The Grammar Logs -- Number Three Hundred, Twenty

The
Grammar
Logs
# 320

QUESTION
In his essay one of my students wrote the following sentence:
"Dick asked Betty if her brother was older than she."
In my opinion "she" is not correct and should be "she is" or "her" in this sentence.
Now, what is correct?
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Somewhere, Germany Thu, May 20, 1999
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
"She is" would be correct and "her" would probably be acceptable in casual speech (but not in formal writing). However, your student's version is perfectly correct: the "is" can be left off the clause. "Her" could be correct if you want to argue that "than" is working as preposition in this sentence (a good, but minority argument).

QUESTION
I would like brief explanation on the rule for using the word "myself." I know what is right, but so many people misuse it so I would like to print in our newspaper the rule governing this word.
Thank You!
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
St. Joseph, Missouri Sun, May 23, 1999
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
Since the word "myself" is both an intensive and a reflexive pronoun, I doubt if there's a single rule that governs its use. The important thing is that we shouldn't use "myself" when "me" will suffice. "He had a meeting scheduled with the boss and myself" is not correct. We would say "He had a meeting schedule with me." When we compound a pronoun with something else (like "the boss"), we don't want to change its form. We can use the word "myself" as an intensifier—"I myself would never do that.—but it's probably wise to consider leaving out the "myself" to see if the sentence doesn't function just as well without it.

QUESTION
{Question 1}
If we can't speak a foreign language, we are bound to become "a frog in the well." Among the 3,000 to 4,000 languages, English is the most widely-used language in the world.]
<"a frog in the well" is a Korean proverb which means a person who can't see the world in the broad picture.>
In 3,000 and to 4,ooo language, [the] is necessary? If necessary, what is the difference between the 3,000 to 4,000 languages and 3,000 and to 4,000 languages?
{Question 2}
[Many of Siberia's forest are disappearing yearly, so Siberian tigers are losing their homes. And without a home, they are likely to die out soon. The tigers are killed for their skins, bones and some organs which are believed to be good for human health. Hunters can sell them easily.]
In the passage, the tigers (are killed...) is correct?
To me, the tigers is logically strange. and (some of) Siberian tigers are killed... seems to be correct. Would you kindly give me your explanation.
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Seoul, South Korea Sun, May 23, 1999
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
See the section on Articles and Determiners for help with the definite article "the." We want to say "the three to four thousand languages" because without the "the," we imply that there may be many more languages we're not accounting for. With the tigers, you can use an indefinite article, the definite article, no article for generic reference. However, since we're talking specifically about Siberian tigers, it's better to use the definite article. I'm afraid that article usage is one of the most difficult issues for learners of English as a second language. Incidentally, I love the "frog in the well" metaphor.

QUESTION
What is the grammar rule on "OF" instead of the possessive form? Examples:

The Statue OF Liberty
The Rock OF Gibraltar
The Tower OF Pisa
The Great Wall OF China
Could we use China's Great Wall, Gibraltar's Rock or Pisa's Tower?
Thank you!
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada Tue, May 25, 1999
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
Not really. The "of" construction can be used to show possession, especially where things possess something: "the edge of the desk," for instance. But when a prepositional phrase is used as a post-noun modifier, it is also used to show location and origin, much as the French "de" shows location and origin: Jeanne D'Arc or Joan of Arc (we wouldn't say "Arc's Joan"). Although we can talk about China's Great Wall, the name of the structure is "The Great Wall of China."

QUESTION
If something--say an explanation--is too simple, is it 'over simple' or 'overly simple'?
Got a bet riding on this one! Thanks.
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Greenfield, Massachusetts Tue, May 25, 1999
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
This feels like a trick question. It's neither. "Oversimple" is one word, and that's what you want.
Authority for this note: WWWebster Dictionary, the World Wide Web edition of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, Tenth Edition. Used with permission.

QUESTION
Should I use payed or paid in the phrase ...'payed a visit'to California? While some dictionaries do not list payed as a word, some do. What is the rule for these two words?
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Hurst, Texas Tue, May 25, 1999
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
You paid a visit to California. The past tense of "to pay" is "payed" only in the sense of "paying out rope": "to slacken (as a rope) and allow to run out": "He payed out the rope and let it dangle from the side of the dock."
Authority for this note: WWWebster Dictionary, the World Wide Web edition of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, Tenth Edition. Used with permission.

QUESTION
It is not proper English to say, "This is when...", is it? For example, "This is when patients begin to develop lesions."
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Somerville, New Jersey Tue, May 25, 1999
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
"When patients begin to develop lesions" is an adverb clause, so it's not proper to make it the predicate noun for "this"—at least not in formal or academic prose. I don't know the context, of course, but you could probably fix the sentence by beginning with the adverb clause, "When patients begin to develope lesions, . . ." and then say something about that condition.

QUESTION
Is it correct to put a period at the end of a sentence that ends with a url?
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Minneapolis, Minnesota Tue, May 25, 1999
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
It's a good idea to put that URL on its own line, if possible, and not to end the sentence with a period. The grammar of this situation has yet to make itself into the writing manuals, but it will surely be in the next generation of reference texts. The same would be true (not putting a period), of course, after e-mail addresses.

QUESTION
We are engaged in a debate here at work on the grammatically correct usage of a sentence by one of my coworkers. The sentence reads "The technician had done testing". We need to know if this is correct or incorrect grammar.
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Unknown Wed, May 26, 1999
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
No, that's no good. And whoever wrote it must be stopped. "Had finished testing" would be much better. Or "had completed the testing." I supposed you could say (if pressed), "had done the testing." "Tested. . . . " might also be an interesting alternative, depending on the context.
A writer from Miami, Florida, points out that there is, indeed, a context in which "The technician had done testing." makes sense:
Couldn't this sentence be: "The technician had done (something)." Can't "something" can be replaced with any gerund-form verb, as in: "The laborer had done house-cleaning, he had done painting, and now he wanted to change his occupation."
In my profession, "testing" is a process and an occupation. If I'm discussing a candidate with someone, couldn't I ask that person, "Has he done testing?" Or, "Has she done much testing?" (to ask about the qualifications of an audiologist, for example).

QUESTION
Which of the following is correct (singluar or plural) and why:
"Neither he nor I were/was pleased."

SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Dallas, Texas Wed, May 26, 1999
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
When your subjects are connected by "or," the subject closer to the verb determines the number of the verb, so you want "was" in that sentence. In this case, even if you turn the subjects around, you're going to want "was."

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