3/5/10

Do not correct my Grammation!

"Do not correct my grammation"

(Disclaimer: stop reading... *hindi constructive ang post na ito*)

This has been a joke between my friends for someone who thinks he/she has perfect English. I admit that I do not write and speak perfect English, but you have to admit that you can help but notice someone who thinks so highly of himself though his grammar needs a total make over. Even though I said I'm not perfectly fluent in English, I get really OC (obsessive/compulsive) about a lot of things regarding grammar AND diction. I don't want to sound snotty but I just can't help it when people forget to use the words "a" and "the" or forgets about verb tenses. Diction is usually what gets on my nerves most of the time.

I decided to post about grammar and diction because I was editing a test document. It's supposed to be a tool for process improvement, however, it has too much information packed in one work sheet, it does not have proper labels, no comments on how another person can use it and annoying choice of words..


Hmmm ugly screenshot... anyway, At the upper left of the file there were 2 labels, the first one was for the screen we were testing and the second "Pre-condition" which are requirements needed before testing. I changed it to "Prerequisite" because having "Test Condition" right after "Pre-condition" is confusing and redundant.

Anyway, I came across another interesting guide:
The Top 24 Grammatical Terms. Basic Grammatical Terms That We Should Have Learned in School by Richard Nordquist.

Here are the 24 terms, though it would be better to read the article.

1. Active Voice
The verb form in which the subject of the sentence performs or causes the action expressed by the verb. Contrast with Passive Voice.

2. Adjective
The part of speech (or word class) that modifies a noun or a pronoun.

3. Adverb
The part of speech that modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb.
Example:

4. Clause
A group of words that contains a subject and a predicate. A clause may be either a sentence (independent clause) or a sentence-like construction included within another sentence (dependent clause).

5. Complex Sentence
A sentence that contains at least one independent clause and one dependent clause.

6. Compound Sentence
A sentence that contains at least two independent clauses, often joined by a conjunction.

7. Conjunction
The part of speech that serves to connect words, phrases, clauses, or sentences. See also: coordinating conjunction, subordinating conjunction, correlative conjunction, and conjunctive adverb.

8. Declarative Sentence
A sentence that makes a statement.

9. Dependent Clause
A group of words that begins with a relative pronoun or a subordinating conjunction. A dependent clause has both a subject and a verb but (unlike an independent clause) cannot stand alone as a sentence. Also known as a subordinate clause.

10. Direct Object
A noun or pronoun that receives the action of a transitive verb.

11. Exclamatory Sentence
A sentence that expresses strong feelings by making an exclamation.

12. Imperative Sentence
A sentence that gives advice or instructions or that expresses a request or a command.

13. Independent Clause
A group of words made up of a subject and a predicate. An independent clause (unlike a dependent clause) can stand alone as a sentence. Also known as a main clause.

14. Indirect Object
A noun or pronoun that indicates to whom or for whom the action of a verb in a sentence is performed.

15. Interrogative Sentence
A sentence that asks a question.

16. Noun
The part of speech that is used to name a person, place, thing, quality, or action and can function as the subject or object of a verb, the object of a preposition, or an appositive.

17. Passive Voice
A verb form in which the grammatical subject receives the verb's action. Contrast with active voice.

18. Predicate
One of the two main parts of a sentence or clause, modifying the subject and including the verb, objects, or phrases governed by the verb.

19. Prepositional Phrase
A group of words made up of a preposition, its object, and any of the object's modifiers.

20. Pronoun
A word that takes the place of a noun.

21. Sentence
A word or (more commonly) a group of words that expresses a complete idea. Conventionally, a sentence includes a subject and a verb. It begins with a capital letter and concludes with a mark of end punctuation.

22. Subject
The part of a sentence that indicates what it is about.

23. Tense
The time of a verb's action or state of being, such as past, present, and future.

24. Verb
The part of speech that describes an action or occurrence or indicates a state of being.


There you have it Grammar Grammar~

Anyway, here's another good read:

Seven Secrets to Success in English 101 By Richard Nordquist

2 comments:

  1. Here's a nice complementary article titled How to Teach Conjunctions on how to teach the three forms of conjunctions--each with memory tricks, examples, and practical strategies for teaching in the context of authentic writing.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great share~! Thanx! "F.A.N.B.O.Y.S" hahaha!

    ReplyDelete