Tip 51: Countering Negatives in Question Tags

Note the different effects in the use of "hardly" in the following sentences:
1. Peter hardly reads, does he?
negative statement  => affirmative tag


2. John never acts like a gentleman, does he?
negative statement => affirmative tag


3. There is hardly any crowd at the market, isn't there?
affirmative statement => negative tag


4. Jenny could barely breathe in the thick smoke, couldn't she?
affirmative statement => negative tag


5. Nothing will cure his illness, will it?
 negative statement => affirmative tag

Tip 50: Plural or Singular? Think Twice!

1. Tony was one of the boys who was/were here yesterday.
2. None of them has/have come.
3. Each of you/us/them has/have a valid point.
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Answers:
1. were (this verb does not go with the subject "Tony" but with "the boys".)
2. both was and were are acceptable (but it seems that the schools have taught them to go for the singular - was.)
3. has (Don't be misled by "you/us/them".)

Tip 49: Rather....than" or Rather...than to"

"rather...than" versus "rather...than to...."
Eg He would rather swim than jog.
Eg He would prefer to swim than to jog.

Tip 48: You and I or You and Me

"you and me"
Mum told you and me a secret. (You and me - object)
This a secret between you and me. (This is an exception)

"you and I"
You and I should talk openly. (You and I - subject)
You and I are best of friends. (You and I -subject)

Tip 47: Plural words with no "s"

Plural of these words remain the same, with no "s" added:
Furniture
Luggage
Salmon
Fish
Deer
Sheep

No singular or plural forms for these words:
Barracks
Scissors
Trousers
Shears
Tongs
Oats
Measles
Tweezers
Mumps

Tip 46: Synthesis

Kim was very insistent. She finally got her way.

Due to ______________________________________________________________________

CORRECT: Due to her insistence, Kim finally got her way.

WRONG: Due to the fact that Kim was very insistent, she finally got her way.

Tip 45: Whose, Whom, Who

Whose, whom, and who - use them correctly.

1. John whose mother is a principal, topped the class in the exam.
2. John, who has a principal mother, topped the class in the exam.

3. John whom we met yesterday topped the class in the exam.