Monday, April 28, 2008

Some parents are too strict to their children.

GRAMMAR INCORRECT TO CORRECT:

Incorrect: Some parents are too strict to their children.

Correct: Some parents are too strict with their children.

GRAMMAR: A parent or teacher is strict with a child (NOT to).

WORD OF THE DAY:

obnoxious
adjective

1. highly objectionable or offensive; odious: obnoxious behavior.
2. annoying or objectionable due to being a showoff or attracting undue attention to oneself: an obnoxious little brat.
obnoxiously [adverb], obnoxiousness [noun]
Ex: Rahul was sacked from the company because of his obnoxious behaviour.


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Saturday, April 26, 2008

Do they have some children?

GRAMMAR INCORRECT TO CORRECT:

Incorrect: Do they have some children?

Correct: Do they have any children?

GRAMMAR: In questions, we normally use any or an any-word (i.e. anybody, anyone, anything, anywhere, anyhow).

However, when you expect (or hope to receive) a 'yes' answer, we use some or a some-word. For this reason, we often use some, someone, etc, in offers and requests:
'Would you like some milk?' 'Could you give me some milk, please?'

WORD OF THE DAY:

stagger

intransitive verb
1. to walk, move, or stand unsteadily.
2. to falter or begin to give way, as in an argument or fight.
3. to waver or begin to doubt, as in purpose or opinion; hesitate: After staggering momentarily, he recognized that he had to make a decision.
4. to cause to reel, totter, or become unsteady: This load would stagger an elephant.
5. to shock; render helpless with amazement or the like; astonish: The vastness of outer space staggers the mind.
6. to cause to waver or falter: The news staggered her belief in the triumph of justice.

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Friday, April 25, 2008

We watched the news on the television.

GRAMMAR INCORRECT TO CORRECT:

Incorrect: We watched the news on the television.

Correct: We watched the news on television.

GRAMMAR: We usually say the radio, but television (without 'the').

WORD OF THE DAY:

clamber
verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
clamberer [noun]

1. to climb, using both feet and hands; climb with effort or difficulty.
–noun
2. an act or instance of clambering.
Ex: Hard-Core ice climbers clamber over frozen falls.

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Thursday, April 24, 2008

Since we were late, so we decided to go by taxi.

GRAMMAR INCORRECT TO CORRECT:

Incorrect: Since we were late, so we decided to go by taxi.

Correct: Since we were late, we decided to go by taxi.

Correct: We were late, so we decided to go by taxi.

GRAMMAR: We do not use since and so together in the same sentence. To link two clauses, we use just one conjunction (not two).

WORD OF THE DAY:

verdant
adjective

1. green with vegetation; covered with growing plants or grass: a verdant oasis.
2. of the color green: a verdant lawn.
3. inexperienced; unsophisticated: verdant college freshmen.
verdancy [noun], verdantly [adverb]
Ex: He verdantly refurbished his new home.

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Tuesday, April 22, 2008

He called me for to tell me about his new job.

GRAMMAR INCORRECT TO CORRECT:

Incorrect: He called me for to tell me about his new job.

Correct: He called me to tell me about his new job.


GRAMMAR: We never use for immediately before a to - infinitive.

WORD OF THE DAY:

peevish
adjective

cranky: easily irritated or annoyed/ ill-tempered.
peevishly [adverb], peevishness [noun]
Ex: She has only one expression - a petty, childish, peevish expression.


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Sunday, April 20, 2008

This knife is to cut bread.

GRAMMAR INCORRECT TO CORRECT:

Incorrect: This camera is to take underwater photographs.

Correct: This camera is for taking underwater photographs.

GRAMMAR: We use for + ing when we mention the purpose of an object: 'This knife is for cutting bread.'

WORD OF THE DAY:

harbinger
noun

Sign of things to come
Ex: Comets are harbingers of doom.

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Saturday, April 19, 2008

Ten years are a long time to spend in jail.

GRAMMAR INCORRECT TO CORRECT:

Incorrect: Ten years are a long time to spend in jail.

Correct: Ten years is a long time to spend in jail.

GRAMMAR: When the subject is a period of time, the verb is singular.

WORD OF THE DAY:

all-nighter

When we refer to a person as an 'all-nighter', what we mean is that he is someone who stays awake all night.
Ex: Rahul said that the party would be an all-nighter.



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Rahul has a very poor attitude for work.

GRAMMAR INCORRECT TO CORRECT:

Incorrect: Rahul has a very poor attitude for work.

Correct: Rahul has a very poor attitude to work.

GRAMMAR: We talk about someone's attitude to or towards something.

WORD OF THE DAY:

coterie
noun

1. a group of people who associate closely.
2. an exclusive group; clique.

Ex: They have made a close coterie of like minded people.

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Wednesday, April 16, 2008

I will see you on next Friday.

WORD OF THE DAY:
creak
intransitive verb
to make a sharp, harsh, grating, or squeaking sound.
Ex: If the bed creaked in the night, would they be embarrassed?

GRAMMAR INCORRECT TO CORRECT:
Incorrect: I will see you on next Friday.
Correct: I will see you next Friday.

GRAMMAR: Do not use at/ on/ in before last/ next/ this/ every.

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Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Know about Linking Adverb

WORD OF THE DAY:
preposterous

adjective

completely contrary to nature, reason, or common sense; absurd; senseless; utterly foolish: a preposterous tale.

preposterously [adverb]/ preposterousness [noun]

Ex: 'I have said the words for you, now you want more. That is preposterous.'

GRAMMAR INCORRECT TO CORRECT:

Incorrect: Many new roads have been built therefore it is much easier to travel from one place to another.
Correct: Many new roads have been built. Therefore it is much easier to travel from one place to another.
Correct: Many new roads have been built and therefore it is much easier to travel from one place to another.

GRAMMAR: Therefore is a linking adverb (NOT a conjunction). A linking adverb often comes at the beginning of a sentence.

Most terrorists realize that they may be killed. Nevertheless, they are prepared to take the risk.

When a linking adverb comes between two main clauses, a conjunction is (and or but) is required:

Most terrorists realize that they may be killed and nevertheless they are prepared to take the risk.

Alternatively, the first clause may end with a semi-colon:

Most terrorists realize that they may be killed; nevertheless they are prepared to take the risk.

Linking adverb that are sometimes used wrongly (as if they were conjunctions) include:



accordingly, also, as a result, besides, consequently, furthermore, hence, however, in fact, meanwhile, moreover, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the other hand, otherwise, still, then, therefore, thus.


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Friday, April 11, 2008

I don't like books which are full of jargons.

WORD OF THE DAY:
cantankerous
adjective
bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative.
cantankerously [adverb] / cantankerousness [noun].

She still looked frail and cantankerous.

GRAMMAR INCORRECT TO CORRECT:

Incorrect: I don't like books which are full of jargons.
Correct: I don't like books which are full of jargon.
GRAMMAR: Jargon is an uncountable noun and does not have a plural form.

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Wednesday, April 9, 2008

He has a car, hasn't he?

WORD OF THE DAY:
Prevaricate:
  • verb used without object
  • to speak falsely or misleadingly; deliberately misstate or create an incorrect impression; lie.
    Ex: He can prevaricate no longer.

GRAMMAR INCORRECT TO CORRECT:

Incorrect: He has a car, hasn't he?
Correct: He has a car, doesn't he?

GRAMMAR: Take a look at the following sentences. She is beautiful, isn't she? The students can go home, can't they? They do want to help, don't they? He has walked three miles, hasn't he? In all the examples, the question tag makes use of 'be' verb, or a helping verb like 'can', 'do', 'has', etc.
However, the sentence "He has a car, hasn't he?" 'has' is the main verb, and the sentence doesn't contain a helping verb. When 'has' is the main verb, you cannot make use of it in the questag tag; you have to make use of some of the verb 'do'.
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