[createrkid]

If I were to use the following sentences in spoken English, which one would sound appropriate?

the movie gave me chills!
the movie gave me the chills!

And also,

this is relevant to me.
this is relevant for me.

[shankar.balan]

Originally Posted by createrkid

If I were to use the following sentences in spoken English, which one would sound appropriate? the movie gave me chills! the movie gave me the chills! And also, this is relevant to me. this is relevant for me.

'The movie gave me the chills', would be the right way to express that sentiment.

The usage of 'And also' is incorrect.

This (scenario) is relevant to me.
This (input of yours) is relevant for me.

Both types of usage are acceptable. (I have tried to illustrate the marginal difference by placing some words in brackets as can be seen).

[Thad E Ginathom]

Metaphors and sayings give people a lot of trouble. With respect to the original poster, and no names, it's just one example that happens to do nicely, I saw this today...

making merry while the hay shines

It almost sounds right, doesn't it?

But think about it: how would hay shine? The bottom line is that most of these sayings, even the archaic ones, actually do make sense.

You need sun to dry cut grass so that it becomes hay, and in a climate like that of the UK, when it shines, you'd better take advantage of it, because tomorrow it'll probably rain --- and your hay will be ruined.

So, the actual saying, meaning to take advantage of something favourable that is happening right now, but which may not last, is...

Make hay while the sun shines.

[Gannu_1]

Couple of tips:

1. We do not always put 'an' in front of words that begin with vowels because some of them begin with a consonant sound.

For eg. A unique approach, a union, a one-time password etc. Although the words begin with a vowel, it sounds as a consonant. Thus, ‘a’ replaces ‘an’ there.

OTOH consider these egs. An hour, an honest person, an NDTV reporter etc. Words begin without a vowel but the first letter is either silent or begins with a vowel sound. Thus, 'an' instead of 'a' there.

2. There're confusions between it's and its. Both are used in different contexts!

It's - short for it is or it has.

Eg. It's time to leave (it is), It's not a good idea to xxx (it is), It's been a while (it has) etc.

Its - the possessive form of the pronoun 'it'.

Eg. The cat was licking its paw, What is an OBD adapter and what is its function? etc.

Hope this helps!

Originally Posted by Samurai

Et tu, Nick?

MCP=Male Chauvinist Pig.

My goodness!

Honest to God, I assumed it to be Microsoft Certified Professional first since you work for the IT industry. The other one didn't quite strike me!

[SS-Traveller]

An interesting list of 15 annoying grammatical mistakes that people always make.

http://trove.com/me/content/dg4rN?ch...an?format=json

[anupmathur]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

An interesting list of 15 annoying grammatical mistakes that people always make.
....

Ha ha, that seems rather presumptuous - always make?

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by anupmathur

Ha ha, that seems rather presumptuous - always make?

Presumptuous of the author of the article. Those are not my words!

[vnabhi]

Originally Posted by anupmathur

Ha ha, that seems rather presumptuous - always make?

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

Presumptuous of the author of the article. Those are not my words!

Perhaps it should have been posted as :

Here is a compilation of grammatical mistakes in the article "An interesting list of 15 annoying grammatical mistakes that people always make".

Don't mean to sound finicky though.

[faustus77]

Hi everybody.
A couple of days back while watching a Hercule Poirot episode heard him say
"Let us go into dinner"
Havnt ever heard go into dinner.
Is the usage correct?
Regards

[Thad E Ginathom]

I think so, yes, but it would be go in to not go into, unless one was thinking of taking a dive in the soup!

This is one of those things that would be found in a book of etiquette, rather than grammar. It would have been one of the things my mother taught me to get "right," back in 1950-something --- and which I have long since forgotten.

[anupmathur]

Originally Posted by faustus77

....
"Let us go into dinner"
....

It is correct usage though the 'into' is not one word.
"Let us go in; to dinner" would explain it better.
Often people use 'for dinner' but I do think 'to dinner' is the better form.
I will invite you to dinner one of these days.

[amitoj]

I've noticed that many people say "mm hmm" in response to "thank you". I find that rude.

[mayankk]

Originally Posted by anupmathur

It is correct usage though the 'into' is not one word.
"Let us go in; to dinner" would explain it better.
Often people use 'for dinner' but I do think 'to dinner' is the better form.
I will invite you to dinner one of these days.

But these are different usages - going in for dinner, and inviting someone to dinner.
As a parallel, lets go out for a movie, or take your friend to a movie.

[anupmathur]

Originally Posted by mayankk

....
As a parallel, lets go out for a movie, or take your friend to a movie.

If you treat the outing as a visit to a place, 'to' would be correct.
Let's go to a movie (hall).
I'll take my friend to a movie (hall).

Hmm, Thad, help!

[Thad E Ginathom]

Confusions strikes, and it has struck me too.

First, as I said before, this is more to do with etiquette than it is with grammar, and thus, something may be seen as "wrong" by one set of people that others do not find "wrong" at all. This, and how you handle the cutlery once you sit down for that meal, are key English class identifiers.

I'll try. But hey, I'm only middle class!


Going in to dinner is not the opposite of going out for dinner. Ordinary people choose between going out for dinner and staying in for dinner.

In a much more formal situation, perhaps in a big house, perhaps even having changed into evening dress, an empty dining room awaits, and, at the appropriate time, at the host's invitiation, people go in for dinner.

That's about the best I can do. A while back, I read a whole thing about etiquette, both American and British. What you wear, how one behaves at a formal meal, what your partner can do and what you must do for them... it is scary stuff. My mum would have known it. I have a cousin, 20 yrs elder to me, who owns a posh hotel; he also would be perfectly comfortable with all that stuff. I'm not.