Grammar SOS > Verbs

It's OK to use the present tense to illustrate how someone does something, but confusing for the reader if you don't return to past tense with care.

• She settles into her seat, adjusts her skirt and then addresses the audience.
  "Why can't eveyone look as well-groomed as the Rockettes?" she asked. (Or would we say "asks"? With this usage, we are stuck in present tense, which is fine if we maintain it throughout the piece and if it adds to the overall effect of the story.)

Avoid "would" unless you are talking about a speculation:

• "The bill would allow people to drive without seat belts."

Otherwise, it corrupts the overall verb tense:

• "He would try to match a CD to the requested genre." (This seems as if he isn't really trying to match CDs to genres, but would if necessary. Fine, if that's the meaning you're after.

If the person is currently working as a DJ, this is better:

• "If he doesn't have the selections, he tries to match requests to the genre."
• If he no longer is working as a DJ, "he tried to match a CD to the requested genre."

Passive Voice

You probably have seen this when you "grammar check" in Word. In journalism, we prefer active voice because that delivers a sense of news, of current happenings. (This is especially true in headline writing).

• The contracts have been awarded to three area companies.
• Three area companies won the contracts.
• The resolution was approved at the council meeting last night.
• The council approved the resolution last night.

Verb Splits

Don't split verbs with modifiers:

"He is already discovering the quick pace of summer session."

"He already is discovering the quick pace of summer session."

Other splits to avoid:

"..bring people who enjoy this music together."

Better: "..bring together people who enjoy this music."

"His job entails putting the information together."

Better: "His job entails putting together the information."

"She has also played baseball and softball."

Better: "She also has played baseball and softball."

There are occasions when meaning may be sacrificed by putting verbs together. Here's an example of how sticking to the "never split infinitives" sounds weird:

• Hillary Clinton plans to formally announce her candidacy.

If we don't split the infinitive, here's what we get:

• Hillary Clinton plans formally to announce her candidacy.

Adverbs

Use them correctly. If a word modifies a verb, chances are high that it ends in -ly:

• Think differently (even if you are a Mac user)

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Who is Gena Asher?

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URL: http://www.asher-watts.com/j201/index.html
Problems? Questions? Contact Gena Asher at eulasher@indiana.edu

Updated January 2010

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