MISCELLANEOUS EXAMPLES 01

Dialog

Right, you. Sit up straight. We're doing English now, and I expect you to concentrate.

Oh, okay. I'll try my best. I just get a bit confused sometimes.

That's why I'm here, isn't it? To make sure you don't make a complete fool of yourself. Don't look so anxious, it's not like I'm going to bite you. Much.

Okay, first one. The door is open: please shut it. Is that sentence correct, or is it wrong?

Uh, I think it's... correct? Because doors don't have a gender, do they?

Exactly! See? You're not entirely useless. Things without life are always 'it', not 'he' or 'she'. Unless you're being poetic, but we're not doing poetry today, are we? Good start, I suppose.

Right, next. His room's window is open. Is that how you'd say it?

Um, yes? Like, 'my mum's car'?

No! Wrong! You can't say 'his room's window'. Rooms don't 'possess' things. You have to say, The window of his room is open. It's only for people and animals, the 's possessive. You'd know that if you paid more attention. Though, fine, there are some weird exceptions, like 'a day's work', but generally, stick to 'of' for things.

What about this: It was him who left the mess. Correct or not?

Oh, that sounds right. Everyone says that.

Ha! Everyone says it, but it's technically wrong! It should be, It was he who left the mess. After the verb 'to be', you use 'he' or 'she', not 'him' or 'her'. It's called the nominative case. Though I suppose in talking, 'it's me' is fine, but we're learning proper English, aren't we? Don't look so surprised, I know these things.

Okay. My brother is taller than me. Is that right?

Yes! My brother is definitely taller than me.

Well, your brother might be, but that sentence isn't! You should say, My brother is taller than I. Not 'me'. 'Than' is like a conjunction, so it connects two parts of a comparison, and you're comparing 'my brother' to 'I', not 'me'. It's like saying 'than I am', even if you don't say the 'am'. Don't worry, loads of people get that wrong. Even some adults.

This one's tricky for some. It is a secret between you and I. Is that okay?

Yes, that sounds good. 'You and I'.

Honestly, you need to listen! 'Between' is a preposition. And after prepositions, you always use 'me', not 'I'. So it's between you and me. Not 'I'. Got it? It's a fundamental rule. I'm telling you this for your own good, so you don't sound completely uneducated.

Right. There is no use in me learning it. What do you think?

Uh, that sounds a bit off. Should it be 'my learning it'?

Oh, look at you, actually thinking! Yes! It's 'my learning it'. When you have an '-ing' word like 'learning' used as a noun, the word before it needs to be possessive. Like 'my', 'your', 'his'. You nearly got that wrong though, didn't you? Lucky I'm here.

Next: A friend of him told us the news. Correct or not?

That doesn't sound right. 'A friend of his'?

Bingo! You're on a roll today. It's 'a friend of his'. Not 'him'. It's like saying 'one of his friends'. It emphasises who the friend belongs to. I guess you're not completely hopeless after all.

Okay. George and myself are present. Is that how you'd say it?

No, that's not right. It should be 'George and I are present'. 'Myself' is for emphasis or if you did something to yourself.

Shocking! You actually know that one! Yes, you use 'I' unless you're trying to say 'I, personally' or 'I hurt myself'. Don't get too smug about it, though.

What about this one, then? They fell down and hurt theirselves.

No! That's definitely wrong. It's 'themselves'. My little brother says 'hisself' sometimes and Mum always corrects him.

Good! So you do pay attention sometimes. It's 'themselves', with a 'v', not 's'. And 'himself', not 'hisself'. Basic stuff, really. I expect you to know it.

Here's a tricky one. Michael played a very good play. Right?

Played a good play? That sounds... odd. You play a game, not a play.

Very good! You play a good game. Not a play. 'Play' here would be a cognate object, and we only use those in very specific phrases, like 'sing a song' or 'die a death'. You wouldn't know that unless you read more. Which you should.

I have a brother which is at school. Is that correct?

No, 'which' is for things, isn't it? Like 'the book which I read'. For a brother, it should be 'who'.

You're actually listening today, aren't you? Correct! It's 'who' for people, 'which' for animals or things. Simple as that. Don't go forgetting it now. That would be just typical.

How about: I know all which he said. Or I know all what he said. Are those right?

Hmm. 'All which' or 'all what'? No, that doesn't sound right. Should be 'all that he said'. Or just 'all he said'.

You got it! Finally, you're catching on. After words like 'all', 'nothing', 'much', or 'little', you use 'that' or nothing at all. Never 'which' or 'what'. I knew you could do it if you tried a bit harder.

Right, this is where it gets complicated. I saw the man whom you said was away. Is 'whom' correct there?

Whom? I always get those mixed up. 'Whom' usually sounds more formal. But 'you said was away'... maybe 'who' is better?

Yes! It's 'who'! You're getting good at this. If you can take out the 'you said' part, you're left with 'I saw the man who was away'. 'Who' is the subject of 'was away'. 'Whom' is for objects. You're not entirely thick, are you?

Okay, same kind of thing. He is a man who I know you can trust. What about this one?

This time, I think it should be 'whom'. Because 'who' would be the object of 'you can trust'. You can trust him, so it's 'whom'.

Incredible. You're actually right again! 'Whom' is the object of 'you can trust'. Good job figuring that out. Don't expect me to say that often, though.

Let's try this. It is the best which I have seen. Is that proper English?

No, it should be 'the best that I have seen'. Or just 'the best I have seen'.

Spot on! After a superlative, like 'best', 'tallest', 'most interesting', you use 'that', or you can just leave it out completely. Never 'which'. You're making this too easy for me now, I barely have to do anything.

Last one for today. He wears the same coat that I wear. Is that correct?

That sounds right, actually. 'The same coat that'.

You finally messed one up! Ha! No, after 'same' or 'such', you use 'as'. So it's 'He wears the same coat as I wear'. Remember that. It's important. And now you owe me for all this brilliant teaching.

So, are you sure you've got all that? I don't want to have to repeat myself.

Oh, don't be so dramatic. It's just because I can't stand listening to people speak incorrectly. And someone has to sort you out. Now, off you go. I've got better things to do than listen to you stumble over grammar all day.

Summary

• 135. Confusion of gender. Things without life are neuter, and take the pronoun "it".
• 136. Using the possessive form for things without life. Use "of" for things without life, not 's.
• 137. Using the objective case after the verb "to be." The pronoun after "to be" must be in the nominative case.
• 138. Using the objective case after the conjunction "than." "Than" takes a pronoun in the nominative case.
• 139. Using the nominative case after "between." "Between" is a preposition and takes the objective case.
• 140. Using the objective case before a gerund. A noun or pronoun before a gerund must be in the possessive case.
• 141. Using the objective case with the double possessive. Use the double possessive (of + possessive pronoun like his) to emphasize the possessor.
• 142. Misuse of "-self" forms. Use simple personal pronouns unless emphasis or reflexivity is needed.
• 143. Using "hisself" or "theirselves" instead of "himself" or "themselves." The correct reflexive pronouns are "himself" and "themselves."
• 144. The cognate object misused. Cognate objects are restricted to a few expressions in English.
• 145. Using the relative pronoun "which" for persons. "Who" is for persons, "which" is for animals or things.
• 146. Using "which" or "what" after "all," etc. Use "that" (or omit) after "all," "something," "nothing," etc.
• 147. Who and whom. Use "who" for the subject, "whom" for the object.
• 148. Using a wrong relative after a superlative. Use "that" (or omit) after a superlative.
• 149. Using a wrong relative after "same" or "such." Use "as" after "same" and "such."

Reference: T. J. FITIKIDES, "COMMON MISTAKES IN ENGLISH" p27 - p31