The Grammar Logs -- Number Nineteen

The
Grammar
Logs
# 19

Question Please... I wanna know everything about "past perfect" if you can help me???????????
Thanks a lot!
Source & Date
of Question Foz do Iguacu, Parana, Brasil
30 June 1997
Grammar's
Response Well, I can't tell you everything, but I can tell you that the past perfect describes an action that was accomplished (finished, thus "perfected") at some point in the past. I had walked means that I finished walking at some point in the past. You can't tell whether that point was five minutes ago or five days ago or five years ago, just that it's in the past. Does that help?

Question I'm very confused with ABOUT and ON.
Example: All this informations are about her life.
Question: Why can't I put "ON HER LIFE" instead of "ABOUT HER LIFE"?
Thanks a lot for helping!
Source & Date
of Question Montreal, Quebec, Canada
30 June 1997
Grammar's
Response Who says you can't? What you can't say is "these informations are"! (You can, however, say, "This information is about/on her life," though it might be better yet to say "This information is about/on the life of _______.") I personally prefer the "about," but there's nothing wrong with "on."

Question Are the breeds of dogs capitalized? Example: labrador retriever or is it Labrador Retriever?
Thanks
Source & Date
of Question Nibley, Utah
1 July 1997
Grammar's
Response I get my information from reference books and not the American Kennel Club, which might have a different reading on this matter. I would capitalize the Labrador but not the retriever, capitalize the Skye but not the terrier, capitalize the Clumber but not the spaniel. On the other hand, I would not capitalize springer spaniel at all because the springer is not associated with a person or place's proper name. I thought, at first, that these names would fall into the same category as french fries, but I was wrong.

Question To settle a bet... Isn't it correct, when using the plural form of a proper noun such as a last name, to NOT use an apostrophe?? For example:

The Martins came over to our home this evening. CORRECT
The Martin's came over to our home this evening. INCORRECT
Please verify this for me so I can prove my point to someone very argumentative. Mind you, I am an English teacher, but they choose not to believe me.
Source & Date
of Question Berkeley, Michigan
2 July 1997
Grammar's
Response Yes, it is correct NOT to use the apostrophe to form the plurals of such words. A pox on the unbelievers' houses.

Question When do you use comma before and?
Source & Date
of Question Halle, Delaware
2 July 1997
Grammar's
Response Use a comma before the conjunction and when the conjunction is connecting two independent clauses. Although it is not required, most writers (who are not writing for newspapers) will put a comma before the and which connects the last item in a series (especially if it helps keep the last two things from glomming together). Otherwise, the word and is capable of connecting two things by itself, without the comma.

Question Please explain the difference in usage between "that" and "which."
Source & Date
of Question New York, New York
2 July 1997
Grammar's
Response Both that and which can be used to introduce relative clauses. If you know, specifically, the thing to which the pronoun refers, use which; it the antecedent is not so specific, you can use that instead. The bridge that spans the Farmington River is falling down. The Founders Bridge, which spans the Farmington River, is falling down. Is that enough, or do you need to know more?

Question My first language is spanish. I have to write technical documents everyday. My documents are written in passive (??) according to the Word 6.0 grammar check. I am giving an example:
"...High purity and process waters must be evaluated to ensure that the water purification system and points of use are continuously controlled within allowable chemical and microbiological limits..."
It is correct?
Source & Date
of Question Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
2 July 1997
Grammar's
Response Yes, those sentences are written in the passive voice, but there's nothing wrong with that in this case. In this situation, the "do-ers" of the actions are not terribly important; the subjects being acted upon -- the "waters" and the "system," etc. -- are the important things. In such cases, the passive voice is extremely useful. Don't worry about it.

Question I have a friend that constantly says her and I. That is wrong isn't it?
Source & Date
of Question Martinsville, ?
2 July 1997
Grammar's
Response Yes. I can't imagine a construction where that mixture of pronouns -- mixing the object form of "she" (her) with the subject form, I -- would work together. Have your friend fixed, but be gentle.

Question What is a split infinitive? And....what does it mean when there is a lack of agreement between a pronoun and antecedent noun?
Source & Date
of Question Miami Beach, Florida
2 July 1997
Grammar's
Response Split infinitives don't raise hackles the way they used to -- except among English-teacher-types and grammar-conscious bosses. "We are going to eagerly await the announcement." The "eagerly" comes between (splits) the two parts of the infinitive: "to" and "await." That's no big deal. If you put a really hairy phrase in there -- "We are going to eagerly and without undue fuss or bother await the announcement." -- that's still considered bad form.
Pronouns should agree in number with the words they refer to. Thus, "Has anyone here lost their shoe?" is problematical for some folks. It should be "Has anyone here lost his or her shoe?" Refer to the Guide's section on pronouns for a couple of links (one at the University of Texas) where an abundance of evidence is presented to suggest that the word their is (and historically has been) a perfectly acceptable "generic singular."

Previous Grammar Log
Next Grammar Log
Index of Grammar Logs
Guide to Grammar and Writing

Question	Please... I wanna know everything about "past perfect" if you can help me??????????? Thanks a lot!
Source & Date of Question	Foz do Iguacu, Parana, Brasil 30 June 1997
Grammar's Response	Well, I can't tell you everything, but I can tell you that the past perfect describes an action that was accomplished (finished, thus "perfected") at some point in the past. I had walked means that I finished walking at some point in the past. You can't tell whether that point was five minutes ago or five days ago or five years ago, just that it's in the past. Does that help?

Question	Are the breeds of dogs capitalized? Example: labrador retriever or is it Labrador Retriever? Thanks
Source & Date of Question	Nibley, Utah 1 July 1997
Grammar's Response	I get my information from reference books and not the American Kennel Club, which might have a different reading on this matter. I would capitalize the Labrador but not the retriever, capitalize the Skye but not the terrier, capitalize the Clumber but not the spaniel. On the other hand, I would not capitalize springer spaniel at all because the springer is not associated with a person or place's proper name. I thought, at first, that these names would fall into the same category as french fries, but I was wrong.

Question	To settle a bet... Isn't it correct, when using the plural form of a proper noun such as a last name, to NOT use an apostrophe?? For example: The Martins came over to our home this evening. CORRECT The Martin's came over to our home this evening. INCORRECT Please verify this for me so I can prove my point to someone very argumentative. Mind you, I am an English teacher, but they choose not to believe me.
Source & Date of Question	Berkeley, Michigan 2 July 1997
Grammar's Response	Yes, it is correct NOT to use the apostrophe to form the plurals of such words. A pox on the unbelievers' houses.

Question	My first language is spanish. I have to write technical documents everyday. My documents are written in passive (??) according to the Word 6.0 grammar check. I am giving an example: "...High purity and process waters must be evaluated to ensure that the water purification system and points of use are continuously controlled within allowable chemical and microbiological limits..." It is correct?
Source & Date of Question	Guaynabo, Puerto Rico 2 July 1997
Grammar's Response	Yes, those sentences are written in the passive voice, but there's nothing wrong with that in this case. In this situation, the "do-ers" of the actions are not terribly important; the subjects being acted upon -- the "waters" and the "system," etc. -- are the important things. In such cases, the passive voice is extremely useful. Don't worry about it.

Question	What is a split infinitive? And....what does it mean when there is a lack of agreement between a pronoun and antecedent noun?
Source & Date of Question	Miami Beach, Florida 2 July 1997
Grammar's Response	Split infinitives don't raise hackles the way they used to -- except among English-teacher-types and grammar-conscious bosses. "We are going to eagerly await the announcement." The "eagerly" comes between (splits) the two parts of the infinitive: "to" and "await." That's no big deal. If you put a really hairy phrase in there -- "We are going to eagerly and without undue fuss or bother await the announcement." -- that's still considered bad form. Pronouns should agree in number with the words they refer to. Thus, "Has anyone here lost their shoe?" is problematical for some folks. It should be "Has anyone here lost his or her shoe?" Refer to the Guide's section on pronouns for a couple of links (one at the University of Texas) where an abundance of evidence is presented to suggest that the word their is (and historically has been) a perfectly acceptable "generic singular."

Question	When do you use comma before and?
Source & Date of Question	Halle, Delaware 2 July 1997
Grammar's Response	Use a comma before the conjunction and when the conjunction is connecting two independent clauses. Although it is not required, most writers (who are not writing for newspapers) will put a comma before the and which connects the last item in a series (especially if it helps keep the last two things from glomming together). Otherwise, the word and is capable of connecting two things by itself, without the comma.

Question	Please explain the difference in usage between "that" and "which."
Source & Date of Question	New York, New York 2 July 1997
Grammar's Response	Both that and which can be used to introduce relative clauses. If you know, specifically, the thing to which the pronoun refers, use which; it the antecedent is not so specific, you can use that instead. The bridge that spans the Farmington River is falling down. The Founders Bridge, which spans the Farmington River, is falling down. Is that enough, or do you need to know more?

Question	I have a friend that constantly says her and I. That is wrong isn't it?
Source & Date of Question	Martinsville, ? 2 July 1997
Grammar's Response	Yes. I can't imagine a construction where that mixture of pronouns -- mixing the object form of "she" (her) with the subject form, I -- would work together. Have your friend fixed, but be gentle.