The
Grammar
Logs
# 309

QUESTION
Subdivisions can be created by using a decimal.
Is "by" a preposition, and if so how can it be if "using" is a verb and a phrase does not have a finite verb? Thanks
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Somewhere, Zambia Wed, Apr 14, 1999
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
"By" is a preposition all right, but "using" is not exactly a verb here. It's a verb form used as a noun, a gerund, and it is the object of the preposition "by." The entire prepositional phrase, which includes the preposition "by" and its object, the gerund phrase "using a decimal," is acting adverbially, telling us under what conditions "subdivisions can be created." See the section on Gerunds and Prepositional Phrases.

QUESTION
I would like to know if you can write:
  • generalise a result?
  • the results can be generalised?
  • External validity concerns to what degree you are able to generalise the results and apply them to other situations?
Thanks in advance.
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Gothenburg, Sweden Wed, Apr 14, 1999
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
In the U.S., we would write that word with a "z." And yes, in the sense of "to give general applicability to," you can use the word in those contexts. "Generalize the results" and "apply them to other situations" probably mean the same thing, so I doubt if you want to use those two phrases in the same sentence.

QUESTION
He made a pair of wings for Icarus and himself.
Is Icarus and himself a direct object, simple subject, simple predicate, or a indirect object? These are structures of a sentence can you help me identify them?
  1. Shall I type the letters today and transcribe the reports tomorrow? Is it a simple, compound, complex or compound-complex sentence?
  2. Her brother was the teacher, and her sister was the psychiarist? Which one fits this sentence compound, simple, complex or compound-complex?
  3. I followed the directions that you gave me, but the cake fell anyway. is this a compund-complex sentence?
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Pittsfield, Massachusetts Wed, Apr 14, 1999
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
"For Icarus and himself" is a prepositional phrase with a compound object of the preposition. So it's none of the above, really. "A pair of wings" is the direct object, and that object is, in turn, modified by the prepositional phrase.

  1. Simple sentence (but with a compound verb)
  2. Compound sentence
  3. Yes
See the section on Sentence Types.

QUESTION
How does one make a noun/pronoun that ends in 'z' possesive? For example: Martinez (can you please include plural possesive rules also?)

Thank you for your time.

SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Eugene, Oregon Wed, Apr 14, 1999
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
Many writers will say that a noun ending with a "z" sound should be treated like a plural and that only an apostrophe should be added to form the possessive: Martinez' latest novel. Most of the writing manuals I own, however, suggest that words ending in "z" should be treated just like other words: Martinez's latest novel. The Chicago Manual of Style says it prefers the latter, but that the former practice is acceptable, if consistently applied.

Authority: Chicago Manual of Style 14th ed. U of Chicago P: Chicago. 1993. p. 201.

See the sections on Plurals and Possessives for further help.


QUESTION
I am often confused on where to place the comma when using the word "however". For example, "My room number is 333, however, the floor chart incorrectly reflects my room as 323."

Should the comma go before and after however? Thank you for your time.

SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
New Carrollton, Maryland Wed, Apr 14, 1999
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
You're right to put a comma after the word "however" in that sentence. The comma before it, however, creates a comma splice. We need a semicolon there. See the sections on Clauses, Punctuation Between Independent Clauses and the section on Semicolons.

QUESTION
Please let me know if the following sentence is both improper and incorrect.
I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't come back.
Thanks.
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Columbus, Ohio Wed, Apr 14, 1999
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
I'm not sure what the difference is between "improper" and "incorrect," but at first glance, I wondered why we used the double negative and didn't say "I would be surprised if she came back," but that means something quite different. This looks to me like a perfectly legitimate use of a double negative. It is rather an interesting mix of tenses, and I wonder if you wouldn't be better off with "I would not have been surprised if she had not come back." [E-Mail Icon] But I don't think there's anything wrong with your sentence. I'll leave an e-mail icon here in case someone else wants to comment.

Robert De Decker writes:
- Both the sentence submitted and the sentence you suggest are correct English, but they have different meanings.

  1. I would not be surprised (now/in the future) if she did not come back (now/in the future).
  2. I would not have been surprised (then) if she had not come back (then).
QUESTION
I seem to recall from elementary school a weird construction using "but" from an extremely old grammar text that went something like: "There is none but doesn't like him." or something of this sort. I've never come across it again in any grammar text, and have yet to meet anyone who knows of it. Can anybody out there help?
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Marmora, New Jersey Thu, Apr 15, 1999
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
You're right, that's a rather archaic structure. Loosely translated, it would mean "No one except for. . . " I think it would have to be followed by the subject, as in "None but the lonely heart knows how I languish" (from the translation of a melancholic song by Tchaikovsky). I wouldn't recommend that you try to revive it.

QUESTION
Why do we say "equipment is available" and not "equipment are avaiable" when we are actually referring to "equipment" in the plural i.e. several items of equipment?
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Somewhere, Israel Thu, Apr 15, 1999
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
We say "equipment is available" for the same reason that we say "the furniture is beautiful." They are both nouns that have no plural form. When you want to refer to items of equipment, in fact, you have to say items of equipment (or pieces of furniture), and "items" (or "pieces") becomes the subject of your sentence.

QUESTION
Which statement is correct
  • Whom do you know that might be interested?
  • Who do you know that might be interested?
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Laguna Niguel, California Thu, Apr 15, 1999
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
You're looking for the object of "do you know," so you want the object form of the pronoun, "whom," in this sentence. There are probably better ways of asking the same question: "Do you know anyone who's interested?"

QUESTION
Would the comma be unnecessary in the following sentence?
She was so mad, she turned purple.
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Columbia, Tennessee Thu, Apr 15, 1999
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
If you left the "that" in that sentence, "She was so mad that she turned purple," the comma would be unnecessary. However, without the "that" and with no comma, it's a bit hard to read. Making that sentence more readable is a legitimate reason to use the comma after "mad."

QUESTION
This program prepares the student to assume responsibilities in "any size organization" or "any sized organization"?

Which is correct?

Thanks!

SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Murfreesboro, Tennessee Thu, Apr 15, 1999
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
The organizations are never really "sized"; they are of one size or another. "Any size organization" would be correct. If it sounds odd to you, you might write "organization of any size."

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