{"id":13118,"date":"2021-09-13T18:27:33","date_gmt":"2021-09-13T18:27:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/academics\/?page_id=13118"},"modified":"2023-09-14T10:13:46","modified_gmt":"2023-09-14T14:13:46","slug":"s-o-s-topics","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/academics\/services-resources\/s-o-s-topics\/","title":{"rendered":"S.O.S. Topics"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/a><\/p>\n Here are some quick tips that will help with commonly-confused areas of English grammar and usage. To keep things interesting, we’ve added some pictures along the way \u2013 enjoy!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Click to jump to a topic:<\/strong><\/p>\n Tenses and moods<\/strong><\/p>\n Spelling<\/strong><\/p>\n Sentence construction and punctuation<\/strong><\/p>\n English idioms and usage<\/strong><\/p>\n Note in active construction that the focus is on the subject of the sentence whereas in passive construction the focus of the sentence is on the object, and the doer of the action does not have to be identified. <\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The subjunctive mood is used in \u201cthat\u201d clauses of order, insistence, suggestion, demand and recommendation. Its simple form in the present tense looks similar to an infinitive phrase without \u201cto.\u201d<\/p>\n Some examples:<\/p>\n She suggests that Misha eat a full dish of shrimp.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Note: \u201cMisha eats\u201d becomes \u201cMisha eat.\u201d <\/a><\/p>\n The teacher insists that he turn off his cell in the classroom.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Note: \u201che turns\u201d becomes \u201che turn.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n The past perfect is used to show that an action was completed in a “before past” before the recent past action occurred. It is constructed by a had + past participle structure to refer to the earlier past action, and the simple past to denote the most recent past action.<\/p>\n For example: Misha had eaten his dinner by the time I arrived.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Two common errors often occur in the use of the past perfect:<\/p>\n 1. The speaker\/writer forgets that there have to be two pasts – a before past and a recent past – to form the past perfect tense.<\/p>\n Incorrect: Misha had eaten dinner last night.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Correct: Misha ate dinner last night.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/em>2. The speaker has not observed that he\/she is talking about two past actions in which one has occurred before another and as a result the past perfect must be used. <\/a><\/p>\n Incorrect: Misha was suspicious that his menu was changed.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Correct: Misha was suspicious that his menu had been changed.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Generally, the use of “shall” and “will” in the future tense is dependent upon whether the subject of the sentence is used in the first, second or third person.<\/p>\n For example:<\/p>\n Singular:<\/p>\n I\u00a0shall<\/span> go to Boston.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n You\u00a0will<\/span> go to Boston.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n He\/she\/it\u00a0will<\/span>\u00a0go to Boston.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Plural:<\/p>\n We\u00a0shall<\/span> go to Boston.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n You\u00a0will<\/span> go to Boston.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n They\u00a0will<\/span> go to Boston.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n However, when the future tense is used to show\u00a0purpose, duty or obligation<\/span>, known as the emphatic future form, the placement of “shall” and “will” changes.<\/p>\n For example:<\/p>\n Singular:<\/p>\n I will<\/span> help raise money for a new patrol car.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n You shall<\/span>\u00a0help raise money for a new patrol car.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n He\/she\/it shall<\/span> help raise money for a new patrol car.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Plural:<\/p>\n <\/a>We will<\/span> help raise money for a new patrol car.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n You shall<\/span> help raise money for a new patrol car.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n They shall<\/span> help raise money for a new patrol car.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The present continuous tense is the \u201chappening now\u201d tense. It describes an action that is in progress at or around the time of speaking.<\/p>\n For example: He is looking at the clock.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n The future continuous consists of three forms: will + be + -ing. This tense is used to talk about an action that predicts what one will be doing at a certain time in the future. <\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n The present perfect tense is used to say how much one has done. It is often used as a “bragging” tense because a speaker can use it to share his\/her accomplishments. \n
\n
\n
\n
Active vs. passive construction<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Advice structure in the subjunctive mood<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Common errors in the use of the past perfect tense<\/strong><\/h2>\n
The emphatic future tense<\/strong><\/h2>\n
The present continuous tense<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n
The future continuous tense<\/strong><\/h2>\n
The present perfect tense<\/strong><\/h2>\n