Twelve Tricky Grammar Questions

Grammar has always been the bane of my existence, as my eighth grade teacher would be happy to tell you. Still, anyone who wants to earn respect in today's job market has to learn it, and over the years I've slowly struggled to come to grips with subject and verb agreement, misplaced modifiers and the like.

The issues discussed in this article are my "top twelve"--the ones that used to get me into trouble every single time until I finally learned them.

Probably some of them are in your top twelve as well.

QUIZ:

Which answer is correct, A or B?

1.
A. To who should I give this report?
B. To whom should I give this report?

2.
A. How will the plan to build a skyscraper affect the environment?
B. How will the plan to build a skyscraper effect the environment?

3.
A. A mediator is a disinterested party who helps people work out their differences.
B. A mediator is an uninterested party who helps people work out their differences.

4.
A. Each of the actresses were exhausted by the end of the show.
B. Each of the actresses were exhausted by the end of the show.

5.
A. We'll get much farther if we can talk about this rationally.
B. We'll get much further if we can talk about this rationally.

6.
A. Mr. Smith suffers from AD (e.g., Alzheimer's disease).
B. Mr. Smith suffers from AD (i.e., Alzheimer's disease).

7.
A. Elizabeth was stopped by a cop while running late for a meeting.
B. While running late for a meeting, Elizabeth was stopped by a cop.

8.
A. It's time to go.
B. Its time to go.

9.
A. I have three boys, and Zach has always been the stronger.
B. I have three boys, and Zach has always been the strongest.

10.
A. I'm sorry if I misspoke. I didn't mean to imply that you were stupid.
B. I'm sorry if I misspoke. I didn't mean to infer that you were stupid.

11.
A. Lie that remote control down and get right to work on your chores!
B. Lay that remote control down and get right to work on your chores!

12.
A. When someone loses a spouse, he or she grieves deeply
B. When someone loses a spouse, they grieve deeply.

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ANSWERS

1. B--Any time you would say "him" or "her," use the word whom. Any time you would use the word "he" or "she," use the word who. You would give the report to HIM, not to HE, so whom is correct.

2. A--"Affect" is a verb. "Effect" is usually a noun. As a verb it can mean to make something happen, as in to effect a peace treaty between warring kings, but this usage is rarely seen any more. So, one more time: "How will the plan to build the skyscraper affect (verb) the environment?" "It will have a terrible effect (noun) on the pigeon population."

3. A--Disinterested means neutral. Uninterested means bored. The mediator may very well be uninterested, but her role is to be disinterested.

4. B--Each, the subject of the sentence, is a singular term, so "each was exhausted." It would be equally correct to say, "All (plural term) of the actresses were exhausted."

5. B--Farther refers only to physical distances, as in, "How much farther do we have to drive?" Further refers to all other types of distance (for instance emotional, social, etc.)

6. B--I.e. stands for the Latin "id est," which translates to "that is."

E.g. stands for exempli gratia which means "for instance or for example."

For instance you could say, "Mr. Smith suffers from some form of dementia (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, Pick's disease, or vascular dementia)."

7. B--Choice A is a classic case of a misplaced modifier or descriptive phrase. Descriptions should always directly precede, or be followed by, the noun they describe. Otherwise, it becomes confusing as to whether Elizabeth or the cop was running late for the meeting.

8. A--When using the word it, only use an apostrophe if you are shortening the phrase "it is." Do not use an apostrophe for possessives. For instance "It's (it is) time to go see the Smith's new cat. You should have thought of wrapping its present earlier."

9. B--The suffix -er is used to compare two nouns (My daughter is quieter than my son.) The suffix -est is used to compare three or more nouns (Chaos is the oldest of my four cats.)

10. A--To imply means to hint at or suggest something. To infer means to draw a conclusion based on evidence. After speaking with your boss for an hour, for instance, you might infer that he is not very smart, but you certainly wouldn't want to imply it.

11. B--To lay means to set something down. To lie means to recline. For instance, "Lay down that book and lie down right this minute. You know the doctor said to rest."

12. A--Sort of. Since someone, the subject, is singular, the pronoun that refers back to it should be singular as well. As little as five years ago, grammar students were taught to use the so-called "generic he" which assumed persons of unknown gender to be male. Now it is technically correct to say "he or she," although, since this can be wordy, "they" is also becoming a popular, if ungrammatical, choice in referring to a person whose gender is not known.

So, how did you do on the quiz? Don't worry if your score was pretty low.

Just a few years ago, mine would have been in the basement as well. Keep working on your grammar, and before long it will be so ingrained you won't even have to stop and think about which phrase is correct.