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Post by subtlecollision on Jan 22, 2007 21:49:55 GMT -5
There are a few grammar issues that I have been lately wondering about... and argued about with a kid in my English class. Could you guys try to clear some of these things up for me?
1. When are you supposed to use 'all right' vs. 'alright'? Are you ever supposed to use 'alright'?
2. What's the difference between a transitive and an intransitive verb?
3. Who vs. whom?
4. For this sentence:
Martha clumsily opened the box, in which Emily knew lay several half-eaten chocolates.
There needs to be a comma after 'box', right?
If the clause 'Emily knew lay several half-eaten chocolates' was changed to an independent clause, should there still be a comma?
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Post by Catherine on Jan 22, 2007 23:59:14 GMT -5
1. Been wondering that meself. Can't help you there.
2. Well now, you ought to know that. "In syntax, a transitive verb is a verb that requires both a subject and one or more objects." ;D
Basically, if there is something or someone who recieves the action, the verb is transitive. Ask yourself: '{verb} what??' or "{verb} whom??' and if there is an answer, it's transitive.
3. Ahm my favorite topic. ;D jk 'Whom' is always used as the object; 'who' is always the subject. Especially note objects of prepositions (these are extra tricky cause prepositions can never come last in the sentence. Never say '...who I have complete trust in.' It's '...in whom I have complete trust.') a few more examples:
Whom do you like most??
Who likes you most??
She hurt Kendra, who hurt me.
I was hurt by Kendra, whom she hurt.
4. Yes, there certainly needs to be a comma, though I cannot state the rule that says so... it just... sounds right. I am not so sure that the second half of the sentence really makes sense, however... perhaps it could be changed to: '...in which, as Emily knew, there lay several half-eaten chocolates."
I don't quite get what you meaning by turning 'Emily knew lay several half-eaten chocolates' into an independent clause, but even if I did I don't think I would have the answer to this one. Most sorry!!
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Post by Katrina on Jan 23, 2007 9:04:28 GMT -5
I can definitely help you with number one, because I had a fight with my teacher over it three years ago! (I was right  ) "Alright" is colloquial. It should never be written. It comes from people who speak too quickly and run their words together (I'm very guilty of that...), like "alot" instead of "a lot". "All right" is the correct term, used in the following ways: "I'm feeling all right." "My answers were all right." (meaning they were all correct) "How were your answers?" "They were all right." (meaning they were average) About the independent clause, do you mean standing alone or as a part of the sentence? By the way, I found this (http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/errors.html) site a while ago, it's pretty useful for checking common errors. |
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Post by subtlecollision on Jan 25, 2007 17:31:59 GMT -5
Thanks much for the help guys... now I can feel confident next time I have a grammar fight. Honestly, Catherine, you feel the need to criticize my example sentence? Katrina, sorry, nevermind. I realize that it cannot be changed into an independent clause because of the 'in which.'
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Post by Catherine on Jan 25, 2007 17:43:00 GMT -5
yes ;D
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;D
)