article (or zero article): "He had the time of his life. He had a good time. What time is it? Do you have the time? Do you have time to help me? Do you have the time necessary to do a good job?"

QUESTION
Can we use
  1. "Help the door" instead of "close the door".
  2. "Help the shoes" instead of "polish the shoes"
  3. "Speak high" instead of "speak in good manner"
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Jaipur, Rajasthan, India Wednesday, July 1, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
I'm not aware of those expressions using "help" in those ways, although they might very well be used in some corner of the world where English is spoken. I doubt it. Also, I've never heard "Speak high," and I'm not too sure what "speak in [a?] good manner" means, for that matter. Perhaps "speak clearly" would suffice?

QUESTION
Sorry about not being specific but it is a general question. What are the rules for diagramming adjective and adverb sentences? They are really giving me a hard time. Also, if you had a web address that I could visit, it would be helpful.

Thanks in advance

SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
San Antonio, Texas Wednesday, July 1, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
I'm not aware of any websites that get into diagramming sentences. My personal excuse is that it's difficult to show on the web without getting into all kinds of graphic embellishments. I use that excuse to cover the fact that I'm not particularly good at it. I recommend Kolln's book for help with diagramming sentences. (Incidentally, I think you mean adjective and adverb clauses, not sentences.)

Authority: Understanding English Grammar by Martha Kolln. 4rth Edition. MacMillan Publishing Company: New York. 1994.


QUESTION
I was criticized by a friend for using an apostrophe in the plural of CD (for compact disk). eg: Don't scratch your CD's. I remember learning to use the apostrophe in plurals of alphabet letters, and I thought this carried over to abbreviations. Have I been incorrect in pluralizing CD's, URL's, BBQ's, MD's, etc? To me, it looks better!

Thanks.

SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
West Milford, New Jersey Wednesday, July 1, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
It doesn't sound to me like the kind of thing that one ought to be criticized for, but most style manuals and writing reference books nowadays do recommend not using that apostrophe except in the case of single letters and digits: "He got four A's last term" or "She scored perfect 10's on that event." You would be able to find some books, however, that recommend using the apostrophe to create plurals such as CD's, etc., but it's been my experience that most authorities are leaning toward eliminating the hyphen.

QUESTION
I have been putting a comma before too at the end of a sentence. I have noticed that many others do not. Example:
May I go to the store, too.
Thanks for your help!
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Moorpark, California Wednesday, July 1, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
Usually, when that word too is used as a connector, it's going to require a comma. I would put this in the same category as the comma after the introductory prepositional phrase; it's going to depend on your ear more than anything. I usually set it off with a comma.

QUESTION
What is the preposition after the word, replacement?
eg. Who is the replacement ____ John?
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Renton, Washington Thursday, July 2, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
I would use for in that sentence.

QUESTION
I previously asked about any distinction between "a patient's participation" and "patients' participation." The answer I received was, either will do. Now with the following sentence:
The Japanese government should make a law that substantially increases patients' participation in making informed decisions concerning their medical treatment.
Trouble with this one, someone suggests, is that "we have the strange case of several patients interfering with each other's personal decision," that the meaning of the sentence has now changed. What do you say?
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Tokyo, Japan Thursday, July 2, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
I don't think that anyone would read that sentence that way, but if you want to avoid that remotely possible ambiguity, you could add the word "personal" in front of "medical" (or the word "own").

QUESTION
TOEFL questions:
  1. ____ should the expense of the new bridge be considered a problem.
    A) Scarcely
    B) Nor
    According to the answer key the correct answer is B), but I can't find why.
  2. That is the store where I used to work and where my sister works now. According to the TOEFL answer book this sentence has faulty parallel structure. Why?
  3. Little do today's typical parents understand about the pressures of teenager life.
    The incorrect part could be Little, today's understand, or teenager. Which one?

    Thanks.
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Mexico City, Mexico Thursday, July 2, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
In #1, I'd have to go with "nor" because "scarcely" doesn't make sense -- "nor" would make sense only in context, of course. If "scarcely" had to be in that sentence, it would be with the verb it modifies, "should be considered." In #2, the "used to" comes before the verb and tells us when you worked; allow the "now" to come before the verb in the other clause "now works." In #3, I'm not sure, but I think you've got a problem with "teenager." It could be "teenagers' lives" or "life of a teenager," or something else, but "teenager life" doesn't make sense to me.

Gerald Smyth suggests this rewrite for the third sentence: "Little do today's typical parents understand the pressures of teenager life." [omit 'about'] or: "Today's typical parents understand little about the pressures of teenager life." Also, I think 'teenager' should be 'teen age'.


QUESTION
Normally, the verb in every "to + verb" structure is to be the infinitive. but sometimes I come across with the structure of "to + ing" for example the sentance as follows
  1. Although executives have become more sophisticated in their understanding of what it takes to achieve compatetive advantage at the level of individual businesess, when it comes "to creating" corporate advantage across multiple business, the news is far less encouraging.
  2. In fact, Barlow and much of the U.S. public may be closer "to embracing" Buchanan-omics than most of them realize.
1. How to use "to + ing" structure in sentences? 2. How do we make sure whether to is followed by infinitive or -ing structure?
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Maylaysia Thursday, July 2, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
In the examples you give us, the to is preceding a gerund form. The U.S. public is closer to something (the something is a noun, in this case a verb form acting as a noun, a gerund -- embracing.) I recommend you review the sections (in the Verbals hand-out) on infinitives and gerunds (including the quizzes), and if you still have questions, please write again.

Previous Grammar Log

Next Grammar Log

Index of Grammar Logs

Guide to Grammar and Writing