Know your English

IS IT correct to say ``He has good command over English"? (B. Senthil, Madurai)

Careful users of the language would frown on this. They would argue that one can have command over people, but not over language. You can for example say:

He has total command over his men. They will do whatever he wants them to.

But when it comes to language, they would prefer ``of '' to ``over".

We are looking for someone who has good command of English.

Many children in the south have little or no command of Hindi.

I am told that Prakasham has good command of French.

There is a tendency these days however, even among some native speakers, to say ``have good command over English". The purists may not like this, but as the Americans would put it, that's the way the cookie crumbles. To be on the safe side, avoid saying ``command over English".

Which of the following sentences is correct? The Government has many problems''or ``The Government have many problems"? (D. S. R. Ramaswamy, Bangalore)

Both are acceptable. It depends on how you view the Government. Do you consider the Government to be single impersonal unit, or do you look upon it as consisting of separate small units? If you view it as a single unit, then you can use a singular verb ``The Government has many problems". If, on the other hand, you view the Government as comprising several different units, then you can use the plural verb ``have''&151; ``The Government have many problems". There are many words in English, which can take either the singular or the plural verb - family, jury, committee, staff, team are just some of the nouns. Here are a few examples.

The jury was/were beginning to look bored.

The family was/were planning to move to Australia.

What is the meaning and origin of the term ``son of a gun"? (Dr. T. Muralidharan, Palakkad)

This is an expression that is frequently heard in American English. It is used to express different emotions. It is often used to indicate surprise and shock.

Son of a gun! I can't believe that they actually bombed New York.

The expression is also used to refer to a man who is unpleasant.

I wouldn't go anywhere near Anand. He's a mean son of a gun.

Don't get too friendly with that man. The son of a gun will take advantage of you.

The son of a gun tried to steal from his own parents.

It is also used as a term of endearment. When you refer to someone as ``son of a gun", you are indicating your affection for that person. Here are a few examples.

The little son of a gun got an A in the test.

The son of a gun went out of his way to help me.

As to the origin, well to begin with, the expression ``son of a gun'' was a polite way of referring to an illegitimate child, usually a boy! In the old days, it was standard practice to take women on long voyages. Sometimes these women became pregnant and had the baby on the ship. Usually the maternity ward, if you can call it that, was the midsection of the ship, next to the cannons. Since all deaths and births on a ship had to be recorded, the newborn baby's record was written up as well. If it was not clear who the father of the child was, then next to the father's name, the word ``Gun'' was written &151; referring to the cannon next to which the child was born. Against the child's name, the word ``son'' was written. Hence the expression, ``son of a gun".

What is the difference between ``should'' and ``must"? (K.R. Mahalingam, Chennai)

When you tell someone that he should do something, you are advising him to do it. You are not ordering him to do something; you are merely asking him to consider the possibility. It is a request; you are merely suggesting to the individual that it would be a good idea if he were to do it. Here are a few examples.

You should brush your teeth every day before going to bed.

Mohan should work harder.

I think the old rules should be revised.

The word ``must'' is normally used when you wish to order someone. You are no longer requesting, or suggesting, you are telling the person what to do. When a person is told that he ``should'' brush his teeth, he has a choice; he can either follow your advice, or he can ignore it completely. In the case of ``must", the person has no option. He has to brush his teeth. Here are a few examples.

If you want to get through your exams, you must work harder.

I am telling you that you must not marry that girl.

The Chairman said that we must work on Sunday.

What is the meaning of ``ground zero"? (N. Raja Mani, Secunderabad)

This is a term that has been heard quite frequently on CNN the past couple of weeks. ``Ground zero'' was originally used to refer to an atomic explosion; it is the site at which an atomic explosion took place. This is how dictionaries define the term: ``the point on the surface of the earth or water directly below, directly above, or at which an atomic or hydrogen bomb explodes". Today the term is being used informally to mean a place of rapid development or change; a place of violent activity.

About ten years ago no one had heard about Vasudeva Nagar. But today it has become the ground zero from which restaurants and designer shops radiate.

The term ``ground zero'' is also used to mean elementary level; a ``starting point". For example,

Many of my students will be starting at ground zero.

My boss didn't like the ad campaign. Looks like I have to return to ground zero.

* * * * *

"I've had bad luck with both my wives. The first one left me and the second one didn't."

S. UPENDRAN

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