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And a Grammar Challenge - For Ceri
And so it has come to this at last. For many years the rule of grammar has been clear that conjunctions should never start a sentence. Or so I thought, until receiving a rant from a friendly Americymru guru Ceri who laid the challenge at my door. But, what would I write about I thought if I were to take up this challenge? Or should I just let a stream of conciousness run like drivel from my brain? Yet, a challenge is a challenge and should not be ignored. Nor should the opportunity to post a blog go unchecked... So, that brought me to this opening paragraph. And so we may list the FANBOYS acronym of words that should not be used to start a sentence " For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so"
After starting in this fashion,it is desirable to continue onto thecoordinatingconjunctions. Although there are a number of them!! As much as I would like to list them, as long as they are contained in the sentence I suppose that is sufficient. As though I care !! Because, if we were to just list them, by the time I got to the end I would have a number of bored people. Before that happens, I will try to keep this humorous, even though it is breaking all the rules. If I was to use "in order that" or "in case" I may be breaking more rules, and that I must avoid. Lest I be called a purist, provided that you have read this far,since the purpose was to identify some conjunctions,so that we knew what to avoid, when, whenever, where and wherever they appear. Unless, and until you see these rules, while they have their place in Grammar, it seems that Ceri Shaw does not like them.
Both Ceri and I agree on one thing. Either use conjunctions or not. Neither opinion nor rule should take precedence. Not only is the text important but also the meaning behind it. Whether you agree or not - I think I have lived up to the challenge.
Thank you
and so we have them :
Coordinating Conjunctions
There are only seven of these!
for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
Subordinating Conjunctions
A after, although, as, as if, as long as, as much as, as soon as, as though
B because, before, by the time
E even if, even though
I if, in order that, in case
L lest
O once, only if
P provided that
S since, so that
T than, that, though, till
U unless, until
W when, whenever, where, wherever, while
Correlative Conjunctions
both... and
either... or
neither... nor
not only... but also
whether... or
Aaiiee! Swansea, you are so right! (feeling a bit stupid now....)
Just think what Shakespeare could have achieved if he'd just stuck to the rules. Silly bygga.
Yup......Shaky couldn't write worth a damn
I heard a radio bit in DC years ago - "My professor at the Berlitz School of Language told the class today that there's no such thing as a double positive in the English language and I said, 'Yeah, right!'"
Don't forget, never start or end a sentence with a preposition, as in:
" To be or not to be," etc.
Ond mae hyn yn syml bendigedig
And may I say that we are proud to award you 200 points thus elevating you to the exalted rank of Graddedig. For you have struck a mighty blow against slavish grammatical correctitude. But where is my 'Golden Sheep Of Excellence' I hear you say? So be it. For outstanding general excellence a golden sheep shall be yours .Nor have your efforts been in vain since your pioneering work above has cleared the way for our 'Most Egregious Run On Sentence' competition.
Cor blimey, stone the crows! Don't hetalk posh?
makes me feel rather like a solecism...
I love Lynn Truss's book; everyone should have a copy of that.
I'm not suggesting we should split infinitives willy-nilly or indulge in other naughty (un)grammatical habits but, just occasionally, a phrase or sentence can actually look and readbetter when it's mildly ungrammatical. What they do on the planet Zog is a matter for them.
Of course to be correct it is "I shall not put up with it " rather than " Shan't "
but that would just be picky !!!
And let's all boldly split infinitives and spread our bad habits throughout the know universe and beyond, even.