| We technical writers usually do not stop and think | | | | The bus made a SUDDEN stop [Noun]. |
| about any grammar rules the way a driver never | | | | She made an URGENT appeal [Noun] for more |
| thinks about how the carburetor or alternator | | | | funds. |
| works. But sometimes I get letters from my | | | | An ADVERB describes/qualifies a VERB. |
| readers asking various grammar questions. So | | | | The bus stopped [Verb] SUDDENLY. |
| let's review some of the basic rules of English | | | | She URGENTLY appealed [Verb] for more funds. |
| grammar for a refresher. | | | | INFINITIVE form of a verb is the one that starts |
| Subject-Verb-Object | | | | with "to," without any inflections. "To write" is the |
| A full sentence in English does not get simpler | | | | infinitive form. "Wrote" is its simple past inflection. |
| than this. I love you. I is the Subject. Love is the | | | | SPLIT INFINITIVE is what strict grammarians |
| verb. You is the Object. Best sentences in | | | | caution against all the time. It happens when an |
| technical writing stick to this basic format, | | | | adverb is used after the "to" of an infinitive. |
| although it's not always possible to write in such a | | | | "To QUICKLY summarize the issue..." [Correct: "To |
| simple straightforward manner. | | | | summarize the issue quickly, ..."] |
| A PRONOUN is a "place holder" for a noun. When | | | | "We agreed not to SUMMARILY dismiss his |
| you refer to yourself as "me" instead of using | | | | argument..." [Correct: "We agreed not to dismiss |
| your full name and last name you are using a | | | | his argument summarily..."] |
| pronoun. | | | | GERUND form of a verb is the one that ends |
| A PREPOSITION is the connective tissue between | | | | with "-ing" and usually acts as a noun. "Shopping," |
| two words or clauses. There are dozens of | | | | although used as a noun, is actually the gerund |
| prepositions in the English language like "on," | | | | form of the verb "to shop." |
| "under," "before," "after," "with," "without," "in," | | | | PARTICIPLE is the present or past participle form |
| "at," "for," "until," etc. | | | | of a verb which is used as an ADJECTIVE. |
| The VERBS "to be" and "to have" must agree | | | | "His DEPLETED bank account..." |
| with the case of the SUBJECT | | | | "Our SOARING ambition..." |
| Subjects are singular or plural. If we are using | | | | "The COOKING instructions..." |
| personal pronouns, they also split into first, | | | | DANGLING PARTICIPLE happens when we |
| second, and third person cases, each with its | | | | cannot tell the correct subject of a verb due to |
| singular and plural variations. The verb of a | | | | the improper placement of the "participle" in a |
| sentence must agree with the case of the | | | | sentence. |
| subject. | | | | "Burnt down to a rubble, the fireman sifted |
| The shop IS closed. [But] The shops ARE closed. | | | | through the ashes of the house." What is "burnt |
| I AM okay. [But] We ARE okay. | | | | down to a rubble" is of course the house, not the |
| The building HAS a window. [But] The buildings | | | | fireman. A better sentence would be: "The |
| HAVE windows. | | | | fireman sifted through the ashes of the house |
| An ADJECTIVE describes/qualifies a NOUN. | | | | burnt down to a rubble. |
