I ncor rect : What is the side effects of this medication? C orrect: What are the side effects of this medication? Gerunds and Infinitives Gerunds and infinitives have given many students of Eng- lish a grammar headache, but they are not so difficult to master. Gerunds, as we noted earlier, look like verbs because they end in –ing, but they actually function as nouns in sentences: Tracy loves camping . Here, the “action” Tracy performs is loves. The thing (noun) she enjoys is camping. In the following sentence, however, camping is the action Tracy performs, so it is functioning as a verb, not as a gerund: Tracy is camping in the Pine Barrens next week. Words ending in –ing can also function as adjectives: Some of our camping gear needs to be replaced before our trip. Here’s another example of how the same word can have three different functions: Ve r b : He is s c reaming loudly. Gerund (noun): That s creaming is driving me crazy! Adjective: The s creaming boy finally stopped. What this means is that you can’t count on word end- ings to determine a word’s part of speech. Lots of words that look like verbs may not be. It’s how they function in the sentence that counts. Infinitives are the base (unconjugated) form of the verb preceded by to: to be, to delay, to manage. They are often part of a verb chain, but they are not the main verb (main action) of a sentence: Priya likes t o write poems. In this example, likes is the main verb; what Priya likes (the action she likes to take) is to write poems. WHEN TO USE INFINITIVES AND GERUNDS In many situations, you may be uncertain whther to use an infinitive or a gerund. Which is correct: I like to swim or I like swimming? In this case, both are correct; like, hate, and other verbs that express preference can be fol- lowed by either a gerund or infinitive. But other verbs can only be followed by one or the other. Here are a few helpful guidelines: ■ Always use a gerund after a preposition. Keza thought that by taking the train, she would save money and time. Noriel was afraid of offending her host, but she couldn’t eat the dinner. ■ Always use a gerund after the following verbs: admit dislike practice appreciate enjoy put off avoid escape quit can’t help finish recall consider imagine resist delay keep risk deny miss suggest discuss postpone tolerate We should discuss buying a new computer. I am going to quit smo king. ■ In general, use an infinitive after these verbs: agree decide need refuse ask expect offer venture beg fail plan want bother hope pretend wish claim manage promise Aswad promises to be back by noon. Fatima failed t o keep her promise. – USAGE– 55 ■ When a noun or pronoun immediately follows these verbs, use an infinitive: advise expect remind allow force require ask like tell cause need urge command order want convince persuade warn encourage I’d like you to reconsider my offer. The committee needs you t o organize this event.  Pronouns Pronouns, as we noted earlier, replace nouns. This keeps us from having to repeat names and objects over and over. But pronouns can be a bit tricky at times. This sec- tion reviews the different kinds of pronouns and the rules they follow. Personal Pronouns Personal pronouns refer to specific people or things. They can be either singular (I ) or plural (we); they can be sub- jects (I ) or objects (me). SUBJECT OBJECT singular I me you you he him she her it it plural we us they them Pronoun mistakes are often made by using the subject form when you really need the object form. Here are two guidelines to follow: ■ Always use the object pronoun in a prepositional phrase. Pronouns and nouns in prepositional phrases are always objects. He promised to bring a souvenir for Betty and me . Please keep this between us . ■ Always use the subject pronoun in a than con- struction (comparison). When a pronoun follows than, it is usually part of a clause that omits the verb in order not to repeat unnecessarily. I realize that Alonzo is more talented than I . [than I am] Sandra is much more reliable than he . [than he is] Indefinite Pronouns Unlike personal pronouns, indefinite pronouns, such as anybody and everyone, don’t refer to a specific person. The following indefinite pronouns are always singular and require singular verbs: anyone, anybody everyone, everybody no one, nobody someone, somebody either, neither each one E verybody has a chance to win. N either child admits to eating the cookies. H as anyone seen my keys? The following indefinite pronouns are always plural: both few many several Both sound like good options. Only a few are left. These indefinite pronouns can be singular or plural, depending upon the noun or pronoun to which they refer: all any most none some – USAGE– 56 Some of the mone y is counterfeit. Some of the c oins are valuable. None of the animals have been fed. All of the br ead is moldy. Pronoun–Antecedent Agreement Just as subjects (both nouns and pronouns) must agree with their verbs, pronouns must also agree with their antecedents—the words they replace. For example, in the following sentence: Childr en will often believe everything the ir parents tell the m the word children is the antecedent and is replaced by their and them in the sentence. Because children is plural, the pronouns must also be plural. Indefinite pronouns can also be antecedents. Singular indefinite pronouns require singular pronouns: E ver yone has his o r her own reasons for coming. Neither of the physicists could explain what she saw. A Bad Habit One of the most common mistakes we make when speaking and writing is an error of pronoun-antecedent agreement. We often say sentences like the following: Did everyone bring their notebooks? Most people make this mistake because it’s easier (shorter and faster) to say their—but it’s not correct. When the antecedent is singular, the pronouns must be singular, too: Did everyone bring his or her notebook? Plural indefinite pronouns, on the other hand, require plural pronouns, just like they need plural verbs: both few many several B oth of them have finished their work. Only a f ew are still in their original cases. Finally, those pronouns that can be either singular or plural, depending upon the noun or pronoun to which they refer, should take the pronoun that matches their referent. If the antecedent is singular, the pronoun and verb must also be singular. If the antecedent is plural, they must be plural: all any most none some All of the chocolate is gone. It was delicious! All of the cookies are gone. They were delicious! None of the information is accurate; it’s all out of date. None of the facts are accurate; they are all out of date. Pronoun Consistency Just as you need to be consistent in verb tense, you should also be consistent in your pronoun point of view. Pronouns can be: Singular Plural First person I, me we, us, our Second person you you (all) Third person he, she, it they, them, their one A passage that begins in the third person plural should continue to use that third person plural point of view. I ncorrect: We have tested our hypothesis and the team believes it is correct. C orrect: We have tested our hypothesis and we believe it is correct. I ncorrect: If you prepare carefully, one can expect to pass the exam. C orrect: If you prepare carefully, you can expect to pass the exam. OR If one prepares carefully, one can expect to pass the exam. Possessive Pronouns The possessive pronouns its, your, their, and whose are often confused with the contractions it’s (it is or it has), you are (you are), they’re (they are) and who’s (who is). Because we – USAGE– 57 – USAGE– 58 use apostrophes to show possession in nouns (Louise’s truck, the rug’s pattern), many people make the mistake of thinking that pronouns use apostrophes for posses- sion, too. But possessive pronouns do not take apostro- phes. When a pronoun has an apostrophe, it always shows contraction. POSSESSIVE PRONOUN MEANING EXAMPLE its belonging to it The dog chased its tail. your belonging to you Your time is up. their belonging to them Their words were comforting. whose belonging to who Whose tickets are these? CONTRACTION it’s it is It’s time to eat. you’re you are You’re not going to believe your eyes. they’re they are They’re getting their tickets now. who’s who has Who’s got my tickets? who is Who’s sitting in front? The pronouns who, that, and which are also often con- fused. Here are the general guidelines for using these pronouns correctly: ■ Use who or whom when referring to people: She is the one who should make that decision, not me. ■ Use that when referring to things: This is the most important decision that she will make as director. ■ Use which when introducing clauses that are not essential to the information in the sentence, unless they refer to people. In that case, use who. Emily married Sonny, who has been in love with her since first grade. This film, which is a comedy, would be a good gift for Daniel.  Adjectives and Adverbs Adjectives and adverbs help give our sentences color; they describe things and actions. Adjectives describe nouns and pronouns and tell us which one, what kind, and how many. See the following table. Adverbs, on the other hand, describe verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. They tell us where, when, how, and to what extent. See the following table. WHICH ONE? WHAT KIND? HOW MANY? that book romance novel several chapters the other class steep expense multiple choices the last song jazzy melody six awards Remember to keep modifiers as close as possible to what they modify. Fewer/Less, Number/Amount As a rule, use the adjective fewer to modify plural nouns or things that can be counted. Use less for singular nouns that represent a quantity or a degree. Most nouns to which an –s can be added require the adjective fewer. Use less salt this time. Use fewer eggs this time. I had less r eason to go I had fewer reasons to go this time. this time. Good/Bad, Well/Badly These pairs of words—good/well, bad/badly—are often confused. The key to proper usage is to understand their function in the sentence. Good and bad are adjectives; they should be used to modify only nouns and pro- nouns. Well and badly are adverbs; they should be used to modify verbs. I was surprised by how g ood Sebastian’s cake was. Jennelle hasn’t been f eeling well lately. Her att itude is good, but she didn’t do well in the interview. Comparisons An important function of adjectives and adverbs is com- parisons. When you are comparing two things, use the comparative form (–er) of the modifier. If you are com- paring more than two things, use the superlative form (–est) of the modifier. To create the comparative form, either: 1. add –er to the modifier or 2. place the word more or less before the modifier. In general, add –er to short modifiers (one or two syl- lables). Use more or less with modifiers of more than two syllables. cheaper less expensive smarter more intelligent To create the superlative form, either: 1. add –est to the modifier or 2. place the word most or least before the modifier. Again, as a general rule, add –est to short modifiers (one or two syllables). Use most or least with modifiers that are more than two syllables. Wanda is mor e experienced than I, but I am the most familiar with the software. Ahmed is clearly the smar test student in the class. Double Comparisons and Double Negatives Be sure to avoid double comparisons. Don’t use both –er/–est and more/less or most/least together. I ncorrect: She has the most longest hair I’ve ever seen. C orrect: She has the longest hair I’ve ever seen. I ncorrect: Minsun is more happier now. C orrect: Minsun is happier now. – USAGE– 59 WHERE? WHEN? HOW? TO WHAT EXTENT? The plane flew south. Jude arrived early. She sang beautifully. Anthony is very talented. Put the chair here. She registered late. The system is behaving Eleanor is still extremely ill. erratically. I was walking back to camp. Let’s meet again They fought bravely. The gas is dangerously low. tomorrow. Likewise, be sure to avoid double negatives.When a negative word such as no or not is added to a statement that is already negative, a double negative—and poten- tial confusion—results. Hardly and barely are also nega- tive words. Remember, one negative is all you need. I nco rrect: He doesn’t have no idea what she’s talking about. C or rect: He doesn’t have any idea what she’s talking about. He has no idea what she’s talking about. I ncorrect: I can’t hardly wait to see you. C orrect: I can hardly wait to see you. I can ’t wait to see you.  Prepositional Idioms Another aspect of usage that may be covered on the GED is prepositional idioms: the specific word/preposition combinations that we use in the English language, such as take care o f and according t o . The following is a list of some of the most common prepositional idioms. Review the list carefully to be sure you are using prepositional idioms correctly. – USAGE– 60 according to afraid of anxious about apologize to (someone) apologize for (something) approve of ashamed of aware of blame (someone) for (something) bored with capable of compete with complain about composed of concentrate on concerned with congratulate on conscious of consist of depend on/upon equal to except for fond of from now on from time to time frown on/upon full of glance at (something)/ glance through (some- thing, e.g., a book) grateful to (someone) grateful for (something) in accordance with incapable of in conflict inferior to insist on/upon in the habit of in the near future interested in knowledge of next to of the opinion on top of opposite of prior to proud of regard to related to rely on/upon respect for responsible for satisfied with similar to sorry for suspicious of take care of thank (someone) for (something) tired of with regard to . their antecedents the words they replace. For example, in the following sentence: Childr en will often believe everything the ir parents tell the m the word children is the antecedent and is replaced by their. that can be either singular or plural, depending upon the noun or pronoun to which they refer, should take the pronoun that matches their referent. If the antecedent is singular, the pronoun and verb. she, it they, them, their one A passage that begins in the third person plural should continue to use that third person plural point of view. I ncorrect: We have tested our hypothesis and the team