There are rules -- JUST LIKE IN BASKETBALL... If you know THEM, why can't you learn grammar rules?
Contributed By:Dorothy Nevils maslivend@sbcglobal.net
Grammar Patrol: Yes, you can 2018!
There are things that will go in two different directions at the same time, sort of like smiling and crying simultaneously. That’s kind of the way I feel about some of the things I see on Facebook. Someone posted advice that warmed my heart because it was advice sorely needed. So many people post without an ounce of concern for others who may read it, and this person addressed that.
However, I found myself in a dilemma, moved almost to tears, as I often am when another has so much good to share, but cannot say it adequately.
The person asked that people refrain from using vulgarity because “their” are others, including youngsters, who visit the site and deserve decency and respect. It is a shame that such a plea for decency is necessary. People should, by nature, be people, but that is not always the case.
That, however, is not today’s topic. Today we’re doing “mix ups,” words that get used in another word’s place… kinda like using an older person’s ID when you were underage. Of course, you never did that.
Their vs. there: What’s the difference? “Their” means belonging to them and “there” means a place. There is also used to suggest finality, as in “There! It’s done.”
“Their” hangs with nouns and pronouns. In fact, you won’t find it doing anything alone! There’s always something or somebody hanging around: Their friends, their fault, their feelings…
On the other hand, you’ll usually find a verb trailing along behind there: There was, there should have been, there isn’t, there she goes… Sometimes there follows the verb: Put it there, they moved there last year.
To help keep the two straight, make yourself a chart, like a score card. Draw a line down and write “their” on the left side and nouns on the right. Do the same for “there,” except write there on the right side and verbs on the left. Hide the card and “sneak-study” until you get them straight.
Now, about the A.S.M (or that “Apostrophe S Mess”): Pay attention, because I can’t do this forever! As the old folks used to say, “If I(’ve) told you once, I’ve told you a hundred times, YOU CAN’T just do with S any way you darned (that’s an r, not m) please! There are rules – JUST LIKE IN BASKETBALL… or any other kind of ball. If you know THEM, why can’t you learn grammar rules? Which rules fit your status? Does it matter, in the real world, if you get some sport rule wrong? Heck! Doesn’t matter whether your toe is over the line… You’re sitting on the couch!
This season, folks are just wishing other folks Jesus’ – or just plain Jesus – blessings! Both are as wrong as two left shoes – or no shoes at -3⁰ F! Let me tell you, you cannot ask anything, or do anything in Jesus name, or in Jesus’ name! Let me explain:
If a name ends in S, that S belongs to that name! You can’t just “do whatchawanna do” with somebody else’s name! You can’t force it to walk around “naked” in possession, nor take its s and assign it another use! The s is a part of the name Jesus … and any other name ending in s! So, you have to – you must – leave it be! If you need to make it possessive, you must – I repeat – you ab-so-lute-ly must… add an apostrophe and an s!
If you wish to pluralize a name ending in s, treat it like any other word ending that way: Add es. It’s that simple. In fact, it’s so simple, even a 3rd grader can do it… and many do!
Story Posted:01/05/2018
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