Understanding grammar improves your writing I can remember when I first started reading grammar books that the language was daunting (some of it still is!). So here’s a few terms in case you need to refresh your memory. Parts of speech Parts of speech are sometimes called word classes. Adjectives: describing words. hot, cold, beautiful Adverbs: tell […]
Use nominalisations with caution Last month I wrote about verbing (turning nouns into verbs) and an e-newsletter reader pointed out that we also turn verbs and adjectives into nouns. The process of turning verbs and adjectives into nouns is known as nominalisation (nominalization if you use American spelling!). It’s also sometimes called ‘nouning’. There are […]
Many new verbs are created from adding endings to nouns When we add endings to nouns to turn them into verbs, it’s known as ‘verbing’, ‘verbification’, ‘denomilisation’ or ‘verbifying’ – ugly words to describe a common process! For example: She eyed an opportunity. He tabled a proposal. She authored a book. They accessed a lift. […]
Different aspects of the past tense Different aspects of the past tense are used to convey when and how an action occurred in the past. In report writing, the simple past is often used to describe completed actions. Simple past The simple past is used for actions completed in the past. The company researched its […]
‘I recommend that he go’ or ‘I recommend that he goes’? Reader’s question: If you start a sentence with ‘Someone recommends that’, what form does the following verb take? For example, ‘John recommends that Mary talk/talks to the supervisor.’ Answer: The correct usage is ‘John recommends that Mary talk to the supervisor’, but I am not sure that it matters much. […]
Place ‘only’ as close as possible to the word or phrase it modifies An e-newsletter reader commented that I had only in the wrong place in the following sentence. I have only defined the ones I didn’t know. I should have said: I have defined only the ones I didn’t know. I agree, but am not sure […]
The distinction between more than and over is dying out More than 87 people voted. Over 87 people voted. Reader’s question: What’s the difference between more than and over? Answer: In the past, many grammar experts believed that in countable numerical expressions you should use: More than rather than over More than 87 people voted. Older than rather than over She is older than […]
How do you punctuate however, therefore, moreover and furthermore? Reader’s question: I would like to know the appropriate punctuation when using the words however, therefore, moreover and furthermore. Answer: How you punctuate these words depends on their position and function within the sentence. My guidelines for words such as however, therefore, moreover and furthermore are as follows. At the […]
Pronouns stand in for nouns Pronouns allow us to make reference to other words without having to repeat ourselves. The words the pronouns refer to are known as antecedents. John (antecedent) liked the book. He (pronoun) said it was riveting. There are several types of pronouns. Personal pronouns As the subject of a sentence these pronouns are I, you, […]
What’s the difference between who and that? The simplest way of distinguishing between who and that is to think of who as referring to people that as referring to things. For example: She’s the woman who invented the new medicine. The house that needed repainting was destroyed in the fire. However, some grammar experts think it’s okay to use that for persons generally and who for particular persons. For […]