Paging All Youse Grammar Police - HELP! - Page 2

JWBear · 11-30-2009, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SzczerbiakManiac

I have another grammar question. One of our more annoying directors sent out a banal Thanksgiving e-mail last week which included this sentence:

"Perhaps all of us can get passed the big dinner and look forward for the opportunities ahead to be grateful."

Am I correct in thinking he should have used "past" instead of "passed"? Or is that a perfectly cromulent sentence?

Passed/past isn't the only grammar error in his sentence.

I would have said "Perhaps we can all get past the big dinner, and look forward to the opportunities for being grateful that lie ahead.

Ghoulish Delight · 11-30-2009, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWBear

Passed/past isn't the only grammar error in his sentence.

I would have said "Perhaps we can all get past the big dinner, and look forward to the opportunities for being grateful that lie ahead.

The comma is unnecessary.

Ghoulish Delight · 11-30-2009, 10:34 AM

Past.

Ghoulish Delight · 11-30-2009, 10:34 AM

Unless he was hoping someone would pass the entire dinner to him from the other end of the table.

SacTown Chronic · 11-30-2009, 10:37 AM

Which would be an opportunity to be grateful, in my book.

SzczerbiakManiac · 11-30-2009, 10:36 AM

Thank you for the confirmation.

Alex · 11-30-2009, 10:38 AM

Yes, it should have been past.

Gemini Cricket · 11-30-2009, 10:42 AM

This thread embiggens my grammar doings.

Alex · 11-30-2009, 10:47 AM

And if you want some information on how you'd know:

"Passed" is always a verb ("I passed the car" "he passed away").

Past can be a noun ("I knew him in the past") and adverb ("he drove past me"), and adjective ("the past events were a success") or as a preposition ("the high school is down the road just past the convenience store"). But not a verb.

In your sentence, "passed" is used as a preposition. Which means it should be "past."

alphabassettgrrl · 11-30-2009, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SacTown Chronic

DeSean Jackson of the Eagles said that it's "unpossible" to cover him with one defensive back.

::shudder::

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWBear

I would have said "Perhaps we can all get past the big dinner, and look forward to the opportunities for being grateful that lie ahead.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

The comma is unnecessary.

Unnecessary, but not out of line.

I love grammar!

11-30-2009, 10:34 AM	#3
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	Past. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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11-30-2009, 10:34 AM	#4
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	Unless he was hoping someone would pass the entire dinner to him from the other end of the table. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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11-30-2009, 10:37 AM	#5
SacTown Chronic the myth of the dream Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2,217	Which would be an opportunity to be grateful, in my book. __________________ Is it the fingers, or the brain that you're teaching a lesson?
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11-30-2009, 10:36 AM	#6
SzczerbiakManiac "ZER-bee-ak" Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,409	Thank you for the confirmation. __________________
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11-30-2009, 10:38 AM	#7
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Yes, it should have been past.
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11-30-2009, 10:42 AM	#8
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	This thread embiggens my grammar doings.
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11-30-2009, 10:47 AM	#9
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	And if you want some information on how you'd know: "Passed" is always a verb ("I passed the car" "he passed away"). Past can be a noun ("I knew him in the past") and adverb ("he drove past me"), and adjective ("the past events were a success") or as a preposition ("the high school is down the road just past the convenience store"). But not a verb. In your sentence, "passed" is used as a preposition. Which means it should be "past."
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