The Grammar Logs -- Number Ninety-Seven

The
Grammar
Logs
# 97

Question Could you please check my writing? *I am hitting the books every night,because I want to be a fluent speaker of English in the long run. This semester,I am taking French class and some ESL classes,therefore I have to cram a lot of vocabularies for constant tests,but next week is spring break,so I can type it over again.
Source & Date
of Question Irvine, California
4 April 1998
Grammar's
Response First, always put a space after punctuation marks, including commas and semicolons. If you wish, you can put a semicolon before the word therefore and a comma after it. Otherwise, put a period before therefore and start a new sentence. I would start a new sentence with the word but. I don't think we "cram vocabularies": we could say we cram for the constant tests in vocabulary, perhaps, but the word constant is probably inappropriate there. And, finally, I don't know what it is referring to in the last clause.

Question I have already asked you about this, but I am still in doubt how to use the verb to mind.. Is it right to say that " My mother minds me" if I want to mean that I am important for her? And "I don't mind the television", if I want to mean that I don't give any importance to it, I mean I don't usually watch T.V ? Let's suppose I drop something on the floor, and dirty it consequently...then, I go away instead of cleaning the floor. In this case, could I say that " I didn't mind the dirty floor ? " If someone has a big nose, can I say this person "doesn't mind his big nose" ? Or should it be He doesn't mind " having a big nose"?
Thanks.
Source & Date
of Question Somewhere, Brazil
4 April 1998
Grammar's
Response If you "don't mind television" that means that it doesn't annoy you, you don't care if it's on or not. "My mother minds me" could mean either that your mother obeys you (unlikely) or that your mother takes care of you (we speak of babysitters "minding" children). If you didn't mind the dirty floor, that means that the fact that it was dirty didn't bother you so you just left it dirty. Both statements regarding the nose seem correct to me, but probably the second is preferable.

Question Where does the period go?
Here: You will be recognized at the event as an "Eleanor Rigby".
Or Here: You will be recognized at the event as an "Eleanor Rigby."
Source & Date
of Question Torrington, Connecticut
4 April 1998
Grammar's
Response In front of the quotation mark: Rigby." (In the United States -- in England, just the opposite -- don't ask!)

Question Is sentence one correct?
"John Doe is technical editor at grammar magazine."
Or, is sentence two correct?
"John Doe is the technical editor at grammer magazine."
Also, could you tell me why one is correct and the other not? Or, are they both right? Thanks!
Source & Date
of Question San Francisco, California
4 April 1998
Grammar's
Response It seems inappropriate not to capitalize Grammar Magazine, so I can't tell if the non-use of capitals is throwing us off here. If I wrote the first sentence I would capitalize his title and the name of the magazine. The second sentence is fine as long as you capitalize the Grammar Magazine. (In regular text [not newspapers], you would also underline or italicize the title of the magazine.)

Question I want to write a memo to my staff about someone visiting my company. Would I say:
Mr. Jones is visiting our company on June 12th. (not: "will visit")
Then, in the rest of the letter, would I say:
Agenda:
9-10: the meeting will begin (not is beginning)
Question: why are these two verb forms different?
Source & Date
of Question Somewhere, Germany
4 April 1998
Grammar's
Response You can say either "is visiting" or "will visit." We commonly express the future in this way. (English has no true inflected forms for the future tense.) It would be inappropriate to use "is beginning" in the agenda list, however. (Also, it's a bit strange to say that the meeting will begin from 9 to 10. I don't think that's what you mean.) More often than not, that future use of the present progressive occurs with verbs of "dynamic transition" (when something is moving from one state or position to another -- e.g., Mr. Jones was somewhere else, but he is visiting here at that time.) I hope this does not confuse you.
Authority: A University Grammar of English by Randolph Quirk and Sidney Greenbaum. Longman Group: Essex, England. 1993. 48.

Question Prepositinal phrases: I am having trouble identifying whether the Prep prase is an adjective or adverb. I can not tell what the prep is modifying. Any hints so I can pass them on to my kids and intelligently explain it to them.
Example: Mr. LaChance is a politician in Denver.
Mr. LaChance = noun and subject
is = linking verb
a = article
politician = noun & predicate nominative in = prep
Denver = noun & object of a prep
(in Denver) = prep phrase (I thought is was an adj modifying "politician).

I'm confused. Thanks!
Source & Date
of Question Las Cruces, New Mexico
4 April 1998
Grammar's
Response You have to ask yourself which is more important in this case: the fact that he is being a politician who happens to be in Denver or that his being a politician is something that happens in Denver. I hope that makes sense. I think it's the latter, which means that this prepositional phrase is modifying the verb "is"; it's telling us where he is being a politician. Thus it is adverbial.

Question Can you explain the proper way to use "toward" and "towards"?
Source & Date
of Question Northridge, California
5 April 1998
Grammar's
Response "Towards" is usually described as a variant spelling of "toward," but they are both perfectly acceptable words meaning "in the direction of," "along the course of," "not long before," etc. Choosing between them is largely a matter of personal preference, of what sounds good to you. Let your ear be your guide.

Question I have a couple of questions I would like you to answer.

What is the difference between 'decided' and 'decisive'?
What is the difference between 'need' (used as a noun) and 'necessity'?
Thank you for your help.
Source & Date
of Question Mexico City, Mexico
5 April 1998
Grammar's
Response There probably are situations when these words could be used as synonyms, but they are also different. "Decisive" suggests that something settled something else conclusively; "decided" usually means "clear" or "definite." So we could say that "This decisive battle made a decided difference in the outcome of the war."
We usually use "need" as a lacking of something essential whereas a "necessity" is that something that is essential. "All the necessities had been provided. We had no needs that we knew of."

Question The infinitive has always created problems for me, especially when dealing with pronouns. I have read there is such a thing as a subject of an infinitive, which is always in the objective case. I am not clear on this as the following examples will illustrate:

(Who, Whom) to know is very important.
We know (who, whom) to choose for the position.
If the infinitive may be used like a noun, adjective, or adverb, when can the noun/pronoun preceding it be determined to be the subject of it, and when may it be determined to be an adjective modifying that noun/pronoun before it?
Thank you for any insights you can impart.
P.S. Are there any good references on this subject which you could recommend?
Source & Date
of Question Newtown, Connecticut
5 April 1998
Grammar's
Response I think you are creating what's called a non-finite clause in those two sentences. This clause could be understood (taking the first sentence) as (The person) that (someone should) know is very important. Trying to choose, then, between who and whom becomes a fairly easy matter: we're looking for the object of what someone should know, whom.
(In a non-finite clause, the subject is nearly always left out: "It would be better to tell him now." [But with the subject, which is often preceded by for: "It would be better for us to tell him now."])
In the sentence "He was the first candidate to tell the truth," the infinitive phrase, "to tell the truth," acts as a simple adjective modifying "candidate."
Frankly, this is rather complicated, and I'm not sure this brief note explains the issue adequately. I recommend the text I've used to help me here (see below), and suggest that you review the sections on non-finite clauses in that book.
Authority: A University Grammar of English by Randolph Quirk and Sidney Greenbaum. Longman Group: Essex, England. 1993.

Question Do I italicize music group titles?
ex. The piece the "Long and Winding Road" was written by the Beatles.

Source & Date
of Question Marlton, New Jersey
5 April 1998
Grammar's
Response I'm not sure what you mean by a "music group title." If "The Long and Winding Road" is a song, put quotation marks around it. If it's an album, italicize or underline it. If it's both, then put quotation marks around it when referring to the song and italicize or underline it when referring to the album. If you're talking about the Beatles, no, don't underline or italicize the name of the group.

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Question	I have already asked you about this, but I am still in doubt how to use the verb to mind.. Is it right to say that " My mother minds me" if I want to mean that I am important for her? And "I don't mind the television", if I want to mean that I don't give any importance to it, I mean I don't usually watch T.V ? Let's suppose I drop something on the floor, and dirty it consequently...then, I go away instead of cleaning the floor. In this case, could I say that " I didn't mind the dirty floor ? " If someone has a big nose, can I say this person "doesn't mind his big nose" ? Or should it be He doesn't mind " having a big nose"? Thanks.
Source & Date of Question	Somewhere, Brazil 4 April 1998
Grammar's Response	If you "don't mind television" that means that it doesn't annoy you, you don't care if it's on or not. "My mother minds me" could mean either that your mother obeys you (unlikely) or that your mother takes care of you (we speak of babysitters "minding" children). If you didn't mind the dirty floor, that means that the fact that it was dirty didn't bother you so you just left it dirty. Both statements regarding the nose seem correct to me, but probably the second is preferable.

Question	Where does the period go? Here: You will be recognized at the event as an "Eleanor Rigby". Or Here: You will be recognized at the event as an "Eleanor Rigby."
Source & Date of Question	Torrington, Connecticut 4 April 1998
Grammar's Response	In front of the quotation mark: Rigby." (In the United States -- in England, just the opposite -- don't ask!)

Question	Is sentence one correct? "John Doe is technical editor at grammar magazine." Or, is sentence two correct? "John Doe is the technical editor at grammer magazine." Also, could you tell me why one is correct and the other not? Or, are they both right? Thanks!
Source & Date of Question	San Francisco, California 4 April 1998
Grammar's Response	It seems inappropriate not to capitalize Grammar Magazine, so I can't tell if the non-use of capitals is throwing us off here. If I wrote the first sentence I would capitalize his title and the name of the magazine. The second sentence is fine as long as you capitalize the Grammar Magazine. (In regular text [not newspapers], you would also underline or italicize the title of the magazine.)

Question	Prepositinal phrases: I am having trouble identifying whether the Prep prase is an adjective or adverb. I can not tell what the prep is modifying. Any hints so I can pass them on to my kids and intelligently explain it to them. Example: Mr. LaChance is a politician in Denver. Mr. LaChance = noun and subject is = linking verb a = article politician = noun & predicate nominative in = prep Denver = noun & object of a prep (in Denver) = prep phrase (I thought is was an adj modifying "politician). I'm confused. Thanks!
Source & Date of Question	Las Cruces, New Mexico 4 April 1998
Grammar's Response	You have to ask yourself which is more important in this case: the fact that he is being a politician who happens to be in Denver or that his being a politician is something that happens in Denver. I hope that makes sense. I think it's the latter, which means that this prepositional phrase is modifying the verb "is"; it's telling us where he is being a politician. Thus it is adverbial.

Question	I have a couple of questions I would like you to answer. What is the difference between 'decided' and 'decisive'? What is the difference between 'need' (used as a noun) and 'necessity'? Thank you for your help.
Source & Date of Question	Mexico City, Mexico 5 April 1998
Grammar's Response	There probably are situations when these words could be used as synonyms, but they are also different. "Decisive" suggests that something settled something else conclusively; "decided" usually means "clear" or "definite." So we could say that "This decisive battle made a decided difference in the outcome of the war." We usually use "need" as a lacking of something essential whereas a "necessity" is that something that is essential. "All the necessities had been provided. We had no needs that we knew of."

Question	Could you please check my writing? *I am hitting the books every night,because I want to be a fluent speaker of English in the long run. This semester,I am taking French class and some ESL classes,therefore I have to cram a lot of vocabularies for constant tests,but next week is spring break,so I can type it over again.
Source & Date of Question	Irvine, California 4 April 1998
Grammar's Response	First, always put a space after punctuation marks, including commas and semicolons. If you wish, you can put a semicolon before the word therefore and a comma after it. Otherwise, put a period before therefore and start a new sentence. I would start a new sentence with the word but. I don't think we "cram vocabularies": we could say we cram for the constant tests in vocabulary, perhaps, but the word constant is probably inappropriate there. And, finally, I don't know what it is referring to in the last clause.

Question	Can you explain the proper way to use "toward" and "towards"?
Source & Date of Question	Northridge, California 5 April 1998
Grammar's Response	"Towards" is usually described as a variant spelling of "toward," but they are both perfectly acceptable words meaning "in the direction of," "along the course of," "not long before," etc. Choosing between them is largely a matter of personal preference, of what sounds good to you. Let your ear be your guide.

Question	Do I italicize music group titles? ex. The piece the "Long and Winding Road" was written by the Beatles.
Source & Date of Question	Marlton, New Jersey 5 April 1998
Grammar's Response	I'm not sure what you mean by a "music group title." If "The Long and Winding Road" is a song, put quotation marks around it. If it's an album, italicize or underline it. If it's both, then put quotation marks around it when referring to the song and italicize or underline it when referring to the album. If you're talking about the Beatles, no, don't underline or italicize the name of the group.