{"id":1895,"date":"2019-12-01T21:54:54","date_gmt":"2019-12-02T03:54:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bookofdreams.us\/?page_id=1895"},"modified":"2019-12-01T21:54:54","modified_gmt":"2019-12-02T03:54:54","slug":"tcmos-grammar-noun-pronouns-adjectives-and-verbs-chapter-5-part-1","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bookofdreams.us\/writing\/my-blogs-on-chicago-manual-of-style\/tcmos-grammar-noun-pronouns-adjectives-and-verbs-chapter-5-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"TCMOS \u2013 Grammar: Noun, Pronouns, Adjectives, and Verbs \u2013 Chapter 5 \u2013 PART 1"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sunday, December 1st<\/sup>, 2019
Blog #4 of my learning from #TheChicagoManualOfStyle.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trees have shed their leaves in Chicago. More birthdays have passed, and time keeps on ticking, bringing me to another Sunday, testing my will to stick to the Chicago Manual of Style (TCMOS). This blog is only part of this lengthy and deep chapter. My struggle with grammar is ancient. She is an old foe I keep at a distance. The rules that govern how words come together result in a message lost or well-communicated, simply by our ability to understand the eight parts of a sentence: nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections. Today, we will delve deep into the first four. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nouns<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every emotion, person, place, or thing has a name. Whether abstract (intangible like fear) or concrete nouns (tangible like the book I\u2019m reading), these nouns can either be count nouns (five chairs, two horses) or mass nouns (salt, information, evidence, liberty). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Types of Nouns<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common nouns<\/em>: Boy. Girl. River. Apple. These nouns need a determiner in front of them. {The girl I saw at the fair. A girl in a blue dress. Few apples.<\/em>}<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t capitalize common nouns unless using as a proper noun. Queen Anna versus your queen, Anna. In the first example, the queen is part of the title. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common nouns can be concrete like the queen, or abstract like knowledge, or collective like joy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Proper nouns:<\/em> These are names of specific people, places, or things. Capitalize them unless using as a common noun (the queen example above). Examples: Ramnik Gill. The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel => a compound proper noun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mass nouns (noncount noun)<\/em>: Luggage. Music. Cowardice. After all, we can\u2019t measure these. They can stand alone like music {Music\u00a0<\/strong>is a joy to my ears}, or use a determiner {Some music<\/strong>\u00a0is loud and unbearable}. Scissors are always plural and never referred to as \u201cthree scissors,\u201d but use a pair of scissors, a piece of cutlery, etc. instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Properties of Nouns<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Case:<\/em> TCMOS defines \u201ccase\u201d as \u201cthe relationship between a noun and other words in a sentence.\u201d It can be common or genitive which is a superior word for possessive (coming up).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Common case\/nominative function: The noun\/subject precedes and controls the verb. Jason Barnes delivered an electric speech.<\/li>
  2. Common case\/objective function: The noun comes after the transitive verb. \u201cThe queen consulted the prime minister.\u201d The queen is nominative, and the prime minister is objective, according to TCMOS.<\/li>
  3. Genitive case: Use the word genitive instead of possessive because the apostrophe indicates qualities besides possession. Examples from TCMOS: 1. Ownership = Anna\u2019s letters. 2. Relationship = Anna\u2019s birth mother. 3. Description = A winter\u2019s night. 4. Subject\u2019s role = Jason\u2019s pleas [Jason pled.] 5. Agency =\u00a0Chicagogoers\u2019\u00a0<\/em>article.\u00a0<\/em>6. The object\u2019s role = \u201cprisoner\u2019s release [someone released the prisoner.]\u201d 7. Idiomatic shorthand = a day\u2019s fast.<\/li>
  4. Genitive or \u201cof\u201d: Use \u201cof\u201d for less important cases. So, \u201cJason\u2019s triumphs\u201d is recommended, but \u201cthe tribulations of Anna\u201d works too because of the difference in the status of a triumph versus a tribulation. Where both \u201cof\u201d and genitive apostrophe work, go for\u00a0the economics<\/em>\u00a0of words (less is more).<\/li>
  5. Finally, joint versus separate genitives: Anna and Jason\u2019s love versus Anna\u2019s and Jason\u2019s ambitions collided with each other.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Number<\/em>: Singular or plural.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Gender<\/em>: Male, female. TCMOS states that English words don\u2019t truly have gender and no longer are we referring to items in masculine form. But it\u2019s understood \u201caunt, sister, hen\u201d are feminine, for instance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Person<\/em>: \u201cI\u201d is the first person, \u201cyou\u201d second, and Ramnik is in the third person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Plurals<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Examples of variations in the singular\/plural form:<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. The singular sense in plural words: No news\u00a0is<\/strong>\u00a0better than bad news.<\/li>
    2. Plural geographical nouns take a singular form. \u201cThe United States\u00a0is<\/strong>\u00a0a relatively young nation.\u201d \u201cGeneral Motors\u00a0reports<\/strong>\u00a0. . .\u201d (TCMOS, 5.15)<\/li>
    3. The police\u00a0were<\/strong>\u00a0prepared. Furniture nowadays\u00a0is<\/strong>\u00a0expensive.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Appositives: <\/strong>An additional descriptor. Note the punctuation below: Jason Barnes, the entrepreneur, had to sell his company. The entrepreneur is the appositive and commas surround it above. But if you change the order to make the appositive essential (restrictive), omit the commas: The entrepreneur Jason Barnes had to sell his company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Variations <\/strong>of Nouns<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      1. As adjectives<\/em>: \u201cA\u00a0state<\/strong>\u00a0legislature\u201d \u201cA\u00a0study<\/strong>\u00a0group\u201d\u00a0Lesson: Use a sentence\u00a0form that doesn\u2019t muddle the meaning.<\/strong>\u00a0Ex: \u201cVoter awareness versus awareness of voters\u201d.<\/li>
      2. As verbs<\/em>: \u201cmust husband\u00a0<\/strong>your land thoroughly.\u201d Use variations of nouns as verbs cautiously and sparingly.<\/li>
      3. As adverbial functions<\/em>: When you omit a preposition, for instance: \u201cthe team is\u00a0four members<\/strong>\u00a0strong\u201d versus \u201cthe team consists of four members.\u201d The first example from TCMOS shows the omission of preposition and the noun \u201cfour members,\u201d modifying the noun \u201cteam.\u201d<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        Pronouns<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        We seldom use proper names in every sentence of our conversations. In prose, proper nouns are often used to clarify who is talking or being discussed. But if the person is identified clearly, pronouns add a natural flow to conversations. He. She. They. What. Who. Where. Which. The noun that the pronoun stands for and has been previously identified is called the\u00a0antecedent<\/em>. Avoid the following mistakes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        1. Missing antecedent leads to dangling phrases.<\/li>
        2. Multiple antecedents muddles which one of the preceding subjects the pronoun refers to.<\/li>
        3. Multiple pronouns and antecedents.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          Sometimes, it helps to break a sentence down to its dumbed-down version. Noun-verb-object\u2026 to see where a sentence dangled and why. Chose clarity over the beauty of thought because elegance can be built upon the correct structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Some pronouns don\u2019t require antecedents. Ex: I, we, you, who, which, what, there, it. this. \u201cWho cares what I think?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Adjective as Antecedent<\/em>: Example: Anna\u2019s skills helped her be efficient in the non-profit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Properties of Pronouns<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Pronouns must agree with their antecedents in all their properties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Number: <\/em>Plural noun has a plural pronoun. <\/em>The letters and their lies. A collective noun takes singular pronoun when they imply one entity (number of the noun here is one). \u201cAudience showed its appreciation.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Note the difference between these two sentences:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          The mother and hippie opened her door. Vs The mother and a hippie opened their door. The second represents two people; hence plural. The first example is the same person.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Other rules:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          1. Singular antecedents connected by \u201cand\u201d take singular pronoun. \u201cEvery college and university encourages its students to succeed.\u201d<\/li>
          2. Singular antecedents connected by \u201cor\u201d, \u201cnor\u201d, \u201ceither-or\u201d, or \u201cneither-or\u201d take singular pronoun: Neither the drink nor the phone call helped her as it should.<\/li>
          3. When the antecedents have a different number each in a sentence containing \u201cnor\u201d \u201cor\u201d, the number of the one nearest to the pronoun is preserved. {Neither Anna nor her friends showed their <\/strong>support. Neither her friends nor Anna showed her <\/strong>support.} The second sentence feels awkward.\u00a0Tip:<\/strong>\u00a0put the plural antecedent last.<\/span><\/li>
          4. When antecedents of different numbers are connected by \u201cand,\u201d they take a\u00a0plural<\/strong>\u00a0pronoun.<\/li>
          5. When antecedents have different \u201cperson\u201d attributes, the first person takes preference over the second, and the third is last.\u00a0
            1. You or I can\u2019t imagine,\u00a0our<\/strong>\u00a0lives after death. (preference to the first person)<\/li>
            2. You or she can\u2019t imagine\u00a0your<\/strong>\u00a0life after death (preference to the second person.)<\/li><\/ol><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

              Case:<\/em> TCMOS <\/em>defines \u201ccase\u201d as a \u201cset of word forms by which a language differentiates the functions that a word performs in a sentence\u201d (TCMOS, 5.34). A pronoun functioning as a subject is nominative, else objective. Take care to use the correct form of pronouns based on their position. {Understanding life after death is beyond you or me<\/strong>.}<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              Similarly, if a pronoun appears in the apposition, it matters if it\u2019s a subject or object. \u201cWe\u2014Anna and\u00a0I<\/strong>\u2014traveled to Chicago\u201d is an example of a pronoun in nominative function. \u201cIt took us\u2014Anna and\u00a0me<\/strong>\u2014fifteen hours to get here\u201d is an example of a pronoun in the objective function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              Classes of Pronouns<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              1. Personal <\/strong><\/em>(I, you, she. . . .) These pronouns take different forms for nominative, objective, genitive (my, mine, yours, ours), and reflexive (myself, herself, etc.) They must agree with “person,\u201d \u201cgender,\u201d and “case” of the noun it stands for.

                None of the possessive pronouns (like mine, hers, his, theirs, etc.) take an apostrophe. “They\u2019re\u201d isn\u2019t the same as \u201ctheir\u201d. Same goes for yours and you\u2019re. Whose and who\u2019s.

                Finally, reflexive and intensive pronouns. \u201cI burned the letters\u201d versus \u201cI burned myself\u201d Second is reflexive. Intensive pronouns \u201crepeat the antecedent noun . . . to add emphasis.\u201d (TCMOS. 5.51) She herself<\/strong> fired Sue. Take care to not change the function of the pronoun. She and I <\/strong>met at the restaurant and not she and myself. \u201cBe kind to my friend and myself<\/strong>\u201d is poor; better: \u201cbe kind to my friend and me<\/strong>.\u201d
                <\/li>
              2. Demonstrative <\/strong><\/em>(that, this)\u2013points to its antecedent. That is my home. Keep the number of the noun: this kind of job, or these kinds of jobs.
                <\/li>
              3. Reciprocal <\/strong><\/em>(each other, one another)\u2013express relationships. A husband and wife must be kind to each other<\/strong>. Use a hyphen like each student check on \u201chim- or herself\u201d. TCMOS recommends using \u201ceach other\u201d for two entities, and \u201cone another\u201d for over two. <\/em><\/span>
                <\/li>
              4. Interrogative <\/strong><\/em>(what, which, and who)\u2013ask a question. Who are you? (\u201cto whom am I speaking?\u201d)\u2013objective form. {\u201cWhom did you see?\u201d versus \u201cfor whom is this building named?\u201d} (TCMOS, 5.54)
                <\/li>
              5. Relative <\/strong><\/em>(that, what, which, who)\u2013introduces a dependent clause. Use \u201cwho\u201d for human beings, \u201cwhich\u201d for animals, \u201cwhat\u201d for non-living things, and use \u201cthat\u201d for everything mentioned above. When relative pronouns introduce a restrictive or an essential clause, no comma precedes or surrounds them. But if the clause is nonrestrictive, keep the commas.
                1. Precede the relative pronoun before its noun or as close as possible. The longer the two are separated, the less clear your meaning.

                  Ex: \u201cThe letters caused Anna to lose her faith in all her friend, which <\/strong>meant the world to her\u201c is poor. Improve it by bringing the relative pronoun \u201cwhich<\/strong>\u201d closer to the noun it stands for: \u201cfaith<\/strong>\u201d. The letters caused Anna to lose what meant the world to her: faith in all her friends.<\/em><\/li>
                2. \u201cWhose\u201d versus \u201cof whom\u201d: While the latter is advised for non-human antecedents, the former calls for fewer words<\/li>
                3. Whomever, whoever, whichever, etc. are compound relative pronouns.
                  <\/li><\/ol><\/li>
                4. Indefinite <\/strong><\/em>(another, any, each, either, none)\u2013As subjects, these are singular.
                  <\/li>
                5. Adjective <\/em>(any, each, that. . . .)<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                  Adjectives<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  A word that modifies a noun or pronoun, a describing word that tells how many, what sort, large or small, whose, etc. is TCMOS account of an adjective. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  A proper adjective<\/em> is derived from a proper noun and is capitalized. An Indian Rupee. Avoid a comma descriptor like New Delhi, India. A marketplace in New Delhi versus New Delhi, India marketplace. In this example from TCMOS, they are using a prepositional phrase for a proper adjective to make it sound less awkward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  Articles<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  Use \u201ca\u201d or \u201can\u201d indefinite nouns, but use \u201cthe\u201d for specific nouns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  TCMOS advises not to repeat the article in coordinate nouns unless for emphasis. The flower and petal (instead of the petal). But note, sometimes repeating an article changes the meaning => A teacher and a mother marched for peace. Vs. A teacher and mother marched for peace. In the first sentence, it\u2019s two people; In second, it\u2019s the same person, who is a mother and teacher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  Another example from TCMOS: \u201cbrought us little comfort\u201d versus \u201cbrought us a little comfort.\u201d In the second case, they were comforted a little. But there is none in the first sentence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  Position of Adjectives<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  1. An attributive adjective precedes the noun it modifies. Breathtaking view. A good friend.<\/li>
                  2. Switch the order of noun and adjective to:
                    1. Add emphasis: reasons unknown.<\/li>
                    2. Standard usage: court-martial<\/li>
                    3. It’s a predicate adjective after a linking verb: I am ready.<\/li>
                    4. Inside an appositive, separated by commas: the last president, firm and fearless, took. . . .)<\/li>
                    5. Special noun \u2013 anything good. He stood akimbo.<\/li><\/ol><\/li>
                    6. The adjective follows the possessive. Anna\u2019s love letter.\u00a0<\/li>
                    7. Modifying pronoun: adjective usually follows a pronoun.<\/li>
                    8. Bottom line: bring the adjective closer to the noun or pronoun it modifies.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                      Degrees of Adjectives<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                      1. Positive\/absolute (hard)<\/li>
                      2. Comparative (harder)\u2013synthetic like greater, harder or periphrastic like more intelligent.<\/li>
                      3. Superlative (hardest)\u2013Similarly biggest, most intelligent.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                        Note: certain adjectives can\u2019t be compared like pregnant, entire, unique, etc. Exceptions are \u201cmore perfect union\u201d from the United States Constitution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                        Special Types of Adjectives<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                        1. Participial: Walking stick. Barely concealed gun.\u00a0<\/li>
                        2. Coordinate: Appears in sequence. They are comma-separated unless one adjective modifies a coordinating adjective. Compare happy, excited toddler with \u201cwhite brick house\u201d The latter signifies that the brick house is white.\u00a0<\/li>
                        3. Phrasal:\u00a0\u00a0
                          1. Hyphenated when before a noun: \u201csmall-animal house\u201d vs \u201csmall animal house\u201d the first one is phrasal. The latter is coordinate but the adjective modifying an adjective.<\/li>
                          2. The phrases end in a common element (note the hyphenation)\u2013\u201cmiddle- and upper-class\u201d participants.<\/li>
                          3. Rephrase if the sentence itself becomes awkward with too many hyphens.<\/li><\/ol><\/li>
                          4. Adjectives as nouns: Postmortem, French, etc. Use these with caution, Collaborating and collaboration are superior to collaborative. A company where employees collaborate versus collaborative enterprise.<\/li>
                          5. Adjectives as verbs: is \u201csilly to low-key\u201d.\u00a0<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                            Verbs<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                            Words that tell of the action, performance, state of being, an emotion are verbs. TCMOS calls them the most important part of prose that sets the mood and tone of your book, the distinguishing factor between bland and boring. So, use your verbs carefully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                            Transitive <\/strong>verbs don’t need an object, and Intransitive<\/strong> verbs do. I jumped. I succeeded him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                            Ergative <\/strong>verbs are ones that can be both transitive and intransitive. Shattered my peace or my peace shattered. Both forms work. Shipped. Sank. Grew\u2014are other examples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                            Regular and irregular <\/strong>verbs. Regular verbs follow the usual rules of tense like charge-charged-charged. But “is, are, was, were, been, being, be, and am” are some examples of irregular verbs. Note: American English prefers ed<\/em> over t. Burned over burnt. Learned over learnt.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                            Linking<\/strong> verbs. He is<\/strong> the CEO. Get fat. To see his sister\u2026 sit still. Was judged. Appear, feel, look, seem, smell, taste. May I say, these verbs are to-be and telling filters. Choose to show for more dynamic writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                            Phrasal <\/strong>verbs: Verb + preposition. Settle down. Phase out. Know the difference between unavoidable phrasal verbs and others. For instance, use sit where you use the phrase “sit down” as its understood sitting is downward. If a verb alone conveys the meaning, drop the phrase. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                            Principal and auxiliary <\/strong>verbs. A principal verb can stand alone. I dreamed. He jogged. It can be combined with another verb. But auxiliary can\u2019t be used by itself and needs a principal verb. You must<\/strong> study. Other auxiliary verbs are “be, can, do, have, may, must, was, ought, should, shall, and will.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                            Verb Phrases<\/strong>: Combine an auxiliary with principle and you get a verb phrase. An adjective in a verb phrase will go between the verbs. \u201ccould certainly happen\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                            Contractions: <\/strong> My takeaway from this section was contractions in prose, especially for negatives, work well. Don\u2019t. Can\u2019t. But where meaning becomes vague–I\u2019d is “I had” or “I would,” chose to be clear without the contraction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                            Infinitives – <\/strong>a verb in its principle form may be preceded by \u201cto\u201d. To dance. To open. This is also called a verbal noun because it can function as a verb or a noun. Example of noun form: \u201cTo walk away now seems rash\u201d (TCMOS, 5.107).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                            Dangling Infinitive:<\/strong> When you are missing a clear noun. Easy fix when it’s not clear which noun is acting, is to insert it. Here\u2019s an example from TCMOS: \u201cTo repair your car properly, you must <\/strong>take it to a mechanic\u201d In this sentence \u201cyou must\u201d was clarified to include the subject to remove the dangling infinitive. (TCMOS, 5.109)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                            Participles<\/strong>: nonfinite verb, not limited by a person, number, or mood. Watching. Hearing. Singing. Planted. Written. These could be phrases. Nailed to the roof. Generally speaking. Having arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                            Gerunds:<\/strong> Verb used a noun. Crying about the past is useless. A participle is used as a modifier whereas a gerund is used as a noun. Participle: The engine is running. Gerund: Running is a stress reliever. Gerunds are modified by adjectives too. \u201cFinally parking, we saw that the store was closed\u201d (TCMOS, 5.114).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                            Don\u2019t dangle:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                            Participle: <\/em>\u201cA participle that has no relationship with the nearest subject\u201d is dangling. \u201cBeing a thoughtful mother, I believe Meg gives her children good advice\u201d The first part of the sentence is missing a pov, a subject. It seems like the narrator\u2019s opinion. Restructuring as follows: \u201cI believe that because Meg is a thoughtful mother, she gives her children good advice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                            Gerunds:<\/em> A participle that is an object and functions as a noun rather than a modifier. \u201cAfter finishing the letters, the research was easy.\u201d Who finished the letters, and who did the research? Dangling. After Anna finished the letters, the research was easy to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                            Here is another example from TCMOS: \u201cWhile driving to San Antonio, my phone ran out of power.\u201d Driving is the dangling gerund. Easy fix: insert subject. While <\/em>I was <\/em><\/strong>driving to San Antonio, my phone ran out of power. (TCMOS, 5.116).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                            Properties of Verb<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                            1. VOICE<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/em>I\u2019ll shift gears. Is your protagonist proactive or passive? Do they make things happen, or events happen to them? If you feel one way, and your critique group feels another, check the voice and be more active. Active voice => subject \u2013 verb \u2013 object. Passive voice words are \u201cby, to, from, etc.\u201d
                              1. \u00a0There\u2019ll be instances you want to use passive voice when the object is more important than the subject. An object could be your protagonist. Choose to be passive sparsely for the greatest impact. Finally, progressive conjugation refers to an action that is still happening. Is running. Is pulling.<\/li><\/ol><\/li>
                              2. MOOD<\/strong>.<\/em>\u00a0\u201cManner in which the verb expresses an action or state.\u201d\u00a0
                                1. Indicative mood<\/em>: expressing facts and opinions.\u00a0Anna remembers nothing of her past in Hawaii. <\/em><\/li>
                                2. Imperative mood<\/em>: Expressing commands. Go to hell. Drink! Please don\u2019t shout at me.<\/li>
                                3. Subjunctive mood<\/em>: What if I state something that\u2019s not true? If I were a rich man! Now, the subjunctive statement above doesn\u2019t state that I\u2019m poor, but without saying that, we know it. So, TCMOS says it well that \u201cSubjunctive mood signals a statement contrary to fact.\u201d (5.124) “Was form” is indicative, but \u201cwere\u201d is subjunctive.\u00a0Sub categories:
                                  1. \u00a0Present subjunctive<\/em>:\u00a0<\/em>the base form of “be”<\/em>. Be ready at a moment\u2019s notice. Might he take down the. . . .<\/li>
                                  2. \u00a0Past subjunctive<\/em>: It says past but refers to the present or future. \u201cIf I were threatened, I would quit.<\/em>\u201d But this mood is formed by using the verb\u2019s simple-past tense.\u00a0Threatened.<\/strong><\/li>
                                  3. \u00a0Past-perfect subjunctive<\/em>: Uses the verb\u2019s past-perfect form to show the present or future. \u201cIf it had arrived, it could have changed the course of history.\u201d (5.127)<\/em><\/li><\/ol><\/li><\/ol><\/li>
                                  4. TENSE<\/strong><\/em>. Shows time. The present is happening now. Play. Prowls. Present-perfect needs the words, \u201chas\u201d or \u201chave\u201d to show an act that is just now completing.\u00a0I have seen this before.<\/em>\u00a0Past\u00a0<\/em>is done and over, and regular and irregular verbs will follow or defy rules. Past-perfect will need the word \u201chad\u201d. I had seen it before.<\/em> Backstories are peppered with “had”. Use it cautiously in your plot. Finally, the future is denoted by \u201cwill\u201d. And future-perfect by \u201cwill have\u201d And progressive tense shows action continues. Is playing. Being dealt.<\/li>
                                  5. PERSON<\/strong><\/em>. A verb\u2019s person can be first, second, or third.\u00a0<\/li>
                                  6. NUMBER<\/strong><\/em>. Singular or plural. The second person always gets the plural form of a verb. \u201cYou are wonderful<\/em>.\u201d But \u201cI sketch,\u201d \u201cyou sketch,\u201d but \u201cshe sketches.\u201d (5.137).
                                    1. When a verb has two or more subjects connected by\u00a0or<\/em>\u00a0or\u00a0nor<\/em>, the verb agrees with the last noun.<\/li>
                                    2. Collective noun symbolizing one thing is a singular verb.<\/li>
                                    3. Indefinite pronouns like anyone, everybody, someone routinely take a singular verb.<\/li>
                                    4. When in doubt, change the order of your subjects, and the verb\u2019s number becomes clear.<\/li>
                                    5. Instead of \u201cas well as\u201d or \u201calong with\u201d or \u201ctogether with\u201d that keep the verb singular (but maybe awkward sounding), combine coordinates with “and” that makes the verb plural.<\/li><\/ol><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                                      Some verbs:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                      Can\/Could: <\/strong>Could is the past indicative of can just like may and might, or will and would.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                      Ought:<\/strong> \u201cMore emphatic than should but less strong than must.\u201d It does not vary its form with tense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                      The dreaded\u00a0<\/em>Be-Verbs:\u00a0<\/strong>Be, is, are, was, were, been, being, and am. They meanly exist. We use them as auxiliaries with another principle verb.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                      Perhaps we dread them because they are weak and yet unavoidable to exterminate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                      My Takeaway<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                      The voice, mood, tense, person, and number of a verb may feel academia jargon, but it sets your characters apart from others, it keeps fingers flipping through the pages, or alas it forces a yawn and eternal damnation. Pay attention to the right verbs, taking care not to dangle your modifiers and participles, and nothing can stop the meaning of your stories to shine.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                                      Sunday, December 1st, 2019Blog #4 of my learning from #TheChicagoManualOfStyle. The trees have shed their leaves in Chicago. More birthdays have passed, and time keeps on ticking, bringing me to another Sunday, testing my will to stick to the Chicago Manual of Style (TCMOS). This blog is only part of this lengthy and deep chapter. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1809,"parent":1807,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P6kaFb-uz","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookofdreams.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1895"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookofdreams.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookofdreams.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookofdreams.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookofdreams.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1895"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/bookofdreams.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1895\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1902,"href":"https:\/\/bookofdreams.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1895\/revisions\/1902"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookofdreams.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1807"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookofdreams.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1809"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookofdreams.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1895"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}