Dear N:

You wrote:

Are all these sentences correct? In which cases, does “unfortunately” apply to both clauses and in which cases only to the first?

1-Unfortunately, two people were injured; also, a few windows were broken.

This is correct. Because of the parallel construction of the two clauses, we would understand that “unfortunately” only went with the first clause and “also” went with the second clause.

2-Unfortunately, two people were injured; and also, a few windows were broken.

This would probably not be punctuated with a semicolon because of the conjunction “and.”

3-Unfortunately, two people were injured, and also, a few
windows were broken.

This is grammatical but probably would not be used in formal English. The same parallel construction with the adverbs as #1 applies.

4-Unfortunately, two people were injured; and a few windows were broken.

Same as #2.

5-Unfortunately, two people were injured, and a few windows were broken.

This is punctuated OK, and the “unfortunately” would be understood by most to apply to both clauses.

If you wanted to insure that the “Unfortunately” applied to both clauses, use a correlative conjunction like “not only…but also” or, perhaps, “both…and.” (“Both” and “two” together would sound awkward, though.)

Example – Unfortunately, not only were two people injured, but a few windows were broken also.

Or, to put more emphasis on the personal injuries rather than the broken windows:

Unfortunately, not only were a few windows broken, but two people were injured also.

Dear T:

You wrote:

Which is correct?
a. Discussed all issues with the Reinholdt’s.
b. Discussed all issues with the Reinholds.

Choice “b” is correct. Apostrophes are used for possessives. For a simple plural, even of names, add “s” or “es” with no apostrophe.

We discussed all issues with the Reinholdts. (plural)
We discussed all issues with the Reinholdts’ lawyer. (plural possessive modifying “lawyer”)
We discussed all issues with Mr. Reinholdt’s lawyer. (singular possessive modifying “lawyer”)
We discussed all issues with the Joneses. (plural adding “es”)

For more on this see “Apostophes Showing Possession” in Grammar Slammer or https://www.englishplus.com/grammar/00000131.htm online.

First of all, I’d like to thank you for such a great website! It has been very enlightening!

I have a question about this symbol: { } What is the name of this symbol and also what is the correct usage of it?

I tried looking up bracket, but that is this [ ].

Dear A:

These are called “wavy brackets” (USA), “curly braces” (UK), or something similar. They really have no function in grammar or writing at all. They are sometimes used in mathematics and in computer programming where they function as an alternate to parentheses or brackets.

Occasionally, a single wavy bracket turned with the open end down is used in proofreading to show words that should be united.

I hope this helps.

I checked your site but can’t find the information I need. How can I explain the correct usages of “if…not” and “unless”?

I’ll go to the game if it doesn’t rain.
I’ll go to the game unless it rains.
(both OK, right?)

I’d like her if she didn’t wear so much make up.
I’d like her unless she didn’t wear so much make up.
(the second sentence is wrong, right?)

What’s/what are the rules for using these?

I’ve been asked and I’d REALLY appreciate your help!!

Dear Mr. E:

The word “unless” is actually a negative. (“Lest” is the somewhat old-fashioned positive). The second sentence in your second set is really a double negative. Double negatives are considered ungrammatical and confusing. That last sentence is a bit confusing…

I am writing school report comments. My comment could read “John is achieving at a level above that expected of a student in the year group and is making good progress.” I have been told that in this sentence I must use a capital L for level and a capital Y for year.

Could you please give me your opinion.

Dear Mr. H:

There does not appear to be any reason to capitalize either. Neither appears to be a proper name. You would only capitalize if you were naming a specific year group or if the level had a proper name.

Examples: He is the valedictorian of his class.
She is the valedictorian of the Class of 2005. (Here the class is named).

I hope this helps.

I understand the contraction of “it’s,” but am confused on possession. If I use an object as opposed to a person, how is “it” used? For example, “the force of an object is equal to its mass times its acceleration.” Would it be “it’s” mass and “it’s” acceleration? Wouldn’t it be “Joe’s mass and the wheel’s acceleration?

My son is writing a report and wants it to be perfect.

Dear G:

No. You write “its mass” or “its acceleration.” When you write the possessive of nouns, you do spell the word with an apostrophe to distinguish it from a plural. However, “its” is a personal pronoun, and personal pronouns do not use apostrophes: “his dog” or “that cat is hers.” (We do not write, “hi’s dog,” for example.) It’s the same with “its.”

Dear English Plus:

-My jaw is protruding.

Can “prodruding” be an adjective in the above sentence? Can the sentence mean that I have a protruding jaw?

Dear N:

That would be exactly what it would mean in most cases.

N: As in: That film is amusing.=That film is an amusing film.

EP: Exactly.

N: To me it sounds as if in 1, the jaw is protruding temporarily and in order to say that it is a protruding jaw, one has to say: “My jaw protrudes”.

EP: No. If it were temporary–e.g., if someone were pouting–you would be more likely to use the basic or perfect tenses. If it were temporary, though, you would probably use another verb such as “I was pouting” or “My jaw jutted out.” “Protruding jaw” is an anatomical or physiological condition.

The difference between a progressive tense and a predicate adjective using a present participle is often a matter of context or use. In the case of “protruding” and “jaw,” these two words are commonly used together. Indeed, “protruding” probably modifies “jaw” more than any other word. The word “protrude” tends to be only used in a medical or scientific context. “Protruding jaw” is really the most common use of any form of the verb in everyday speech.

I know that using the expression :”I look forward to doing business with you ” is right. How and where can I find information about using “to doing” to students?

Dear LS:

On our web site take at look at www.englishplus.com/grammar/00000335.htm or look up “Gerund” in the Grammar Slammer glossary. “To doing business with you” is a prepositional phrase. The object of the preposition is the gerund phrase “doing business with you.”

I hope this helps.

1-This pizza is to eat tonight.
2-This film is to see as soon as possible.
3-This tie is to wear at fancy places.

Are these sentences grammatical?
Could any of them be used in spoken English?

Dear N:

No. To make them standard English, you must put the infinitive in the passive voice. The infinitive is a subject complement, that is, it renames the subject, and in none of the sentences is the subject doing the action.

1a This pizza is to be eaten tonight.
2a This film is to be seen as soon as possible.
3a This tie is to be worn at fancy places.

It would be very unlikely that anyone would say #2a, but it is grammatically OK.

We note that other languages do use infinitives the way your original sentences are written, but it is confusing in English.

Dear G:

You wrote:

Dunno, but back as a kid in Virginia, we were taught that a sentence such as “The former overweight woman told us how she lost fifty-five pounds” (the example you use for culmulative adjectives) should always be written using an adverb (as in: “The formerly overweight woman told us how she lost fifty-five pounds”) as adverbs modify adjectives. Is that rule gone with the wind or since when do we no longer use “ly” adverbs to modify adjectives?

Both ways are technically correct. The way you propose actually solves a lot of the cumulative adjective problems. In your case, clearly “formerly” is an adverb modifying “overweight.” In our example “former” is a cumulative adjective modifying “overweight woman.” Both are standard English, but we wanted to illustrate the cumulative adjectives in our example–with maybe a touch of humor.