The
Grammar
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# 225

QUESTION
WHat does the word IRONY mean and what are the different types? I know one is dramatic irony but I need some more.
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Highland Mills, New York Thu, Oct 8, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
Irony is how we say one thing and mean another, a way of twisting meaning. Other forms of irony might be verbal irony, which is often mere sarcasm, as when we say it's a "lovely day outside" even though it's absolutely miserable. And then there's cosmic irony, when the gods or fate seem to be working against us -- like the chap who gets his gold watch and first retirement check and then gets run over by a bus.

QUESTION
Should I have capitalized the word president, student, and or council in this sentence? As the president of student council at my high school, I was always involved in school events.
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Providence, Rhode Island Thu, Oct 8, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
It's not necessary to capitalize those words, although to capitalize Student Council wouldn't be wrong if that's the actual name of the organization. Were you always involved "as president," by the way? Even when you played on the volleyball team?

QUESTION
Should the following subjects come with singular or plural verbs:
  1. There "is" or "are" a lot of good reasons to choose this.
  2. An extensive range of toys that "excite" or "excites" kids "is" or "are" offered at reasonable prices.
Thank you once again for your help.
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Taipei, Taiwan Thu, Oct 8, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
There are a lot of reasons. . . . Range of toys that excite kids is offered. . . . ("Range," a collective singular noun, is the subject of "is offered.")

QUESTION
What would be the correct word to use in the following sentence?
The legislative committee for highway studies, (which or that) has been meeting this summer, has introduced new legislation.
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Denver, Colorado Thu, Oct 8, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
The need for the commas (correctly used here) is a signal for the use of which in this sentence.

QUESTION
Yet and Ever. Please explain whether they have the same meaning in the following sentences.
  1. The most powerful engine yet built in the world.
  2. The most powerful engine ever built in the world.
Thank you in advance.
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Unknown Thu, Oct 8, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
The "yet" suggests that there's a chance that an even more powerful engine will be built in the future. The "ever" does not preclude the possibility, but it doesn't actually suggest it, either. I believe we could also say that the "yet" suggests that this is a recent event, the building of this engine, whereas the "ever" could mean it was built recently but it might have been built some time ago, too.

QUESTION
Is the following sentence correct?
The adverse factors like wages and the depreciation in NT dollar which leading the increase in the Consumer Price Index were offset by the lower price of agricultural and industrial materials.
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Taipei, Taiwan Thu, Oct 8, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
The "which leading" is a real problem -- or is that a typo? "which is leading"? I believe "such as" would be more appropriate than "like." (How are "wages" an "adverse factor"?) "Prices" of materials? Some of my questions may be a result of my ignorance of how economists talk.

QUESTION
Are the names of plays underlined, or should the names of plays be put in quotation marks?
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Durham, North Carolina Thu, Oct 8, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
Underline them -- or use italics if your instructor allows for that.

QUESTION
Are there any websites that provide information on:
  1. conditionals
  2. tenses
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Hong Kong Thu, Oct 8, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
There is an extensive treatment of both, including quizzes, in our section on Verbs and Verbals. You can probably find additional help at Dave's ESL Cafe.

QUESTION
Which is correct?
  • John Doe and his wife, Betty, have five children, two of which have attended the university.
    or
  • John Doe and his wife, Betty, have five children, two of whom have attended the university.
Thanks!
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Gainesville, Florida Thu, Oct 8, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
It's appropriate to use whom when referring to people in this way.

QUESTION
f in a document you wanted someone to refer to another part of that document, how would it be written? For example, "Refer to step 7 below." Would "step" be capitalized and would there be a period after the number?

Thank you.

SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Washington, D.C. Thu, Oct 8, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
There's no reason to capitalize "step." You wouldn't use a period after the number unless you have steps or paragraphs numbered in sequential or outline form and you might be referring to steps 7.12 or 8.2 or whatever.

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