thunder and lightning

Although the two words can sound the same, there is no E in lightning, so you should really pronounce it differently.  Say it as fast as lightning!


Lightning, the weather.

thunder and lightning

a bolt of lightning

a lightning strike 

he runs like lightning

Lightening comes from the verb to lighten, to make light in the sense of colour, brightness or weight

the sky is lightening

lightening the load

I used to get this one wrong myself. Just think about the meaning.  

emotive v emotional

emotive and emotional are not interchangeable

emotive is used to describe issues which are sensitive or controversial

emotive language is when words are chosen to excite emotions and are used frequently in newspaper reports

eg "slaughtered" is a more emotive word than "killed"

This headline regarding photos of a model with a bruised eye:

Phtotographer behind emotive pictures of Glee start Heather Morris issues an apology. The photo shoot caused much controversy …

This advice about when not to use email:

avoid emotive topics – like appraisals or requests for a pay rise. These are far better dealt with face-to-face. 

The issues of the sectarian and offensive singing both by Celtic and Rangers supporters and Green Brigade's poppy protest predictably proved the most emotive subjects raised during Celtic's AGM.

compare -

emotional is used to describe people's feelings, often sad ones

an emotional day eg at a wedding or funeral

she was emotional means she was in tears or on the verge of tears

eg the headline "Angelina Jolie gets emotional at awards ceremony"

spot the mistakes

Even while out for a meal in the West End, I have been toiling on your behalf.

Can you spot the mistakes in the publicity below?

Answers on ANSWERS PAGE.

1. Monday night's, Quiz Night.
2. Yes it isn't really long until Christmas, Have you still to book your works night out etc..
3. Progressive, Seasonal, fresh pub food …
4. Wee one's. Our children's licence runs until 8pm.
5. Our Fantastic Festive drinks range
6. Why not Host your own roast?

personal pronouns

We've previously looked at I or me.  

The same rules apply to other pronouns.

I, we, he, she & they are the subject forms; 

me, us, him, her & them are the object forms.

you is the same for both subject and object. 

There is no such word as yous or youse! 

Use of I we he she they- the subject of a verb

I will be late.

Jim and I will be late.

We will be late. 

He and she will be married in June.

We buy our clothes in designer stores, we young things. (The second we is still the subject of buy.)

I went shopping. 

My friends and I went shopping. 

We went shopping.

They went shopping.

You can't start a sentence with me or us or him or her or them (unless her mother…  Here, her is an adjective not a pronoun)

Me and Jim were late. xxxxx wrong

Him and me were late. xxxxx wrong

Jim and I were late.

He and I were late

Normally you put the other person before yourself. It's polite!

Use of me us him her them as the object of a verb.

Did you see me in town?

Did you see us in town?

Did you see Mary and me in town?

The object form is used after a preposition: for, with, to etc

with me, after us, between you and me, for John and us,  by them.

Test yourself

Fix the mistakes in the following. 

1. Is this present for Tom and I?
2. Me and Annie are going to London.
3. Us oldies like our comforts. 
   
4. Him and me are very happy.
5. Are yous coming? 
6. He asked you and I for lunch.
7. We like our curries, us young ones.
8. Her and her mother are fond of shoes.
9. He took her and I to the seaside. 
10. Between you and I, she's a cheat.

Answers

1. Is this present for Tom and me?
2. Annie and I are going to London.
3. We oldies like our comforts. 
   
4. He and I are very happy.
5. Are you coming? 
6. He asked you and me for lunch.
7. We like our curries, we young ones.
8. She and her mother are fond of shoes.
9. He took her and me to the seaside. 
10. Between you and me, she's a cheat.

subject verb object

We've talked about subject and verb before in What is a sentence?

Today we'll expand on that. 

To find the object in a sentence, if it has one, first you need to find the subject and verb. Remember not all sentences have an object, but all statement sentences have a subject and a verb.

Mary likes chocolate.

Verb = likes

Subject (the person or thing doing the verb)= Mary

Object (ask what does Mary like?) = chocolate.

Andy and his wife bought a beautiful old house.

Verb = bought

Subject (who bought?)= Andy and his wife

Object (what did Andy and his wife buy?) = a beautiful old house

My dog Titch chased a cat today in the park.

Verb = chased

Subject = my dog Titch

Object = a cat
(today is an adverb of time and in the park an adverbial phrase of place)

Firemen rescued a frightened horse from a disused swimming pool.
Verb = rescued

Subject = firemen

Object  = a frightened horse

The government could force companies to make our food healthier.
Verb = could force
Subject = the government
Object = companies

Test yourself

Find the object

1. Cows eat grass.
2. Thieves stole lead from the church roof.
3. The children saw lots of animals at the zoo.
4. The train is leaving the station.
5. John ate all of his dinner.
6. The gas fire heats the room efficiently.
7. Dreaming eases painful memories.

Answers

1. grass
2. lead
3. lots of animals
4. the station
5. all of his dinner
6. the room
7. painful memories

Understanding rules about subject (=nominative) and object (accusative) is important when learning other languages such as German.

Test number 2

Can you spot the myriad of mistakes in the genuine selections below.

1. We don't need no education.  (from song Another Brick in the Wall)
2. We first discovered that Mango the dog was up for surfing when she followed my wife and I right out into the surf one day. (quote on BBC news site)
3. And just looking up and seeing the red and the black going over the top. (quote on BBC news site)
4. You need to practice as hard as you can to qualify! (CBBC website)
5.  Guest's wishing to Dine in room, Our Daily Menu's are available upon request. (in hotel room)
6.  Not so much a grammar question; what does this door sign mean?? 

AMBULANT USER WC UNISEX

Answers

1. double negative - We don't need (any) education.
2. my wife and  me (object of verb followed)
3. non sentence - no verb and subject, would need to be, "We just looked up and saw…"
4. "to practise" verb
5. Where to begin? non sentence, wrong plurals, misuse of capitals, generally garbled. Should be something like "If you wish to dine in your room, please ask for the daily menu."
6. Toilet (next door to disabled toilet, so, presumably, toilet for anyone else) ambulant means walking. This is from a council facility somewhere in Ayrshire.

definitely

There is definitely no A in definitely!

I think the tendency to put an A in place of the second I is linked to the tendency to put the emphasis on the third syllable, when speaking, for effect. The stress should be on the first syllable.

Related words are all from the same Latin root finire to finish and definire to set bounds.

finish

finite

definite

definition

NB always …INI…