http://www.englishforums.com/search/pro.htm?q=user%3aGrammar%3fGeek&o=DateDescendingSearch results for 'user:Grammar?Geek'en-USXMOD (Build: 3616.28671)http://www.englishforums.com/English/GenealogyFirstCousinTwice-Removed/lqdxj/post.htm#998470Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:50:15 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:998470grammar geekActually, I'm good at this... but as Clive says, we usually just say "a relative" or in the South, "kin." People who are first cousins are of the same generation and their parents were siblings. People who are second cousins are of the same generation and their grandparents were siblings. People who are third cousins are of the same generations and their great-grandparent were siblings. The "removed" moves you up and down generations. Once removed is one up or one down, twice removed is grandparent and grandson/daughter. Okay, so your great great uncle is your great grandfather's brother. That means your great uncle is your grandfather's first cousin. Since you are your grandfather's...http://www.englishforums.com/English/AnySome/lqdck/post.htm#998417Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:56:50 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:998417grammar geekWhooops. Remove " of this" and they are the same. Do you want some cake? Do you want any cake? Though having read Clive's post (posted while I was writing mine) I do agree that "Do you want any cake?" sounds like you are less sure if they want any at all.http://www.englishforums.com/English/SurelyNot/lqdjr/post.htm#998416Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:51:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:998416grammar geekTanit, thank you very much for that informative post, and thanks, K, as always for your refreshing insight. The f-bomb idea is an interesting one :Phttp://www.englishforums.com/English/SurelyNot/lqdjr/post.htmTue, 24 Nov 2009 20:39:56 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:998359grammar geekThis is for people who grade, practice for or who have taken the FCE. In other forum, I saw this advice posted to someone who had written a draft paragraph: Hey, its not too bad but you should use more colloquial expresions like wanna, gotta, kinda etc. and i wouldnt use expresions like could, would because in my opinion its too formal. You can also use more colloquial words, there are a lot of websites, just use google :) And dont forget that you dont want to be like other FCE participants, you want to capture FCE commission In a later post in the same thread, he says, And as I said you can say instead of I am -> I'm or as soon as possible-> a.s.a.p. The more colloquial grammar and words you learn, the...http://www.englishforums.com/English/AnySome/lqdck/post.htm#998265Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:02:31 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:998265grammar geekCorrect? Yes. Equally polite? No. The first sounds like you're going to throw it out if you don't eat it right now. "You want any of this? 'Cause it's going in the trash tonight, so if you want some, you better get some before it gets even more stale." The second sounds like you have more than one cake, and you're asking if the person wants some of this one, instead of that one. If you remove the "this" then both are the same.http://www.englishforums.com/English/LetterWriting/lqcqq/post.htm#998244Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:29:55 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:998244grammar geekRefer to the recipient as you and to yourself as I, just as you would if you were having a conversation. Although you may want to say "In our recent conversation" instead of making it "your" conversation -- surely he was a part of it.http://www.englishforums.com/English/GoSailingOrGoOnSailing/lqcwm/post.htm#998107Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:39:14 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:998107grammar geekThat would not be correct in most contexts. Go on doing something = continue to do something. Usually when a storm is coming, most people headed in to port. But not me -- I usually go on sailing.http://www.englishforums.com/English/CanISayChangeMyClothes/lqcwx/post.htm#998096Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:32:38 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:998096grammar geekThat works only if you sleep in clothes and not pajamas. I come home from work and change my clothes - I take off my dressier clothes and put on casual ones. I ended up getting wet while watering the flowers, so I had to go in and change my clothes. In the morning, I get dressed .http://www.englishforums.com/English/Difference/lqczg/post.htm#998041Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:23:35 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:998041grammar geekHere's one quote that sums it up: " Summary: The rule that between can only be used with two items, and among for more than two, is specious. The real tendency of English is for between when the connections are conceptualized as being between individuals, and among when the connections are more vague and collective" ( source )http://www.englishforums.com/English/TheyFeverFever/zgznn/post.htm#998026Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:11:13 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:998026grammar geekAnd I use the American one (I guess - I didn't know that was another one that was different! Thanks Clive!) and it's ALWAYS "a fever" and never just "fever."http://www.englishforums.com/English/LeaveLetter/lqbcq/post.htm#997679Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:39:49 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:997679grammar geekWrite what you would say to him in person. Hello Jack, This is to confirm... .http://www.englishforums.com/English/Colon/lqbcz/post.htm#997676Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:37:09 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:997676grammar geekHow are you using the colon? For time or ratios, then no space. 7:30 pm, the ratio was 3:1. In text, yes, leave a space after. We don't use the + sign in text much. We do use this one: &. Leave a space before and after. It would be easier to understand what you are asking if you wrote a sentence instead of dummy text like you have.http://www.englishforums.com/English/BabysFirstWordCooing/lpqnw/post.htm#997574Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:50:17 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:997574grammar geekIf I recall, we refer to those "ga ga ga PA!" sounds as "babbling." (I seem to remember they starting coming about the same time as copious amounts of drool.)http://www.englishforums.com/English/TheirNeedSTheMost/lpqxv/post.htm#997553Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:19:36 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:997553grammar geekWere you told it was incorrect in that exact sentence? Was the person suggesting that only ONE of anything could be "the most"?http://www.englishforums.com/English/ApostropheOrNoApostrophe/lpqxb/post.htm#997348Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:19:03 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:997348grammar geekI'd like to point out that this "sentence" is lacking a main verb. How is confidientialiy handled... How does the confidentialiy issue get handled... There are a number of choices, but right now, it's just left hanging there.http://www.englishforums.com/English/PleaseHelp/lpqpp/post.htm#997322Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:34:04 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:997322grammar geekHere's a nice resource: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/658/01/http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowTheseSentencesEmphatic/lpqzx/post.htm#997161Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:16:35 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:997161grammar geekWhat do you mean, emphatic? I want a lot of money. I do want a lot of money. -- Do you mean like that? You can also add an exclamation mark: I do want a lot of money!http://www.englishforums.com/English/CombineSentenceWithAnd/lpqvw/post.htm#997148Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:02:35 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:997148grammar geekI'd put a determiner before "Data" in any case. All data in systems X and Y has been updated. The pertinent data in systems X and Y has been updated. I agree that a, b and b are all equally correct, but I'd say a.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Grammar/lpngp/post.htm#997143Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:54:22 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:997143grammar geekHave you had the kind with the peanut butter inside?http://www.englishforums.com/English/SurfOrSurfing/lpkbm/post.htm#997132Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:47:03 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:997132grammar geekOh, good, we agree. It's not the more natural phrasing, but it's not incorrect. Thank you. Isn't she a goofball? I've always wondered how cats do that. If you were lying on your stomach and yet managed to touch the back of your head to the surface, they'd probably be using the Jaws of Life to extract you. They would me, anyway.http://www.englishforums.com/English/LetterWritingClamingReturn/lpqdb/post.htm#997115Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:28:29 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:997115grammar geekHello ahmad, I'm willing to be that rather than a letter, there is a form you complete for this. Contract the tax department (whatever its local name is) and find out what you need to do. Here, you get it back when you file you tax return, on a form, showing what you paid and what you were supposed to have paid, and the difference is refunded to you as part of the processing of your return.http://www.englishforums.com/English/SurfOrSurfing/lpkbm/post.htm#996462Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:38:27 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:996462grammar geekCJ, why do you object to the restaurant one? His look was one of pity. His home was one of poverty. The restaurant was one of luxury.http://www.englishforums.com/English/MyAwayReadingBook/lpnvl/post.htm#996366Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:01:21 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:996366grammar geekYes, it's an idiom, and where I live it's pretty common. It's a noun and it means "major thing I learned." It's more common in the business world. I went to his lecture. My two major take-aways were... After three solid days of meetings, there was only one take-away for me: Don't come to this meeting next year.http://www.englishforums.com/English/CommaUsage/lpnhx/post.htm#996334Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:16:20 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:996334grammar geekAccording to the strict rules, if you have two complete sentences joined by the "and" you use the comma. So, your should NOT have the comma, the second should, the third should not, and the fourth should. In practice, if the two independent clauses are very short, that comma is often omitted, and if you want the speaker to pause -- to draw attention to the contrast, for example -- you can put in the comma even if you don't repeat the subject. I would NOT use the comma that way in your first and third. Why do you want to sing on the bed? Do you stand on it and sing into your hairbrush?http://www.englishforums.com/English/Grammar/lpngp/post.htm#996332Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:12:30 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:996332grammar geekEither could be. I gave everyone a pack of M&Ms, including myself. Thank you for including me in the invitation to the picnic.http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowCanISay/lpmwh/post.htm#996041Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:25:20 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:996041grammar geekI think you may want to say that you hope you will NOT mangle the name next time. Or you could say something like "We'll see what creative pronuncation will come out next time." Or you could say "Right. Easy for YOU to say."http://www.englishforums.com/English/CommaModifierComma/lpgpq/post.htm#996038Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:21:50 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:996038grammar geekI have a lot of achievement; for example, before for example, we need to put semi-colon. after for example, we need to put comma That may or may not be correct in your sentence, janeleo. Can you write the full text?http://www.englishforums.com/English/WifeAndIs/3/bxvqw/Post.htm#995987Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:22:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:995987grammar geekRather simple solution in proper English... the possessive for wife is 'wife's' and the possessive for I is 'my'. so... "Can you get rid of my wife's and my middle initials..." should do the trick. Oh, thank God. An answer. If only someone had said that same thing in the first post after the original, back in October 2005. Oh... wait. Someone did. Usually I'm not this sarcastic, but this makes the second time in this very thread that I've pointed out that looking at the dates before putting your time into replying would make for a better use of people's time.http://www.englishforums.com/English/DiscussVsDiscussAbout/3/zlpwz/Post.htm#995250Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:35:02 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:995250grammar geekPlease read the posts that are already in this thread, if you haven't already. The "about" goes with "about a dozen" meaning 12, more or less. Maybe 10, maybe 14. People who have discussions don't put their topics in boxes and count them.http://www.englishforums.com/English/DiscussVsDiscussAbout/3/zlpwz/Post.htm#994925Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:32:51 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:994925grammar geekBut 'Let's discuss about friends.' seems to make more sense than just saying 'Let's discuss friends'. Do you say this after reading the thread? Or is that just what you "feel"? It's wrong.http://www.englishforums.com/English/AllINeedIs/lpzkl/post.htm#994320Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:41:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:994320grammar geekGreat explanation. Is that why your volunteer pay is twice mine?http://www.englishforums.com/English/PeriodAfterCo/lpgzx/post.htm#994272Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:23:27 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:994272grammar geekHi Margaret, Most style guides would tell you to NOT use the double period if the sentence ends with an abbrevation.http://www.englishforums.com/English/UseOfVocabulary/lpzxr/post.htm#994257Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:59:28 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:994257grammar geekBased on the definition of the words as you understand them, what is your choice?http://www.englishforums.com/English/RequiredModernSentence/2/lppn/Post.htm#994247Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:54:33 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:994247grammar geekHello Anon, If you are in a position of authority, you can probably tell your underlings to "to whatever it takes" and they will follow your command. When you are requesting help from other people, would you use that phrase? Hello, I just realized that when I booked my non-refundable, non-movable flight, I accidentally selected an 8 pm departure time instead of an 8 am departure time. I know the terms and conditions of my ticket do not allow this change, but I am hopeful that you may be able to grant me a waiver from this policy. I only have one day off from work, I am flying in for my sister's wedding and returning home the next day. To purcahse a new ticket for the correct flight times would be more...http://www.englishforums.com/English/AllINeedIs/lpzkl/post.htm#994178Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:25:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:994178grammar geekThe whole tone is very casual, and the "All I need is for is very idiomatic.http://www.englishforums.com/English/DoReMiOrCDE/2/vjwqd/Post.htm#994160Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:02:42 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:994160grammar geekBe of good cheer, Philip. In my younger daughter's elementary school, her music teacher is just back from a leave of absense while she was getting a second master's degree, this time in vocal composition. In my older daughter's school, the music program is so robust, they need two band teachers and the 7th grade band is so large that it requires two different periods in the day because they can't all fit in the music room at once. Meanwhile, the high schools' combined marching band is going to the Tournement of Roses Parade. It ain't dead yet!http://www.englishforums.com/English/UseOfVocabulary/lpzxr/post.htm#994118Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:04:21 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:994118grammar geekHi essam, and a belated welcome to the forums. Those choices are very unlike each other and any good dictionary should help you answer the question. Can you explain why you can't tell which one is correct? Have you eliminated any of them?http://www.englishforums.com/English/IsThisQuestionCorrect/lpzjk/post.htm#994036Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:21:45 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:994036grammar geekCan i say ; what motivate does Ms. Jay to learn English as a second language?. thanks No, sorry, but you can say "What motivates Ms. Jay to learn English as a second language?" You CAN say "What does motivate Ms. Jay...?" but that would be an emphatic form of the question, and not the usual way to ask.http://www.englishforums.com/English/DoReMiOrCDE/2/vjwqd/Post.htm#994006Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:51:47 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:994006grammar geekThough I'm glad this person asked because I had totally forgotten about this thread and re-reading it was like learning it all anew. (I never knew that you could call G in the G major scale "do" in the US. I thought do was always C, even here, so this was interesting to learn - twice!)http://www.englishforums.com/English/PoliticsOfDivision/lxxhv/post.htm#994001Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:48:02 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:994001grammar geekI guess my opinions are not really contributing to a learning environment, so never mind. It's really impossilbe to say who the author of those words was referring to. The world at large, people who agreed with the Bush administration from those who did not, Republicans from democrats, or even people within the White House itself.http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhatProperPunctuationShow-Possession/lpzdh/post.htm#993939Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:36:22 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:993939grammar geekThis employee's training history These employees' training historieshttp://www.englishforums.com/English/DoReMiOrCDE/2/vjwqd/Post.htm#993486Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:42:28 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:993486grammar geekYou could, for example, read this thread.http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhatIsCorrect/lpcgj/post.htm#993146Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:41:17 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:993146grammar geekWhich statement is correct? Sarah and I are going shopping. Sarah and me are going shopping Would you say "Me is going shopping"? Use the pronoun you would use if Sarah doesn't come.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Spelling/lkclp/post.htm#993126Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:19:07 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:993126grammar geekThat is when you develop an in-house style guide. Whenever you use it, you use it the same way. For example, in my company "wastewater" is always one word. It avoids the need to look in multiple dictionaries and consult multiple sources. Some things really are equally correct - so pick one and stick with it.http://www.englishforums.com/English/OfCourseDoingPaperSchool/lpcvw/post.htm#993092Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:19:15 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:993092grammar geekDownside? Liability? Unfortunate outcome? Detriment. Looking at www.thesaurus.com under benefit: Antonyms: disadvantage , handicap , harm , hindrance , hurt , loss , misfortunehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/GrammarPunctuationEvaluation/lpcdl/post.htm#993083Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:14:11 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:993083grammar geekSend me a copy. It doesn't matter if your wife gets one or not. It won't change the pronoun. And PLEASE, don't change it to "Send a copy to my wife and myself." That's even worse! (But alas, so common.) "Me" is a perfectly fine word that has been eschewed lately.http://www.englishforums.com/English/LetterToAFriend/lpbnv/post.htm#992971Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:45:53 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:992971grammar geekWelcome to the forums. We will help you after you write your first draft. It's not "help" if we simply do an assignment for you. For you to learn, you have to try to do things yourself. Remember that you will need to start your sentences with a capital letter, use proper punctuation, and not use abbreviations like "plz" when you write your letter.http://www.englishforums.com/English/ProperGrammar/lpblb/post.htm#992959Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:37:39 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:992959grammar geekSeems okay to me. "Hall" in this case would be a large room, like a dining hall, not a narrow passage (a hallway) that connect roms/areas. If it were, then it was would be wafting "down" the hall, not "throughout."http://www.englishforums.com/English/PersonalLetterExplantion/lpbnh/post.htm#992944Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:26:26 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:992944grammar geekThis sounds like something your lawyer can advise you on better than us. Write honestly. Write with emotion, but don't ask for sympathy. Don't try to justify bad decisions.http://www.englishforums.com/English/EmailRemoved/lpblm/post.htm#992926Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:09:36 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:992926grammar geek(If your daughter is a fourth-year dental student, should she be handling this herself. ) I'd suggest "Absense from Examination," not "Failure to Attend" Name is a fourth-year dental student who was scheduled to take three exams on November 18th and 19th: Conservative Dentistry (DCED 4101), Children’s Dentistry and Orthodontic(DKED4101), and Periodontology (DEED 4101). On those dates, she was too ill to take her examinations. Enclosed is a medical certifcate attesting to her illness. Please advise me on the process to reschedule these exams.