To Count or not to Count

Nouns can be divided into many categories and one important category division is count and non-count. The simplest way to decide whether a noun is count or non-count is to ask yourself if you can count the noun! Can I count apples? Can I count sand? Can I count milk? If you answer yes then you are dealing with a countable noun!

Why do we need to know if nouns are count or non-count? Knowing the difference between count and non-count changes how we structure the rest of the sentence’s grammar. If you know that a noun is a count noun you can make that item plural.

Example:

1)      I have sand in my shoes

2)      I have sands in my shoes

When a noun is count you can make it plural and the sentence will make sense. If the noun is non-count it will not make sense with the plural. In the above examples you can’t count sand without a microscope and an abacus, therefore it is a non-count noun. Making the noun plural implies that you can count the number of sand particles in your shoes, which nobody could ever do. Therefore, the first sentence above is correct.

Another way that count and non-count affects the sentence is whether to use ‘much’ or ‘many’. If a noun is count you use the word ‘much’ in conjunction with the noun. When a noun is non-count the word ‘many’ is used instead.

Example:

1)      Too many apples

2)      Too much apples

The combination of the count word ‘apple’ needs its mate ‘many’, as ‘many’ is a count word. ‘Much’ is a word that shows non-count. ‘Much’ would be better matched with yogurt. Too much yogurt. Too many apples. Too much grammar for today (Because we can’t count grammar).

Than or Then?

Another set of tricky words that people often confuse are ‘then’ and ‘than’. ‘Then/than’ get confused primarily because their pronunciations are similar and many people may not even know that ‘than’ and ‘then’ have different meanings. Many people think they are one word just being pronounced differently. I am here to clear the air on ‘than’ and ‘then’. Where should we start?

The most important difference between ‘than’ and ‘then’ is that one is an adverb (then) and one is a conjunction (than). ‘Than’ is a comparison word. It compares two nouns. One noun is bigger/smaller/funnier/smarter/cooler than the following noun. ‘Then’, on the other hand, shows time. It is used to show the sequence of events (I went to school, then work, then home) or time (Back then, I was much more beautiful).

Examples

1)      My breakfast is better than your breakfast

2)      My breakfast is better then your breakfast

In the above example there is no mention of time. Although you eat breakfast in the morning, the sentence bears no context in time. The sentence does compare two nouns. My breakfast is being compared to your breakfast, and mine is clearly more delicious. The use of comparison shows us that the proper word to use is ‘than’  and sentence 1 is correct.

Example:

1)      Only than can you go outside and play

2)      Only then can you go outside and play

In the above example there is a very obvious mention in time. ‘Only then’ translates to ‘only at that time’ in this sentence. There is no comparison between nouns. Outside and play are not being compared. The proper word choice for this sentence is therefore ‘then’ and sentence 2 is correct.

Then can also be used to mean ‘therefore’ or ‘in addition’ but always remember that it presents the idea of time in the sentence. I hope that reading this post has made you more aware of ‘then/than’ than you were before you read it!

One again, theoatmeal.com has a very useful image:

Comma Sense

An extremely confusing aspect of grammar and writing is the proper use of the comma. There are many rules for using commas, but they can also be whimsical. A comma may be added when a person feels a pause is necessary in the sentence they are writing. If a different person were to write that same sentence, they may not punctuate the sentence in the exact same way. This aspect of comma usage can make constructing a well punctuated sentence difficult and confusing. The best way to learn how to use commas is to first learn the rules.

Comma rules:

1)      Commas can be used to separate items in a series (a series is a list of three or more items). Example: The child got sick on the table, chairs, floor, couch and bed.

2)      Commas can be used in between coordinate adjectives (adjectives of equal importance in a sentence. A way to test this is to replace the comma with ‘and’ and the sentence should still make sense.

Example: We spotted an old, grey car. (We spotted an old and grey car)

3)      Commas are used to set apart introductory or adverbial phrases

Example: While rushing to meet the deadline, Kevin stumbled and dropped his expensive computer.

4)      Use commas to separate nonessential noun clauses from the rest of the sentence

Example: The intelligent man, with very cool glasses, won the award for that year

5)      Use commas to separate a compound sentence with two independent clauses

Example: Dylan wrote the book, but Jodi made the movie.

Times when commas should not be used:

1)      Commas after a coordinating conjunction

Example: Dylan wrote the book but, Jodi made the movie

2)      Before the first item or after the last item in the series

Example:  We decided to pack, a tent, flashlight, kettle, sleeping bags, and firewood, for the trip.

3)       Commas to separate compound items joined by ‘and’

Example: They decided to pack a tent, and a flashlight for the trip.

4)      Commas between a subject and verb, verb and object and preposition and object

Example: The thief was surprised to find in rich businessman’s house, just a few plastic chairs and a sleeping bag.

5)      Commas to set apart restrictive elements

Example: The toes, on her right foot, were smushed, during the accident.

6)    Commas to join two independent clauses ( comma splice)

Example: I woke up late this morning, I didn’t have time to finish my assignment.

Without the proper use of commas our sentences may become nonsensical or take on a very strange unintended meaning. Some examples of poor comma use:

1) Let’s eat grandpa! ( Please don’t eat your grandpa!)

2) Rachel Ray finds inspiration in cooking her family and her dog (I hope she isn’t inspired by cooking her family and dog)

Although I have set out clear lists for the dos and don’ts of comma use, the comma is also a matter of personal taste. Once there is a clear and basic understanding of the rules it is possible to work within those parameters to create sentences that are grammatically correct and also unique to each person’s voice.

Affect or Effect

Although this is probably one of the most confusing problems in grammar, the concept behind their differences is quite simple. Affect is a verb and effect is a noun. The problem is that both of these words look similar, and have similar meanings. There are also many exceptions to the normal usages, which makes understanding affect and effect much more difficult.

Another way to figure out which verb to use is to look at the derivation of each word. Affect is derived from affectus which means “to do something to, act on”. Effect , from efficere, means “to bring about”. ‘To do something’ and ‘to bring about’ are very similar definitions. More modern definitions of these words say that affect means ‘to influence’ and effect means ‘ a result’. Now when thinking about putting each into sentences we can now think back to whether it is a noun or verb and compare their definitions.

Example:

1)      The rain had no effect on her hair

2)      The rain had no affect on her hair

Which of the above sentences uses the correct for of affect/effect? First we must think whether it is a noun or a verb. In the above sentence ‘had’ is the verb.  Effect is then the object of the sentence. ‘On her hair’ is a prepositional phrase, and not the object of the sentence. Therefore the correct choice is the first sentence. Another way to test is to loosely insert the definitions in the sentence. There was no change in her hair as a result of the rain.

Example:

1)      The botched lobotomy effected her personality negatively

2)      The botched lobotomy affected her personally negatively

In the above sentences affect/effect is being used as a verb. The botched lobotomy is the subject and her personality is the direct object. This leaves effect/affect as the sentence’s verb. If we put the definition of affect into the sentence then we have – ‘the botched lobotomy’ had an influence on ‘her personality’. Therefore sentence 2 is correct by using affect , the verb.

Although there are many inconsistencies and exceptions to the above rules, I hope that these rules can lay a general framework to figuring out which of these words to use when you are faced with a grammar predicament.

Here is some further help from theoatmeal.com:

You’re Smarter Than Your Grammar

I remember my elementary school days when I was learning grammar for the first time. It was traumatic and I blocked most of it out but one thing that I distinctly remember is learning the difference between ‘you’re’ and ‘your’. Although this may be the only thing I distinctly remember learning, I still struggle to use these words correctly in sentences. Let’s review!

If we all remember from the 4^th grade ‘you’re’ is a contraction. This means that it is two words smashed into one word with an apostrophe added to remind you of the smashing. ‘They would’ can easily become ‘they’d’ and ‘does not’ can become ‘doesn’t’. The word ‘you’re’ is derived from that same smashing together concept

You are-> you’re

Your, on the other hand, is possessive. It shows possession of something. Ownership, not spiritual.

If you are writing a sentence and don’t know which to choose, the simplest way is to substitute in other words.

Example:

1)      Your hair is great!

2)      You’re hair is great!

To figure out which of the above sentences is correct we will substitute in other words

1)      My hair is great!

2)      You are hair is great!

If you are able to substitute in ‘my’ into the sentence and the sentence still GRAMATICALLY makes sense (it may not be what you were originally trying to say, but the sentence sounds correct) then the correct choice is ‘your’. If you can substitute ‘you are’ into the sentence and it still makes sense then ‘you’re’ is the correct choice. In the above example the first sentence is correct. If you are struggling to remember which to use, always substitute in the replacement words. If you can remember that ‘you’re’ is a contraction and ‘your’ is possessive, you’re going to be grammatically correct.

Does Your Mother Know Best?

Growing up I was nagged constantly to change my grammar from ‘me and Jodi’ to ‘Jodi and I’.

Me:  She gave the gift to Jodi and me

Mom:  Jodi and I

Jodi: No mom, you weren’t there!

Now my mom was obviously well intentioned in her corrections but it brings me back to the age old question: Does your mother really know everything?

Now in most cases I would think she does know everything, but what about grammar? Do we always need to use ‘I’ instead of ‘me’?

‘I’ must be the subject of the verb while ‘Me’ must be the object.

For example:

1)      I heard Susan gossiping about Jodi and me.

2)      I heard Susan gossiping about Jodi and I.

I am not the subject of the sentence, but rather Susan is. I am the object of the sentence. Susan is gossiping about me. The gossiping is happening to me. Therefore I am not the subject, but the object. Once it is realized that I am the object of the sentence, the ‘I’ instantly changes to ‘me’. So sentence 1 is correct

Another Example:

1)      Dylan and I are going snowboarding

2)      Dylan and me are going snowboarding

In the above sentences Dylan and I are the ones doing the action. The action is not happening to us. We are the ones who are doing the action, which in this sentence is going snowboarding. Therefore I am the subject and not the object. The ‘I’ in this sentence is correct which makes sentence 1 correct.

Now if these rules seem confusing and it is difficult to figure out who/what is the object and who/what is the subject, there is an even more simple way to know. You have to break the sentence down without the conjunction into two separate sentences, and see which sounds more correct.

Examples:

Susan was gossiping about me?

OR

Susan was gossiping about I?

AND

I am going snowboarding?

OR

Me am going snowboarding?

By breaking the sentences apart it is very simple to see which of the above sentences is correct without having to do a full analysis. When someone is trying to correct your grammar, like your mother, now you have the tools to know if your mother is just hyper correcting you,  or actually knows what she is talking about. 

To Boldly Split Your Infinitives

One of the most famous quotes from one of the most famous television shows happens to annoy anyone who knows anything about grammar.

“To boldly go where no man has gone before” is famous for being the slogan of the show Star Trek but it is equally famous for being grammatically incorrect.

Now you might be wondering, why is this wrong? It may sound so familiar that you cannot hear the error in the sentence but the sentence is incorrect. The best way to see this problem is to first understand what an infinitive is.

An infinitive is the combination of  ‘to’ + ‘verb’. To split an infinitive would be to place a word in between of these words.

Examples:

Infinitive- to sit, to twirl, to go, to be, to sing, to play

Split infinitives- to sadly sit, to excitedly twirl, to boldly go, to poorly sing, to quickly play

In all of the above listed examples the adverb has been shoved between the infinitive forms of the verb. The verb has been broken up. These types of errors have very simple and obvious solutions.  Instead of trying to break up this poor, loving infinitive, just leave it alone and use the adverb before, after or somewhere else in the sentence and the infinitive will stay together and be happy.

Examples:

1)    Juan hopes to quickly finish his blog so he can go play hockey

2)    Juan hopes to finish his blog quickly so he can go play hockey

The sentences above both have the same meaning yet one is grammatically correct and one is not. By simply moving the ‘quickly’ outside of the infinitive (to finish) it creates a great sentence which is also grammatically correct. I only wish the guys at Star Trek had read my blog before they coined their poorly constructed slogan. Those guys were crazy to boldly split that infinitive.

To Whom or not to Whom

I think that everybody can admit that when a person says ‘whom’ in a sentence it sounds pretentious and stuffy. It’s a formal sounding word in today’s very informal world. With grammar being simplified more often than polished, the use of ‘whom’ has drifted out of our world’s vernacular. The person who resurrects ‘whom’ from its from its grammatical grave may be trying a bit too hard, or maybe even using it incorrectly, as ‘who’ has become an acceptable  word choice in almost all venues.  Then what is the correct use of ‘whom’?

‘Who’ and ‘whom’ are both pronouns, which means they are both used to replace a proper noun. ‘Who’ and ‘whoever’ are subjective pronouns while ‘whom’ and ‘whomever’ are objective pronouns. If you don’t know what subject and object mean I can remind you; the subject of a sentence is the one doing the action, while the object is having the action done to them. If the noun is the action doer, then use the words ‘who’ or ‘whoever’. If the noun is getting action done to them, then use the words ‘whom’ or ‘whomever’.

Examples:

1)      Is Patty the girl who got the job?

2)      Is Patty the girl whom got the job?

The way to solve this grammatical puzzle is to first figure out if Patty is the subject or object of the above sentences. Patty is subject of this sentence because we are wondering if she is the girl who got the job. Patty is the one getting. Therefore, Patty is the subject of this sentence and the proper pronoun would be ‘who’. This makes sentence 1 correct.

Examples:

1) They hired Patty, who they interviewed last week

2)They hired Patty, whom they interviewed last week.

In the above examples, ‘they’ are the subject. Patty is the the one being interviewed therefore she is the object of the sentence. She has had the action of interviewing happen to her. The correct sentence is 2.

If it is difficult to decide whether ‘who’/’whom’ is the subject or the object there is a quick tip to help decide which to use.  Substitute ‘she’/’her’ and ‘he’/’him’ into the sentence. If he or she fits then choose ‘who’ for the correct sentence. If him or her fits then ‘whom’ is what you were looking for all along.

Dangling Participles

A dangling participle is a frequent and undetected grammatical error that many people make without even knowing it! Most people make this mistake because they don’t know what a participle is, or how to dangle it. To start out it is important to understand what a participle is. A participle is a verb that is used as an adjective in the context of the sentence.

Example:

1)      I love skating in the winter!

2)      Let’s meet at the skating rink after class!

In both sentences the word skating is used but the first sentence uses skating as a verb. The second sentence uses skating as an adjective as it is being used to describe the rink, and not describing the action of the sentence. Now we can identify what a participle is but we still are not quite ready to dangle them. We first must understand what a participle phrase is.

A participle phrase is a phrase that modifies the subject of a sentence while using a verb as an adjective.  To dangle a participle, a sentence will contain a participle phrase but it will not modify the intended subject in the sentence. Instead, the sentence will be set up so that the participle phrase modifies the wrong noun in the sentence.

Examples:

1)      Rushing to meet the deadline, Kevin’s printer broke!

2)      Having been thrown in the air, the dog caught the stick

In both of the above sentences the participle has been left dangling. In the first example it is difficult to imagine Kevin’s printer caring much for meeting deadlines. It is a machine with no brain, and no ability to care, so this sentence has a serious case of dangling modifier. The sentence could be better read as:

a)      Rushing to meet the deadline, Kevin broke his printer

b)      Kevin broke his printer while trying to meet the deadline

The second example also has a misplaced modifier. The sentence is trying to tell you that a stick was thrown in the air and the dog went on to catch the stick. The sentence reads as the dog getting thrown in the air and then goes on to catch a stick. I doubt the owner of the dog tossed him in the air and then sent him on a stick retrieval mission. Usually dog owners don’t throw their dogs, I hope. The second sentence would read better as:

a)      Having been thrown in the air, the stick was caught by the dog

b)      The dog caught the stick that was thrown in the air

Both of the above sentences give no indication that a poor dog was thrown in the air. Always make sure that you don’t leave a participle dangling. Always make sure there is a subject to catch it when it falls.

Possessive Vs. Plural

Possessive nouns are used to create and show ownership between nouns. The rules state that you are simply to add an apostrophe and an ‘s’ to the end of a noun to make it possessive. If the word ends with an ‘s’ then add the apostrophe after the original ‘s’ and ignore the addition of the second ‘s’.

Examples:

Jen turns into Jen’s

Carlos turns into Carlos’

Although these concepts seem very simple, the formation of possessive nouns can be very complicated. It is not that people get the addition of the extra ‘s’ confusing, but rather there is a struggle to identify what is possessive and what is plural.

What is the difference between owning something and having more of something? The difference is a tiny and powerful apostrophe. You might mean to say:

1)      Your cat’s kittens are cute.

But you might accidentally say:

2)       Your cats kittens are cute.

See the difference? How many cats do you have? If only one cat, the first sentence is correct. If you have a rogue pack of cats that had a bunch of kittens then the second is correct. This could be the difference between being a normal cat lover and an insane cat hoarder.

Or maybe you think that:

1)      My brothers’ girlfriend is funny

Or do you actually think

2)      My brother’s girlfriend is funny

This little mistake may leave people wondering if you have many brothers sharing a girlfriend, or one brother with a funny girlfriend. Mixing up the placement of the apostrophe can leave people wondering about your family and their sanity.

I hope my blog’s can help people identify their mistake’s and give them quick and fast solution’s. If you don’t see something wrong with the previous sentence, I have already failed you.