up v/s upon

Do you place good grammar upon a pedestal?

Or have you put the subject back up on the shelf?

No matter, it’s worth considering the difference between the prepositions upon and on (whether or not “on” is preceded by “up”). While for many writers the two have become interchangeable, there are important differences you should remember.

Most sources tend to agree that you should use “upon” sparingly and usually just for literary effect. In other words, the “trap” in this Grammar Trap isn’t so much one of proper vs. improper use, but of readability vs. verbiosity.

On or upon?

Example: I rely upon my friends to move my furniture.

OK, “upon” isn’t incorrect, but it’s overkill since “on” works better. Using “upon” here is the equivalent of using an archaic (and overly florid) form of address — “Thou art wise to avoid using such execrable prepositions” instead of “It’s a good idea to avoid ‘upon.’”

Up on or upon?

Example: I put my dusty old books up on the shelf.

Even when “up” and “on” go together like this, I would stick to two words to avoid the archaic usage.

Use literary effect sparingly. I don’t serve up purple prose to describe spraying for ants, so I would avoid writing, “Spray thy chemical products forthwith upon the preying myrmidons.” I would be more direct, “Spray the product directly on the ants.”

When is the effect appropriate? When you’re borrowing a phrase (like the “placed upon a pedestal” example I began with) or you really want to provide some archaic effect. But if your plan is to write in this century, stick with “on” rather than “upon” in most cases.

Less v/s Fewer

The rule usually encountered is: use "fewer" for things you count (individually), and "less" for things you measure: "fewer apples", "less water". Since "less" is also used as an adverb ("less successful"), "fewer" helps to distinguish "fewer successful professionals" (fewer professionals who are successful) from "less successful professionals" (professionals who are less successful). (No such distinction is possible with "more", which serves as the antonym of both "less" and "fewer".)

the difference between words: all, whole, entire, each and every

The word “all” is used with countable or uncountable nouns to refer to 100% of many things. For example:

All of my furniture is from Ikea. (uncountable)

I bought all of my plates from ABC department store. (countable)

The words “whole” and “entire” mean 100% of one thing. It is used with countable nouns. For example:

I ate the whole pie by myself. I’m so full right now.

I spent the entire day watching TV and drinking beer. It was great!

The word “each” and “every” are very similar but have slightly different meanings. They are both used with countable nouns. The word “each” focuses on the individual parts that make up a collection of something, but “every” focuses on all the parts that make up a collection of something. For example:

Each of the stamps in my collection came from a different country.

Every stamp in my collection is very valuable.

Each person in my family is very special to me.

Every person in my family can play the piano.

In addition, we use “each” when we want to focus on the differences between things, and we use “every” when we want to focus on the fact that things are the same. For example:

I have many pins in my collection and each one comes from a different country.

I paid over $20 for every pin in my collection.

I hope this is clear to everyone. Please note that when the words “each” and “every” are followed by a verb in the present tense, it must have an “s”. Therefore, “each” and “every” follow the same grammar rules as “he”, “she” and “it”.

As I said, today’s blog entry is a request from one of the readers, so if you have anything you want me to explain, please let me know.

Can v/s Could

Most of us think we know how to use “can” and “could,” but do we know how they’re used or do we use what sounds right? Generally it’s the latter. This post will briefly detail how these two words work. Read more to find out!

Can

Can generally refers to one’s ability to do something. By definition, it means:

to be able to; have the ability, power, or skill to (Dictionary.com)

When using can, you will most likely be referring to this ability, power, or skill in the present or future tense. For example, “I can go to the store after dinner.” This is interchangeable with “I have the ability to go to the store after dinner.”

Could

Could can function in a couple different ways. The first is the past tense of can, which is the primary form of functioning. “In 1985, one could dance like a robot without being laughed at.” Since we’re discussing 1985, could is appropriate here. “In 1985, one can dance like a robot…” doesn’t really make sense.

The other use of could is to establish a level of doubt, tentativeness or politeness. If someone asked you, “Can you do this for me?” or “Could you do this for me?” which would sound more polite and formal? Clearly the latter. Let’s look at an example of establishing doubt:

I can go to the store later.
I could go to the store later.

When you say “I can” you are just establishing that you have the ability to do so. When you say “I could” you establish that, yes you have the ability, but it’s only a possibility that you will go.

Final Thoughts

Can is generally present tense and is used to show you have the ability to do something. Could is used to be the past tense form of can, used to establish doubt, or used to be more formal.

Before Vs Ago

any kind of informed opinion, but "ago," to me, simply means something that happened in the past, while "before" implies specifically that it happened before something else - the sentence He came sometime before seems to be missing a word. He came before what? Before she came? Before we did? Before the sun rose?




Generally speaking, you can only replace 'ago' with the word 'before' in reported speech or in a text in which 'before when' is clear. Usually the tense of the verb will be past perfect:

Direct speech: I did it a few hours ago.
Reported speech: He said he had done it a few hours before.

Having gone to bed only three hours before, he didn't hear the alarm when it went off at 5 a.m.
==> Having gone to bed = (Because he) had gone to bed
==> three hours before = three hours before 5 a.m.

May Vs Might

We can use 'may' to ask for permission. However this is rather formal and not used very often in modern spoken English

• May I borrow your pen?
• May we think about it?
• May I go now?

We use 'may' to suggest something is possible

• It may rain later today.
• I may not have time to do it today.
• Pete may come with us

might

We use 'might' to suggest a small possibility of something. Often we read that 'might' suggests a smaller possibility that 'may', there is in fact little difference and 'might is more usual than 'may' in spoken English.

• She might be at home by now but it's not sure at all.
• It might rain this afternoon.
• I might not have time to go to the shops for you.
• I might not go.

For the past, we use 'might have'.

• He might have tried to call while I was out.
• I might have dropped it in the street.

Might is past of may in reported speech. I may go to the park. She said she might go to the park.

http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/maymight/menu.php
http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/may-might.aspx

Begin Vs Start

Synonyms: begin, commence, start, initiate, inaugurate
These verbs denote coming into being or taking the first step, as in a procedure. Begin, commence, and start are equivalent in meaning, though commence is more formal, and start often stresses the point where inaction turns to action: The play begins at eight o'clock. The festivities commenced with the national anthem. We will stay on the platform until the train starts. Initiate applies to causing the first steps in a process: I initiated a lawsuit against the driver who hit my car. Inaugurate often connotes a formal beginning: “The exhibition inaugurated a new era of cultural relations”

You can start a car or lawnmover, but you can't begin them.
You can begin the movie, but you normally start it.
You start any machine and you also start your bath water.

I would say begin has a higher register than start.

Start usually refers to an activity - The game will start at 4:00. Begin is used for official proceedings - Class will begin on time.