The Grammar Logs -- Number Sixty-Two

The
Grammar
Logs
# 62

Question My question is there any simple way to memorize and understand English grammar? I am really confused. I am always reading English grammar books but I couldn't memorize and understand the proper uses as I wish.
Source & Date
of Question Minneapolis, Minnesota
26 January 1998
Grammar's
Response You might try looking into some kind of community adult education program that would offer practice sessions for both speaking and writing. If the books serve only to confuse you, then you might be the kind of learner who picks up information by ear and by practice. There's nothing wrong with that, but you'll have to expose yourself to an environment where practice happens all the time, and there is a positive reinforcement when you get things right and a gentle correction process when you get things wrong.

Question What is the correct subject/verb agreement in this sentence:
The generation, derivatization, and hexene insertion chemistry of this cationic active species (is/are) discussed.
I am writing my Ph.D. thesis in chemistry and was perplexed over this. Thanks.
Source & Date
of Question Iowa City, Iowa
27 January 1998
Grammar's
Response It looks to me like you're talking about three different things about this cationic active species (whatever that means) and saying that they ARE discussed. (The other possibility is that you're talking about the generation chemistry, the derivatization chemistry, and the hexene insertion chemistry and they're all essentially one thing; then you'd want IS. It's hard for me to say for sure because I got a C- in Chemistry 101 [and that was a gift]).

Question
Is the plural verb tense always used when you use the word "if"? I have been corrected by my "significant other" too many times regarding this verb usage and would like to put this subject to rest. I argue that the plural verb is used when the situation is truly "hypothetical" but not when you are validating or confirming information that is asserted to be true.
Please help !!! I need to know the rules so I can play the game.....
Example 1:
If the light was green when you entered the intersection, you are not at fault.
OR
If the light were green when you entered the intersection, you are not at fault.

Example 2:
If it was on the table last night, it should still be there this morning.
OR
If it were on the table last night, it should still be there this morning.

Source & Date
of Question Unknown
27 January 1998
Grammar's
Response Although it appears that you're using the plural there, you're actually using the subjunctive mood. However, in expressions that use if to point out a condition that is or was probable or likely, the verb should be in the indicative mood. (I think that describes your sentence about the stuff on the table, but I'm not so sure about the intersection.) If you visit our page on Verbs and Verbals, you'll find a description of the subjunctive that might suffice. If not, please write back.

Question Which is correct?

a) Delays ranged from four to 14 days . . .
b) Delays ranged from four to fourteen days . . .

Source & Date
of Question San Francisco, California
27 January 1998
Grammar's
Response Wherever possible write numbers consistently as words and write out numbers that consist of two words or less (remembering that hyphenated words count as one). What that means is that if you changed fourteen to 114, you'd change your sentence to use arabic numbers: from 4 to 114 days. Have I sufficiently confused you?

Question I have a question concerning the use of apostrophes. I work for an ad agency and we are having a debate. What is the correct usage?
Example One:
A Bachelor's degree in Accounting is required.
A Bachelors' in Accounting is required.
A Bachelor's in Accounting is required.
I am curious to know if one of these is correct or if any and all of them can be used interchangeably.
Example Two:
Can an apostrophe be used to replace the word "of" in these examples?

Applicants must have five years' experience.
Applicants must have five year's experience.
Is one right and the other wrong? Should "of" be used instead?
Applicants must have five years of experience.
Thank you for any assistance you can render.
Source & Date
of Question Portland, Oregon
28 January 1998
Grammar's
Response When writing about academic degrees in general terms, don't capitalize the words. This person will need a bachelor's degree in accounting or (in a kind of shorthand) a bachelor's in accounting.
Use the plural form of the word year -- years -- and put an apostrophe after it to form the possessive in that expression, "five years' experience." You could also say that five years of experience is required, but it's a waste of a word.
Authority: Chicago Manual of Style 14th ed. U of Chicago P: Chicago. 1993.

Question What is the possessive form of the phrase "friend of mine" ? ie. Friend's of mine or Friend of mine's
also.... what is the plural possessive form of a term such as sister-in-law? Sisters'-in-law or Sisters-in-law's or other?
Source & Date
of Question AOL Land
28 January 1998
Grammar's
Response You can't win with that "friend of mine" phrase. You're going to have to say, "the bad habit of a friend of mine." If you insist, put the apostrophe -s after the "mine" (treating the phrase like a compound word) and not after "friend."
The possessive of the plural daughters-in-law would be daughters-in-law's or, better yet, of the daughters-in-law.
Authority: Chicago Manual of Style 14th ed. U of Chicago P: Chicago. 1993.

Question I have an ongoing debate: Could this be construed as incorrect usage?
I have five years' experience.
(The use of the possessive case is the source of disagreement.) If so, please let me know why.
Thanks!
Source & Date
of Question Minneapolis, Minnesota
28 January 1998
Grammar's
Response Treat the word years as a possessive here and put an apostrophe after it. The Chicago Style Manual explains this as a harkening back to the Latin genitive form. See above. Someone from Portland, Oregon, just sent in almost exactly the same question -- on the same day yet!

Question Regarding the use of the participle verb form, are these sentence pairs proper and equivalent?

The students taking the course will be better prepared for the test.
The students that take the course will be better prepared for the test.

Those having a good time tend to stay longer.
Those that have a good time tend to stay longer.
Thanks.
Source & Date
of Question Albany, New York
28 January 1998
Grammar's
Response The participle form of modification is fine with both those sentences. If there's a difference, I don't see it. I have a problem with using "that" to refer to people there (I would've said "People who . . .), but that's a personal thing.

Question How many spaces should follow a sentence which ends with a question mark of an exclamation point? (According to the MLA style).
Source & Date
of Question Columbus, Ohio
28 January 1998
Grammar's
Response In the MLA's own words,
Because it is increasingly common for papers and manuscripts to be prepared this way [with one space after a final punctuation mark of any kind], a single space is shown after all punctuation in the examples in the MLA Handbook and the forthcoming second edition of the MLA Style Manual. As a practical matter, however, there is nothing wrong with using two spaces after concluding punctuation marks unless an instructor or editor requests that you do otherwise.

Question I have got a few queries for you to answer.

All this led to corruption. All these led to corruption. Which is the correct sentence?
Is it Teacher's Day or Teachers' Day .
The family has witnessed the robbery.The family have witnessed the robbery. What's the difference in these sentences?
Thank you.
Source & Date
of Question Malaysia
28 January 1998
Grammar's
Response It could be either "All this led to corruption." or "All these led to corruption." It's probably the day that belongs to the teachers, so you would say "Teachers' Day," although the plural attributive noun -- Teachers (without any apostrophe) -- is not impossible here. And you would say the family has witnessed the robbery because the family acts as one thing here, a singular subject.

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Question	What is the correct subject/verb agreement in this sentence: The generation, derivatization, and hexene insertion chemistry of this cationic active species (is/are) discussed. I am writing my Ph.D. thesis in chemistry and was perplexed over this. Thanks.
Source & Date of Question	Iowa City, Iowa 27 January 1998
Grammar's Response	It looks to me like you're talking about three different things about this cationic active species (whatever that means) and saying that they ARE discussed. (The other possibility is that you're talking about the generation chemistry, the derivatization chemistry, and the hexene insertion chemistry and they're all essentially one thing; then you'd want IS. It's hard for me to say for sure because I got a C- in Chemistry 101 [and that was a gift]).

Question	Is the plural verb tense always used when you use the word "if"? I have been corrected by my "significant other" too many times regarding this verb usage and would like to put this subject to rest. I argue that the plural verb is used when the situation is truly "hypothetical" but not when you are validating or confirming information that is asserted to be true. Please help !!! I need to know the rules so I can play the game..... Example 1: If the light was green when you entered the intersection, you are not at fault. OR If the light were green when you entered the intersection, you are not at fault. Example 2: If it was on the table last night, it should still be there this morning. OR If it were on the table last night, it should still be there this morning.
Source & Date of Question	Unknown 27 January 1998
Grammar's Response	Although it appears that you're using the plural there, you're actually using the subjunctive mood. However, in expressions that use if to point out a condition that is or was probable or likely, the verb should be in the indicative mood. (I think that describes your sentence about the stuff on the table, but I'm not so sure about the intersection.) If you visit our page on Verbs and Verbals, you'll find a description of the subjunctive that might suffice. If not, please write back.

Question	Which is correct? a) Delays ranged from four to 14 days . . . b) Delays ranged from four to fourteen days . . .
Source & Date of Question	San Francisco, California 27 January 1998
Grammar's Response	Wherever possible write numbers consistently as words and write out numbers that consist of two words or less (remembering that hyphenated words count as one). What that means is that if you changed fourteen to 114, you'd change your sentence to use arabic numbers: from 4 to 114 days. Have I sufficiently confused you?

Question	I have a question concerning the use of apostrophes. I work for an ad agency and we are having a debate. What is the correct usage? Example One: A Bachelor's degree in Accounting is required. A Bachelors' in Accounting is required. A Bachelor's in Accounting is required. I am curious to know if one of these is correct or if any and all of them can be used interchangeably. Example Two: Can an apostrophe be used to replace the word "of" in these examples? Applicants must have five years' experience. Applicants must have five year's experience. Is one right and the other wrong? Should "of" be used instead? Applicants must have five years of experience. Thank you for any assistance you can render.
Source & Date of Question	Portland, Oregon 28 January 1998
Grammar's Response	When writing about academic degrees in general terms, don't capitalize the words. This person will need a bachelor's degree in accounting or (in a kind of shorthand) a bachelor's in accounting. Use the plural form of the word year -- years -- and put an apostrophe after it to form the possessive in that expression, "five years' experience." You could also say that five years of experience is required, but it's a waste of a word. Authority: Chicago Manual of Style 14th ed. U of Chicago P: Chicago. 1993.

Question	What is the possessive form of the phrase "friend of mine" ? ie. Friend's of mine or Friend of mine's also.... what is the plural possessive form of a term such as sister-in-law? Sisters'-in-law or Sisters-in-law's or other?
Source & Date of Question	AOL Land 28 January 1998
Grammar's Response	You can't win with that "friend of mine" phrase. You're going to have to say, "the bad habit of a friend of mine." If you insist, put the apostrophe -s after the "mine" (treating the phrase like a compound word) and not after "friend." The possessive of the plural daughters-in-law would be daughters-in-law's or, better yet, of the daughters-in-law. Authority: Chicago Manual of Style 14th ed. U of Chicago P: Chicago. 1993.

Question	My question is there any simple way to memorize and understand English grammar? I am really confused. I am always reading English grammar books but I couldn't memorize and understand the proper uses as I wish.
Source & Date of Question	Minneapolis, Minnesota 26 January 1998
Grammar's Response	You might try looking into some kind of community adult education program that would offer practice sessions for both speaking and writing. If the books serve only to confuse you, then you might be the kind of learner who picks up information by ear and by practice. There's nothing wrong with that, but you'll have to expose yourself to an environment where practice happens all the time, and there is a positive reinforcement when you get things right and a gentle correction process when you get things wrong.

Question	I have an ongoing debate: Could this be construed as incorrect usage? I have five years' experience. (The use of the possessive case is the source of disagreement.) If so, please let me know why. Thanks!
Source & Date of Question	Minneapolis, Minnesota 28 January 1998
Grammar's Response	Treat the word years as a possessive here and put an apostrophe after it. The Chicago Style Manual explains this as a harkening back to the Latin genitive form. See above. Someone from Portland, Oregon, just sent in almost exactly the same question -- on the same day yet!

Question	Regarding the use of the participle verb form, are these sentence pairs proper and equivalent? The students taking the course will be better prepared for the test. The students that take the course will be better prepared for the test. Those having a good time tend to stay longer. Those that have a good time tend to stay longer. Thanks.
Source & Date of Question	Albany, New York 28 January 1998
Grammar's Response	The participle form of modification is fine with both those sentences. If there's a difference, I don't see it. I have a problem with using "that" to refer to people there (I would've said "People who . . .), but that's a personal thing.

Question	How many spaces should follow a sentence which ends with a question mark of an exclamation point? (According to the MLA style).
Source & Date of Question	Columbus, Ohio 28 January 1998
Grammar's Response	In the MLA's own words, Because it is increasingly common for papers and manuscripts to be prepared this way [with one space after a final punctuation mark of any kind], a single space is shown after all punctuation in the examples in the MLA Handbook and the forthcoming second edition of the MLA Style Manual. As a practical matter, however, there is nothing wrong with using two spaces after concluding punctuation marks unless an instructor or editor requests that you do otherwise.

Question	I have got a few queries for you to answer. All this led to corruption. All these led to corruption. Which is the correct sentence? Is it Teacher's Day or Teachers' Day . The family has witnessed the robbery.The family have witnessed the robbery. What's the difference in these sentences? Thank you.
Source & Date of Question	Malaysia 28 January 1998
Grammar's Response	It could be either "All this led to corruption." or "All these led to corruption." It's probably the day that belongs to the teachers, so you would say "Teachers' Day," although the plural attributive noun -- Teachers (without any apostrophe) -- is not impossible here. And you would say the family has witnessed the robbery because the family acts as one thing here, a singular subject.