My favorite "lovely happy sunshine" Sunday morning show usually has a segment on the English language. This segment, hosted by a gray haired man, details the usage of incorrect English in the everyday speech of the "younger" generations. While the word crimes discussed are most often committed by Gen-Y and younger, it seems to me that the entire country needs a brief course in proper speech.
Here are two common errors and easy corrections.
1. When vs. Whenever
My young, gum-popping coworker says, "Whenever my sister got pregnant with her son, she got really moody."
"When," I correct her.
Misinterpreting my comment as a question, she answers, "In 2009."
People these days seem to believe that "when" and "whenever" are interchangeable. They are not.
"When" should be used when an individual is describing a specific event that happened one or very few times in the past, or when describing an event that is currently happening.
Examples:
"When my sister got pregnant with her son, she became moody."
"When my parents got married, they lived in Hawaii."
"When you get to the store, please pick up some napkins."
"Whenever" should be used when an individual is describing an event that happens frequently. If you can logically insert "always" into a sentence, then you can use the word "whenever."
Examples:
"Whenever I go to the grocery store I seem to forget an important item." (Can be rephrased as "I always seem to forget an important item when I go to the grocery store.")
"Whenever I feed the dog, he runs to his bowl." (Can be rephrased as "The dog always runs to his bowl when I feed him.")
"I'm ready to leave whenever you are." (Can be rephrased, though awkwardly, as "I will always be ready to leave; it's your call when we actually get going.")
Note that it is always appropriate to use "when," even in a "whenever"-appropriate sentence. When in doubt, use "when."
2. Me vs. I
"Do you want to go to the party with Barrack and I?"
This is an example of the misuse of a personal pronoun as an object. This specific example was used on the "lovely happy sunshine" morning show of which I am so fond.
Quick and dirty, here's the rule: "I" is a subject. "Me" is an object. When multiple people are involved, be polite and put yourself last.
Examples of "I" as a subject:
"I am going to the party."
"Tim and I are going to the restaurant."
You would never say "Me am going to the party." So why would anyone ever say "Tim and me are going to the restaurant."?
Examples of "me" as an object:
"Jody is going to make pancakes for me."
"My dog is coming to the park with Celina and me."
The gray-haired host of the grammar segment on the "lovely happy sunshine" morning show says that he believes that some people think that they sound sophisticated when they use "I" as an object. This pattern of speech does not make individuals seem sophisticated. It makes them seem uneducated.
Here are two common errors and easy corrections.
1. When vs. Whenever
My young, gum-popping coworker says, "Whenever my sister got pregnant with her son, she got really moody."
"When," I correct her.
Misinterpreting my comment as a question, she answers, "In 2009."
People these days seem to believe that "when" and "whenever" are interchangeable. They are not.
"When" should be used when an individual is describing a specific event that happened one or very few times in the past, or when describing an event that is currently happening.
Examples:
"When my sister got pregnant with her son, she became moody."
"When my parents got married, they lived in Hawaii."
"When you get to the store, please pick up some napkins."
"Whenever" should be used when an individual is describing an event that happens frequently. If you can logically insert "always" into a sentence, then you can use the word "whenever."
Examples:
"Whenever I go to the grocery store I seem to forget an important item." (Can be rephrased as "I always seem to forget an important item when I go to the grocery store.")
"Whenever I feed the dog, he runs to his bowl." (Can be rephrased as "The dog always runs to his bowl when I feed him.")
"I'm ready to leave whenever you are." (Can be rephrased, though awkwardly, as "I will always be ready to leave; it's your call when we actually get going.")
Note that it is always appropriate to use "when," even in a "whenever"-appropriate sentence. When in doubt, use "when."
2. Me vs. I
"Do you want to go to the party with Barrack and I?"
This is an example of the misuse of a personal pronoun as an object. This specific example was used on the "lovely happy sunshine" morning show of which I am so fond.
Quick and dirty, here's the rule: "I" is a subject. "Me" is an object. When multiple people are involved, be polite and put yourself last.
Examples of "I" as a subject:
"I am going to the party."
"Tim and I are going to the restaurant."
You would never say "Me am going to the party." So why would anyone ever say "Tim and me are going to the restaurant."?
Examples of "me" as an object:
"Jody is going to make pancakes for me."
"My dog is coming to the park with Celina and me."
The gray-haired host of the grammar segment on the "lovely happy sunshine" morning show says that he believes that some people think that they sound sophisticated when they use "I" as an object. This pattern of speech does not make individuals seem sophisticated. It makes them seem uneducated.
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