The Grammar Logs -- Number Thirty-Nine

The
Grammar
Logs
# 39

Question
In the below sentence should the word "are" be changed to the word "is"?
Determining the correct imaging solution and ensuring it is properly integrated are gravely important to the long term performance of the HAC.
Thanks for your help.

Source & Date
of Question Virginia
5 November 1997
Grammar's
Response That's a tough one. It sounds to me like you're talking about two steps of one process: the "determining" and the "ensuring" are like macaroni and cheese -- really one thing. If that is so, then you want the singular verb, "is." However, if I'm reading this wrong, and there are two separate steps here, then you want the plural verb, "are." You'll have to decide how integrated these two steps are. Incidentally, the word "gravely" seems gravely out of place here. Isn't it enough to be "important"?

Question Some native speakers told me that beginning a sentence with "Because," "And," or "But" is not appropriate for formal writing. Could you explain that ?
Ex. (poor)
Face-to face communication is a good opportunity to cement relationships. Because it allows everyone concerned to express an opinion on the project. But with the rise in opportunities to do business, traditional business practices are out of date and inefficient.
Ex. (better)
Face-to face communication is a good opportunity to cement relationships because it allows everyone concerned to express an opinion on the project. However, with the rise in opportunities to do business, traditional business practices are out of date and inefficient.
Source & Date
of Question Yokohama, Japan
6 November 1997
Grammar's
Response
The "because" sentence is not a particularly good example because you've created a dependent clause and made it stand by itself -- a fragment. A better example might be:
Because it allows everyone concerned to express an opinion on the project, face-to face communication is a good opportunity to cement relationships.
Only a real stickler for form would object to that sentence beginning with "because."
As for beginning a sentence with "but" or "and," it's probably better to avoid it in really formal prose; however, it can be done and sometimes even to good effect. You want to ask yourself if the sentence beginning with a conjunction should not, in fact, be connected to the sentence before it, or couldn't you eliminate the conjunction altogether. Still, it sometimes calls attention to the sentence and provides an easy, slick transition, so, as long as it doesn't happen too often, try it. No one should object. But don't blame me.

Question
I'm an ESL instructor and have an adult student who is having trouble using and understanding the past perfect tense. I can't seem to find much information on this topic. I've explained that this tense is used to describe an event that occured before a particular time in the past.
EX: By the time I got to the airport, the plane had already taken off.
Is "by the time" necessary? In the first part of the example sentence, a past tense verb is used (got); Do all past perfect sentences use a simple past tense verb as well as "had" and participle verb? Please direct me to other information on this subject, if possible, too.
Thank you.
Another question. This same student is having problems understanding "either" and "Neither"... Help if you can.
Source & Date
of Question Griffin, Georgia
6 November 1997
Grammar's
Response You've described the past perfect about as well as it can be described. The action was completed (finished, "perfected") at some point in the past (and you can't say how long ago that was). You could have said "when" instead of "by the time," but, yes, you will often have some time clue in your main clause that triggers the use of the past perfect, but, no, it isn't necessary: "I had thought so." If you have past tense in your main clause, you will almost always have either a past or past perfect tense in your subordinate clause.

Either and neither can act either as indefinite pronouns or as correlative conjunctions (as either does in this sentence). As an indefinite pronoun, the word is always singular, even though we seem to be talking about two things:
Neither is correct.
As correlative conjunctions, they combine things, obviously. When they are combining subjects, the subject closer to the verb will determine the number of that verb.
Neither my father nor my brothers are interested in buying the house.
Neither my brothers nor my father is interested in buying the house.
Does that help?

Question
Here's the example and then the question:
Only in funerals do we firmly rely on Buddhism, although we completely forget about it in our daily lives.
Question: Why is the word "do" in this sentence? Why can't you just say this: Only in funerals we firmly rely on Buddhism, although we completely forget about it in our daily lives. What is the english name of "do"? for instance, is it a noun, verb, etc.?
thank you for your help.
Source & Date
of Question Toyoham, Kagawa, Japan
6 November 1997
Grammar's
Response The word "do" is sometimes called a stand-in auxiliary. It has no effect on the meaning of the sentence, really, but it is necessary in emphatic sentences. As Marth Kolln points out, "It merely acts as a kind of operator that enables us to add emphasis to sentences not containing auxiliaries or be . . . " (129)
The addition of do as a stand-in auxiliary is known as the "do transformation." I hope you can find Kolln's book, as it's very helpful in many difficult to describe situations.
Authority: Understanding English Grammar by Martha Kolln. 4rth Edition. MacMillan Publishing Company: New York. 1994.

Question I would like an example of a contraction and a definition please.
Source & Date
of Question Las Cruces, New Mexico
6 November 1997
Grammar's
Response A contraction is a construction in which we leave out part of a word or phrase and substitute for it an apostrophe. We frequently use contractions in the creation of negatives. Instead of saying "He didn't do his homework," we say, "He didn't do his homework."
We also use contraction in simple verb constructions. Instead of saying "She is going to the movies," and "She has gone to the movies," we can say, "She's going to the movies" and "She's gone to the movies."
Some people don't like the use of contractions in formal prose. Indeed, the negative construction will usually have more force if you don't use the contraction. If you're having trouble with contractions in English, for heaven's sake, don't take up French!

Question
I need help diagramming this sentence. I don't know if this is the right place to get this info. or not.
When he did emerge, it was in a ceremonial manner, with an escort of six dogs who closely surrounded him and growled if anyone came too near

Source & Date
of Question Shelby, North Carolina
6 November 1997
Grammar's
Response Because it involves the creation of graphics, which I have neither the time nor the talent to undertake, I prefer not to answer questions about diagramming. Sorry about that. So, for the second time in a week, I'll refer an ASK GRAMMAR user to Martha Kolln's fine book, which has plenty of examples of expertly done diagrammed sentences.
If I can help identify parts of your sentence, ask again.
Understanding English Grammar by Martha Kolln. 4rth Edition. MacMillan Publishing Company: New York. 1994.

Question We just took our test and missed the question that has the date 1980. We have been taught to always put an apostrophe after dates. Would you please advise us on our question.
Source & Date
of Question Bridgeport, West Virginia
6 November 1997
Grammar's
Response You would use an apostrophe to create plurals of numbers such as "I got four 10's on my quizzes." But it's not necessary when you're creating plurals of years: "He was a rock star during the 1970s."

Authority: The Longman Handbook for Writers and Readers by Chris M. Anson and Robert A. Schwegler. Addison Wesley Longman, Inc.: New York. 1997.

Question What's the past tense of forecast?
Source & Date
of Question Minneapolis, Minnesota
6 November 1997
Grammar's
Response The past tense of forecast is forecast. Forecasted is also acceptable, but people will look at you funny. Is this a Minnesota weather-joke?

Question Is there an easier way to remember MLA?
Source & Date
of Question Garner, North Carolina
7 November 1997
Grammar's
Response No. Believe me, I've tried. The best you can hope for is to have a handful of models in front of you when you're writing your paper. Models of mla-style references and citations, I mean.

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Question	In the below sentence should the word "are" be changed to the word "is"? Determining the correct imaging solution and ensuring it is properly integrated are gravely important to the long term performance of the HAC. Thanks for your help.
Source & Date of Question	Virginia 5 November 1997
Grammar's Response	That's a tough one. It sounds to me like you're talking about two steps of one process: the "determining" and the "ensuring" are like macaroni and cheese -- really one thing. If that is so, then you want the singular verb, "is." However, if I'm reading this wrong, and there are two separate steps here, then you want the plural verb, "are." You'll have to decide how integrated these two steps are. Incidentally, the word "gravely" seems gravely out of place here. Isn't it enough to be "important"?

Question	Some native speakers told me that beginning a sentence with "Because," "And," or "But" is not appropriate for formal writing. Could you explain that ? Ex. (poor) Face-to face communication is a good opportunity to cement relationships. Because it allows everyone concerned to express an opinion on the project. But with the rise in opportunities to do business, traditional business practices are out of date and inefficient. Ex. (better) Face-to face communication is a good opportunity to cement relationships because it allows everyone concerned to express an opinion on the project. However, with the rise in opportunities to do business, traditional business practices are out of date and inefficient.
Source & Date of Question	Yokohama, Japan 6 November 1997
Grammar's Response	The "because" sentence is not a particularly good example because you've created a dependent clause and made it stand by itself -- a fragment. A better example might be: Because it allows everyone concerned to express an opinion on the project, face-to face communication is a good opportunity to cement relationships. Only a real stickler for form would object to that sentence beginning with "because." As for beginning a sentence with "but" or "and," it's probably better to avoid it in really formal prose; however, it can be done and sometimes even to good effect. You want to ask yourself if the sentence beginning with a conjunction should not, in fact, be connected to the sentence before it, or couldn't you eliminate the conjunction altogether. Still, it sometimes calls attention to the sentence and provides an easy, slick transition, so, as long as it doesn't happen too often, try it. No one should object. But don't blame me.

Question	What's the past tense of forecast?
Source & Date of Question	Minneapolis, Minnesota 6 November 1997
Grammar's Response	The past tense of forecast is forecast. Forecasted is also acceptable, but people will look at you funny. Is this a Minnesota weather-joke?

Question	Is there an easier way to remember MLA?
Source & Date of Question	Garner, North Carolina 7 November 1997
Grammar's Response	No. Believe me, I've tried. The best you can hope for is to have a handful of models in front of you when you're writing your paper. Models of mla-style references and citations, I mean.