Word of the Day

cogent

MEANING:
adjective:
1. Convincing or believable.
2. Relevant.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Latin cogere (to drive together), from co- (together) + agere (to drive). Ultimately from the Indo-European root ag- (to drive, draw), which is also the source of such words as act, agent, agitate, litigate, synagogue, and ambassador. Earliest documented use: 1659.

USAGE:

There are cogent reasons for preferring Marvel to DC comics. 

will vs. going to

Most of the time, you can use “will” and “going to” interchangeably to predict future happenings and situations. So you can say:

"I think the weather will be nice later."

or

"I think the weather is going to be nice later."  

These are some high-quality shoes. They’ll last a long time.

or

These are some high-quality shoes. They’re going to last a long time.

However, there’s a difference between the use of “will” and the use of “going to” depending on whether you’re talking about something that you know/decide at the moment of speaking or whether you’re talking about something you've known for a while/decided a while ago:

“Hey Dani, let’s have a dinner party!”     “Sure thing, Mia! We’ll invite lots of people.”

• Here, you use “will” to announce a new decision. The dinner party is a new idea.

Later that day, Mia breaks the news to Raoul:

“Dani and I have decided to throw a dinner party. We’re going to invite lots of people.”

• In this example, “going to” is used because the decision to do something has already been taken. Mia had already decided to invite lots of people before she spoke to Raoul.

Also, when you say something is going to happen, you know this from the situation now. What is happening now shows that something is going to happen in the future:

“Look at those black clouds. It’s going to rain.”  (not “It will rain.”)

“I ate too much. I think I’m going to be sick.” (not “I think I’ll be sick.”)

Be advised that using “gonna” in written language will most definitely incur the wrath of the grammarillo. 

for vs. since / When…? vs. How long…?

As the calender turns...

You use for and since to say how long something has been happening.

Use for + a period of time (one hour, five weeks, etc.):

I’ve been bingewatching Breaking Bad for four days.

I haven’t seen a grammarillo for a week.

Use since + the start of a period (7 o’clock, Saturday, 1987, etc.):

I’ve been bingewatching Breaking Bad since Thursday.

I haven’t seen a grammarillo since June.

It’s possible to leave out for (but not usually in negative sentences):

My parents have been married (for) twenty-five years. (with or without for)

They haven’t had a break for three hours. (you must use for)

Don’t use for + all … (all day, all my life, etc.):

Raoul has lived in this area all his life. (not for all his life)

You can use in instead of for in negative sentences:

Alex hasn’t had a cold in five years. (= for five years)

When …? (+ past simple) and How long …? (+ present perfect):

“When did it start snowing?”                    “It started an hour ago / at 10 o’clock.”

“How long has it been snowing?”             “It’s been snowing for an hour / since 10 o’clock.”

Note that both the present simple and the present perfect can be used in these cases:

It’s (= It is) or It’s been (=It has been)

a long time six months etc.

since something happened

It’s two months since I saw a grammarillo.          or            It’s been two years since ... (= I haven’t seen a grammarillo for two years.)

It’s ages since Dani and Mia went to the cinema.      or     It’s been ages since … (= They haven’t been to the cinema for ages)

How long is it since our birdie died?          or            How long has it been since …? (=When did the birdie die?)

Present perfect continuous

Follow-up on the present perfect

Present perfect continuous: have/has been –ing

I/we/they/you have (= I’ve etc.)	been	going waiting playing etc.
He/she/it has (= he’s etc.)

You use the present perfect continuous for an activity that has recently stopped or just stopped. There’s a connection with now:

“I’ve been talking to Alex about the problem and he agrees with me.”

“Where have you been? I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”

You also use it when talking about an activity that started in the past and is still going on:

“How long has it been raining?”                 “It has been raining for two hours.” (= it’s still raining.)

Dani and Mia are watching TV. They’ve been watching TV all day.

The present perfect continuous is used in this way with how long, for… and since… The activity is still happening or has just stopped.

Ever Saturday my family goes to the same café. They’ve been going there for years.

Raoul is a very good trombone player. He’s been playing since he was sixteen.

Now you might think: “Wait a minute! This sounds a lot like the present continuous.” Well, there are of course some similarities, but there’s one key difference. By using the present continuous, you focus on the now. The activity might have been going on for a while but the emphasis lies on the fact that it is happening at the very moment you’re speaking:

“We need an umbrella. It’s raining.” (= it might have been raining for a while but the important point is that it’s raining now)

“Hurry up! We’re waiting.”

 By using the present perfect continuous, you put the emphasis on the fact that, although an activity might still be taking place (or not), it has been going on for a while:

The ground is wet. It has been raining.

We have been waiting for an hour.

And finally, some verbs (for example, know, like and believe) are not normally used in the continuous:

I’ve known about the problem for a long time. (not I have been knowing)

How long have you had that job? (not have you been having)

But you can use want and mean in the present perfect continuous:

I’ve been meaning to phone Dani, but I keep forgetting.

This might all sound complicated, but in practice it’s actually pretty intuitive so you’ll get the hang of it really quickly, guaranteed!

Word of the Day

plutarchy

MEANING:

noun: 1. Rule by the wealthy. 2. A wealthy ruling class.

ETYMOLOGY:

The Greek biographer Plutarch (c. 46-120 CE) has no connection with this word. Rather, it's Ploutos, the god of riches in Greek mythology. The word (and its synonym plutocracy and the word plutolatry) are derived from Greek pluto- (wealth) + archos (ruler), from arkhein (to rule). Earliest documented use: 1643.

USAGE:

Whether we are all aware of it or not, our government has become a plutarchy over time.

Present perfect

Definitely a pain in the back for foreigners

The present perfect simple is composed of has/have + past participle.

When we say that something ‘has happened’, it’s usually new information:

“Ow! I’ve cut my finger.”

The road is closed. There’s been an accident.

Also use the present perfect both if it’s the first time something has happened and if something has happened before:

“It’s the first time I have seen a grammarillo.”

“Dani has forgotten her passport. This is the second time this has happened.”

When you use the present perfect, there’s a connection with now. An action in the past has a result now:

“Where’s your key?”       “I don’t know. I’ve lost it.” (= I don’t have it now)

“Is Raoul here?”    “No, he’s gone out.” (= he’s out now)

Similarly, you use it when you talk about a period of time that continues from the past until now:

“Have you ever seen a grammarillo?”

“Have you read this grammar blog Myriam was talking about?”

Indicators for this case include recently, in the last few days, since, etc.:

“Have you heard anything from Alex recently?”

“Everything is going well. We haven’t had any problems so far.”

“I’m hungry. I haven’t eaten since lunch.”

“We haven’t seen each other for a long time.”

Similarly, use the present perfect with today, this evening, this year, etc. when these periods are not finished at the time of speaking:

“I’ve drunk six cups of coffee today.”

“I haven’t seen the cat this morning? Have you?”

You usually use the present perfect with just, already and yet:

Just = a short time ago:

“Are you hungry?”          “No, I’ve just eaten.”

Already = something happened sooner than expected:

“What time is Mark leaving?”   “He’s already left.”

Yet = until now/you’re expecting something to happen. It’s only used in questions and negative sentences:

“Has it stopped raining yet?”

Been to = visited:

“I’ve never been to Luxembourg. Have you been there?”

Note the difference between gone (to) and been (to):

“My family is on holiday. The bastards have gone to Italy.” (= they are there now or on their way there)

Dani is back home. She has been to Italy. (= she has now come back)

To be honest, nowadays, the rules about using the present perfect are becoming more and more relaxed, so you could also use the past simple in these examples:

“Is Raoul here?”    “No, he went out.”

“Are you hungry?”          “No, I just ate.”

Down in the past

Basic, but useful: the various uses of the past simple


Completed action in the past

We use the simple past to designate an action that started and stopped at a specific time in the past. Sometimes, the speaker may not actually mention the specific time, but they do have one specific time in mind.

I saw a movie yesterday.
Last year, I travelled to Japan.
Did you have dinner last night?


Same goes for a series of completed actions

He arrived from the airport at 8:00, checked into the hotel at 9:00, and met the others at 10:00.


Duration in the past

The simple past can be used to express a duration that starts and finishes in the past. A duration is a longer action often indicated by expressions such as all day, for five minutes, etc.

I lived in Brazil for two years.
They sat at the beach all day.
We talked on the phone for thirty minutes.


Habits in the past

The simple past is also used to describe a past habit, similar to the meaning of "used to." To make it clear that you're talking about a habit, you might add expressions such as always, often, usually, never, etc.

I studied French when I was a child.
He played the violin.
They never went to school, they always skipped class.


Past facts or generalisations

The simple past sometimes describes past facts or generalisations that are no longer true. Again, this use of the simple past is quite similar to the expression "used to."

She was shy as a child, but now she's very outgoing.
People paid much more to make phone calls in the past.


And finally, a useful reminder:

When-clauses happen first

Clauses aren't just jolly old men who invade shopping malls at Christmas time. They're also groups of words that have meaning but are often not complete sentences.

When I paid her one dollar, she answered my question.
She answered my question when I paid her one dollar.

When-clauses are important because they always happen first when both clauses are in the simple past. Both of the examples above mean the same thing: first, I paid her one dollar, and then, she answered my question. It's not important whether "when I paid her one dollar" is at the beginning or at the end of the sentence.

However, the example below has a different meaning. First, she answered my question, and then, I paid her one dollar.

I paid her one dollar when she answered my question.

 

Word of the Day

languid

MEANING:

adjective:
1. Lacking vigour or vitality. 2. Lacking interest. 3. Pleasantly lazy and calm.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Latin languere (to languish). Earliest documented use: 1595.

USAGE:

After sleeping for hours, the cat moved leisurely in a languid motion.

Word of the Day

Frustrated with your co-worker? You might want to

vituperate

MEANING:

verb tr., intr.: To use harsh or abusive language.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Latin vituperare (to blame), from vitium (fault) + parare (to make or prepare). Earliest documented use: 1542.

USAGE:

Gordon Ramsay tries to break the chefs on his show by vituperating them.

 

 

present simple vs. present continuous

As a certain Austrian governance once said: “Let’s start at the very beginning. A very good place to start.” So today, we’re going to look at tenses, the present simple and present continuous to be precise.

 The present simple is used to talk about things in general. It implies that something happens all the time or repeatedly, or that something is true in general:

I usually go away at weekends.

The earth goes round the sun.
He is selfish.

The present continuous is used when referring to things happening at or around the time of speaking. The action is not complete.

I’m getting hungry. Let’s go and eat.

Let’s leave. It isn’t raining now.

 You also use the continuous for temporary situations:

I’m living with my parents until I find a place of my own.

You’re working hard today.
He’s being selfish.

Finally, it might be useful to point out the case of ‘I always do’ vs. ‘I’m always doing.’

‘To do something always’ means doing it every time.

I always go to work by car.

‘Always doing something’ is used when somebody does something very often, perhaps too often, or more often than normal:

I’m always losing things.

He’s always complaining.

Word of the Day

Time for the Word of the Day!


Today I propose
voluble
     ETYMOLOGY:
     Via French, from Latin volvere (to roll). Ultimately from the Indo-European root wel- (to turn or 

MEANING:

     adjective: Speaking incessantly or fluently

     roll), which also gave us waltz, revolve, valley, walk, vault, volume, wallet, and helix.        
     Earliest documented use: 1575.

    USAGE:
    Charles II was a voluble man who took immense pleasure in recounting anecdotes about his life. 
   

"who" vs. "whom"

Greetings to all grammarillo supporters out there!

Time for lesson number two. Today we are looking at

"who" vs. "whom"


If you grew up watching Friends (as, I'm ashamed to admit, I did), you surely remember Ross annoying everyone around him by educating them on the correct use of "whom". The truth is that many of us aren't exactly sure about when to use "who" and when to use "whom."

“Whom” is an objective pronoun, same as "him," "her," "it", "us," and "them." It’s used when the pronoun acts as the object of a clause. 

Using “who” or “whom” depends on whether you’re referring to the subject or object of a sentence or subclause. When in doubt, you can substitute “who” with the subjective pronouns “he” or “she,” 
In the same vein, you can also substitute “whom” with the objective pronouns “him” or “her.” Example: I petted a grammarillo whom I came across in a bookshop. I petted him.


“Who” is a subjective or nominative pronoun, same as "he," "she," "it," "we," and "they." In this form, the pronoun acts as the subject of a clause. 


Example: Who loves grammarillos? He loves grammarillos. 

Word of the Day

On a blog about the English language, there obviously has to be a 'Word of the Day' section. So here it is!

repletion

     MEANING:

noun: The condition of being completely filled or satisfied.

     ETYMOLOGY:

Via French, from Latin replere, from re- (back, again) + plere (to fill). Earliest documented use: 1398.

USAGE:
God invented belching and the sense of repletion and pleasure in doing a piece of hard work.

Save the grammarillo!

Attention all fellow grammar sticklers,


This is a call for action!

As you may have heard, the spelling- and punctuation-loving grammarillo has become endangered. In a world full of disregard for correct spelling, widespread abuse of syntactical conventions, and a simply inexcusable grammatical ignorance, the number of these well-spoken creatures is dwindling rapidly.

Help save the grammarillo from extinction. Respect grammar rules.


Your Grammarillo Appreciation Society