VERBS! I. Agreement II. Danglers III. Mood & Myth INTRODUCTION 9/26/2016. Sources

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "VERBS! I. Agreement II. Danglers III. Mood & Myth INTRODUCTION 9/26/2016. Sources"

Valentine McDowell
6 years ago
Views:

1 INTRODUCTION VERBS! Sources Dos, Don ts, and Maybes, by T. Bernstein Words Into Type, compiled by Skillin, Gay et al. Woe Is I, by Patricia T. O Connor A Dictionary of Modern Legal Usage, by B. Garner The Copyeditor s Handbook, by A. Einsohn I. Agreement II. Danglers III. Mood & Myth 1

AGREEMENT AGREEMENT In a sentence, every part should agree logically with every other related part. So, a verb should agree in number with its subject. Every part of Sam needs a massage.

2 AGREEMENT AGREEMENT In a sentence, every part should agree logically with every other related part. So, a verb should agree in number with its subject. Every part of Sam needs a massage. part = singular verb Sam s shoulders, arms, and legs need a massage. shoulders, arms, and legs = plural verb ~ easy ~ AGREEMENT Every part of Sam his legs, his neck, his shoulders, his feet {need or needs} a massage. Singular or plural? AGREEMENT Since the closest word, feet, is plural, it might be tempting to pick the plural verb form, need. However, the subject (part) hasn t changed, so the verb is still needs. Every part of Sam his legs, his neck, his shoulders, his feet needs a massage. 2

AGREEMENT The first group of cases discuss the applicability of the doctrine of collateral estoppel to administrative- agency decisions and the second group discuss the Noerr- Pennington doctrine and

3 AGREEMENT The first group of cases discuss the applicability of the doctrine of collateral estoppel to administrative- agency decisions and the second group discuss the Noerr- Pennington doctrine and the sham exception. CORRECT? (Garner, p. 521) The number of the subject is sometimes obscured by words coming between it and the verb. AGREEMENT The first group of cases discuss the applicability of the doctrine of collateral estoppel to administrative- agency decisions and the second group discuss the Noerr-Pennington doctrine and the sham exception. The subject is group: The first group of cases discusses the applicability and the second group discusses the Noerr-Pennington doctrine. AGREEMENT Sec , Texas Insurance Code (b) The commissioner shall annually adjust the rate of assessment of the maintenance tax so that the tax imposed that year, together with any unexpended funds produced by the tax, produce the amount the commissioner determines is necessary to pay the expenses CORRECT? 3

AGREEMENT AGREEMENT so that the tax imposed that year produces the amount the commissioner determines The number of the subject and verb is also not affected by intervening words

4 AGREEMENT AGREEMENT so that the tax imposed that year produces the amount the commissioner determines The number of the subject and verb is also not affected by intervening words introduced by: together with as well as in addition to plus and similar expressions. AGREEMENT: COLLECTIVE NOUNS A collective noun is a noun that denotes a group of individuals. COLLECTIVE NOUNS 4

AGREEMENT: COLLECTIVE NOUNS faculty jury staff board class AGREEMENT: COLLECTIVE NOUNS Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Art. 38.04. JURY ARE JUDGES OF FACTS.

5 AGREEMENT: COLLECTIVE NOUNS faculty jury staff board class AGREEMENT: COLLECTIVE NOUNS Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Art JURY ARE JUDGES OF FACTS. The jury, in all cases, is the exclusive judge of the facts proved, and of the weight to be given to the testimony. A collective noun could take a singular or plural verb, depending on context. AGREEMENT: COLLECTIVE NOUNS The faculty has determined that all faculty meetings will occur outside of working hours. AGREEMENT: COLLECTIVE NOUNS Total, all, majority, number, any, and all can also be interpreted as singular or plural. The faculty were arguing about what to do about the increasing plagiarism on the part of the students. The before the word is usually a hint that it is singular. A before the word most often indicates it s plural, especially if the word is followed by of. 5

Penal Acts was the legal name, Intolerable Acts what the colonists called them. Politics is a dangerous game. (WIT, p.

6 The majority is in charge. Still, a majority of voters are unhappy. AGREEMENT: COLLECTIVE NOUNS Subjects plural in form but singular in effect get a singular verb. Penal Acts was the legal name, Intolerable Acts what the colonists called them. Politics is a dangerous game. (WIT, p. 354) AGREEMENT: INVERTED SUBJECT In the employee handbook is a sample expense voucher. INVERTED SUBJECT Also in the handbook are procedures for submitting expense vouchers. (Copyeditor s Handbook, p. 343) 6

What is a dangler? A dangling participle is one type of dangler. It is also called an unattached, hanging, or misrelated participle.

7 AGREEMENT TAKEAWAYS The key to making a subject and its verb agree is to correctly identify the subject. A collective noun takes a singular verb unless the individuals forming the group are to be emphasized, in which case the verb is plural. What is a dangler? A dangling participle is one type of dangler. It is also called an unattached, hanging, or misrelated participle. A dangler is a sentence element that modifies an unintended subject, usually taking for granted that the reader will know what the subject of the sentence is. What is a participle, you may ask? 7

Participle = verb acting as an adjective (ends in ing, ed, d, t, or n) developing nations watched pot frozen tundra Participial phrase = a group of words used as a modifier and consisting of a

8 Participle = verb acting as an adjective (ends in ing, ed, d, t, or n) developing nations watched pot frozen tundra Participial phrase = a group of words used as a modifier and consisting of a participle with its modifiers and complements Strolling along the path Born into poverty Strengthened in his resolve Buried in grad school debt, finding a job was a high priority for Kim. Buried in grad school debt, Kim made her first priority finding a job. Correct? Buried in debt modifies Kim 8

9 Walking down Congress Avenue, the Capitol came into view. Walking down Congress Avenue, Albert got a good view of the Capitol. Other types of danglers As a legislative staff member, his office is his home away from home. 1. Modifying phrases other than participial phrases. Correct? 9

10 As a legislative staff member, James considers the office his home away from home. Misplaced modifiers are not always located at the head of a sentence: The stage drama is a gripping saga of betrayal by one of the greatest playwrights of the region. Staff member = James, not office 2. Gerunds may also dangle precariously. After clarifying the instructions, the bill was easy to write. When the participle in a dangling gerund is the object of a preposition, it functions as noun. (Chicago, p ) 10

11 After clarifying the instructions, Sarah found bill easy to write. 3. Dangling infinitive Infinitive = basic form of a verb, preceded by the word to To get a bill passed, the draft request is first submitted to the legislative council. To get a bill passed, the member must first submit a draft request to the legislative council. Is this ok? Most bill drafting avoids the passive voice 11

stand apart from (as if to comment on) the content of the sentence

considering, judging, owing, regarding, speaking, according,

167) Considering the current atmosphere in the legislature, it is

12 IS DANGLING EVER ACCEPTABLE? Examples of acceptable danglers are easy to come by they usually stand apart from (as if to comment on) the content of the sentence and are commonly introduced with words such as concerning, considering, judging, owing, regarding, speaking, according, barring, etc. (Garner, p.167) Considering the current atmosphere in the legislature, it is unlikely that the legislation will pass. (Garner, p. 166) Generally speaking, an alien may become trustee of property that the alien can own beneficially. 12

ANACOLUTHON ˌanəkəˈlo othän/ a sentence or construction that lacks grammatical

Greek: anakolouthos means lacking sequence TAKEAWAYS Always suspect an ing word of

Ask yourself who or what is performing the action.

13 ANACOLUTHON ˌanəkəˈlo othän/ a sentence or construction that lacks grammatical sequence, such as while in the garden, the door banged shut. Greek: anakolouthos means lacking sequence TAKEAWAYS Always suspect an ing word of dangling if it s at the beginning of a sentence. Ask yourself who or what is performing the action. Dangling is almost inevitable when the independent clause is in the passive voice. Revise the sentence so the expression is clearly related to the word it is intended to modify. (Woe, p. 191) 13

MOOD MOOD = The form of a verb indicating the manner of doing or being Indicative

Subjunctive (expresses an imagined state, wish, command, or desire) MOOD The subjunctive

Certain phrases are still used, such as: be that as it may so be it if I were you far be

14 MOOD MOOD = The form of a verb indicating the manner of doing or being Indicative (expresses facts and asks questions) Imperative (expresses commands and direct requests) Subjunctive (expresses an imagined state, wish, command, or desire) MOOD The subjunctive is almost extinct in spoken English and is passing away even in written English. Certain phrases are still used, such as: be that as it may so be it if I were you far be it from me The following examples are also viable uses of the subjunctive but could be rewritten: 14

MOOD He gave orders that the bills be paid. He gave orders for the bills to be paid. It is important that he breathe fresh air. He needs to breathe fresh air.

342) MOOD WHEREAS, Eagle Scout Dillard's dedication to excellence and his perseverance in the pursuit of his goals have proven him worthy to stand among scouting's elite, and he may indeed reflect

and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success and happiness; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Eagle Scout Dillard as an expression

15 MOOD He gave orders that the bills be paid. He gave orders for the bills to be paid. It is important that he breathe fresh air. He needs to breathe fresh air. How can one insure that the power of science be used for the benefit of humanity? How can one insure the use of the power of science for the benefit of humanity? (WIT, p. 342) MOOD WHEREAS, Eagle Scout Dillard's dedication to excellence and his perseverance in the pursuit of his goals have proven him worthy to stand among scouting's elite, and he may indeed reflect with pride on a job well done; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby congratulate Stephen Dillard on achieving the rank of Eagle Scout and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success and happiness; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Eagle Scout Dillard as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. MOOD Clauses introduced by as if or though usually express an unreal condition and require a past subjunctive. MOOD However, many clauses introduced by if do not express a condition contrary to fact, but merely a condition or contingency. In this case, the subjunctive is incorrect. Before I turned left, I looked to see if the road were clear. Some patients feel as if they were falling. (WIT, p. 343)?? 15

MOOD (b) The law and rules governing the provisional license program under Section 101.

MOOD TAKEAWAYS Use be instead of was or were after someone suggests, insists, asks, requires, or demands that something be done. If it sounds unnatural, imagine an unspoken should in front of it.

16 MOOD (b) The law and rules governing the provisional license program under Section apply to a practitioner as if the practitioner {was} {were} a provisional license holder when the practitioner is completing the requirements of the provisional license program. MOOD TAKEAWAYS Use be instead of was or were after someone suggests, insists, asks, requires, or demands that something be done. If it sounds unnatural, imagine an unspoken should in front of it. (He urged that the parties negotiate.) The subjunctive is required in that clauses following verbs of command, demand, wish, request, necessity, etc. MYTH Myth #1 Never split an infinitive (or any verb phrase for that matter). The infinitive, the simplest form of a verb, is one word in Latin and thus can't be split. Grammar police of the 18 th and 19 th centuries imposed it on writers and editors of English. 16

17 MYTH More often than not the natural position for the adverb is just ahead of the main part of the verb it modifies. The following example illustrates an unfortunate placing of the adverb: A plan for reducing unemployment slowly has been evolving in Congress. ~Yikes~ MYTH Myth #2 Never use a preposition to end a sentence. Okay, you shouldn't end a sentence with a preposition when the sentence would mean the same thing if you left off the preposition. The rule was an ill-founded superstition, according to the Chicago Manual of Style. MYTH MYTH Myth #3 I.e. and e.g. mean the same thing. i.e. means that is e.g. means for example That is the type of arrant pedantry up with which I shall not put. 17

18 MYTH i.e. is used for clarifying a statement: Connect the 5-pin output to the DIS port, i.e., the display adapter. CONCLUSION e.g. is used for listing examples: Consider planting evergreens, e.g., pines, firs, and cedars. (Copyeditor s Handbook) 18

Writing Carefully, Misused Modifiers Must Be Avoided

Fordham University School of Law From the SelectedWorks of Hon. Gerald Lebovits January, 2009 Writing Carefully, Misused Modifiers Must Be Avoided Gerald Lebovits Available at: https://works.bepress.com/gerald_lebovits/142/