Only Chess
22 Jul 05
27 Jul 05
Originally posted by Mephisto2English does not use an apostrophe to make a plural, although this rule stymies many native speakers.
Using an apostrophe is just a method to form a plural for such cases.
The apostrophe denotes possession.
You start the game with eight pawns; each pawn's ambition is a change in gender--from foot soldier to queen.
27 Jul 05
1 edit
Originally posted by WulebgrAlso, in cases where possession refers to plural items, the apostrophe is after the s:
You start the game with eight pawns; each pawn's ambition is a change in gender--from foot soldier to queen.
The pawns' ambitions are to be transexuals.
EDIT: One way to display a word if you aren't sure if it is singular or plural is to put the s in brackets (although usually this is in an either/or scenario). I am not sure if it is considered grammatically correct though. For example, fata morgana(s).
27 Jul 05
Originally posted by WulebgrI heard that the "grammar commitee" that meets every year to change english proposed removing the apostrophe all together. Just leaving it up to the reader to figure out what the words mean. If you think about it, it rarely makes a difference if it were sitting there or not. And it certainly wouldn't become more confusing than other aspects of the language.
English does not use an apostrophe to make a plural, although this rule stymies many native speakers.
The apostrophe denotes possession.
You start the game with eight pawns; each pawn's ambition is a change in gender--from foot soldier to queen.
28 Jul 05
Originally posted by THUDandBLUNDERRe: 'non sequiturs'
Anyway, IMO Bowmann is just a well-meaning, yet insecure, jingoistic, nit-picking, hair-splitting purveyor of one-line, two-bit non sequiturs which he alone appreciates, no doubt alone. A sad case, indeed. 😵
My remarks are never fully appreciated by the less perceptive.
But I can't fault you on the rest of your list. Just wondering, do you have other books besides a dictionary?
28 Jul 05
1 edit
Originally posted by CoconutWhich grammar committee? I've never heard of that. English is a family of dialects where the rules of useage vary so much that it'd be impossible to achieve any kind of consensus anyway. Oh yes - its and it's.
I heard that the "grammar commitee" that meets every year to change english proposed removing the apostrophe all together. Just leaving it up to the reader to figure out what the words mean. If you think about it, it rarely makes a differ ...[text shortened]... ouldn't become more confusing than other aspects of the language.
Don't take on too many games - it's fatal.
29 Jul 05
4 edits
Originally posted by BowmannRead the first few pages of the Oxford dictionary of English. Not I will grant you to the extent of getting the apostrophe in the wrong place, but there is a wide variation in the usage of English in Britain, when it comes to the major international dialects (British English is a dialect among other dialects - before anyone gets offended) the usage can be quite different.
Nonsense!
One way of playing better is to avoid getting into stupid arguments in the forums and concentrate on your games instead 😉
31 Jul 05
Originally posted by DeepThoughtYou've missed the point entirely.
Read the first few pages of the Oxford dictionary of English. Not I will grant you to the extent of getting the apostrophe in the wrong place, but there is a wide variation in the usage of English in Britain, when it comes to the major international dialects (British English is a dialect among other dialects - before anyone gets offended) the usage can ...[text shortened]... is to avoid getting into stupid arguments in the forums and concentrate on your games instead 😉
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01 Aug 05
Originally posted by WulebgrIt is understandable Mephisto2 interchanges these two. In Dutch (I assume his second or first language is indeed Dutch (the other French probably)) one uses the apostrophe for a plural form; auto -> auto's in English one does not; car -> cars. We use the attached s for possession purposes.
English does not use an apostrophe to make a plural, although this rule stymies many native speakers.
The apostrophe denotes possession.
It is really really hard when writing in English to keep a difference like this in mind.
01 Aug 05
Is this a thread about grammar or chess tips.
Generally speaking, don't move a piece more than once in the opening and concentrate on development.
As black found out to his cost here Game 1308198