The Grammar Logs -- Number Eighty-Five

The
Grammar
Logs
# 85

Question Is it ever correct to use the future or conditional tense after "if"?
EX: If you will study, you'll pass the test.
If you would only remember to..., I would ...

Source & Date
of Question Littleton, Colorado
14 March 1998
Grammar's
Response It's probably a mistake to say never to such a question, but, no, I don't think so. Whether you're expressing Factual Conditionals ("If you are over fifty, you qualify for a senior citizen discount."), a Factual Conditional expressing the habitual past (When I was little, if Dad came home late, we got extra ice-cream for dessert."), a Future Conditional ("If he studies hard, he'll get an A."), or a Hypothetical Conditional ("If we worked harder, we would make more money." or "If Larry Bird were still playing, the Celtics might still be contenders." or "If I had been born earlier, I might have been a chemist instead of an English teacher.") I think this last example covers your second sentence: "If you had only remembered to _____ , you would have. . . ."

Authority: Grammar Dimensions: Form, Meaning, and Use 2nd Ed. by Jan Frodesen and Janet Eyring. Heinle & Heinle: Boston. 1997.

Question Which is correct: a large size particle or a large sized particle?
Also: a larger size aggregate or a large size aggregate?
Thanks a million!
Source & Date
of Question Clackamas, Oregon
14 March 1998
Grammar's
Response To avoid ambiguity, the best way to write this is large-sized particle (with the hyphen). We assume there's a reason for the word "sized" in here at all, of course, and that "large particle" doesn't do the job. I'm afraid I don't understand the choice you're giving us in that second question.

Question Dear Sir/Madam,
I really would like to know the use of MAY and MIGHT. What is the main difference between them? in fact are they different? Thanks a lot for your explanation.
Source & Date
of Question Curitiba-PR-Brazil
14 March 1998
Grammar's
Response See the discussion of modal auxiliaries in the section on verbs. You'll find there a description of the difference between may and might. If that doesn't answer your question, please write again.

Question How do I know when to use Whom,who,whomever,and whoever???
EX:
Tell me (WHO,WHOM) she is.
I will give the assighnment to (WHOMEVER,WHOEVER) the class choses. thanks

Source & Date
of Question AOL-Land
14 March 1998
Grammar's
Response See our very brief description of "who" and "whom" in the pronoun section. The most helpful part is the two quizzes. Take those quizzes and, even if some of your responses are incorrect, the quizz's explanations should help you master this choice. In your examples, we would say "Tell me who she is." and "I will give the assignment to whomever the class chooses." (In the first, I'm looking for the subject form of the pronoun and in the second I'm looking for the object form -- "the class chooses them.")

Question How do you write a bibliography in the APA 4th edition format?
Source & Date
of Question Las Vegas, Nevada
14 March 1998
Grammar's
Response See the apa-style Guide to Writing Research Papers.

March 15, 1998
FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF
ASK GRAMMAR!
855 Questions from 47 States and 56 Countries

Question Hi. Am I saying the same thing in the following sentences?

"I have worked for this company for the "past" five years."
"I have worked for this company for the "last" five years."
I read something about it, but I can't remember the details. If there is a difference, what is it and how do I tell when to use which? In short, can I use "last" or "past" when talking about a period of time leading up to now without changing the meaning?
Thanks a million for your help.
Source & Date
of Question South Korea
15 March 1998
Grammar's
Response There's not much difference in meaning, according to the dictionaries I use. Some writers might insist that "last" carries with it the suggestion of finality; after the last, there can be no more. You'd probably be wise to use "past" when referring to that period of time leading up to now, but the difference is not terribly important to most readers.

Question Is it correct to use "with regard to" instead of "in regard to" in a sentence?
Thanks much.
Source & Date
of Question San Francisco, California
16 March 1998
Grammar's
Response Yes. I'm sure that "in regard to" is far more common and most writers would regard it as more acceptable in formal prose, but there's nothing wrong with "with regard to."

Question Would you please clarify my doubt on nouns.
There are countable and uncountable nouns. Countable nouns may be singular or plural. What about uncountable nouns? They are always singular? Would you give examples on singular and plural uncountable noun? Sometimes you use the word Mass noun. Is that the same as Collective noun?
Thanking you
Source & Date
of Question United Arab Emirates
16 March 1998
Grammar's
Response I'm sorry if that term "mass noun" has confused you. It means, simply, a material that can't be counted -- like "wool" or "water." Mass nouns are non-count nouns, a category which would also include abstract nouns such as "liberty" and "advice." Noun-count nouns are always singular. (That "always" is almost always true.) The distinction between non-count nouns and mass nouns is not worth remembering. Collective nouns, on the other hand, are different, as sometimes they're plural and sometimes they're singular, depending on how the noun is behaving in the sentence (as a group or a group of individuals). "The crew learned ITS lesson." "The crew learned THEIR individual responsibilities well."

Question Dear Sir,
Which sentence is correct?
What colour are the chairs? or What colours are the chairs?
Thank you very much.
Source & Date
of Question Budapest, Hungary
16 March 1998
Grammar's
Response Either sentence would be correct, but you would probably use "colours" ("colors" in American spelling) only if you knew or guessed that more than one color was involved.

Question I am trying to clarify the proper use of the word "myriad". Should it be "myriad" or "myriad of"? The example below shows the context in which I am considering the question.
"We will use an analysis that addresses the [(myriad) or (myriad of)] factors considered in the review process."
Thank you for your help.
Source & Date
of Question Arlington, Virginia
16 March 1998
Grammar's
Response I vaguely remember someone (who seemed to know what he was talking about) telling me that "myriad of" was incorrect, but I see no evidence of that in the dictionary. The word (from the Greek myrioi) means "countless," which suggests you don't need the "of": There were myriad stars in the sky. But it also means "a great number," which suggests that the "of" would be appropriate. I'm afraid you're going to have to let your ear be your guide on this one. Or avoid the problem and use either "countless" or "a great number of."

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Question	Which is correct: a large size particle or a large sized particle? Also: a larger size aggregate or a large size aggregate? Thanks a million!
Source & Date of Question	Clackamas, Oregon 14 March 1998
Grammar's Response	To avoid ambiguity, the best way to write this is large-sized particle (with the hyphen). We assume there's a reason for the word "sized" in here at all, of course, and that "large particle" doesn't do the job. I'm afraid I don't understand the choice you're giving us in that second question.

Question	Dear Sir/Madam, I really would like to know the use of MAY and MIGHT. What is the main difference between them? in fact are they different? Thanks a lot for your explanation.
Source & Date of Question	Curitiba-PR-Brazil 14 March 1998
Grammar's Response	See the discussion of modal auxiliaries in the section on verbs. You'll find there a description of the difference between may and might. If that doesn't answer your question, please write again.

Question	How do I know when to use Whom,who,whomever,and whoever??? EX: Tell me (WHO,WHOM) she is. I will give the assighnment to (WHOMEVER,WHOEVER) the class choses. thanks
Source & Date of Question	AOL-Land 14 March 1998
Grammar's Response	See our very brief description of "who" and "whom" in the pronoun section. The most helpful part is the two quizzes. Take those quizzes and, even if some of your responses are incorrect, the quizz's explanations should help you master this choice. In your examples, we would say "Tell me who she is." and "I will give the assignment to whomever the class chooses." (In the first, I'm looking for the subject form of the pronoun and in the second I'm looking for the object form -- "the class chooses them.")

Question	Hi. Am I saying the same thing in the following sentences? "I have worked for this company for the "past" five years." "I have worked for this company for the "last" five years." I read something about it, but I can't remember the details. If there is a difference, what is it and how do I tell when to use which? In short, can I use "last" or "past" when talking about a period of time leading up to now without changing the meaning? Thanks a million for your help.
Source & Date of Question	South Korea 15 March 1998
Grammar's Response	There's not much difference in meaning, according to the dictionaries I use. Some writers might insist that "last" carries with it the suggestion of finality; after the last, there can be no more. You'd probably be wise to use "past" when referring to that period of time leading up to now, but the difference is not terribly important to most readers.

Question	Is it correct to use "with regard to" instead of "in regard to" in a sentence? Thanks much.
Source & Date of Question	San Francisco, California 16 March 1998
Grammar's Response	Yes. I'm sure that "in regard to" is far more common and most writers would regard it as more acceptable in formal prose, but there's nothing wrong with "with regard to."

Question	How do you write a bibliography in the APA 4th edition format?
Source & Date of Question	Las Vegas, Nevada 14 March 1998
Grammar's Response	See the apa-style Guide to Writing Research Papers.

Question	Would you please clarify my doubt on nouns. There are countable and uncountable nouns. Countable nouns may be singular or plural. What about uncountable nouns? They are always singular? Would you give examples on singular and plural uncountable noun? Sometimes you use the word Mass noun. Is that the same as Collective noun? Thanking you
Source & Date of Question	United Arab Emirates 16 March 1998
Grammar's Response	I'm sorry if that term "mass noun" has confused you. It means, simply, a material that can't be counted -- like "wool" or "water." Mass nouns are non-count nouns, a category which would also include abstract nouns such as "liberty" and "advice." Noun-count nouns are always singular. (That "always" is almost always true.) The distinction between non-count nouns and mass nouns is not worth remembering. Collective nouns, on the other hand, are different, as sometimes they're plural and sometimes they're singular, depending on how the noun is behaving in the sentence (as a group or a group of individuals). "The crew learned ITS lesson." "The crew learned THEIR individual responsibilities well."

Question	Dear Sir, Which sentence is correct? What colour are the chairs? or What colours are the chairs? Thank you very much.
Source & Date of Question	Budapest, Hungary 16 March 1998
Grammar's Response	Either sentence would be correct, but you would probably use "colours" ("colors" in American spelling) only if you knew or guessed that more than one color was involved.

Question	I am trying to clarify the proper use of the word "myriad". Should it be "myriad" or "myriad of"? The example below shows the context in which I am considering the question. "We will use an analysis that addresses the [(myriad) or (myriad of)] factors considered in the review process." Thank you for your help.
Source & Date of Question	Arlington, Virginia 16 March 1998
Grammar's Response	I vaguely remember someone (who seemed to know what he was talking about) telling me that "myriad of" was incorrect, but I see no evidence of that in the dictionary. The word (from the Greek myrioi) means "countless," which suggests you don't need the "of": There were myriad stars in the sky. But it also means "a great number," which suggests that the "of" would be appropriate. I'm afraid you're going to have to let your ear be your guide on this one. Or avoid the problem and use either "countless" or "a great number of."