A Touch of Grammar

A Touch of Grammar

This blog will be devoted to some grammar. There is so much to go over, and I would like to touch on most of it. The best way to work with grammar, though, is too discuss it in pieces so the reader doesn’t get bored, or worse — lost. 
The first part will cover similar words. The second will discuss specifics and what happens when the writer is not specific. The third will discuss verb tense inconsistency. 

To/too/two
Believe it or not, many writers, and student writers, misuse these three words all the time. 
To is a preposition – I am going to the store.            
(I am sure you remember the prepositional phrase. The phrase begins with a preposition and ends with a noun. Here we have the preposition to and then the article – the—and the noun, store.
 Later, I will show you the use of to as the sign of the infinitive.
Too is an adverb – He hoped it wouldn’t take too long.
(Remember the adverb describes a verb, an adjective, another adverb or an entire sentence. Too usually shows amount or degree – I am too hot.)
Two – the cardinal number He has two brothers.

***Its/It’s
Its is a possessive pronoun.We are searching for items that belong to the cat so it can go to its new home.
It’s means it is. It’s too late to go to the store to buy a new bowl. We’ll get a new one in the    morning.

***Their/They’re/There
Their is a possessive pronoun.This is their house.
They’re is a contraction meaning they are – pronoun they and the verb are.
They’re not at home right now.
There is an adverb, indicating location. They will be there around eight.
Always Be Specific
Back when I was attending Cal State Univ, Long Beach, whenever anyone used the word “they,” everyone would turn to stare at that person as if he or she had said something really bad. Someone would then shout, “Who are They?” It was used so often it almost became a joke. 
Remember this short lesson and when you are using “they” make sure everyone knows whom you are talking about.
I guess this is as good a place as any to remind you of the use of who.Who is a pronoun and is used as the subject of a verb or the sentence. Who is going to the party?
Whom is the object of a verb or a preposition. He is going to the party with whom? I am going to the party with Jason, Bob, and whomever else cares to come.
And this is the reason we write “To Whom It May Concern” on some business letters. 
The word “it” can also be the cause of confusion when the writer doesn’t stop to really think about what he is writing.
Don’t say, “It is so complex.” What is it?
Instead say, the method of resolving the problem is complex.

Verb Tense Inconsistency
In English, the singular noun takes a singular verb, which then takes an s. The plural noun takes an s, but the verb does not take an s. Confused? Let’s look at an example. 
A boy plays alone but the boys in the team play.  
In a research paper, a student wrote about scandals in the U.S. She wrote Scandals has…
My red antenna immediately went up. Ding, the first red check mark. 
The correct way to write this is 
scandals are ….and finish the sentence. 
I hope this little review in grammar will help in whatever you are writing. If you have any questions, please post them here. I will have more coming soon.Thank you. And have a wonderful day.