Improving the language landscape one day at a time
Friday, September 23, 2011
Get the Lead Out! (led and lead)
The word "lead," when pronounced like "feed," can be a noun, as in a dog's lead,
a lead in a play, a lead to solving a mystery, etc. In this post we'll concentrate on "lead" as a verb.
The verb "to lead" has these principal parts:
(Today I) LEAD (Yesterday I) LED (Many times I have) LED
The past forms of "lead,"which remove the "a," are confused with the past forms of "read," which rhyme with "led" but keep the "a," as in:
(Today I) READ (Yesterday I) READ (Many times I have) READ
Most of the confusion about the verb "to lead" comes from the fact that the past form has the same sound as the noun "lead" which names an element and rhymes with "bread." Sometimes the noun is erroneously substituted for the verb.
Perhaps these sentences will help you remember each word:
FRED LED the SLED dogs to the SHED.
They DREAD finding LEAD in the paint that was SPREAD on the wall.
These sentences use both words correctly:
The new law LED to a drop in LEAD poisoning.
In Browning, Montana, the factory that produced LEAD pencils LED
all other industries in employing the Blackfeet.
Just remember that the noun "lead' is a metal, and there is an "a" in "metal." The past form of the verb "to lead" has no "a."
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Fewer Puppies-Less Poop (fewer and less, amount and number)
As the owner (mother, really) of two Jack Russell terriers who use a litter box,
I'm definitely qualified to talk about poop. Today our topic is the difference
between "fewer" and "less," which will be studied with "amount" and "number."
Before I begin, I'd like to call your attention to an addition I made to the
post "If I Were a Rich Man," which I hope will help to clarify the concept of grammatical mood. (Sometimes I add to earlier posts when ideas occur to me.)
We'll start with the concepts of amount and number.
The word "amount" refers to mass or quantity. It is used with things that are measured in bulk and cannot be counted in units. We use it with things such as these: bread, cheese, milk, rainfall, happiness, evidence, news, and
information, but it should NEVER be used with items that can be counted individually. It is INCORRECT to say that a large AMOUNT of people attended a concert; instead say a large NUMBER of people attended. The word "amount" is often followed by the preposition "of" before a singular noun, and it always takes a singular verb. (A large amount IS, not ARE...) The following sentences use "amount'" correctly:
The amount of support he received astonished him.
After the storm, a large amount of debris littered the streets.
The word "number" is used with items that can be counted, and it is followed by
a plural noun, naming persons, places, or things which are discrete and separable units.
The verb that follows "number" can be singular or plural. When the sentence
refers to the number itself, taken as a unit, and not to individuals being counted, the verb is singular. In such sentences, the word "number" is preceded by the definite article, "the."
These sentences use "number" followed by a singular verb:
The number of applicants IS increasing.
What IS the number of absent students?
After an indefinite article, "a" or "an," the word "number" refers to individual units and takes a plural verb. In the following sentences, "number" is used correctly:
A number of the books ARE lost.
An enormous number of homes HAVE been damaged by the flood.
Each of these sentences uses "amount" and "number" correctly:
The NUMBER of calls we received reflects the AMOUNT of interest in
our plan.
We'll have to buy a large AMOUNT of food for that NUMBER of guests.
The NUMBER of coins she collected was worth a large AMOUNT of
money.
The large NUMBER of acres that are burning requires a greater
AMOUNT of water.
In the above sentences, you can see that "amount" tells us how much, and "number" tells us how many.
These adjectives are used to describe "amount" and "number":
amount number
little few
less fewer
much many
more more
In the above columns, notice that "fewer" is listed under "number." It is the comparative degree of the adjective "few," and, like "number," it is used with persons, places, and things that can be counted. "Fewer" modifies nouns that are plural.
Here are some sentences in which "fewer" is used correctly:
Fewer than four boys arrived for practice.
Fewer than twenty people responded to our email.
We were disappointed to hear that fewer than five of us would be
accepted.
I lost fewer pounds on this diet than on the other one.
My house has fewer square feet than yours.
My new job has fewer days of vacation than my old job did.
Do these cookies have fewer calories than those?
In the chart showing the adjectives that go with "amount" and "number," notice
that "less" is listed under "amount," in line with "fewer." It is the comparative degree of "little," and, unlike "fewer," it can be an adverb as well as an adjective. "Less" refers to degree, extent, or amount, and it modifies singular nouns that name uncountable things, such as luggage, furniture, courage, corn, excitement, paper, and supervision. Singular nouns preceded by "a" or "an" will not take "less." It uses a singular verb.
The following sentences use "less" correctly:
This recipe is better for diabetics because it requires less sugar.
The meteorologist forecasts less precipitation this winter.
Did your doctor recommend that you eat less salt?
Newer appliances consume less energy than the older ones.
These statements show the difference between "fewer" and "less":
1. Fewer" refers to a smaller number, and "less" refers to a smaller
amount.
2. Less" means "not as much," and 'fewer" means "not as many."
3. If you can count individual items, use "fewer," and if you can't,
use "less."
An AMOUNT of something can consist of a NUMBER of individual units, so you can have LESS of the amount and FEWER of the units, as in:
LESS time, FEWER hours LESS money, FEWER quarters
LESS work, FEWER jobs LESS candy, FEWER jelly beans
LESS tonnage, FEWER ships LESS manpower, FEWER men
LESS light, FEWER bulbs LESS postage, FEWER stamps
LESS travel, FEWER trips LESS laughter, FEWER laughs
Each of the following sentences uses "fewer' and "less" correctly:
LESS effort was exerted, so FEWER results were achieved.
She's trying to eat FEWER chips and drink LESS soda.
The LESS money you have in your account, the FEWER
unnecessary purchases you should make.
We had FEWER school cancellations this year because there was LESS
snow.
She lost weight because she consumed LESS fat and FEWER calories.
In general, it's true that "less" is used only with singular nouns, but there is an exception: references to units of time, weight, distance, measurement, and
money, which are treated as amounts and not as individual counted units.
In these situations the plural noun is regarded as a single entity. "Less" is also
used with numbers used alone and with mathematical statements.
Here are some examples:
less than an hour less than five dollars less than $100
less than three miles less than two minutes less than twelve years old
less than two cups of flour less than two years ago less than 2/3 of the vote
less than 20 percent less than five pounds less than ten yards
4 is less than 8
P.S. The supermarket sign "10 Items or Less" is incorrect.
P.P.S. Don't forget that "fewer in number" is redundant.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
The Farther I Go, the Further Behind I Get(farther and further)
The easier of the two words, "farther," is the comparative degree of "far." (far, farther, farthest) It means "at a greater distance" and refers to actual spatial measurement.
The following sentences use "farther" correctly:
We arrived at the airport later than they did because we live
FARTHER away.
My new car drives FARTHER on a tank of gas than my old one.
I'm too tired to walk any FARTHER.
Plant the tree FARTHER than ten feet from the house.
We can't drive any FARTHER on this road without chains.
She jogs a mile FARTHER than I.
Boston is FARTHER from Los Angeles than from Las Vegas.
Our house is FARTHER from town than theirs.
In the above sentences, notice the following:
1. The word "farther" can be replaced by "(at a) greater distance."
2. The distance is physical, spatial, or geographical.
3. The word "farther" has "far" in it.
The word "further" means "to a greater extent or degree" or "additional." It is a more abstract term, is not physical or tangible, involves no actual measurement of distance, and is not related to the word "far."
The following sentences use "further" correctly:
Let's discuss this idea FURTHER in my office.
Because of new evidence, the trial faces FURTHER delay.
We won't be able to answer your questions until we are FURTHER
along in our research.
I'll consider the matter FURTHER.
This topic requires FURTHER study.
The hospital provided no FURTHER details on his condition.
Their techniques have been FURTHER refined.
We'll pursue the subject FURTHER in our next class.
The judge is expecting FURTHER proof.
They plan to study the proposal FURTHER.
The lawyer needs FURTHER evidence to support his case.
If there are no FURTHER questions, we'll proceed.
The jury needed time for FURTHER deliberation.
In the above sentences, notice that there is no mention of physical distance.
The following sentences use both words correctly:
1. To FURTHER prove that she increased her stamina, she rode two
miles FARTHER.
2. The FARTHER I travel from the office, the FURTHER behind schedule I am.
Confusion can arise when it seems that a distance is involved, but it's not an actual physical distance, as in these sentences:
1. Nothing could be FURTHER from the truth.
2. We drifted FURTHER apart.
3. This relationship can go no FURTHER.
4. The dispute has driven the two sides FURTHER apart.
In sentences like the above, it can be argued that "farther" and "further" are
interchangeable, with the following guidelines:
1. Sometimes "farther" can be used in a figurative or metaphorical sense.
2. In any situation, if you aren't sure about which to choose, use "further"
unless the statement involves actual physical distance.
P.S. It should be noted that "further" can also be a verb that means "to
advance," as in "further his cause," "further your education," or
"further your career."
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
If I Were a Rich Man....(subjunctive mood)
Today's post is a response to the first question I've received on this blog.
(Thanks,Pat!) The question is published on the "lie and lay" post and asks why we say "if I were" instead of "if I was."
The most important word in a sentence is the verb; in fact, you can have a complete sentence with one verb and no other word. The verb's form can tell you what its mood is. Mood shows the speaker's state of mind and his concept of the verb he is using. There are three moods, and each reflects the way the speaker or writer regards the sentence:
as a statement or a question- the indicative mood
as a command or request- the imperative mood
as a supposition, hypothesis, recommendation, or condition contrary
to fact-the subjunctive mood
Most verbs are in the indicative mood, as in these sentences:
Tom played football in college.
Did Tom play football in college?
Less commonly used is the imperative mood, which is a command or request.
Verbs in the imperative mood are in the second person, which means that the speaker is directly addressing a person or persons. The subject of a verb in the imperative mood is the personal pronoun "you," which can be singular or plural. Usually the "you" is not spoken, but understood, as in these sentences:
Leave the package by the door.
Please pass the butter.
Listen! (This is a complete sentence with one word.)
Today's post will focus on the subjunctive mood, which is the least commonly used. We've all heard it in such phrases as these:
as it WERE God BLESS you Heaven FORBID
far BE it from me long live the King God HELP us
BE that as it may PERISH the thought SUFFICE it to say
wish you WERE here
The subjunctive mood is used to demand or suggest, to express a wish, or to make a statement that is contrary to fact. Verbs in the subjunctive mood express hypothetical or imaginary situations as opposed to factual ones. The verb that is most often used in the subjunctive is the verb "to be," which has only two subjunctive forms: "be" in the present, used in commands and suggestions, and "were" in the past, used in contrary-to-fact statements and in statements expressing a wish. When verbs other than "to be" are in the present subjunctive mood, the only change in form is the dropping of the "s" in the third person singular. The conjunction "if' is frequently used with the subjunctive mood, as well as "that," and, less frequently, "lest."
The following sentences use the subjunctive to demand, recommend, urge,
or suggest:
We insist that you BE reimbursed.
I vote that she BE admitted.
The committee has ruled that the decision BE deferred until
tomorrow.
It's essential that he ARRIVE on time.
I suggest that he REMAIN after class.
It is necessary that the parents BE informed.
I recommend that everyone SEE this movie.
We demand that the leader RESIGN and the matter BE dropped.
It is imperative that another doctor BE consulted.
I propose that the rule BE adopted.
It is important that he KNOW the truth.
In the above sentences, notice the following:
1. The subjunctive mood is used in "that" clauses expressing commands,
requests, or suggestions.
2. The verbs in the clauses beginning with "that" are in the present tense.
3. In the present subjunctive, the verb "to be" uses "be" with all subjects, and
other verbs drop the "s" in the third person singular.
When the subjunctive is used to express a wish, the verb "wish" is followed by
a clause with a verb in the past tense, as in "I wish you liked pizza." (The word
"that" is understood.)
These sentences use the subjunctive to express a wish:
She wishes she WERE taller.
I wish I WERE at the beach.
I wish that this day WERE over.
He wishes that he KNEW the answer.
We wish we COULD attend your party.
I wish you WEREN'T leaving.
I wish you WERE going with me.
He wishes he HAD a new bike.
I wish it WERE possible for me to attend.
In the above sentences, notice the following:
1. The subjunctive is used in "that" clauses following the verb "wish,"
implying that the clause is stating an idea that is hypothetical, unlikely,
or doubtful.
2, The verb "wish" is followed by a clause with a past tense verb.
3. The past subjunctive form of the verb is the same as the past indicative,
except for "were."
4. Just like "be" in the present subjunctive, "were" is used with all subjects,
singular or plural.
The third use of the subjunctive mood is in statements that focus on an idea that
is unlikely, impossible, or contrary to fact, and the past subjunctive is used in
"if" clauses that express such conditions.
The following sentences use the subjunctive in a statement that is contrary to fact:
If I WERE you, I wouldn't worry. (I am not you.)
If he WERE faster, he'd be on the team.
If she WERE more attentive, she'd be a good student.
If I WERE a year older, I could get my license.
If she WERE here, she would help us.
If I BELIEVED you, I would need my head examined.
If he WALKED through that door tomorrow, I would not be
surprised. (The past is used in speaking of a future event,
showing that it's unlikely.)
In the above sentences, notice the following:
1. The "if" clause states an idea that is not a fact.
2. The verb in the "if" clause is in the past tense.
3. The past subjunctive form of the verb is the same as the past indicative,
except for "were."
4. The verb "were" is used for all subjects, singular or plural.
P.S. The subjunctive is also used in wishes that begin with "If only."
P.P.S. If your wish is for something in the past, use the auxiliary verb "had,"
as in "I wish I had been there when you called."
Saturday, September 10, 2011
The American Way (pronunciation of "ile" words)
On each side of the Atlantic there is a difference in the pronunciation of many adjectives ending in "ile": the British rhyme them with "mile," and Americans rhyme them with "hill." Here are some examples:
hostile agile fragile
docile facile fertile
futile sterile tactile
tensile mobile virile
volatile versatile infertile
nubile puerile servile
ductile
Exceptions: infantile, juvenile, senile
P.S. This also applies to the noun "missile."
Friday, September 9, 2011
Stress Management #3 (accented syllables)
There are a few two-syllable words that can be adjectives or verbs, depending
on which syllable is accented: as adjectives, the first is stressed, and as verbs the second. Here are some of them:
Adjectives Verbs
FREquent freQUENT
ABsent abSENT
PERfect perFECT
A few words that can be adjectives or nouns have a similar accent shift:
Adjectives Nouns
miNUTE MINute
comPLEX COMplex
inVALid INvalid
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Stress Management #2 (accented syllables)
Additional words related to my last post:
Nouns Verbs
TRANSplant transPLANT
INcrease inCREASE
DEcrease deCREASE
PROtest proTEST
TRANSfer transFER
EXport exPORT
IMport imPORT
TRANSport transPORT
COMbat comBAT
REfund reFUND
IMprint imPRINT
COMpound comPOUND
DEtail deTAIL
ALly alLY
ANnex anNEX
FInance finANCE
CONtrast conTRAST
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Stress Management (accented syllables)
Yesterday I heard a news announcer say that the station SURveyed people about something. I didn't hear any more because my ears quit after "surveyed." Once more a person whose profession is public speaking provided a topic for my blog.
There are some two-syllable words that can be nouns or verbs, depending on which syllable is accented: as nouns, the first is stressed, and as verbs the second. Here are some of those words:
Nouns Verbs
SURvey surVEY
PERmit perMIT
INsult inSULT
TORment torMENT
EScort esCORT
CONtract conTRACT
DIScharge disCHARGE
FRAGment fragMENT
PRESent preSENT
PERfume perFUME
REFuse reFUSE
AFfix afFIX
SUBject subJECT
REcall reCALL
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Hold the Fort #2 (commonly mispronounced words)
Here are more words that are frequently mispronounced:
sherbet- second syllable pronounced "bet," not "bert"
sloth- rhymes with "both," not "cloth"
clique- rhymes with "geek," not "sick"
cerebral- first syllable stressed, not second-CERebral
zoology- first syllable rhymes with "so," not "boo"
genealogy- third syllable "al," not "ol"
processes- last syllable sounds like "iz," not "eez"
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Hold the Fort! (commonly mispronounced words)
Many words are mispronounced so often that their correct pronunciation seems strange because it's unfamiliar. Eventually these mispronunciations make their way into the dictionary as accepted and even preferred! My mother used to say, "Right is right if no one is right!"
Here are a few words that are commonly mispronounced:
cache - "cash," not "cashay" - something hidden away- a cache of food for an
emergency (There is a word pronounced "cashay," which is spelled
"cachet" and means "prestige.")
covert- related to "cover" - first syllable sounds like "kuv" - hidden - covert
operations
err- sounds like "fur," not "air"- to make a mistake
forte- sounds like "fort," not "fortay"- a strong point
harass- stress on the first syllable, not the second- "HAR as"
lingerie- ends with the sound "ree," not "ray"
reprise- rhymes with "please," not "prize"
schism- has no "k" sound- is pronounced "sism"
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