Egg On Their Faces

“Separating eggs are a hassle.” - From a television commercial by the folks at EZ Cracker, makers of some hokey egg-cracking contraption.

Curry Ain't So Hot

"...and in Kenya, where some of Barack Obama's relatives lives..."
Ann Curry, NBC News, January 2009

I forgot to write down the date. Sue me.

Again?

"...There is no reports of..." Right-wing radio jock Sean Hannity talking about yesterday's plane crash in New York - 15 January 2009.

I listen to Hannity only to keep tabs on what the Dark Side is doing.

What's Wrong With Our Schools?

“…But there is big changes in store…” David Mazza, WOAI morning news, 7 January, 2009.

Jesus H. Christ. Is grammar being taught anywhere any more?

Kyra Phillips

“The Secretary of the State and the governor has to sign the certificate of appointment…” Kyra Phillips, CNN, 5 January, 2009

This woman has one of the most severe noun/verb agreement issues I’ve ever witnessed. This is but one of the many instances of improper conjugation she used during the 25 minutes I watched her today. She was so bad I had to change the channel; I just couldn’t take it.

The more I watch and listen to reporters and politicians, the more I wonder what has caused this epidemic of noun/verb disagreement.

Elementary?

"The Bush administration has came up with the idea of military commissions." Jeffrey Toobin, CNN Senior Political Analyst on "Campbell Brown: No Bias, No Bull. 10 November 2008

Note: Toobin is a Harvard graduate. Dontcha gotsta know English to get into Hahvahd?

They Sure Is

"I know he’s now famous in South Texas; but even his family is now big celebrities in La Vernia."

Don Harris, WOAI News Sportscaster, 8/14/08

De-Lame

"Just ahead - the number of deaths on the highways are down..."

Delaine Mathieu, WOAI TV News, 8/14/08

In Hot Pursuit of Conjugation

“Now to Molino, Florida where the woman in the car ahead is giving the cops a clear indication of how much she’s drank this evening.” –TV show Hot Pursuit, 04 September 2006

Drank? Ugghh.

Come On!

"....showing that they had came from...." --Matari Jones, WOAI TV, August 16, 2006

The reporter was doing a story about a couple arrested because one of their kids was found wandering alone late at night. The two parents, cuffed and in a police car, had on pink wrist bands, indicating that they had come from a local nightclub.

Kristine, Kristine, Kristine

“While there were a few falls, and some missed kicks there was also plenty of smiles.” –Kristine Johnson, "World Cup for the Retired," NBC News Early Today, 11 May 2006

++++++++++

This is the grammatically challenged Kristine Johnson's (NBC) second honor in my blog. Her writer(s) would find themselves honored here if I knew who they were. Since I don’t, Kristine takes the rap.

You can read her previous “offense” here

++++++++++

How many times do we need to go over noun/verb agreement Kristine? If you send me your mailing address I’ll send you a basic grammar book. If your writers are the true offenders, you can pass it on to them.

More Noun / Verb Disagreement

“...and there is still nine days remaining in the month.” Rick Alessio, Headline News, 22 April, reporting a story about Albert Pujols and the number of home runs he’s hit.

Dear Rick (or Rick’s writer): See this post or head back to skool.

Nouns and Verbs Doesn't Agree

"And then there was four." -- Kristine Johnson, NBC News Early Today, 27 March 2006.

Does they teaches noun/verb agreement in skool any more?

++++++++++

This is fast becoming a real peeve of mine. I hear people doing this shit every day on television, radio and in person. For example:

“The wind and rain is going to be a real problem today.”
“There’s lots of reasons to....”
“Here’s a few things to keep you busy...”

For those of you who are noun/verb challenged, here are some links that might help:
http://www.esc.edu/htmlpages/writerold/pandg/exg1a.shtml

Exercise 1
http://www.esc.edu/htmlpages/writerold/pandg/exg1a.shtml

Exercise 1b
http://www.esc.edu/htmlpages/writerold/pandg/exg1b.shtml

Exercise 8c (Don’t ask where the ones in between went)
http://www.esc.edu/htmlpages/writerold/pandg/exg8c.shtml

Headlines

"....Now here's the headlines." --Catherine Callaway, CNN Headline News

Dear Catherine:

I'm going to send you free copies of: "Hooked on Conjugation" and "Noun/Verb Agreement for Idiots"

Well, I will once I write them.

We Be Conjugatin'

Is it unreasonable to expect a professional broadcaster and college graduate to know how to conjugate verbs? I think not.

This is what Gloria Riviera (ABC News) said this morning:

“...The wind and rain has really intensified.”


Cj