Archive for the ‘verb tense’ Category

Grammar Alert: “and” not “but”

Posted on June 4th, 2009 by by Administrator

Colleen Williams on Los Angeles’ local KNBC Channel 4 News reported that a woman in Riverside County had been struck by lightning. Williams said, “…she (the victim) experienced moderate injuries, but she is expected to survive.”
Williams should have said, “and” she is expected to survive.
“But” changes the meaning to: [...]

Michael Phelps loses touch of his grammar

Posted on May 12th, 2009 by by Administrator

In winning the seventh of his eight gold medals in the Olympic “Water Cube” in Beijing, Michael Phelps recounted his proper choice of taking one final stroke before touching the wall. In taking “a final half stroke” instead of gliding as had his Serbian opponent in an adjacent lane,
Phelps secured first place by a “finger [...]

Imperfect in the simple future

Posted on January 15th, 2009 by by Administrator

Gary Klein, beat writer for the University of Southern California
Trojan football team, said of Willie Tuitama, an opposing quarterback
for the University of Arizona Wildcats, a team USC would soon face:
“Arizona’s Wilie Tuitama qualifies as the most experienced passer the
Trojans will face during the conference schedule.”
Klein meant to say: “…qualifies as the most experienced passer the
Trojans [...]