Search results for 'tag:Plurals tag:Past perfect' matching tags 'Plurals' and 'Past perfect'

Memos show Clinton turmoil

Jackson6612 — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:05:10 GMT

Memos show Clinton turmoil

Question: I would have written ''Clinton's turmoil''. Why didn't the author use apostrophe?

BY CRAIG GORDON AND TOM BRUNE | <email addresses removed by mod.>
August 13, 2008

Question: Why is semicolon used instead of comma to separate the email addresses above?

WASHINGTON - In a fresh postmortem (=an examination of a plan or event that failed, done to discover why it failed, =autopsy) on Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential bid (=attempt to obtain or do something), newly published staff memos (=a short official note to another person in the same company or organization) and e-mails reveal a campaign hobbled (=to hobble something or someone means to make it more difficult for them to be successful or to achieve what they want) by internal rivalries (=a situation in which two or more people, teams, or companies are competing for something), faulty planning, bloated (=more than needed, =excessive) spending - and perhaps most important, Clinton's own failure to make the hard decisions.

Clinton offered herself to voters as a hyper-competent (=extra competent) executive ready to be president from day one. But atop (=on top of something) her own campaign, she was a hesitant leader, who allowed bitter infighting (=when members of the same group or organization argue, or compete with each other in an unfriendly way) to fester (=If an argument or bad feeling festers, it continues so that feelings of hate or dissatisfaction increase) among staffers over whether to go negative against Barack Obama, according to the Atlantic magazine.

The most bare-knuckled (=characterized by disorderly action and disregard for rules) lines of attack came from Clinton's chief strategist, Mark Penn, who urged Clinton to highlight Obama's "lack of American roots" due to his upbringing in Indonesia and Hawaii - saying he could only win if he faced Attila the Hun ((?406-453 AD) a king of the Huns (=an ancient people from Asia) who attacked and took control of large parts of the Roman Empire. He is famous for being violent and cruel).

But Clinton didn't embrace Penn's flag-waving (=the expression of strong national feelings, especially when these feelings seem too extreme) approach (=way of doing something), which campaign aides (=someone whose job is to help someone who has an important job, especially a politician) insist was never seriously considered.

Question: Clinton didn't embrace Penn's approach because she did not consider it seriously. Therefore, what campaign aides were saying is redundant.

The article also says that Clinton at times grew frustrated and short-tempered - including on the morning after her stunning third-place finish in Iowa in January, when aides on a call were silent. Clinton's camp dismissed the story as "inside-the-Beltway gossip" and "old news." And former campaign aides sharply disputed the notion of Clinton as an indecisive leader, with one campaign veteran saying, "Nobody seems to want to remember the fact that we had so many successes and come-from-behind victories in this campaign ... and they are due in large part to Senator Clinton's leadership."

Question: What does the line including on the morning...when aides on a call were silent mean? If she finished third place, then why would the author describe it as stunning? What does call mean in when aides on a call were silent?

Question: What does the phrase inside-the-Beltway gossip mean?

Question: What does the line Nobody seems to want to remember...to Senator Clinton's leadership'' mean?

But the e-mails and memos offer vivid (=very clear and detailed) new details about what had long been reported - that Clinton's headquarters was beset (=to make someone experience serious problems or dangers) by caustic (=bitter) internal battles involving Penn and former President Bill Clinton, who wanted to forcefully attack Obama, and others who wanted the New York senator to take a more positive tack (=method, =way of doing something). At one point, it was Bill Clinton - and not Hillary - who approved the famed 3 a.m. phone call ad.

Question: what had long been reported is passive past perfect tense. Am I right?

Question: I think headquarters should take plural verb. What do you say?

Question: Why are the hyphens used in -and not Hillary-? I believe commas would do instead?

Adding to the turmoil was the fact that the campaign had little strategy and no money left to seriously compete in the post-Super Tuesday contests - having (=the form having with a past participle can be used to introduce a clause in which you mention an action which had already happened before another action began) burned through $106 million before Iowa. That allowed Obama to win 12 straight contests and effectively wrap up (=to finish a job, meeting etc) the nomination.

Question: What does burned through mean?

In the end, the campaign's strategy came to reflect some of the internal turmoil, as Clinton veered (=changed course) from attacking Obama to emphasizing her personal side.

Question: What does her personal side mean?

Penn did offer some advice in March 2007 that proved on the mark - Clinton's path to victory lay with women and lower- and working-class voters.

Question: What does proved on the mark mean? I couldn't find it in the dictionary.

But by the time Clinton finally settled on that strategy to win the later primaries, it was too late.

Excerpts from the memos

"All of these articles about his boyhood in Indonesia and his life in Hawaii are geared towards showing his background is diverse, multicultural and putting that in a new light ... It also exposes a very strong weakness for him - his roots to basic American values and culture are at best (=even when considered in the most positive way) limited. I cannot imagine America electing a president during a time of war who is not at his center fundamentally American in his thinking and in his values." Strategist Mark Penn, from a March 19, 2007, memo to Hillary Rodham Clinton advising her to attack Barack Obama for his "lack of American roots."

Question: What does centre mean in the above context?

"The right knows Obama is unelectable except perhaps against Attila the Hun, and a third party would come in then anyway." Penn, from the same memo.

Question: Does right refer to right wing in the above context?

"This has been a very instructive call, talking to myself." Clinton, before angrily hanging up on a staff conference call the day after coming in third in Iowa in January. "She complained of being outmaneuvered (=to gain an advantage over someone by using cleverer or more skilful plans or methods) in Iowa and being painted as the establishment candidate," according to the Atlantic - but was met with near-silence.

Question: I would have written This has been..., talking to me. Why did she use myself?

Question: What is a conference call? Is it some kind of telephone call which address many poeple?

Question: Why is in used in coming in third?

"STOP IT!! I have help my tongue for weeks. After this morning's WP story, no longer. This makes me sick. This circular firing squad that is occurring is unattractive, unprofessional, unconscionable, and unacceptable ... It must stop." Robert Barnett, a Clinton lawyer and Washington insider, from a March 6, 2008, e-mail to campaign staff after a Washington Post story detailed the infighting.

Question: What does I have help my tongue for weeks mean?

Question: What does This circular firing squad mean?

Question: Were the comments in the last paragraph made by Robert Barnett?

Re: "Impurities"

Anonymous — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:57:38 GMT

Hi Goodman,

Well, I understood that in fact there isn't an exact grammatic explanation why we use "It's" with plural nouns, isn't it? Is it the same as to ask for example, why the simple past and past perfect of the verb to cut is : cut - cut. Am I wrong?

So, when you say "It's the artificial ingredients in the foods.." We have to understand the meaning of "it's" as being in plural, in spite of writing it in the singular form, don't we?

Thanks again,

Saadi

Re: has been based

Clive — Mon, 26 May 2008 12:36:25 GMT

Hi,

British troops had been based in Basra city since the Iraq war began in 2003. The country handed over security control to Iraqis late last year, but still maintains a presence in Basra province.

Shouldn't it be "has' instead of 'had' since the troops are still stationed in Basra?

The past perfect places the fact before some time in the past. That time may be the time that 'the country handed over . . ', or it might be some other time mentioned earlier in the context that we do not have here.

You could use the present perfect, but that changes the meaning by relating the the fact to the present time. if you choose to do this, say 'have' and not 'has' because the word 'troops' is plural.

Best wishes, Clive

Re: Verb Tense Issues

Clive — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 21:54:18 GMT

Hi,

1. I had to help him because he is my friend.

I am confused if the use of the verb "is" in the dependent clause is correct. There is a rule that if the verb in the independent clause is in its past or past perfect form, the verb in the dependent or subordinated clause should also be in its past or past perfect form. However, I know that there are exceptions to this rule--such as when the object of the verb is a general or widespread fact. I am not sure if I can classify the statement above as falling under this exception. Do I use "is" or "was"?

'Was' is always correct.However, as you know, you can sometimes say 'is'. Here, it would be OK if 'he' is still your friend, and if the past event was in the reasonably recent past. eg If I helped him 50 seconds ago, I'd use 'is'. If I helped him 50 years ago - I'd say 'was'.

2. We said that the title of the book is/was Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

In this case, I am more inclined to use the verb "is" because I do not think that the clause "We said" is the independent clause. There is a rule which states that if the verb in the independent clause is in a form other than the two I previously mentioned, there is no need to stick to the "should also be in the past or past perfect form" rule. My confusion lies in whether or not "the title of the book is/was Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" is the independent clause, considering that it is preceded by the dependent marker "that." Please advise. To some degree, what I said above also applies here. To some degree, it also depends on whether we are talking about a specific copy of a book which is not present here but was present at the time of the past discussion, in which case I'd prefer 'was'. I wouldn't really look first at the grammar, as you seem to be doing.

3. Do/Does any of you dance? AND Was/Were any of you called? "Any" is the subject in the abovementioned sentences, right? According to this grammar book I read, "any" is a problematic subject because it can either be singular or plural. Yes. In his Practical English Usage, Michael Swan notes that When 'any of' is followed by a plural noun or pronoun, the verb can be singular or plural. A singular verb is more common in a formal style. I prefer 'do/were' here.

How do I know when to consider it singular/plural? Please advise. The same way that you know any word is singular or plural. As a simple example, consider Is any of the wall painted? Are any of the walls painted?

In your example, when you say 'you', are you referring to more than one person? Yes.

4. If I am narrating a story that happened in the past, do I always have to use verbs that are in their past tense? What if part of my narration involves something that is true until now? Sorry, I have to rush out. I'll try to come back later.

Example:

I used to work for this company in the city. My building there is/was near medical and recreational facilities. One day, my back was in so much pain that I had to ask my secretary to browse the city directory and look for the closest spa to where my office is/was. She found one that is/was five minutes away. After office hours, I decided to proceed to the spa to have my massage. When I finally reached my destination, I was shocked to see that my boss was also there.

Best wishes, Clive

Verb Tense Issues

Anonymous — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 17:15:25 GMT

I was wondering if anyone could help me check whether or not these sentences are grammatically sound:

1. I had to help him because he is my friend.

2. We said that the title of the book is/was Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

3. Do/Does any of you dance? AND Was/Were any of you called?

"Any" is the subject in the abovementioned sentences, right? According to this grammar book I read, "any" is a problematic subject because it can either be singular or plural. How do I know when to consider it singular/plural? Please advise.

4. If I am narrating a story that happened in the past, do I always have to use verbs that are in their past tense? What if part of my narration involves something that is true until now?

Example:

Please advise.

Thanks.

Re: To crow

Clive — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 22:12:05 GMT

Hi,

Could you please, confirm if the plural for 'scarecrow' is 'scarecrew' ? No. Scarecrows.

By the way concerning to the verb to crow, what is its simple past and past perfect tenses ?

The rooster crowed. ('The rooster crew' is also possible, but I think less common.)

The rooster has crowed.

Clive

To crow

Anonymous — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 21:13:48 GMT

Hi!

Could you please, confirm if the plural for 'scarecrow' is 'scarecrew' ? By the way concerning to the verb to crow, what is its simple past and past perfect tenses ?

Thanks,

Abigail

Re: past perfect or simple + since

Clive — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 15:13:50 GMT

Hi,

If Iâm not mistaken,

- I havenât seen him since he left ==> he left, and I have not seen him until now. Yes

- I hadnât seen him since he left ==> he left, and I had not seen him until a certain point in time (letâs say Iâm saying this after a party where we met again). Yes

Now, Iâm having trouble with this sentence:

âCoastal areas had been in urgent need for a plan other (broader in scope and higher in tier) than the municipal master plans, since the LPSs were not in force any moreâ Better to say 'in need of . . ' 'any more' is acceptable, but I prefer 'anymore'. Actually, in this case I'd say 'were no longer in force'.

(thereâs no such a need now, because thereâs a new plan)

1. would you give âsinceâ a causal or a temporal meaning? (both of them hold true, but Iâd like to stress the latter) It seems completely causal in tone to me. If you want to make it perfectly clear, why don't you just say 'because' instead of 'since'?

2. if I changed the sentence this way âCoastal areas were in urgent need for a plan other (broader in scope and higher in tier) than the municipal master plans, since the LPSs were not in force any more,â would it still be grammatical in formal BrE? I doubt it â¦ however, if it were, how would you understand it? Again, this seems fine to me in BrE, and causal in tone.

Here's another small comment. It's OK, I guess, but it doesn't sound good to me to say in urgent need for a plan (singular) other . . . than the . . . master plans (plural). Perhaps you could rephrase this, using something like 'in addition to' or 'to replace'?

Best wishes, Clive

Re: Present and past perfect

Philip — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 14:44:41 GMT

Kooyeen wrote:
Hi,
I already asked about this, apparently I didn't understand or got no answer. Here:

There's a guy who's trying to run through a wall of flames with his bicycle, completely naked. He starts, he passes through the flames, he succeeds. Everyone applaudes. After a few minutes, after he get dressed, I go congratulate him. What should I say?

Congratulations man, that was great! [~~I've~~/I'd] never seen [~~someone~~/anyone] do that completely naked!

I need some advice on the possible ways to say that. Thanks

Many would use the present perfect because of the closeness of the time of the action. Technically speaking, however, I think the past perfect is more correct.

['anyone' because of the preceding negative 'never']

[for some reason, 'congratulations' is generally used in the plural]

Re: HI there, can anyone see to check if i have any grammar error and tell me.

Grammar Geek — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 03:31:04 GMT

There are sunshine every season. There is sunshine in every season. (sunshine is singular - so is, not are, and you need the preposition in)
California winter is not as cold as the Winter of Ohio, instead it is mild.The California winter [OR: Winter in Californnia] is not as cold as winter in Ohio; instead, it is mild - multiple problems here, including a comma splice.
One reason I like California is that I can go many places. Either use "reason" or "because" but not both.
The state colleges are supported by taxes. Okay
I like California because of the weather. Okay
I ~~had~~ never caught a cold during the three years I lived in California. Past perfect doesn't make sense here.
The rain fell on my face. Okay
The famous Sequoia trees grow in California.Okay
For the last three years, I had traveled through more than thirty states.
At those moment. This is not a sentence. Either this moment or those moments.
I see my brother~~â~~s and sister~~â~~s, who live out of the states. Never use an ' to make a word plural! Do they live outside of the United States? or the state you live in?
Those people I havenât seen for a whole year.I haven't seen those people for a whole year.