Weird Grammar
Blog by
Last updated: Saturday August 21st, 2021
Report this blog
Last updated: Saturday August 21st, 2021
Report this blog
+1
Even though I try my best to use proper grammar, sometimes I'm human and make a mistake. I might use the wrong type of "Its", or maybe I used him when I should have used he, or something like that. Then sometimes, I have learned the grammar I rules I so dearly loved actually were not completely accurate. So if you are every writing a job application, or trying to get into to college and you need to use one of these (albeit incredibly rare) sentences or phrases, just remember to grammatically correct them.
1. How many Octopi and Platypi are in the sea?
Surprise, it's not octopi, it's octopuses. The "us" to "i" noun thing comes from latin, but octopus derives from greek. You may also use octopodes, but you will sound like a total nerd. However, platypuses and platypi are both correct.
2. The Mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell.
If my American education has taught me anything, it's that the mitochondria is the powerhouse of cell. Unfortunately, that is not completely true. The mitochondria ARE the powerhouseS of the cell. "Mitochondria" is plural. The singular is mitochondrion.
3."When listing people, you always put yourself last in the form of I" they said.
This is not completely true, but not completely false. In the phrase "He and I were walking down the street" that is correct. In the phrases "She was only speaking to he and I" that is completely wrong. The way to figure this out is to take away the other person; "She was only speaking to I" makes no sense. Therefore, it should be "She was only speaking to him and me".
4. There is nothing to be afraid of.
Yes, you can end your sentences with prepositions. If the sentence makes sense to you when you read it and it ends with a preposition, you're probably fine.
5. Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.
This sentence above is grammatically correct. While odds are you will never need to say this in an actual conversation, here is a rough translation.
"Bison from the city of Buffalo, that other bison from Buffalo bully, also bully bison from Buffalo"
6. Jim from the United States is British, speaks English, is Muslim, and works in Congress. His Aunt Nancy who has a Bachelor of English and is a Democrat, bought him some Kleenex off of the Internet.
This sentence may seem like it has some unnecessary capitalization, but everything in the sentence is capitalized correctly, including countries, nationalities, languages, religions, organizations, political parties, family relationships used in names, degrees, companies, and yes, even the Internet.
7. Sink, Sank, Drank, Shrank, Shrunk, and Drunk
Has the boat sank, or maybe it sunk? These words do have a difference. In the case of sank, drank, and shrank, these are the simple past tense versions of their respective verbs. For example, " The boat sank", "I drank water", "My clothes shrank". However, if there is a helping verb in there, such as had or has, you must use the past participle, so "The boat had sunk", "I had drunk water", "My clothes had shrunk". Unfortunately, this means the movie "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" is grammatically incorrect.
1. How many Octopi and Platypi are in the sea?
Surprise, it's not octopi, it's octopuses. The "us" to "i" noun thing comes from latin, but octopus derives from greek. You may also use octopodes, but you will sound like a total nerd. However, platypuses and platypi are both correct.
2. The Mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell.
If my American education has taught me anything, it's that the mitochondria is the powerhouse of cell. Unfortunately, that is not completely true. The mitochondria ARE the powerhouseS of the cell. "Mitochondria" is plural. The singular is mitochondrion.
3."When listing people, you always put yourself last in the form of I" they said.
This is not completely true, but not completely false. In the phrase "He and I were walking down the street" that is correct. In the phrases "She was only speaking to he and I" that is completely wrong. The way to figure this out is to take away the other person; "She was only speaking to I" makes no sense. Therefore, it should be "She was only speaking to him and me".
4. There is nothing to be afraid of.
Yes, you can end your sentences with prepositions. If the sentence makes sense to you when you read it and it ends with a preposition, you're probably fine.
5. Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.
This sentence above is grammatically correct. While odds are you will never need to say this in an actual conversation, here is a rough translation.
"Bison from the city of Buffalo, that other bison from Buffalo bully, also bully bison from Buffalo"
6. Jim from the United States is British, speaks English, is Muslim, and works in Congress. His Aunt Nancy who has a Bachelor of English and is a Democrat, bought him some Kleenex off of the Internet.
This sentence may seem like it has some unnecessary capitalization, but everything in the sentence is capitalized correctly, including countries, nationalities, languages, religions, organizations, political parties, family relationships used in names, degrees, companies, and yes, even the Internet.
7. Sink, Sank, Drank, Shrank, Shrunk, and Drunk
Has the boat sank, or maybe it sunk? These words do have a difference. In the case of sank, drank, and shrank, these are the simple past tense versions of their respective verbs. For example, " The boat sank", "I drank water", "My clothes shrank". However, if there is a helping verb in there, such as had or has, you must use the past participle, so "The boat had sunk", "I had drunk water", "My clothes had shrunk". Unfortunately, this means the movie "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" is grammatically incorrect.