Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
Myself
MYSELF
Myself is abused by those intending to sound formal and smart. Unfortunately, they are unaware that they accomplish the exact opposite.
Myself is a reflexive pronoun. It is only to be used if one has first used the pronoun I.
Examples: I know you like vanilla ice cream, but I myself like chocolate. OR I gave myself a present.
Do NOT use Myself as a subject! Example: John and Myself went to the game.
When you use two subjects together (compound subject), each must work alone before they can work together.
John went to the game...that works. Myself went to the game....that doesn't work. That's how you test it. I went to the game...that works. So the correct way to say it: John and I went to the game.
Same goes for Myself as an object (usually at the end of the sentence).
Incorrect: She went to the game with John and myself.
Again, if it doesn't work alone, it can't be paired with another person. She went to the game with John...that works. She went to the game with myself...that doesn't work. She went to the game with I....nope...still wrong. She went to the game with me....that works.
Correct: She went to the game with John and me.
Myself is abused by those intending to sound formal and smart. Unfortunately, they are unaware that they accomplish the exact opposite.
Myself is a reflexive pronoun. It is only to be used if one has first used the pronoun I.
Examples: I know you like vanilla ice cream, but I myself like chocolate. OR I gave myself a present.
Do NOT use Myself as a subject! Example: John and Myself went to the game.
When you use two subjects together (compound subject), each must work alone before they can work together.
John went to the game...that works. Myself went to the game....that doesn't work. That's how you test it. I went to the game...that works. So the correct way to say it: John and I went to the game.
Same goes for Myself as an object (usually at the end of the sentence).
Incorrect: She went to the game with John and myself.
Again, if it doesn't work alone, it can't be paired with another person. She went to the game with John...that works. She went to the game with myself...that doesn't work. She went to the game with I....nope...still wrong. She went to the game with me....that works.
Correct: She went to the game with John and me.
I or Me?
I or Me
First thing first: A subject is the thing in the sentence that is doing something. I went to the store. I is the subject in that sentence. The dogs barked at the car. Dogs is the subject in that sentence.
An object has something done to it or with it. I gave the bone to the dog. Dog and bone are objects in that sentence. Will you go to the store with me? Me is an object in that sentence.
Although not entirely correct, a good way to remember is this: Subjects are usually at the beginning; objects are usually at the end. (No letters from experts here, please.)
I is a subject; me is an object.
The trouble people have with choosing I or me comes when combining it with another person.
Nobody says, "Me went to the store." Nobody says, "She gave I a present."
Only a toddler would do this, right? Well it's exactly what one does when he/she says, "John went to the game with Sally and I." The two objects must work individually to work alone. You wouldn't say, "John went with I." So why would you say, ..."with Sally and I."
The correct way is, "John went to the game with Sally and me."
Review: I is a subject....it does things.
Me is an object....it has things done to it, for it, or with it.
First thing first: A subject is the thing in the sentence that is doing something. I went to the store. I is the subject in that sentence. The dogs barked at the car. Dogs is the subject in that sentence.
An object has something done to it or with it. I gave the bone to the dog. Dog and bone are objects in that sentence. Will you go to the store with me? Me is an object in that sentence.
Although not entirely correct, a good way to remember is this: Subjects are usually at the beginning; objects are usually at the end. (No letters from experts here, please.)
I is a subject; me is an object.
The trouble people have with choosing I or me comes when combining it with another person.
Nobody says, "Me went to the store." Nobody says, "She gave I a present."
Only a toddler would do this, right? Well it's exactly what one does when he/she says, "John went to the game with Sally and I." The two objects must work individually to work alone. You wouldn't say, "John went with I." So why would you say, ..."with Sally and I."
The correct way is, "John went to the game with Sally and me."
Review: I is a subject....it does things.
Me is an object....it has things done to it, for it, or with it.
Farther/Further
Further/Farther
Farther=Distance
Further=In Depth
One would ask, "How much farther?" on a trip in the car. If you are wondering who traveled the longest distance, ask, "Who came the farthest."
One would ask, "Can we discuss this further?" if they were interested in a more in depth conversation.
ER and EST never go together. Furtherest and Fartherest are not words! (Spellcheck is going to love this one!)
Farther=Distance
Further=In Depth
One would ask, "How much farther?" on a trip in the car. If you are wondering who traveled the longest distance, ask, "Who came the farthest."
One would ask, "Can we discuss this further?" if they were interested in a more in depth conversation.
ER and EST never go together. Furtherest and Fartherest are not words! (Spellcheck is going to love this one!)
Possessives
POSSESSIVESThere is a formula for making possessives. It's not a guessing game.
If a noun is singular (one thing), you add an 's to make it possessive....EVEN IF IT ENDS WITH AN S.
Examples: The dog has a bone.....The dog's bone.
The girl has a bow....The girl's bow. Chris has a shirt....Chris's shirt.
If it's plural (more than one) and already ends with an s, just add an apostrophe.
Examples: All the girls have a locker room....The girls' locker room. The boys have a soccer game.......The boys' soccer game.
If it's plural and doesn't end with an s (children, men, women), add 's.
Examples: The children have a playground....The children's playground. The men have a club...The men's club. The women have a party....The women's party.
A girl's night out is not going to be very social. A girls' night out, however, sounds like fun.
If a noun is singular (one thing), you add an 's to make it possessive....EVEN IF IT ENDS WITH AN S.
Examples: The dog has a bone.....The dog's bone.
The girl has a bow....The girl's bow. Chris has a shirt....Chris's shirt.
If it's plural (more than one) and already ends with an s, just add an apostrophe.
Examples: All the girls have a locker room....The girls' locker room. The boys have a soccer game.......The boys' soccer game.
If it's plural and doesn't end with an s (children, men, women), add 's.
Examples: The children have a playground....The children's playground. The men have a club...The men's club. The women have a party....The women's party.
A girl's night out is not going to be very social. A girls' night out, however, sounds like fun.
Don't End A Sentence With a Preposition!
Don't end a sentnce with a preposition!A preposition is a word that
STARTS a prepositional phrase.
...in the store ...at the bank ...of the movie ...to the moon
Do not end a sentence with a preposition.
Incorrect: Where is it at?
Correct: Where is it?
Incorrect: Where are you going to?
Correct: Where are you going?
Incorrect: Which hotel are you staying in?
Correct: In which hotel are you staying? or if this sounds too formal...just ask, "Where are you staying?"
I understand that we don't walk around speaking like we are part of an essay. If the correct way feels funny to you, just say the sentence in a different way.
Incorrect: Where's that cool blog about grammar at?
Correct: What's the name of that cool blog about grammar?
STARTS a prepositional phrase.
...in the store ...at the bank ...of the movie ...to the moon
Do not end a sentence with a preposition.
Incorrect: Where is it at?
Correct: Where is it?
Incorrect: Where are you going to?
Correct: Where are you going?
Incorrect: Which hotel are you staying in?
Correct: In which hotel are you staying? or if this sounds too formal...just ask, "Where are you staying?"
I understand that we don't walk around speaking like we are part of an essay. If the correct way feels funny to you, just say the sentence in a different way.
Incorrect: Where's that cool blog about grammar at?
Correct: What's the name of that cool blog about grammar?
Don't/Doesn't
Don't/Doesn't
Don't=Do Not
I works with don't. I don't like coffee. I don't want scallops.
Don't does not work with He, She, or It.
Incorrect: He don't like coffee. She don't want scallops. It don't look right.
While Don't=Do not, Doesn't=Does not
Use Doesn't or does not with He, She, It or singular nouns.
Examples: He doesn't have an appointment. The dog doesn't bark.
Use Don't or do not with We, they, and plural nouns.
Examples: We don't accept checks. Mirrors don't lie.
Don't=Do Not
I works with don't. I don't like coffee. I don't want scallops.
Don't does not work with He, She, or It.
Incorrect: He don't like coffee. She don't want scallops. It don't look right.
While Don't=Do not, Doesn't=Does not
Use Doesn't or does not with He, She, It or singular nouns.
Examples: He doesn't have an appointment. The dog doesn't bark.
Use Don't or do not with We, they, and plural nouns.
Examples: We don't accept checks. Mirrors don't lie.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)