Messages

1

You Asked Me This Question / Re: Plural form of "thank you" when used as a noun

« on: June 03, 2019, 04:11:02 AM »

No matter how busy I am, I always read your English Forum.  I just read your post on William Zinnser under "Advocacies" and I can't believe that it's only now I'm reading it!  It is a perfect piece on writing well!  I wish other readers would check it out.

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You Asked Me This Question / Re: Plural form of "thank you" when used as a noun

« on: May 27, 2019, 02:57:43 AM »

Sorry for the delayed response.  I was out of the country for quite some time.  I also want to apologize for putting you in an awkward situation when I asked you to critique the English usage of your fellow newspaper columnist.  I should have known better! 

Thank you for your clear explanation!

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You Asked Me This Question / Plural form of "thank you" when used as a noun

« on: April 08, 2019, 04:19:43 AM »

Hi, Mr. Carillo!

I'd like to ask two questions regarding the first paragraph in the column of Solita Collas-Monsod dated March 23, 2019 in opinion.inquirer.net.

     "A hundred million thank you's to Conchita Carpio Morales and Albert del Rosario.  For taking up the cudgels for more than a hundred million Filipinos who have stood helplessly by as China made inroads into Philippine territory and sovereignty over the past 20 or so years."


1.  What is the plural form of "thank you" when used as a noun and is a hyphen needed to indicate that the two words belong together as a set phrase to be considered a noun?

2.  Couldn't the whole paragraph be one sentence instead of two?  In elementary we were taught that there are at least 3 to 8 sentences in a paragraph.  


Thank you!

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You Asked Me This Question / Re: Is "very" such a useless word?

« on: November 05, 2018, 11:27:18 AM »

Thank you!  As usual, you’re amazingly good at answering questions in English!  You’re my Yoda! ^^

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You Asked Me This Question / Is "very" such a useless word?

« on: November 05, 2018, 03:14:29 AM »

Hi, Mr. Carillo!

Just now, I came across an FB post with the caption "how to avoid the word very."  The list was quite long.  I got the impression that "very" is a useless word and people who use it have a limited vocabulary or are simply lazy to think of a more appropriate word. 

Can you please tell me if indeed the word "very" should be avoided?  Oh yes, I also use "really" instead of "very."

Thank you!

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You Asked Me This Question / Re: “Words don’t come easy”

« on: September 21, 2018, 08:39:27 AM »

Now I’m loving the song! ^__^.  That could be very well my blog name if I decide to put up one.  Lately, I have been too focused on words (idioms, prepositional phrases, etc.) that I see on FB, IG, and blogs I follow.  I get uneasy with birthday greetings like “happiest birthday.”  I’ve also been hooked on Netflix watching shows like House of Cards, Seinfeld on Cars, or even the movie The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (a book club I’d like to be part of).  So many new words on TMZ, Good Morning from CNN and even TED Talk Daily that I feel I can share and subtly correct persistent Filipino errors and aberrations in speech and writing. Now if only I had the time!  I’ll probably be just quoting from the Jose Carillo English Forum!  Hahah!
Thank you for always responding quickly to questions from your members!  It’s most appreciated!

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You Asked Me This Question / Re: “Words don’t come easy”

« on: September 20, 2018, 05:51:26 AM »

Wow!  I had no idea that there’s an adverb in the sense of “without undue speed or excitement”!  Thank you!  ^^

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You Asked Me This Question / “Words don’t come easy”

« on: September 19, 2018, 04:38:22 AM »

Hi, Mr. Carillo!
I came across the song “Words don’t come easy” and a friend pointed out that it should be “words don’t come easily” since an adverb is used to modify the verb “come.”  Well, “easy” sounds fine to me and could actually modify “words.”  Am I right?

9

You Asked Me This Question / Re: Code words/catchwords vs. usual terms

« on: February 05, 2018, 08:54:41 AM »

Hi, Mr. Carillo!

You're right!  I should welcome new words to the English lexicon.  For a minute, I forgot that the English language needs change.  I like your use of the image of King Canute to drive your point.  We cannot stop the unstoppable tide of new and more picturesque words.

Thank you! ^^

10

Use and Misuse / code words/catchwords

« on: January 22, 2018, 05:16:25 AM »

Hi, Mr. Carillo!
Three days ago, I sent a question but it was never posted.  The question I asked was about some kind of code words/catchwords being used instead of the usual terms like:

1.  curate vs organize, set up
     Curate used to belong to the museum crowd.  Now, it's a fashionable word among events organizers, stylists and wedding coordinators.  I see it all the time on instagram.

2.  epiphany vs realization
     I feel that the word epiphany should be used for an earthshaking or more intense experience.  It's not the case nowadays.

3.  impacted vs affected
     I don't remember the word impacted being used in recent times the way it's being used now.  It was always about the wisdom tooth pushing through the gum (impacted tooth).

I'm so eager to hear your answer!  Thank you! ^^

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You Asked Me This Question / Re: The use of "so" at the start of a sentence

« on: January 18, 2018, 09:19:16 AM »

Sorry for the very late reply!  I've spread the word around about the Forum.  Your books were actually used by an English academy in Quezon City the very first time they came out.  Some people read your columns but don't sign up as members.  I've just sent another question for you!

Regards!

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You Asked Me This Question / Code words/catchwords vs. usual terms

« on: January 18, 2018, 08:55:47 AM »

Hi, Mr. Carillo!

Some kind of code words/catchwords are being used instead of the usual terms like:

1.  curate vs organize, set up
     Curate used to belong to the museum crowd.  Now, it's a fashionable word among events organizers,
     stylists and wedding coordinators.  I see it all the time on instagram.

2.  epiphany vs realization
     I feel that epiphany should be used for an earthshaking or more intense experience.

3.  impacted vs affected
     I don't remember the word impacted being used in recent times.  It was always about the wisdom tooth
     pushing through the gum - impacted tooth.

I'm so eager to hear your answer!  Thank you! ^^

13

You Asked Me This Question / Re: The use of "so" at the start of a sentence

« on: August 12, 2017, 07:02:31 AM »

Thanks for the info!  Oh, how I wish English teachers in the Philippines would avail of your English forum and newspaper columns!

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You Asked Me This Question / Re: The use of "so" at the start of a sentence

« on: July 25, 2017, 08:01:18 AM »

Yes, it's been a long time since I posted a question!  However, I go over the English forum as often as I can even if I do not log in.  I'm also happy to know that you're writing for The Manila Times!

Thank you for your usual quick reply! ^^

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You Asked Me This Question / The use of "so" at the start of a sentence

« on: July 22, 2017, 07:26:45 AM »

Hi, Mr. Carillo!

I'm here in San Francisco, USA and I noticed that most people start their sentences with "so" either as a response to a question or as a narration of an event.  Is this grammatically correct?  Should I just accept it as something peculiar to the native speakers of California?

I would love to hear your answer at the soonest time possible!  Thank you.