OH ENGLISH- IV

 OH ENGLISH- IV

SINGULAR and PLURAL

Another inconsistent domain in English is the way plural forms for singular forms are organized. Again, I am drawn to speak about teachers –vivid and teachers insipid. The former stay etched in our memory, decades after we left the place. The latter too stay anchored in our mind as we are angered by their insipid effort and irrelevance in doing precious little to the learner. It is the insipid who simplify ideas to conceal their personal inadequacy. Dealing with plural forms for Singular nouns, these impoverished teachers, suggest that adding ‘S’ or ‘ES’ to the noun, plural can be derived with ultra simple examples –such as BOOK –BOOKS, PHONE- PHONES, BILL-BILLS, or MANGO-MANGOES ,BUS –BUSES, QUIZ- QUIZZES, BEACH- BEACHES.

But the ground reality is far more complex than what the lazy teachers choose to ignore. Notice the following items for their deviations. As for example PLURAL for BOX =BOXES\. FOX=FOXES But, OX=OXEN.   Note these instances

HOUSE= HOUSES, MOUSE =MICE and not MOUSES.   GOOSE= GEESE. Nothing seems to stick to a pattern and this baffles the beginner by the sheer vagaries in spelling of plural for certain singular nouns.

A MEGA CONFUSION

Despite a fair degree of proficiency, many are not too sure as to how to use the seemingly ‘same’ words ALSO and TOO. Quite often I encounter uncertainty over the right precision in usage of these two.

ALSO is suggested to indicate something common. As for example, Yesterday, we had been to temple. Murugan  also was there.

PLACEMENT

Generally ALSO is placed before a single action verb. If we make it Murugan was there also, it would mean that Murugan was found in more than one place, including the temple , we had visited.

Sometimes ‘also’ is placed after the modal or ‘to be’ clause, as in He is also on the faculty of our college

‘TOO’ AND ITS PLACEMENT

Too, too means almost the same as ALSO; but its placement is in a different position.

We went to temple. There was Mr. Murugan too. You can buy some fruits too.

Unlike also, too can modify the adjective.         The taste is too good to ignore

The luggage was too heavy to carry . The stranger was too kind to help us.

IDIOMS

Idioms are specially framed statements; they mean something in a concealed but a concise way; the meaning of an idiom cannot be had from the words in that idiom.

Getting a taste of your own medicine’

Implies that the person receives a treatment that [s]he was extending to others.

Call it a day means to stop the work that was so far being done.

‘Bite the bullet’= now having to do a work that one had been avoiding

‘Let the cat out of the bag’= to reveal a secret accidentally [thoughtless actl

PHRASES

Phrases are sets of words within a clause; these words are meaningfully assembled

Phrases are word assemblies  which give a collective meaning. To make an idea clear, word assemblies called phrases are helpful.

If readers wish, the blog will carry topics related to using English.                     Kindly respond in about 2 days, to help me decide if we can continue with topics on ‘ENGLISH LEARNIG’. If it is not required, and if indicated through response, it [EL] will be dropped and random topics will be presented.                                                                                       

 Prof. K. Raman