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Mitchell and Webb - Proper Language Use

Help Grammar Nazi, you are my only hope. (Books Talk Post)

JiggaJonson says...

Are you asking about the sentence in quotations? Yes it's correct grammatically.

Most people understand that you need a "noun and a verb" in every sentence. It's a bit more helpful to think of what you need in a sentence as a subject and a predicate in my opinion. The reason for this is that, while it's true that nouns and verbs are usually present in a sentence, frequently words that would usually function as verbs can be used as nouns and vice versa because you have to consider all other words that modify those words. For example:

Running = something that you do
but, when it's modified by another word like "his" to form a sentence like
"His running sped up."
^In this case, the word "running" is actually the subject of the sentence. So, you could say, because the word "running" is performing the functions of a noun, and is being modified by the predicate or the action in this sentence, running is a noun.

Now for the sentence above, the subject is being modified a lot
values is the simple subject modified by 'of the figure of merit shown (mdn (min, max))'
then you have your predicate, the Be verb 'are'
The subject and the predicate for the meatier part of the sentence is all good, one subject and one predicate and no out of place modifiers.

The only tricky part of understanding this sentence is the list at the end. All the "n=whatever" listed here would fall into a category of what's called the predicate nominative or in other words, whet the predicate, or word functioning as a verb, is naming.

You probably see these frequently and don't realize it: "When the plot to kidnap Westy is discovered, Gwiz will be a suspect." For each case, if the verb descibes a state of being, like 'am' as in 'I am,' look for what that state is. So for the aforementioned sentence, 'plot' is being modified by 'is' and the state of being in that case is 'discovered.' For the second part (abbreviated) "Gwiz" mod by "will" state of being is "suspect."

Alllll of that being said, the list at the end is all a part of that same predicate nominative (albeit a long one) and the individual groups of values are separated by semicolons correctly. The reason semicolons are used as opposed to commas is because semicolons function as a sort of 'trump' for a regular comma. In the case of this list, commas are used frequently to separate smaller segments of the number values. Because of this comma use, semicolons are needed to keep things from getting confusing.
Here's an example:
I've traveled to London, England; Paris, France; and Rome, Italy.
as opposed to
I've traveled to London, England, Paris, France, and Rome, Italy.

^and that probably doesn't look incorrect but that's only because you know of the cities I listed here. If I were to pluck out some countries/cities from a dense part of Africa like this:
I've traveled to Libreville, Gabon, Parakou, Benin, Lome, Togo, and Cuassola, Angola.
^Here it becomes difficult to categorize the city/country name because of their unfamiliarity.

But if you get some help from semicolons...
I've traveled to Libreville, Gabon; Parakou, Benin; Lome, Togo; and Cuassola, Angola.
It's much easier to categorize everything, as is the way with the correctly punctuated sentence you presented.

For more on semicolon use I strongly suggest you check out this link http://theoatmeal.com/comics/semicolon . It's both hilarious and informative.

Finally, I asked at the beginning of this post "Are you asking about the sentence in quotations?" because what you said "I hate this sentence is it right" is not correct. You need a comma to separate the independent clauses "I hate this sentence," and "is it right."

Corrected: I hate this sentence, is it right?

Grammar Nazi awaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!

Ryjkyj (Member Profile)

Gabe_b (Member Profile)

The Plural of Octopus

Gabe_b says...

>> ^MilkmanDan:

I held off watching, expecting a grammar-nazi style rant. Pleasantly surprised by the actual answer!
yeah, pleasantly surprised... By Her Face! Deal with it.



>> ^gwiz665:

Had a party last night with a bunch of podes. Was great.. old chap.


there's a monocle smile emoticon now???

The Plural of Octopus

Ryjkyj says...

>> ^MilkmanDan:

I held off watching, expecting a grammar-nazi style rant. Pleasantly surprised by the actual answer!



Your second sentence is actually a dependent clause because there is no subject. Which means the two statements below should be separated by a comma.

You f*&^ing ignorant slob.

The Plural of Octopus

BIG ASS MOOSE shows dog who is the forrest king

BIG ASS MOOSE shows dog who is the forrest king

BIG ASS MOOSE shows dog who is the forrest king

If print media dies, what will loons fill their houses with?

Hitler's normal, non-official tone, voice

therealblankman says...

No, please don't misunderstand. I was joking myself- taking advantage of the situation. I mean seriously, how often does one get to call another a "Grammar Nazi" in so appropriate a situation? You corrected my grammar in a posting regarding a video about Hitler? Perfect, delicious irony and I thank you for setting it up so perfectly.

http://videosift.com/video/Grammar-Nazis-Downfall-Subtitles



>> ^conan:

>> ^therealblankman:
Thanks for correcting my Grammar, especially in a language which I do not speak- it'll come in handy for me to know I shouldn't capitalize the "D" in "der Führer", not to mention instructing me in the proper use of an umlaut. You've saved me from humiliation and embarassment by going out of your way to teach me the use of proper German grammar. There's a term used on the internet for people who do so, but frankly it escapes me at the moment... some sort of "Grammar Authorities" or "Grammar Strict Police"... damnit, what's the word I'm looking for?

I'm sorry if i offended you, i didn't mean to.

Grammar Nazi

Psychologic says...

>> ^dag:

I was taught never to put a comma before an "and" in a standard sentence. I didn't even think this was debatable.


Not even in a list?

"He bought this, that, and the other thing."

campionidelmondo (Member Profile)

Zero Punctuation: Splinter Cell: Conviction



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