Grammar tips
I’m afraid it’s true that students are becoming functionally illiterate, and their vocabulary has decreased from about 25,000 to less than 10,000 words. Reading is the best way to improve diction, inference and writing skills. See my recommended reading list. Language is a living entity-not a set of rules!Enjoy grammar!
Gerunds
Gerunds are the trans-sexual swingers of the English language. They look like verbs, but act like nouns. To find out if an -ing word is a Gerund, try my test:
Put the subject and verb to be (am) plus -ing in a clause to see if it makes sense.
For example, let’s start with the sentence “Galloping on my horse, I fell off.”
If you add, “As I was… galloping on my horse, I fell off” the clause makes sense; therefore, galloping is a participle, not a gerund.
On the other hand, the clause “Singing is horrendous” is a gerund because it takes a possessive pronoun in front of it (his/her).
You can say, “His singing is horrendous”, but not ” As I was singing” is horrendous.
To test a gerund, insert a possessive pronoun. It works most of the time, but not always. Sorry, it’s English-the most irregular language in the world!
Also , don’t say, I hate him playing computer games. You don’t hate him, you hate HIS playing computer games. Use possessive pronouns with gerunds.
I love her teaching. Easy, right?
Tips for Parents
Newcomers and ESL students have unique pressures living in North America. Often, their Asian friends will call them “bananas” for socializing with Canadians, implying that they are yellow on the outside and white on the inside. This issue is widespread among immigrants. Remember, your teenager is caught between cultural expectations at home and intense peer pressure to conform at school. Be sure to discuss issues that arise with your child, or allow me to help.
Konglish
If I could take a vacation anywhere in the world, I would go to Africa so I could enjoy the suffering with the people.
There was an earth cake in the seduction zone! Always pronounce QU~as Kw!
There will be an apocalipstick soon… Yes. The day women run out of lipstick.
Please excuse my incontinence.. (By a Canadian govt worker… Don’t use spell check!)
What is the verb for condom? (condomize? )
DEDICATIONS
This site is dedicated to my beautiful kids and their inspiring parents. In particular, I am grateful for the loving support of Victoria Clarke, The Kipps, The Jawls, Yunji Lee and family, The Burnett’s (my favourite redhead, Chris), Couveliers, Tuckers, Courtnalls,The Hudsons, Darlene and Andrew Bailey, Jennifer and Alice, and especially Andrew Martin and his parents. Above all, to my fellow poet and Korean daughter, Emily Yoon and family.