Grammar Roadshow Slides

Welcome to The Grammar Roadshow Alan Barker Kairos Training Limited

What is grammar? The rules controlling the way a language works

Spot the sentences To set the scene. Picasso was a great artist. The reason being that we can’t afford it. Although it is relatively early days and providers are only gradually coming to use this system, the results of this initiative have been impressive. In other words, whether time could be better spent, or risks reduced, by doing other things.

A sentence is: a group of words coming between a capital letter and a full stop a group of words making complete sense a group of words containing a subject and a finite verb

Subject and predicate Your book is over there. Dr Persaud will see you now. Timescales have been an issue for years.

Hunt for the subject How well is the product promoted? It’s not clear at this stage which clients will benefit. There is a restaurant around the corner. Sign on the dotted line.

Three kinds of sentence Simple Compound Complex

Simple sentences We set the standards for the industry. These decisions will ensure that the client’s individual circumstances are taken care of. Our portfolio of products and services is constantly evolving to reflect the dynamics of the industry and our clients’ changing needs.

Compound sentences The storm brought down all the power lines and caused havoc throughout the city. The industry has adapted but customers still find many products hard to use. Our new model is more efficient because it uses less fuel.

Complex sentences Because it uses less fuel, the new model is more efficient. If the company fails to make a profit this year, we shall be forced to make compulsory redundancies. Although providers are only gradually coming to use the system, the results of this initiative have been impressive.

Misplaced modifiers We have a parrot in a cage that talks. We saw very few signposts wandering around Ireland. Send us your ideas for growing roses on a postcard. Last night Sue went to see Elton John in a new dress.

Round 2 Can you get the parts…?

Parts of speech Parts of speech are classes of word, classified by how they are used. Can you name any parts of speech?

Eight parts of speech ( - or maybe nine) noun verb adjective adverb pronoun preposition conjunction article (determiner) interjection

What part of speech? She bought us all a round of drinks. He has a round face. Take care when you round the corner. We drove round the town looking for somewhere to park. Gather round ! [noun] [adjective] [verb] [preposition] [adverb]

Common nouns apple bread candle dog egg funnel grit

Proper nouns January Spain George Hoover Sunday (but spring, summer, autumn, winter)

Abstract nouns action banishment collaboration decision enlargement feasibility graduation honesty initiative justice kleptomania liquidation measurement narration observation performance

Nominalisation Creating an abstract noun from a verb, adjective or adverb

For example: Our product range has expanded over the past year. Over the past year, there has been an expansion in our product range.

For example: Managers have used the system a lot more since May. There has been a significant increase in usage of the system by managers since May.

Denominalise! We shall make a decision next week. We shall decide next week.

Denominalise! The implementation of the project was undertaken by a small team. A small team implemented the project.

Denominalise! AEGON UK plc conducted a survey with advisers at the end of last year. AEGON UK plc surveyed advisers at the end of last year.

Mass nouns - are nouns that cannot take an indefinite article (a , an ) and cannot be plural

Mass nouns music bread poetry cement luck training leisure

‘ less’ and ‘fewer’ Less of amount; fewer of number.

‘ less’ and ‘fewer’ Less music; fewer tunes Less bread; fewer loaves Less poetry; fewer poems Less cement; fewer slabs Less training; fewer courses

‘ less’ and ‘fewer’ We have customers than last year. fewer

‘ less’ and ‘fewer’ If you do this, you’ll make mistakes. fewer

‘ less’ and ‘fewer’ The interview will take not than 15 minutes. less

‘ less’ and ‘fewer’ As a result of the scheme, we have seen traffic in the centre of London. Cameras have recorded vehicles entering the zone since the scheme began. less fewer

Collective nouns - are nouns naming collections or groups

Collective nouns audience council staff team enemy collection herd committee management class family army government leadership BBC Daily Mail The UN Network Rail McDonald’s

Single or plural? The company’s management have refused to comment. The company’s management has refused to comment.

Single or plural? The number of policies illegally claimed on never been revealed. A number of policies been claimed on illegally. has have

Single or plural? The FSA reports that awareness levels are rising. The FSA report that awareness levels are rising.

Single or plural? We asked the FSA and told us that awareness levels were rising. they

Single or plural? The committee a week to announce its findings. The committee a week to announce their findings. The committee has a week to announce their findings. has have

Singular or plural: First Great Western “ The use of mobile phones in this carriage are not allowed.”

Round 4 Me, Myself, I - and other pronouns

Spot the pronouns Who is that over there? Who is that over there? They were the only people in the room. They were the only people in the room. What do you know about her? What do you know about her ? I would let them take it if they ask for it. I would let them take it if they ask for it .

I and me Me and Tony and going to a party tonight. Tony and I are going to a party tonight.

I and me He asked Tony and to come to the party. me

I and me “ It’s goodnight from Christine and .” me

Reflexive pronouns myself yourself herself himself itself ourselves yourselves themselves

Reflexive pronouns I hurt myself with the sharp knife. He taught himself to type. I can do it myself. She selected the policy herself. Use when the subject acts on itself… … or for emphasis…

Reflexive pronouns The boss invited my wife and myself to dinner. The boss invited my wife and me to dinner.

Reflexive pronouns “ We can certainly have the car ready for yourself to pick up by the end of the day, sir.”

‘ which’ and ‘that’: what’s the difference? The house that is painted pink has just been sold. The house, which is painted pink, has just been sold.

He or she? If a customer asks for a refund, you should offer only the exact price paid. If customers ask for a refund, you should offer them only the price they paid. them they

‘ they’ for ‘he or she’ “ There’s a caller with a musical question on Line 1. They realise they may have to wait.’’ A: There’s someone at the door! B: Can you go and find out what they want?

‘ they’ for ‘he or she’ She kept her head and kicked her shoes off, as everybody ought to do who falls into deep water in their clothes. [C S Lewis, Voyage of the “Dawn Treader”, Chapter I]

‘ they’ for ‘he or she’ And how easy the way a man or woman would come in here, glance around, find smiles and pleasant looks waiting for them, then wave and sit down by themselves. [Doris Lessing]

‘ they’ for ‘he or she’ God send every one their heart's desire! [Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing , Act III Scene 4]

Round 5 What’s doing? - the world of verbs

Spot the verbs We cooked a Chinese meal last night. We cooked a Chinese meal last night. Will you come to the office at two o’clock? Will you come to the office at two o’clock?

Spot the verb Why did you decide on that policy? Why did you decide on that policy? I’m tearing my hair out! I [ am ] tearing my hair out!

Voice: active and passive The favourite won the race. The favourite won the race. The race was won by the favourite.

Active or passive? Lillian wrote the report. Lillian wrote the report. The report was written by Lillian.

Active or passive? We shall hold interviews with twenty customers. We shall hold interviews with twenty customers. Interviews will be held [by us] with twenty customers. Opportunities to sell new products are being missed by sales staff. Opportunities to sell new products are being missed by sales staff. Sales staff are missing opportunities to sell new products.

‘ will’ and ‘shall’ I complete the report tomorrow. She join us later. shall will

‘ will’ and ‘shall’ “ You go the ball.” shall

‘ will’ and ‘shall’ I live my own life! I ! will will

‘ will’ and ‘shall’ “ I will be drowned; no-one shall save me!”

‘ may’ and ‘might’ That snake might attack someone. It may be under the floorboards. It might eat the cat.

‘ may have’ and ‘might have’ Do you have any idea where it may have gone? It might have fallen asleep somewhere.

‘ may have’ and ‘might have’ He told me he may have left the lid off the tank. He told me might have left the lid off the tank.

‘ may’ and ‘might’ Neighbours dreads finding missing snake Feb 16 2008 by Dan Warburton, The Journal A police spokesman said: “While the snake is a family pet and has been brought up around children, the owner is concerned that she might look intimidating.”

‘ may have’ and ‘might have’

‘ may have’ and ‘might have’ If the RSPCA hadn’t helped us, we may never have found Monty. If the RSPCA hadn’t helped us, we might not have found Monty.

dangling participles Coming round the corner, a church came into view. As we came round the corner, a church came into view.

dangling participles As a valued customer, we are sending a new prospectus for your perusal. As you are a valued customer, we are sending you a new prospectus for your perusal.

dangling participles The exhibition features work by photographers executed between 1940 and 1965.

The split infinitive To boldly go….

The origins of the controversy “ But surely, this is a practice entirely unknown to English speakers and writers. It seems to me that we ever regard the to of the infinitive as inseparable from its verb. ” [Henry Alford, Plea for the Queen’s English , 1864]

H W Fowler on the split infinitive “… literary pretensions can make us deaf to the normal rhythm of English sentences."

Raymond Chandler on the split infinitive “ I write in a sort of broken-down patois which is something like the way a Swiss-waiter talks, and that when I split an infinitive, God damn it, I split it so it will remain split.”

The split infinitive “ We have to not just deal with this outbreak now but prepare perhaps for a second phase further down the line.”

Round 6 Describe and qualify - adjectives and adverbs

Adjective or adverb? He’s a bright boy who talks quickly. He’s a bright boy who talks quickly .

Adjective or adverb? It’s the large white house there. It’s the large white house there .

Adjective or adverb? Of the smaller companies in the group, this company is the only one that operates profitably. Of the smaller companies in the group, this company is the only one that operates profitably .

The shifting adverb Alan only trains managers. Only Alan trains managers. Alan trains only managers.

Round 7 Grammatical glue - articles, conjucntions and prepositions

Co-ordinating conjunctions and but for nor or yet so

Sub-ordinating conjunctions after although as as if as long as as soon as because before how if since so that unless until while whilst whether whereas

Sub-ordinating conjunctions I went to work with an umbrella because it was raining. Because it was raining, I went to work with an umbrella.

Starting with ‘but’ It was a good scheme; but on driving to the door they heard that neither master nor mistress was at home. But when satisfied on all these points, he contrived to find an opportunity of introducing his mother-in-law. [Jane Austen]

Starting with ‘and’ And is it true? And is it true, This most tremendous tale of all… [John Betjeman]

Starting with ‘and’ And so to bed. [Samuel Pepys]

Starting with ‘and’ and ‘but’ But if the result was indecisive, then the soccer was anything but. And when all the medals have been engraved…

‘ however’ as a ‘conjunction’ The tap water is quite safe to drink, however, we recommend using bottled water for drinking. The tap water is quite safe to drink. However, we recommend using bottled water for drinking. The tap water is quite safe to drink; however, we recommend using bottled water for drinking.

Prepositions above between over into near beside along after at before during since until past as for in to but by with without instead of other than in front of up to due to owing to

Verbose conjunctions subsequent to in the course of prior to in the event of for the reason that in the neighbourhood of with a view to after during before if because about to

Preposition at the end of a sentence Who are you talking about? [About whom are you talking?] That’s the restaurant we ate in. […in which we ate.] If you get married, make sure it’s someone you can hold a discussion with. [… with whom you can hold a discussion.]

Prepositional verbs Who are you going out with? Even the tea bags were paid for. I don’t know what to believe in.

‘ put’ + prepositions I shall need to put my lipstick on. What sort of voice are you putting on? I shan’t tell you how much weight you’ve put on. What kind of rumours have you been putting about? Do you have any ideas to put forward. I feel really put out. Put upon, actually.

‘ put’ + prepositions I can’t put it off. Can you put me up? What kind of behaviour can you not put up with? Don’t put him down. We had to put the dog down. Is she someone you can put up with? Please put it away.

How many prepositions can you end a sentence with…? “ What did you bring me that book to be read to out of up for ?”

How many prepositions can you end a sentence with…? "What did you bring that book that I don't want to be read to out of about 'Down Under‘ up for ?"

How many prepositions can you end a sentence with…? "What did you say that the sentence with the most prepositions at the end was 'What did you bring that book that I don't want to be read to out of about "Down Under" up for?' for?”

Round 8 What’s the point? - punctuation marks

What’s the point of punctuation? What is this thing called, Love? In short knickers are practical garments. Suzy won’t be here; Her parents disapprove.

The power of punctuation A woman without her man is nothing. A woman: without her, man is nothing.

The ‘umble comma Please place all towels costumes clothing and valuables in the lockers provided. Please place all towels , costumes , clothing and valuables in the lockers provided.

The Oxford comma I went to Lloyds Bank, Marks and Spencer, and HMV. These items are available in black and white, red and yellow, and blue and green.

Commas and subordinate clauses Although he was tired, Jeff continued to work. If you cannot open the lid, use a wrench.

- and other uses of the comma The good news is that, with your advice, the winners will be you and your clients. However, there is another very important aspect to this. Joyce, the Catering Manager, was annoyed at the quality of the sausages.

The colon: lists Marlowe looked at the evidence the rumpled bed the half-smoked cigarettes the bottle of Bourbon open on the bedside table…

The colon: lists Marlowe looked at the evidence : the rumpled bed , the half-smoked cigarettes , the bottle of Bourbon open on the bedside table…

Lists: colons and semi-colons The benefits include full health insurance a company car and membership of the local gym. The benefits include: full health insurance; a company car; and membership of the local gym.

Semi-colons: contrast I enjoy swimming my wife hates it. I enjoy swimming ; my wife hates it.

Semi-colons: contrast On average women tend to live until 80 men are only expected to live until 74. On average women tend to live until 80 ; men are only expected to live until 74. ,

Apostrophes to indicate missing letters We’re not getting anywhere. You can’t say that. I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it.

The possessive apostrophe The managers office was empty. The manager’s office was empty. The managers’ office was empty.

Possessive plurals: careful! She made a mistake and went into the mens room. She made a mistake and went into the men ’ s room.

Place the apostrophes Mines a Guinness. Whats yours? Mine ’ s a Guinness. What ’ s yours? Jackie said the jacket was hers. Seasons greetings! Season ’ s greetings!

It’s… Its not obvious. It ’ s not obvious. [ It is ] Its started raining. It ’ s started raining. [ It has ]

… and ‘its’ A leopard can’t change its spots.

Place the apostrophes I wish theyd tell us if theyre planning on one hours delay or two hours delay. I wish they ’ d tell us if they ’ re planning on one hour ’ s delay or two hours ’ delay.

Try this one… Its the countries largest supermarket. It ’ s the country ’ s largest supermarket.

Kairos Training Limited www.kairostraining.co.uk

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