Grammar! Part Two
Welcome to Part II of our grammar blog series! Continuing from last time, I’ll go over a few more questions from my #nerdy grammar survey.
The first question of Part II covers homophones. In case you need a refresher, a homophone is a word that’s pronounced the same way as another word, but has a different meaning, and often spelling. I can still hear the sing-songy voice of my second grade teacher as we repeated after her, “I sound the same, but I don’t mean the same!”
Homophones are easily missed by spellcheck and autocorrect, so check out THIS LINK of often-mistaken homophones from Grammarly’s blog (yes, grammar blogs are a very real thing), and keep them in your brain for next time you write.
QUESTION 3
Select the sentence you think is correct:
[icon name=”circle-thin” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] They’re going to love going there — I heard their food is the best!
[icon name=”circle-thin” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] Their going to love going there — I heard they’re food is the best!
[icon name=”circle-thin” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] There going to love going they’re — I heard their food is the best!
SURVEY SAYS:
A – 100%! Amazing. All correct.
PRO TIP:
“They’re” = they are (a contraction)
“There” = refers to a place (over there; I love it there), OR used with a “to be” verb (there is, there are, etc.)
“Their” = indicates possession (their dog…the dog that belongs to them)
QUESTION 4
Fill in the blank: Rats! We should ______ gone to that game!
[icon name=”circle-thin” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] of
[icon name=”circle-thin” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] have
[icon name=”circle-thin” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] if
SURVEY SAYS:
B – 100%! All correct again…so proud.
PRO TIP: If you can’t remember, just think should/would contractions…should’ve = should have, would’ve = would have.
QUESTION 5
Select the sentence you think is correct:
[icon name=”circle-thin” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] If you’d like to attend the dinner, please let Bob or myself know.
[icon name=”circle-thin” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] If you’d like to attend the dinner, please let myself or Bob know.
[icon name=”circle-thin” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] If you’d like to attend the dinner, please let Bob or me know.
[icon name=”circle-thin” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] If you’d like to attend the dinner, please let I or Bob know.
SURVEY SAYS:
A – 41%
B – 14%
C – 43%
D – 2%
ANSWER: C!
PRO TIP: Think of it this way: eliminate the whole sentence, including Bob, except the “let ____ know” part. Which fits? Let myself know? No. Let me know? Yes. “Myself” should generally be used in conjunction with I. (I bought myself a dog. I didn’t want to wait, so I did it myself.) And remember…always put the other person before yourself!
That’s it for Part II! Stay tuned for Part III, guaranteed more grammar goodness!