The
Grammar
Logs
# 239

QUESTION
I teach ESL. What is a good definition (exact) for prepositions. I would like one that would be clear for my students. They are very concernd about when to use them. When they are writting their own compositions, prepositions are left out most of the time. What are some good ideas to use in teaching this part of grammar?

Thank you.

SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Austin, Texas Mon, Oct 26, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
Prepositions are probably left out of your students' compositions because they don't know which one to use. They're very hard to define, these function words like prepositions. Try letting your students act out some of the basic prepositions of place and time.

What really matters about prepositions, after all, is that they go along with objects and modifiers of those objects to create prepositional phrases and that those phrases act as modifiers in all kinds of wonderful ways. In addition, prepositions get hooked up with verbs to create some interesting new structures (kinds and meanings of verbs), some of them quite inexplicable. I wish you luck, but don't worry about the definitions, worry about the usage.


QUESTION
Which is correct:
  1. For the purpose of confidentiality, we will not divulge the information.
    or
  2. For purpose of confidentiality, we will not divulge the information.
Thanks in advance.
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Taipei, Taiwan Mon, Oct 26, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
The definite article the is appropriate in that sentence. "For the sake of confidentiality" would also be appropriate, and maybe an improvement.

QUESTION
Which of the following is correct?
  1. I should not have done it as not only IT WAS illegal, it was also unethical.
  2. I should not have done it as not only WAS IT illegal, it was also unethical.
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Singapore Mon, Oct 26, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
The second option is preferred. I'm not sure I'd use that order of things, though. I might write:
I should not have done it. It was not only illegal, it was also unethical.
QUESTION
Please advise when it is correct to use "Yours faithfully" and when it is correct to use "Yours sincerely" to finish off a letter.

Thank you

SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Somewhere, South Africa Mon, Oct 26, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
"Yours faithfully" is an interesting way to sign a letter. Rather unusual, I would say, too, but I'm sure there's nothing wrong with it. Far more standard is the "Yours sincerely" or "Sincerely yours" closing, either one of which would be always correct. I think I would save "Yours faithfully" for letters from the clergy or letters in which faith is an actual issue.

Gerald Smyth adds this note:
A distinction I have heard is that 'Yours faithfully' should be used only when one does not know the name of the person one is writing to. So it would be used if the salutation is 'Dear Sir or Madam', 'Dear Sir', or the like.


QUESTION
Thanks for your website, presumably you will help me.

I have two sentences.

  1. To hitchhike in the United States is very dangerous.
  2. Hitchhiking in the United States is very dangerous.
In my view, both sentences are correct but a grammer book (Barrons) says the second one is incorrect. What I feel is that infinitive subject and -ing subject are the same in the above sentence. So Dear Doctor, would mind replying which one is the correct answer.
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Hong Kong Mon, Oct 26, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
I think you're right. Did Barrons say why the gerund was incorrect?

QUESTION
What is your philosophy on the teaching of English grammar?

I've met a professor who is cultivating the mind and encouraging the student to put anything and everything on paper. He doesn't care about spelling or grammar, only your ability to endlessly write. I can understand the spelling part, because you can always find a spell checker someplace. But if your sentences aren't cohesive, how can you clearly write?

SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Brooklyn, New York Mon, Oct 26, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
I'm not sure I even have a philosophy of teaching English grammar, but if I did, I doubt if I could explain it here. I'm hoping that your professor has some kind of method to his madness. Indeed, many people encourage students to write, nonstop, for the first five or ten minutes of each class: the pen is not allowed to stop, nor is the student allowed to revise. It's said to be good stimulant for thought, to get the ideas flowing, just to get the musculature in operation again. There's surely much to be said for it. But there must surely be a point when the therapy, the exercise, stops and the hard work begins.

QUESTION
Is it correct to use the word however in this format?
The pump, however, is required to pump 2840 gpm in Mode 1 but only 2310 gpm in Mode 2.
I would think you need a comma before the word but. Is this correct?
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Richland, Washington Mon, Oct 26, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
The word however is just fine in that sentence (set apart, too, by a pair of commas). A comma before the but is appropriate because of the turn that the sentence takes at that point.

QUESTION
Hello.

Harrisburg is the state capital of Pennsylvania. As you drive along the PA Turnpike there are signs which read, "Exit 18 State Capital" yet once you get off of the Turnpike the signs read, "State St - State Capitol". My question is: Is there something wrong here with the way they are spelling Capitol? I realize that there are two different spellings, but are they interchangeable as the State seems to be doing, or should they add "State Capitol Building" after one of them? It seems to me that "State Capital" refers to the city, and "State Capitol" refers to the building... Am I close? Thanks.

SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Unknown Mon, Oct 26, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
You're not only close, you're absolutely right. But the second set of signs, the ones directing you to the building itself, which I assume is on State Street (not the city), are using the correct spelling; "building" is therefore not necessary. We have the same problem in Hartford; people are forever calling our calling us Capitol Community College, when it's supposed to be Capital. I never know, though, whether I should write should Capital Avenue, because it's a main thoroughfare in the capital city -- or Capitol Avenue, because it goes right past the Capitol.

QUESTION
What is the proper format for a bulleted list preceeded by an introductory phrase.
  • Is the intro phrase followed by a colon?
  • Are the bullets followed by punctuation? If phrases? If complete sentences?
  • Is the last bullet followed by punctuation?
Thanks
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Houston, Texas Mon, Oct 26, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
The New York Public Library's Guide to Style and Usage actually recommends ending the introductory phrase with a dash and then not using any punctuation after the bulleted items. Other guides will use other formats, usually following the introductory phrase with a colon. Use periods if the items are actual sentences; otherwise, you can use semicolons.

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