Grammar Guru: Similar, but different: appointment, date, meeting

They’re similar, but different: * meeting  * appointment  * date Can you schedule a/an _________________ for the project team? ɯɐǝʇ ɐ ɥʇıʍ ƃuıʇǝǝɯ ɐ ǝlnpǝɥɔs I want to make a/an ___________________ with Mr Hoss to discuss the CERT project. ǝuoǝɯos ɥʇıʍ ʇuǝɯʇuıoddɐ uɐ ǝʞɐɯ Can we fix a/an ______________________ for the next meeting? ʇuǝʌǝ ʎuɐ […]

Grammar Guru: I asked her how much…

“How much do I need to pay?” I asked her how much… do I need to pay. did I need to pay. I need to pay. I needed to pay. This is reported speech and a quoted, or indirect, question. Two rules apply: Make the verb match the tense of the reporting verb, “asked” (change […]

Grammar Guru: Must or has got to?

This week’s question is one of business register. From an order form: “Please note that payment for food platters ___________ be received in advance.” Must or has got to? How would you say the same thing to a customer?

Grammar Guru: Mother’s Day or Mothers’ Day?

What do we say …  and why: Mother’s Day or Mothers’ Day? Is it the same or different in the other languages you know? Here are some great ideas for thinking about this holiday in an English class. Sean Banville has a nice holiday lesson on it.

Grammar Guru: Needs to be done, or needs being done?

You can say “This laptop needs repairs” and, very elegant: “This laptop needs repairing.” But which of these two is correct: “This laptop needs to be repaired.” “This laptop needs being repaired.” Yes, unfortunately I’ve worked my poor laptop so hard that it’s got several hardware problems now. One key sometimes doesn’t work (the 9), […]

Grammar Guru: Referring to general knowledge

How do you refer to general knowledge? “_____________ flights all over Europe are cancelled because of the volcano.” They say Something tells me One says Related news: Lufthansa is reportedly going to try to sue the German government for damages. John Cleese is alleged to have spent thousands to get from Oslo to Brussels… by […]

Grammar Guru: _______ verbs

Ok, this guy’s knocked out some teeth here: Danny Granger, American professional basketball player for the NBA’s Indiana Pacers, famously knocked out his two front teeth in a victorious game against the Boston Celtics on 1 November 2008. You can say both of these: He knocked out two teeth. He knocked two teeth out. But […]