Topics

16

Use and Misuse / Using the articles "the," "a" or "an," and zero article for generic reference

« on: August 03, 2016, 11:05:12 AM »

Hi Sir Joe,

Could you please provide an explanation on how to use the definite, indefinite and the zero article in making a generalization?

Examples:

Whales belong to the order Cetacea.
A whale is shaped like a submarine.
The whale has an average life span of 30 - 70 years.

I know that the general rule for the definite article (the) usage is to use it when the writer/speaker and the listener/reader both share a common knowledge of what is being discussed. THE can pair up with any noun regardless of its type (count/uncount) and its inflection (singular/plural). A and AN, on the other hand, are used to refer to something unspecific, but its usage is restricted to singular countable nouns and is governed by sound. If none of the participants in the communication process or either of the speaker or listener knows about the topic being discussed, speaker/writer will have to use the indefinite articles. There'll also be times wherein articles are not necessary, the case for zero articles, but it doesn't mean that its usage is an option for the second-language learner as this is a feature of the English language. Those rules have been repeatedly discussed in most of the language books and even during language trainings. However, I haven't read books nor attended trainings that discuss the above concern. Hope you could shed light on this sir.

Thanks heaps!

17

Use and Misuse / Onset or outset: Which is which?

« on: July 05, 2016, 07:05:23 AM »

Hi Sir Joe,

Could you please explain the semantic difference between  onset and outset and how to use them correctly in a sentence. Also, can these be used interchangeably?

Thank you.

18

Use and Misuse / Questions about the Grammaticality of English

« on: July 04, 2016, 10:49:05 AM »

Hi Sir Joe,

We know that grammar and mechanics are about rules and conventions of what one must do and mustn't do in the language. Style, on the other hand, is one's preference in conveying the idea to achieve the writer's desired effect.  

Undoubtedly, following grammar prescriptions would help us conform to what is generally known as acceptable usage in the language. But, sometimes style and usage put(s) us in such a predicament that makes us questions our own usage and someone's usage. With this in mind, may I know your thoughts on the following:

1. How do we validate the grammaticality of a language?
2. Can style and usage make what is acceptable to some not acceptable to some and vice versa?
3. What do you think is the percentage of the objectivity of the English language?
4. Can we say that a second language learner mostly learn prescriptive grammar in most of the educational institutions and descriptive grammar can be learned by attending further studies about the language, speaking with the native speakers, and watching English movies?
5. In teaching and learning the language, isn't it best to combine prescriptive and descriptive grammar in order for us to have a better grounding of the language?

Thank you sir.

19

Use and Misuse / Crafting a ‘We want to know’ sentence that doesn’t offend

« on: June 16, 2016, 06:13:54 AM »

Hi Sir Joe,

I can't help but bring this grammar concern to you. I often hear some of my colleagues in the office saying to customers, "we wanted to know if you are already in the position to pay the full balance."

I couldn't understand why some of them use the past form "wanted" instead of the present form "want". Are they correct in using this? For me, this is a faulty crafted sentence. The desire to know something should be in the present form as the representative is explaining/telling to the customer the reason why he/she is being called. Moreover, even if the instance of calling in the past is in question, still the sentence isn't right. The sentence needs to be corrected to " We called you yesterday as we wanted to know if you were already in the position to pay the full balance."

Following the sequence of tenses rule, the above statement did not adhere to the rule that states, "If the independent clause is in the past, the dependent clause should be either in past or past perfect depending on the sense that the speaker/writer would like to convey." An exception to this rule is when the sentence in the dependent clause is a general truth. May I know your stand on this sir?

Thanks!

20

Use and Misuse / Choosing tense for reporting verbs in reported speech

« on: June 06, 2016, 02:20:01 PM »

Hi Sir,

May I know if there are any rules that prescribe when to choose present reporting verbs over past reporting verbs? Also, can't we use past reporting verbs at all times and construe whatever is being reported as an event in the past?

Thank you.

21

Use and Misuse / Reported Speech: To backshift or not?

« on: May 16, 2015, 05:37:47 PM »

Hi sir Joe,

I know you've discussed this concept for so many times and I somehow know the rule of the thumb that governs the usage and structure of reported speech. Yet, this topic really perflexes me much. I know that there is this rule that even if the reporting verb is in the past tense the verb in the reported clause can be of present tense provided that it states general truth or permanent condition. This rule is that which I cannot refute. This is what i have learned since my school days. However, with my continuous quest to learn this language I came across in some of my readings that American speakers tend to use present tense in the reported clause even if the reporting verb is in the past. Accordingly, this is possible only if the condition in the reported clause is still happening or existing at the moment of speaking.

Example:

She said she still loves him.

This gives an impression that the utterance was made in the past yet the condition is still true at the moment of speaking. The feeling of the speaker is still there for her someone.

Another example.

Archie said he is a teacher.

This usage for me sounds justifiable if the person being spoken about is still a teacher at the moment of speaking. With this therefore, i have come up with the conclusion that  reporting of event, action, condition, and state has to obey not only the grammar rules prescribed by the books but also the rules that the context imposes.

So, to say that Archie said he was a teacher would give us an idea that he used to be a teacher in the past and is no longer practising the profession now.

More examples:

Martha said she has rheumatic heart disease.

Use of "had" would mean she was cured of this disease.

Same case goes true with the example below,

 Michael said that his cousin has blue eyes.

If time would be the focus and not considering the existence of the situation or information presented, this would be reported as, "Michael said his cousin had blue eyes."

May i know your stand with this sir?

Thank you.

22

Use and Misuse / Stative Verb in -ing form?

« on: May 06, 2015, 04:19:22 PM »

Hi sir,

Just want to bring up the topic about the usage of the stative verb "UNDERSTAND." i know stative verbs have no continous form, but when I started working in the BPO, i often hear from our aussie's customers asking us in this way "Are you understanding me?" Instead of "Do you understand me?"

I cannot refute this being a second language learner. I'm not that too sure if it can be considered as slang or informal English. Is the use of the word "understand" in such way justifiable considering the speaker? Can it be best explained by the different types of English that we have?

May I know your stand here sir?

Thank you.

23

Badly Written, Badly Spoken / Re: The Present Perfect Tense (again!)

« on: May 03, 2015, 05:25:48 PM »

Hi sir.

I can't help it but bring up the concern on tense consistency usage and the structure of the statement.

Just want to clarify if my understanding about the tense in the quoted article below is correct.

Mike Roger told CNN that publication was " a terrible Idea" and said "Foreign leaders have approached the givernment And said, "You do this, this will cause violence and death."

Questions:

1. What's the purpose of the quotation in the phrase a terrible idea?

2. The introductory statement, Mike Roger told CNN that, was written in indirect speech. Why didn't the writer write the statement after the conjunction "and" in the same form.  Did he violate the guidelines on parallelism or does poetic license justify what he did?

3. If the second statement would be written in indirect speech since introductory word is in the past as signalled by the word "said"," should we  need to shift tense fom "have approached to "had approached?"

4. Same concern with  the third statement . "And said , "If you do this...." Was the choice of usage better than the indirect speech?

Thanks sir.

24

Use and Misuse / More on tense

« on: December 20, 2014, 08:37:09 PM »

Hi sir Joe.

It's I again. I just want to seek confirmation about how tense shift/change when transforming direct speech to indirect speech. This really confuses me a lot whenever I speak or write. My example would be more on situational.

Let's take the statement given below as our example. I'm a bit confused about the logic of tense usage here.

The Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi announced that it will be conducting special passport renewal services for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) on certain weekends this month.
They said that there would be sale in January 2015

vs

The Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi announced that it would be conducting special passport renewal services for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) on certain weekends this month.

vs


The Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi has announced that it will be conducting special passport renewal services for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) on certain weekends this month.


vs


The Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi had announced that it would be conducting special passport renewal services for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) on certain weekends this month.”


              Reporting Clause tense               /            That Clause Tense
1.               past (announced)                                future progressive (will be conducting)
2.               past (announced)                                past progressive (would be conducting)
3.               present perfect (has announced)            future progressive (will be conducting)
4.               past perfect (had announced)                past progressive (would be conducting)

It's a bit confusing for me as to which tense should be used in a statement where action is yet to be completed or realized in the future.I know it has already been discussed and pointed out which is correct from amongst the statement but I would want to understand it also my in own way. I would like to also give you my stand about my understanding on the given sentences. Please do validate if I got it correct or not. Thank you sir Joe.

Firstly, my understanding about tense was challenged when I joined this forum. Before my knowledge was limited to the rules of usage prescribed by grammar books and to what was learned during my high school and college days. Lesson about this topic was not discussed comprehensively by my professors and teachers. When I joined this forum, I learned that tense usage is dependent on context and there would be times that shifting would be necessary. This is where I am coming from now.

As to the given example above, what confuses me is that the realization of action has not been completed yet and will be completed in the future,"it will be conducting special passport renewal services for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) on certain weekends this month."

For me, either statement 1 or 3 can be used. Reason is that the event or action has not happened yet. The speaker may be considering the action.

If I were to order my choice of usage, I would use 1,3,2, and 4

Statement 2 and 4 would only be used if I would regard the action as already finished.

Please do give me feedback on this.

Thank you sir Joe.

25

Use and Misuse / "I'm the one who called you.." or " I was the one who called you.."?

« on: December 20, 2014, 07:54:39 PM »

Hi sir,

Just want to have clarification and confirmation about the above usage.

My understanding here is either usage is correct depending on context.

Let's say that speaker tried to call his friend last night and was not able to get hold of her. Today, he will be meeting his friend. Would it be justifiable to say,"I'm the one who called you last night." if he is trying to identify himself at the moment of speaking or should I choose the second statement, "I was the one who called you last night.", since there is a time expression used?

Can we say that the time expression only refers to the action that of the action in the wh-clause and not the whole statement?

Thanks sir.



 

26

Use and Misuse / What I did is... Or What I did was..

« on: October 09, 2014, 09:45:20 PM »

Hi sir,

Good day! =)

Could you please explain what tense should be used when a noun clause is used as a subject of the sentence.

Example:

What I did was a mistake.
What I did is a mistake.

My stand here is either present or past these can be used in such construction.
My understanding here is the past form can be used if the action is regarded as already past. The realization of the act in the noun clause completely happened in the past. The second example conveys the idea that the realization is still true.

Please do shed light on this usage.

Thanks sir Joe. =)

27

Use and Misuse / Sequence of tenses in sentences that start with the conjunction "when"

« on: March 07, 2014, 07:19:13 PM »

Hi sir! It’s been a while since I last visited your site. I came across this question by a Facebook member who was asking if this sentence is faulty: “When we got our first blog back in 2010, all we have in mind is to have a personal presence on the Internet.” For me, this sentence would be correct if the idea expressed in the main clause is still true or existing. However, if time is the focus, it should read as “When we got our first blog back in 2010, all we had in mind was to have a presence on the Internet.” Should the second sentence be correct, would it be safe to say that when starting a sentence with “when” and the verb is in the past tense, the verb in the main clause should also be in the past tense? Is my understanding correct, sir? Hope you’ll be able to shed light on this. Thank you. (I’m sorry if the format of this board was not followed correctly. I’m only using a cellphone to access this site now.)

28

Use and Misuse / Prepositions and their usage

« on: August 19, 2013, 09:54:29 PM »

Hi sir,

I would just like to ask if there are any rules that prescribe on how to use the different prepositions like in, on, at, to, by, from, with and of. In most of my readings, writers or authors generally advise to read a lot in order for one to develop familiarity on the correct pairing of words and prepositions. I know the basic rules which are stated on the books. However, when a new word is used I'm often troubled by the thought of what preposition is which to use in order for my idea to be expressed clearly and correctly. I know there are times where some preposition could be used interchangeably. But could you give me some points on what relationship should I consider between the word and the preposition so that my understanding would be realigned to what is  standard and acceptable?

By the way sir, I actually took down notes about the different prepositions and I am now studying its uses. however, I'm wondering if the uses and the relationship of each preposition would be enough to consider for me to pair this to the word of my choice.

I'm hoping that you would be able to give me some pointers on this.

And sir, Please do give feedbacks on my grammar error in my posting here.


Thank you! =)

29

Use and Misuse / Use of Indefinite Pronouns and Subject-Verb Agreement

« on: August 15, 2013, 09:38:11 PM »

Hi sir,

It has been a long time since I posted my query about grammar on this site.
This time, I'm here to seek clarification on the use of the indefinite pronouns particularly with regard to the subject - verb ruling =)

As far as I know the pronouns some, both, few, many and others can only pair with a countable noun and would require its noun to be in plural inflection and same as with the verb.

Structure:       ALL/SOME/FEW/BOTH/MANY + Plural Countable Noun

e.g. All men are mortal.        Some clothes are already old.       Few students love Math          
      Many girls love Teleserye.

The same goes true if these pronouns would be used barely as subject of the sentence without the head noun.

e.g.   Many are called.           Few are chosen

Question: Is my understanding about the usage correct?

Next, with regard to the use of Some All None Any Most. I know that these verbs can take singular or plural verb depending on the noun following the partitive phrase or the -of phrase.

SANAM of Plural COUNTABLE NOUN = plural verb
 
                 Some of the students are not listening to their teacher.

SANAM of MASS NOUN = singular verb

                 ALL of the milk has spilled on the floor.

Question: Is it possible for these pronoun to be followed by an of phrase with a single countable noun?

                 e.g. Some of the student

Hope you'll be able to shed light on this.

Thanks sir.

Mike

30

Use and Misuse / Not until Usage

« on: March 25, 2013, 10:42:46 AM »

Hi Sir,

Good day.

Once again I'm back on this site as I was seized by doubt on the use of Not Until as a sentence starter.
I would be needing your expertise on this sentence construction. A copy of the letter which I wrote is posted in here for your reference. Please do give me a thorough feedback on this. Thank you! =)



Madam:

This comes very respectfully to request your good office for an endorsement to the City Hall of Makati.     This letter is in consonance with my resignation from the teaching post as an English teacher of The ______________ High School dated 15th of November 2011.

In November 2011, I advised Mrs. ___________ , former principal of the ___HS,of my resignation and was advised by the same that she would endorse me to the City Hall of Makati. Hoping that everything went through perfectly fine at that time, I did not do a follow up as I, too, had been very busy with so many things since then. However, Not until I requested for my GSIS claim this March I would have not found out that my service record has not been closed yet due to non-receipt of the endorsement letter.  For this reason, I was advised by the Municipal HR to speak with you and ask for an endorsement on behalf of your predecessor.

Attached herewith are my resignation letter addressed to the former principal and my updated resume for your perusal.

I hope that you would take a look at this matter and would respond accordingly the soonest time possible.

Thank you and more power!


Yours sincerely,
Mr. _______________
Former English Teacher