Hey, that rhymes
don't end your sentences in prepositions
- Thread starter Charlie Don't Surf
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makare
I got mad rhymez boyee
I did when I was a kid, and someone told me "All forms of "there/their/they're" begin with 'the'." Never messed it up since.
I hate the whole "i before e except after c" rule. There are actually more words that "break" that rule than there are that follow it. Something I'd always suspected, and QI backed me up on it not too long ago.
That segment includes one of my favourite insults from Fry, "Are you even capable of rational thought?"
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makare
And my brain instantly went to Futurama...
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Staff member
Oh yes. This is probably my number one grammar pet peeve. It is nearly always the manager level and higher that uses this. I think it's because everyone had their knuckles rapped one too many times about the misuse of I/me, so they avoid the issue altogether by substituting in another word.
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SeraRelm
Wut?
5 pages in and no grammar Nazi called the original poster for using a contraction in a written conversation.
I thought of a grammar problem that has plagued me for ages.
If you are referring to something you co-own with someone else, what is the correct possesive to use?
Example, I shared a room with a friend while staying in Beijing two years ago, and since neither of us thought to bring an alarm clock, we went halfsies on one we purchased in China.
"This is mine and Mat's alarm clock."
"This is my and Mat's alarm clock."
"This is Mat and my alarm clock."
"This is Mat's and my alarm clock."
The structure of the sentence sounds clunky and awkward no matter what, so I've never known what was technically correct.
Unless the ONLY way to correctly make a statement such as this is to rearrange it completely into
"This is the alarm clock belonging to Mat and I."
If you are referring to something you co-own with someone else, what is the correct possesive to use?
Example, I shared a room with a friend while staying in Beijing two years ago, and since neither of us thought to bring an alarm clock, we went halfsies on one we purchased in China.
"This is mine and Mat's alarm clock."
"This is my and Mat's alarm clock."
"This is Mat and my alarm clock."
"This is Mat's and my alarm clock."
The structure of the sentence sounds clunky and awkward no matter what, so I've never known what was technically correct.
Unless the ONLY way to correctly make a statement such as this is to rearrange it completely into
"This is the alarm clock belonging to Mat and I."
Heh, you could just simplify it with "This is our alarm clock." 
Over the last year, I've attempted to simplify my sentences. Funny enough, I blame Charlie. Despite his off-putting remarks, he manages to say more with less. As a result, I find my writing's become less ranty.
Over the last year, I've attempted to simplify my sentences. Funny enough, I blame Charlie. Despite his off-putting remarks, he manages to say more with less. As a result, I find my writing's become less ranty.
Only if the person I'm talking to is aware of who the other person I'm referring to is. Pronouns don't really work unless the proper noun has been used already.Heh, you could just simplify it with "This is our alarm clock."
The last one is grammatically correct: "This is Mat's and my alarm clock." It does sound terribly awkward, but you have to indicate possession from both parties. Convention to use first-person pronouns last means that "My and Mat's alarm clock," while correct is not normally seen. You can also use 'his': "This is his and my alarm clock," which still sounds bad, to me at least.
To avoid the awkward sound, I'd probably find a way to establish Mat as the other individual and say, "This is our alarm clock."
(A more in-depth explanation from the Chicago Manual of Style: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org...ttributives/PossessivesandAttributives26.html )
To avoid the awkward sound, I'd probably find a way to establish Mat as the other individual and say, "This is our alarm clock."
(A more in-depth explanation from the Chicago Manual of Style: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org...ttributives/PossessivesandAttributives26.html )
Yeah, that was pretty much what I figured.
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Soliloquy
It's also effective to say "This is Matt's and my bitchin' alarm clock." The use of "bitchin" in the sentence distracts from any grammatical clunkiness.
This technique works in any number of grammatically-awkward situations. I suggest using it in the next paper or report you have to write.
This technique works in any number of grammatically-awkward situations. I suggest using it in the next paper or report you have to write.
It's all over my resume.
In this case, the alarm clock was a bright pink Hello Kitty alarm clock. So the adjective is appropriate.
Actually, I don't find that the pronoun detracts from the clunkiness at all.
I'm taking an entire course on Psycholinguistics this semester, so I'm currently ass deep in the cognitive processing of sentences. The english language in particular is so patched together from other languages that it's a wonder even we are able to speak it.
I'm taking an entire course on Psycholinguistics this semester, so I'm currently ass deep in the cognitive processing of sentences. The english language in particular is so patched together from other languages that it's a wonder even we are able to speak it.
Sorry, what'd you say, Bowielee?
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SeraRelm
That's still illegal in most states.
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