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You are here: Experts > Arts/Humanities > Writing > General Writing and Grammar Help > follow-up and new questions
Expert: Ted Nesbitt - 10/25/2009
Question
1.Follow-up
Ex: Modal auxiliaries are helping verbs that give specific meaning to the main verb in a sentence.
My question:
Can I use the plural form “specific/ certain meanings” in the above sentence?
What’s the difference?
Your answer:
*** The plural form is much better, and in the latter part of the sentence you should refer to "VERBS in a sentence."
The statement from my grammar book:
Modal auxiliaries are “helping” words that give specific meaning to and indicate the tense of the verb.
My follow-up questions:
(1.)
I understand that we should use plural form “specific meanings” because the preceding phrase “helping verbs” is a plural, but I don’t understand why “verbs” in the sentence should be in the plural form, too.
The originally sentence ends with “in a sentence.” I suppose there’s usually one main verb in a sentence.
Please help me clear this up.
(2.)
What’s another word for “specific” in the above sentence?
2. Follow-up:
(1.) Ex: The new software we installed to install (will/would) make our department more productive.
Should I use “will” or “would”? Or can I say, “The new software we installed made (has made) our department more productive.
(2.)
Ex: You didn’t tell me sooner so that I could have helped you.
Can I say, “You didn’t tell me sooner so that I didn’t help you.”
or “You didn’t tell me sooner so that I couldn’t help you.”?
(3.)
Ex: The committee could not agree on what action should be taken.
I wonder why we can’t use “could be” in the above sentence. I was thinking the committee was trying to figure out a solution, but the solution may not be used.
3.Are all the sentences below grammatically correct?
The child usually goes to bed at 10 p.m. It’s 10 minute after 10. He could fall asleep at the moment.
The child usually goes to bed at 10.p.m. He didn’t answer our phone at 10:10 p.m. He could have fallen asleep at the moment last night.
If you don’t leave now, you will be late. You are supposed to be there on time.
Why did you get there so late? You were supposed to be there on time.
The teacher punished Chad for not doing the homework. He should’ve done his homework last night.
I forgot to take medicine this morning and now I am feeling bad. I should have taken medicine this morning.
Brooke has to be at work 4. It’s already 3:50, so she must leave now.
I called Brooke at her home all night, but no one answered the phone. Brooke must have left last night.
The committee couldn’t agree on what possible action should be taken.
Answer
Dear Oppo:
Question:
1.Follow-up
Ex: Modal auxiliaries are helping verbs that give specific meaning to the main
verb in a sentence.
My question:
Can I use the plural form “specific/ certain meanings” in the above sentence?
What’s the difference?
Your answer:
*** The plural form is much better, and in the latter part of the sentence you
should refer to "VERBS in a sentence."
The statement from my grammar book:
Modal auxiliaries are “helping” words that give specific meaning to and indicate
the tense of the verb.
My follow-up questions:
(1.)
I understand that we should use plural form “specific meanings” because the
preceding phrase “helping verbs” is a plural, but I don’t understand why “verbs”
in the sentence should be in the plural form, too.
The originally sentence ends with “in a sentence.” I suppose there’s usually one
main verb in a sentence.
Please help me clear this up.
Oppo, this sentence from your grammar book is "acceptable." -- Modal auxiliaries are “helping” words that give specific meaning to and indicate
the tense of the verb.
What I do not like is the inconsistency. The author begins with the plural form and ends with the singular. Why? He could have written the sentence this way: A modal auxiliary is a "helping" word that gives specific meaning to and indicates the tense of the verb. I understand what the writer means, but I just do not care for the way he has written the sentence. Maybe I'm being too "picky," but I prefer, when one begins with the plural form, that he continues with that form. If he chooses the singular form, then he should keep the singular form in all other references in the sentence.
(2.)
What’s another word for “specific” in the above sentence?
*** "Exact" or "precise."
2. Follow-up:
(1.) Ex: The new software we installed to install (will/would) make our
department more productive.
Should I use “will” or “would”? Or can I say, “The new software we installed
made (has made) our department more productive. [YES, "has made" is perfect.]
*** First, there's something wrong with your example: The new software we INSTALLED to INSTALL. I think you must mean "intended" to install. If that is the case, the correct sentence would be this: The new software we intended to install WOULD HAVE MADE our department more productive.
(2.)
Ex: You didn’t tell me sooner so that I could have helped you.
Can I say, “You didn’t tell me sooner so that I didn’t help you.” NO, this sentence makes no sense, because the time is mixed up.
or “You didn’t tell me sooner so that I couldn’t help you.”? NO, there is a problem with time in this sentence as well.
CORRECT: You didn't tell me sooner so I COULD NOT HELP YOU. or You didn't tell me sooner OR I WOULD HAVE HELPED YOU.
(3.)
Ex: The committee could not agree on what action should be taken.
I wonder why we can’t use “could be” in the above sentence. I was thinking the
committee was trying to figure out a solution, but the solution may not be used.
*** Do you mean ". . . on what action could be taken"?
"Could" indicates a possibility. "Should" indicates what MUST be done or what OUGHT TO be done. "Should" is much better -- far more certain and positive -- than "could."
3.Are all the sentences below grammatically correct?
The child usually goes to bed at 10 p.m. It’s 10 minute after 10. He could fall
asleep at the moment.
*** It's 10 MINUTES after 10. He could fall asleep at ANY moment.
The child usually goes to bed at 10.p.m. He didn’t answer our phone at 10:10
p.m. He could have fallen asleep at the moment last night.
*** He must have fallen asleep BEFORE 10:10 p.m.
If you don’t leave now, you will be late. You are supposed to be there on time.
CORRECT
Why did you get there so late? You were supposed to be there on time.
CORRECT
The teacher punished Chad for not doing the homework. He should’ve done his
homework last night.
CORRECT
I forgot to take medicine this morning and now I am feeling bad. I should have
taken medicine this morning.
*** OK, but we usually say "the medicine" or "my medicine."
Brooke has to be at work 4. It’s already 3:50, so she must leave now.
CORRECT
I called Brooke at her home all night, but no one answered the phone. Brooke
must have left last night.
CORRECT
The committee couldn’t agree on what possible action should be taken.
CORRECT
Ted
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