Know your English

``GOOD GRIEF! This article is full of mistakes. The author has spelt the word `opposite' with an `a' How could...''

``....it isn't a mistake. The word `apposite' does exist.''

`` It does?''

``Yes, it does. The `a' in the first syllable is like the `a' in `act', `fact' and `tact'. The `o' in the second syllable is like the `a' in `China' and `amount'. The final syllable is like...''

``...is like the final syllable in `opposite', I suppose?''

``You suppose right. Do you know what the word `apposite' means?''

``I have no idea.''

``Apposite means appropriate or suitable. It is a word usually used in formal contexts. For example, I can say, some of the objections made by the members of the Board were apposite.''

``The Minister's remarks were not apposite to the discussion.''

``Politicians seldom make apposite remarks.''

``That's true. By the way, what happened in yesterday's final? Did your team win?''

``No, we didn't. Sujatha and Ramesh blamed themselves for the loss.''

``I don't believe it. Sujatha usually blames the others. Do you mean to say she has changed?''

``Of course, not. She blamed Ramesh for our team's defeat.''

``Well, in that case, Sujatha and Ramesh did not blame themselves.''

``Yes, they did. Sujatha blamed Ramesh and Ramesh blamed Sujatha.''

``If that is the case, they didn't blame themselves, they blamed each other.''

``They blamed each other? What is the difference between.....''

``....when you say `Sujatha and Ramesh blamed themselves', it means that Sujatha blamed herself and Ramesh blamed himself.''

``I see. In other words, Sujatha felt that she was responsible for her team's defeat. She didn't think it was Ramesh's fault that the team lost.''

``Exactly! And Ramesh feels the same way too. He, like Sujatha, believes that it was he who let the team down. Each one takes the blame.''

``But when you say that they blamed each other, then....''

``....when you say, Sujatha and Ramesh blamed each other, it means that Sujatha blamed Ramesh for the defeat and ....''

``....Ramesh blamed Sujatha!''

``Exactly! Sounds more like the Ramesh and Sujatha we know, doesn't it?''

``It certainly does. In our country, political parties, instead of blaming themselves for the mess the country is in, blame one another.''

``Politicians are always looking for a scapegoat.''

``Right now, the scapegoat seems to be the country.''

``Sad, but true. By the way, I need your help. Do you think....''

``....oh, I don't know. I am not....''

``....I will make you an offer that you can't refuse.''

``Make me an offer that I can't refuse, eh? You watched Godfather during the weekend, did you?''

``That's right. It was great. I saw...''

``....yes, it was. Could you explain me why the third son....''

``....explain to me why.''

``What?''

``Could you explain to me why. The word 'explain' is usually followed by `to'. You do not say, `I explained him why it was not possible'.''

``Instead you say, I explained to him why it was not possible.''

``That's right. I explained to my boss why his plans could not be carried out.''

``I am sure he was really happy to know that! It must have made his day.''

``Very funny. Do you know....''

``....by the way, when I met you on Friday, you said that you had a lot of work to do. Did you manage to get any of it done?''

``Work during the weekend! Are you kidding? You know that I don't work at weekends.''

``When do you ever work? By the way, shouldn't it be, 'You know I never work on weekends'?''

``Both are acceptable. You can either say, `I never work at weekends' or 'I never work on weekends`. ''

``I see. But is there a difference in meaning? I mean....''

``....I don't think there's a difference in meaning. As far as I know, `on weekends' is American, while ...''

``....`at weekends' is British.''

``That's right! They can be used interchangeably.''

``I see. Well, I've got to go. I need to...''

``....wait! Aren't you going to help me?''

``I have a physics test tomorrow. Unless you can write the test for me, any offer that you make right now is likely to be refused!''

* * *

``Our wines leave you nothing to hope for.'' - On the Menu of a Swiss Restaurant

* * *

S. UPENDRAN

Erratum: (KYE:28-11) Googol: ``one'' followed by a hundred zeros, not ``ten'' followed by a hundred zeros.

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