English grammar question

#1

English grammar question

Posted: 10/27/05 at 11:29pm

I'm working on an application, and I'd like to know: if I'm referring to Law as a field of study, do I include an article ("To study and understand the law"), or leave it out ("to study and understand Law")?

---

BlueWizard's blog: The Rambling Corner HEDWIG: "The road is my home. In reflecting upon the people whom I have come upon in my travels, I cannot help but think of the people who have come upon me."

Updated On: 10/27/05 at 11:29 PM

#2

re: English grammar question

Posted: 10/27/05 at 11:36pm

I believe the "the" would only be added if you were saying something like "the concept of law".

I'm not positive but that is what I think.

---

David walked into the valley With a stone clutched in his hand He was only a boy But he knew someone must take a stand There will always be a valley Always mountains one must scale There will always be perilous waters Which someone must sail -Into the Fire Scarlet Pimpernel

#3

re: English grammar question

Posted: 10/27/05 at 11:38pm

Well, I know that I fought the law and the law won.

But, I am actually not sure of the rule.

Sorry.

#4

re: English grammar question

Posted: 10/27/05 at 11:40pm

I'm assuming one can remove the "the" and just capitalize Law, like History or Political Science. But I'm not sure....

---

BlueWizard's blog: The Rambling Corner HEDWIG: "The road is my home. In reflecting upon the people whom I have come upon in my travels, I cannot help but think of the people who have come upon me."

#5

re: English grammar question

Posted: 10/27/05 at 11:42pm

Well, I work for a law deparment in a company, and my business card just says "Law" after my title. If that helps.

#6

re: English grammar question

Posted: 10/27/05 at 11:45pm

My card, says Jerk!

#7

re: English grammar question

Posted: 10/27/05 at 11:45pm

Hey, not until you are in the Scalia costume!

#8

re: English grammar question

Posted: 10/27/05 at 11:50pm

I believe you can remove the "the". You wouldn't say "to study and understand the Math" or "the History", so it makes sense that you can omit the "the" when referring to Law as a subject.

Obviously though, if using "law" as a metonym for "government", one would have to include "the".

---

Honey, I don't produce theater. I am theater.

#9

re: English grammar question

Posted: 10/28/05 at 1:41am

Remove "the." "The law" implies either a specific law or law enforcement kinda deal.

#10

re: English grammar question

Posted: 10/28/05 at 2:31am

Thanks!

---

BlueWizard's blog: The Rambling Corner HEDWIG: "The road is my home. In reflecting upon the people whom I have come upon in my travels, I cannot help but think of the people who have come upon me."

#11

re: English grammar question

Posted: 10/28/05 at 10:12am

An English teacher with 34 years experience advises you to drop the "the".

There is no fee for this advice.

---

"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)

#12

re: English grammar question

Posted: 10/28/05 at 11:10am

and as we do not automatically capitalize Nouns in America, as they do in Germany....I am not sure if you'd use law, or LAW.
I would never write "to sudy and understand History", but rather "to studey and undersyand history."

---

It is ridiculous to set a detective story in New York City. New York City is itself a detective story... AGATHA CHRISTIE, Life magazine, May 14, 1956

#13

re: English grammar question

Posted: 10/30/05 at 7:52pm

Here's another one: it's grammatically correct to say "I am well"; but if we replace "well" with a similar adverb, is "I am finely" or "I am doing finely" also correct, as opposed to "I am fine"?

---

BlueWizard's blog: The Rambling Corner HEDWIG: "The road is my home. In reflecting upon the people whom I have come upon in my travels, I cannot help but think of the people who have come upon me."

#14

re: English grammar question

Posted: 10/30/05 at 11:08pm

"I am finely" is NOT correct, as you would use an adjective in that case, not an adverb. "I am doing finely" IS correct, as is "I am doing fine." "I am fine," is also correct. Fine is both an adjective and an adverb, finely is just an adverb.

#15

re: English grammar question

Posted: 10/30/05 at 11:47pm

"I am finely" is NOT correct, as you would use an adjective in that case, not an adverb.

How about the case of "I am well"? Well is an adverb, yet this sentence is correct. Isn't "I am good" grammatically incorrect?

---

BlueWizard's blog: The Rambling Corner HEDWIG: "The road is my home. In reflecting upon the people whom I have come upon in my travels, I cannot help but think of the people who have come upon me."

#16

re: English grammar question

Posted: 10/30/05 at 11:56pm

"I am good" is incorrect. Good is only an adjective while both well and fine are adverbs AND adjectives.

Actually, "well" is the adverb form of "good", but it is informal.

---

This is my signature.

Updated On: 10/30/05 at 11:56 PM

#17

re: English grammar question

Posted: 10/30/05 at 11:58pm

Ah, I see -- thank you both for your help. I was under the impression that "well" is an adverb only.

---

BlueWizard's blog: The Rambling Corner HEDWIG: "The road is my home. In reflecting upon the people whom I have come upon in my travels, I cannot help but think of the people who have come upon me."

#18

re: English grammar question

Posted: 10/31/05 at 1:01am

First off, I think fine is both the adverbial form and adjectival form of the word "fine" (wow, that did not make sense).

I am doing fine.
I am fine.

Well is an odd case. In Spanish, for example, you say "Estoy bien" (bien being the adverb, bueno being the adjective).

The real reason, I believe, is that you are asking "how?" How as a question implies the use of an adverb. "How are you going?" "I am going quickly"...or something to that effect.

Anyway, I like to simplify it to --> Well is the adverbial form of good. HOWEVER - well is also an adjective meaning "not ill."

"He has a fever; he is not well"

Updated On: 10/31/05 at 01:01 AM

#19

re: English grammar question

Posted: 10/31/05 at 1:16am

Finely IS also an adverb. I looked it up in the dictionary to make sure before answering. It's most commonly used for things like "finely chopped," but it does also have the same "well" definition of "fine."

The adjective uses of the word "well" do extend beyond physical condition. Take a sentence like this: "All's well that ends well."

"Good" actually has an Adverb listing in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, but with the note that it is generally a more informal usage that is generally under attack. But, generally, good is only used as an adjective, hence the reason why "I am good" is incorrect.

#20

re: English grammar question

Posted: 10/31/05 at 1:19am

"finely chopped" is different than "I am finely"

Fine has two different meanings and, therefore, two different uses.

#21

re: English grammar question

Posted: 10/31/05 at 2:04am

Thanks for your help. Here's another one: is it proper to write, "they completed their undergraduate degree and....", or would I pluralize "degree"?

---

BlueWizard's blog: The Rambling Corner HEDWIG: "The road is my home. In reflecting upon the people whom I have come upon in my travels, I cannot help but think of the people who have come upon me."

Updated On: 10/31/05 at 02:04 AM