Dear Mr. W:

You wrote:
So here’s another that cropped up today. I am a newsletter publisher and today I revealed my site’s new frock, and invited all and sundry to comment.
Right at the top it says…

All newsletters are not created equal.
Some get read, and others get tossed away unread.
Which would you prefer represents you?

I am told that it should read…
Which would you prefer represent you?
What say you?

This is tricky. The way the sentence is written, represent is actually an infinitive. The infinitive never takes s. You could write the sentence “Which would you prefer to represent you?” In most constructions the infinitive uses the word to, sometimes following a verb the to is optional. That is the case here, so represent is the better of the two.

However, normally following the verb prefer, we keep the to or else change the verbal to a gerund. For a bit more on this see “Inifinitive” in the Grammar Slammer glossary or go to www.englishplus.com/grammar/00000078.htm.

Dear NT:

You wrote:
> Are these sentences correct:
> 1-There is something which it is necessary for us to consider.
> 2-This is something which it is necessary for us to consider.
> 3-There is a man to whom it might be good to talk.
> 4-He is the man to whom it might be good to talk.
>
Sentences 1 and 2 are not correct. Which as the relative pronoun is also the subject of the subordinate clause. Both sentences should read “which is necessary for us to consider.”

3 and 4 are both OK, though perhaps a bit awkward in normal speech. It is appropriate when corresponding with individuals who are sensitive about ending sentences with prepositions. Most people would say, “He is the the man it might be good to talk to,” with or without the whom.

Dear Miss EW:

You wrote:
> Dear Sir,
> I got a sentence from my professor ” I think him (to be) a good man’. He
> said that this sentence is correct in some sense. Can you help me out by
> giving me the explanation why this sentence is correct?
>
> Thanks a lot!

This is perfectly good English. It is perhaps more commonly heard in England than America. It would be the same as saying “I think of him as a good man.”

To parse the sentence: “I” is the subject; “think” is the verb; “him” is the direct object; “man” is the object complement; “a” and “good” modify man.

If you insert “to be,” then “to be” becomes the direct object (a noun infinitive); “man” becomes the predicate nominative of the infinitive; and “him” becomes the subject of the infinitive.

I hope this helps.

Dear NT:

You wrote:
> Can one use the simple present tense when we are talking about
> instructions, orders or programs.
>
> 1-This week I go to the pool every day. (program)
> 2-This week you don’t watch TV. (order)
> 3-Today, we discuss Darwin’s theory. (program)
>
Yes, these all make sense but they sound “broken”–something a non-native speaker would probably ever say. All three would be more understandable in the present progressive. #1 would more likely be spoken in the progressive because the action is repeated daily–“This week I am going to the pool every day.”

#2 is fine if you want it to be imperative. You can be used in imperative sentences for emphasis as it is here. Native speakers would probably also say “any TV” to emphasize that there are no exceptions: “This week you are not watching any TV” or, even better, “You are not watching any TV all week.” But the listener would understand that is a command.

#3 would most likely also be spoken in the progressive unless you were going over a day-by-day schedule. Simple present would be used in a construction like this: “Last week we discussed Lamarck’s theory. Today we discuss Darwin’s theory. Next week we discuss Behe’s theory.” We were looking at it day by day. Otherwise, opt for the progressive: “Today we are discussing Darwin’s theory.”

We understand that many languages do not have progressive or imperfect verb tenses, so they can be a little mysterious. We hope this helps.

Dear A:

You wrote:

>Hello,
>I’ve heard that it is incorrect for someone to say: “John and I worked on the project.” Is this true? If so, why? I’ve heard that proper or grammatically correct way to make such a statement, would be the following: “Me and John worked on the project” or “John and me worked on the project.”
Your assistance and clarification would be greatly appreciated.
>Thank you,

The grammatical way is just the opposite. I is for subjects. Me is for objects. Try the sentence without the extra noun in the subject. Is it “Me worked on the project” or “I worked on the project”? Clearly, the correct way is “I worked on the project.” The same pattern applies if the subject is compound. “John and I worked on the project” is correct.

We normally put I last in any compound subject out of politeness. In other words “John and I” is preferred over “I and John” because it is polite to put others before ourselves.

For more on this, see Grammar Slammer “Pronoun Case” or https://www.englishplus.com/grammar/00000021.htm.

Dear MDA, Administrative Assistant:

You wrote:
> HELP: Which is correct: Barney and I went to the store,
>
> Between you and I or Between you and me. Why? and how can I remember when
> to use ‘I’.
>
I is the subject; me is the object. In most cases you can remember which one to use by omitting the word it is paired with. Is it “me went to the store” or “I went to the store”? Clearly, “Barney and I went to the store” is correct. I is the subject.

Between is slightly more tricky because you need to have something plural for it make sense. But between is a preposition; therefore, it takes an object. You should say “Between you and me.” If it were possible, you would say “between me,” just as you say “to me” or “with me” or “between us.” Me follows prepositions.

I occasionally do hear people say “Between you and I,” but I am not sure where this came from.

Similar pattern for other pronouns:

It and you are the same for both subject and object in modern English.