Search results for 'tag:Semicolons tag:Verbs' matching tags 'Semicolons' and 'Verbs'

Re: Use of however (Guest:Sam)

richard_s — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 02:09:10 GMT

Yes, 'however' is an adverb. Â More precisely, it is a 'conjunctive adverb'. Â You can use 'however' or 'but' in the example sentence, but 'however' is much more formal. Â 'But' is more casual. Â Note that 'but' will have a comma before it, and 'however' should have a semicolon before it and a comma after it. Â Also, note that we cannot use however between two nouns, only between two clauses. Â We tend to use 'however' in formal writing for more important connections and 'but' in formal writing for less noteworthy connections.

Re: please help

richard_s — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:13:58 GMT

Due to is a preposition, so the first clause should be a prepositional phrase (remember that you can't use modals in prepositional phrases, so you will have to change cannotÂ to not be able to. Â The verb in the clause needs to be in gerund form. You need a comma after the prepositional phrase, not a semicolon. Â

There are only 50% good included 500pcsÂ doesn't make sense. Â Probably included should be including, but I am not sure what this sentence means.

Re: Comma Question-"and therefore," or "and, therefore,"

Anonymous — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 19:21:14 GMT

However, therefore, moreover, and other words like them are conjunctive adverbs. They go between two complete thoughts. When you want to use one of these words, you have two good choices. Check to see if you have a complete thought on both sides of the "conjunctive adverb." If you do, then you can use a period to make two sentences, or you can use a semicolon after the first complete thought.

GOOD: Basketball is my favorite sport. However, table tennis is where I excel.

ALSO GOOD: Basketball is my favorite sport; however, table tennis is where I excel.

BAD: Basketball is my favorite sport, however table tennis is where I excel.

ALSO BAD: Basketball is my favorite sport, however, table tennis is where I excel.

Re: HER DIARY/ HIS DIARY

Avangi — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:14:04 GMT

Hi.

In view of the "but" phrase in the first paragraph, I'd be inclined to say, "I thought he might be upset by*** etc." (optional)

I'd delete "that" after "suggested."

I don't think you "keep absent." I'd suggest "but he seemed quiet and absent," OR "but he kept quiet and seemed absent."

comma splice after "I loved him." Use two sentences, or a conjunction, or some other device.

Some would discourage the semicolon after "behavior," but it's okay by me.

Not sure I'd use a comma in "I love you, too." You use so few commas, it seems out of place, or out of style.

Probably a dash after "as if I had lost him." Most likely the sentence as is would be considered ungrammatical.

I think "absent" is rare. I wouldn't use it twice in such a short span.

In your last paragraph, the first sentence is too bloody long. Well, maybe not too long. It expresses a series of three or four different actions (or thoughts) taking place over a period of time. Let the reader catch his breath.

You have three "I decided's" in the last paragraph - a little monotonous.

Also, I'd suggest beginning a new paragraph with the second "I decided."

Running the "but he had fallen asleep" into the previous sentence spoils the drama. You need some kind of a break or bridge between.

English is your native language, Right? Good stuff! The diary thing shows that your really do have a sense of drama - and irony. - A.

*** Edit. I'm not sure what to advise here. "At" would go with the adjective and "by" would go with the passive verb. It depends how you look at it. I guess that means you may use either "at" or "by."

1)How can we correct the sentence:

Belly — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:19:06 GMT

1)How can we correct the sentence:

When the eggs hatch, the young turtles go off to take care of themselves, being that female turtles do not nurture their young

a) add "on the other hand" at the beginning

b) insert " as a result" at the bginning"

c) change the comma to semicolon

d) change "hatch" to "hatched"

e) change "being that"-> "because"

The answer was e. But I have never seen a "because" after comma

2) The meaning of his words was even more elusive in his own country than either Europe or Latin America ( the underscore is a wrong phrase)

Can we replace the underscored phrase with "either in Europe or Latin Am" or " in either Europe or Latin Am"?

3) On my preparing for exam, I came up with this sentence:

Spot the error:

Kelly is proud of her own abilities to mediate disputes more than any of her other strength. No error

The answer was C ( as the book says) but here is its explanation:

"Does the subordinate clause fit within the context of the sentenc? ( A) uses the correct verb tense and the verb agrees w/ subject Kelly. (B) shows the correct feminine sing. pronoun, referring to Kelly (C) shows the correct infi. form of the verb mediate.

So what is the answer??

4) here is part of a math question I couldn't find out why:

Which is the graph of y= -(x-2)2 (2 outside the bracket means square)?

Graphs drawn below.

And here was the solution:

If f(x) = -x2 , the given equation, y= -(x-2)2, represents f(x-2)

How come they got the last line?

Re: Punctuation-commas and so on

bhikkhu1991 — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:14:34 GMT

Hello Mister Micawber,

I appreciate your kind reply. Here, I would like to point out the second sentence that has two independent clauses joined by a conjunctive adverb is required to be separated by a semicolon. Further, a comma is then needed after the conjunctive adverb 'then'. I have recently found out about this information on the Internet, http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/grammar_subordinate.html , 'Subordinate Conjunction, Note 2, (B)'.

He usually has a shower, and then he has a shave and brushes his teeth.

He usually has a shower; then, he has a shave and brushes his teeth.

Thank you.

With best wishes.

Re: Plz Correct me !

Cute572 — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 06:09:19 GMT

Thanks Goodman!

Could anyone tell me, in descriptive writing what tense usually writer choose.

And Guys please reply my 2nd post last two sentenses as well. And explain we can separate verb and subject i.e mirror and curtain, by using comma for emphasis like Feebs did?

Third sentence, I have made some changes. Please check this as well.

The soft curtain hanging and swinging [I am not using comma because it will separate both curtain Subject and hanging Verb] over the rood with moving winds and touching my chair [or desk] unintentionally. [This adverb is appropriate fits?]

Or following structure seemed less congested

The soft curtain hanging over a rood, and swinging with moving [can use melodious or rythemetic or some word instead of moving?] winds; [semicolon used here or comma ?] somehow, [comma is ok here?] unintentionally touches my chair at constant intervals. [puntucation is correct ?]

And what about this similar sentence grammar?

Above window, long rood holds the curtain from the upper edge of window. Is it ok to use and we would this underline part direct object ?

I request to explain each of these three versions with punctuation i used

Thanks !

Re: conjunctive adverb

Clive — Thu, 08 May 2008 04:04:26 GMT

Hi,

When do we need to use a conjuntive adverb with a semicolon and use it at the start of a separate sentence? You never need to use it with a semi-colon. If you choose to, that's a subjective decision by you, based on your feelings about style.

accordingly

I excelled in the last test; accordingly, I was given a commendation following the tradition.

I excelled in the last test. Accordingly, I was given a commendation following the tradition.

I feel when the clauses are short and are related closely in content -- more so than the cases involving the starting a new sentence, then a semicolon followed by a conjunctive adverb is appropriate. Thus, the second one wouldn't be appropriate; whereas, the first one would be.

I don't see anything wrong with #2 above. In my opinion, the word 'accordingly' at the start of a sentence already establishes a close connection with the previous sentence. I don't see why you would need to try to make it closer still. Anyway, it's your choice. However, here is some advice. Writing that is full of semi-colons starts to seem almost irritating to the reader. In other words, my advice is to use semi-colons sparingly.

whereas

I excelled in the last test; whereas, I flunked the test before that.

I excelled in the last test. Whereas, I flunked the test before that.

Again, the same argument. This is a different case, because 'whereas' is a true conjunction. 'Whereas, I flunked the test' is not a grammatical sentence, anymore than 'Because I flunked the test' is a grammatical sentence. This means that #2 is incorrect. it also means that #1 is incorrect, because both "parts" of a sentence with a semi-colon have to be capable of standing as independent sentences.

You need to write it as I excelled in the last test, whereas I flunked the test before that.

Best wishes, Clive

conjunctive adverb

Anonymous — Thu, 08 May 2008 01:07:03 GMT

Hi,

When do we need to use a conjuntive adverb with a semicolon and use it at the start of a separate sentence?

accordingly

I excelled in the last test; accordingly, I was given a commendation following the tradition.

I excelled in the last test. Accordingly, I was given a commendation following the tradition.

whereas

I excelled in the last test; whereas, I flunked the test before that.

I excelled in the last test. Whereas, I flunked the test before that.

Again, the same argument.

Re: conjunctive adverb with comma and semicolon

Clive — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:23:13 GMT

Hi,

I think you said the following do not need a conjunction because a semicolon establishes the connection.

She loved him with all her heart; she never told him. sounds OK

I took out the garbage; it was smelly. sounds stupid.

Can I write like these for those two examples of yours? Yes.

She loved him with all her heart; however, she never told him that.

I took out the garbage; as a result, the house is free from foul smells.

If I follow your explanations, 'however' and 'as a reult' would be unnecessary since a semicolon is providing the connection. Am I right? Generally speaking, yes, although the conjunction clarifies the nature of the connection, while a semi-colon by itself leaves the reader to think about what is being said and work out the connection for himself.

Also, the four words that you said is not conjunctions are from a list of conjunctive adverbs and I believe those words as many conjunctive adverbs do and can, if not all of them, function as simple adverbs.

Also, as to the fact that both a conjunction and a semicolon not being necessary, please tell me why many online help sources have examples that have both a semicolon and conjunction? Just because something is not necessary does not mean that you can't do it if you want to.

Nothing can be unconditional; consequently nothing can be free. (George Bernard Shaw) Would you say 'consequently' is not used as a conjunction here but as an adverb? I didn't say that 'consequently' was not a conjunction. My dictionary lists it as both a conjunction and an adverb. However, I personally see it as more of an adverb here. I would write it with a conjunction, thus. He loved her, and consequently he married her'. How would I know? My first reaction to ask why you need to know as long as you understand the meaning of the sentence.

"Always go to other people's funeral; otherwise, they won't go to yours." (Yogi Berra) Would you say 'otherwise' is an adverb, not a conjunction? My dictionary lists it as an adverb. I would write it with a conjunction, thus. 'Give me your money, or otherwise I will kill you'. How would I know? My first reaction to ask why you need to know as long as you understand the meaning of the sentence.

What do you say about this? Does it contradict any of the helpful points you brought out or do they fit right in? Can you tell me what it means here?

The conjunctive adverbs that connect two main clauses are usually separated (punctuated with) by a semicolon preceding the word or term. Except the one-syllable conjunctive adverbs and also, which is then have a comma after them. I don't agree. These words that you are calling conjunctive adverbs are used a lot. Semi-colons are not used a lot.

Here are a couple of closing comments.

First, I've said it before, but I would like to stress it. Semi-colons are not used as much as I think that you think they are.

Second, here is some advice. Try to think less about about where a semi-colon should be used, and more about why it should be used.

eg Why would you want to say

'She loved him with all her heart; however, she never told him.'

instead of 'She loved him with all her heart; she never told him.'

or 'She loved him with all her heart. However, she never told him.'

or 'She loved him with all her heart. She never told him.'

Best wishes, Clive