The
Grammar
Logs
# 251

QUESTION
Which is correct?
  • Travel to another world without ever leaving the one you're on.
  • Travel to another world without ever leaving the one you're in.
Many thanks for your help.
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Raleigh, North Carolina Tue, Nov 10, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
In this context, I think "in" would be appropriate. In some future century, when travel in space becomes customary and we think of being "on" worlds (as today we think of people being on islands), we can switch to "on."

QUESTION
Which is correct?
  • There are a lot of people at the party.
  • There is a lot of people at the party.
Thanks
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Montreal, Quebec, Canada Tue, Nov 10, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
With the expletive construction ("there is/ there are"), the subject comes after the verb, and it's usually helpful to turn the sentence around to find out which verb we want. We would say "A lot of people are at the party," so we want the plural verb.

QUESTION
A knock comes at the door. Without opening it, you ask, "Who's there?". Should the response be...

"It is us!"
or
"It is we!"
or something else?

The latter seems more correct, but just sounds horrible. It also sounds more horrible when using the contraction, "It's we!"

Thank you!
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
San Jose, California Tue, Nov 10, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
Technically, "It is we" is correct, but you're absolutely right, it sounds awful. Frankly, I'm beginning to think it's nonsense to say that a subject, "it," cannot equal an object, "us." (The idea of the linking verb being an equal sign is kind of silly anyway.) I would rather say "It's us" -- or just stand there pounding until someone answers the door.

QUESTION
What is the difference between direct and indirect objects in language terms? Also for example what would be the direct or indirect object in the following sentence
She offers it food once a day.
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Angleton, Texas Tue, Nov 10, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
A direct object "receives the action" of a transitive verb; an indirect object is "affected indirectly" by a transitive verb. The food "receives the action" of her "offering" and is thus the direct object; it is "affected indirecty" by the verb and is thus the indirect object.

QUESTION
I would like to ask you about the word "revolving door".

Concerning the word "revolving", is it gerund or participle?

Thank you in advance.

SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Tokyo, Japan Tue, Nov 10, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
The word revolving in that phrase is a participle; it's modifying the word door. However, it's become so much a part of the word "door," in this case, that they're virtually one thing. (I'm willing to bet that the two words have become one word in German, for instance.)

QUESTION
How many sentences should a paragraph contain?
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Stockton, California Tue, Nov 10, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
Exactly as many as it has to -- not one more, not one less. I'm sure there are no rules about that matter, although there may be some kind of useful average -- like six -- in order for most paragraphs to their job: topic statement, detail, supporting detail, detail, supporting detail, etc. But it would be a huge mistake to impose limits of that kind on your paragraphing. And by all means, don't look to a newspaper for some kind of average. Paragraphing in a newspaper is subject to the aesthetics of a narrow column. If you really have to know, visit the main articles in The Atlantic Monthly for a few months in a row and do a statistical average.

QUESTION
In reported speech, it is correct to say: "He suggested that she apply again." I would like to know if the following is also correct (if so, in what situations): "He suggested that she applies again."
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Londrina/Pr - Brazil Tue, Nov 10, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
After the verb "to suggest" we use a verb in the subjunctive mood. See the section on the use of the subjunctive and get back to us if you still have questions.

QUESTION
What is the difference between "relevant" and "related"? For example, would that be anything different if I say: He assists me in the setting up of an association through participation in "related activities" or "relevant activities"?
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Hong Kong Wed, Nov 11, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
Good question. I don't think there's much difference. [E-Mail Icon]I'll quote parts of the definitions here, but they don't help much. I'll also leave an e-mail icon in case someone has a better idea. "RELEVANT implies a traceable, significant, logical connection -- 'found material relevant to her case'." "RELATED -- to show or establish logical or causal connection between: 'seeks to relate crime to poverty'."

Authority for this note: WWWebster Dictionary, the World Wide Web edition of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, Tenth Edition. Used with permission.

David E. adds this comment:
I think there is a spatial difference between the two: Relevant can imply a relationship to something outside the related activities, while related implies a more internal (incestuous?) connection. For example:

The batter swung at the ball, hit it, and ran to first base.
Swung, hit, and ran are three distinctly related actions, but it would be a stretch to say that they are three relevant actions: Relevant to what? You could say they are relevant to baseball, though.

QUESTION
The problem of prepositions Which answer is acceptable? When does the ferry arrive on Lamma Island?
  1. It arrives at Lamma Island at 9 o'clock.
  2. It arrives on Lamma Island at 9 o'clock.
  3. It arrives at 9 o'clock on Lamma Island
Thank you!
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Hong Kong Wed, Nov 11, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
Any of those constructions is fine. Whether we use "at" or "on" with an island depends on the size of the island. (We tend to think of arriving "on" smaller islands, "at" larger ones.)

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