Grammar Discussions

[anat0l]

Just received an email from Virgin Holidays (surprised there's no apostrophe in there):

"See the V8's in action". Blech.

Yeah, though I find not many anglophones actually know how to properly pluralise abbreviations. The misguided approach that is actually denoting ownership and not the plural is most common.

It gets more difficult when you have to pluralise an abbreviation that ends in a sibilant, e.g. the plural of OS (operating system). Or, when the object is a letter, e.g. the plural of the underlined in: "You must cross your t and dot your i." Or, a less awkward way of saying, "In the word assassinate, the letter s appears four times."

 

[Archphoto]

Slightly OT, but I visited a friend here in BKK at the school she is currently training at and saw some of the displays in both English and Thai showing the ASEAN countries.

I now better understand why there has been some pointed remarks about the English being taught in schools here - they spelled Malaysia, and Singapore incorrectly. If they aren't getting it right in primary (& in some cases preschool), they're behind the eight ball even before entering high school.

Add to that some of the (exam) grammar questions in university, and it's no wonder they score lower than expected; if the teacher's aren't teaching it correctly, how can the students be expected to excel?

 

[anat0l]

Slightly OT, but I visited a friend here in BKK at the school she is currently training at and saw some of the displays in both English and Thai showing the ASEAN countries.

I now better understand why there has been some pointed remarks about the English being taught in schools here - they spelled Malaysia, and Singapore incorrectly. If they aren't getting it right in primary (& in some cases preschool), they're behind the eight ball even before entering high school.

Add to that some of the (exam) grammar questions in university, and it's no wonder they score lower than expected; if the teacher's aren't teaching it correctly, how can the students be expected to excel?

I would prefer not to get hung up on the spelling of proper nouns, such as country names.

Let's worry about basic, non-proper words first. Once we get over the "their/there/they're" and "lose/loose" BS, we'll be ready to educate them properly on how to culturally diversify them for checking the correct spelling of proper nouns, particularly those of foreign origin (and may be frequently mispronounced, too).

Whether or not continuous spelling drilling exercises up to the end of high school is productive or not is debatable. I remember my year 10 teacher used to tell us that if we made eight or more spelling and/or grammar mistakes in our assignment, we could not obtain an A grade for that piece of assessment. For someone like me that found it necessary to do well, that warning was well heeded. For the rest who were only intent on passing, it was merely noted.

The irony is, of course, not everyone needs an A to succeed in the school system (or university), but you frequently need the equivalent standard as such to succeed in a career. Then again, even in careers, the real need to write (or write well) may not be present (some technical fields demand relatively little writing or writing in prose). When was the last time a doctor or dentist actually needed to write a page of coherent prose of which their career depended so much on it? Yeah, thought as much, and how much do they get paid?

 

[maninblack]

Re: BA 777 on fire at LAS

Rather poor job by te sub-editor on this headline! British Airways fire pilot: 'I'm finished flying' - BBC News

 

[JessicaTam]

Re: BA 777 on fire at LAS

Rather poor job by te sub-editor on this headline! British Airways fire pilot: 'I'm finished flying' - BBC News

Go directly to the Grammar Thread. Do not pass go.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Re: BA 777 on fire at LAS

Rather poor job by te sub-editor on this headline! British Airways fire pilot: 'I'm finished flying' - BBC News

Well no, not really. That is verbatim what the pilot said and grammatically it's ok. Besides, even if it wasn't, after such a successful event, he can say whatever he wants.

So now I'm finished ranting.

 

[JessicaTam]

Re: BA 777 on fire at LAS

Well no, not really. That is verbatim what the pilot said and grammatically it's ok. Besides, even if it wasn't, after such a successful event, he can say whatever he wants.

So now I'm finished ranting.

I read the headline to say that BA had sacked the pilot, before taking another look.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Re: BA 777 on fire at LAS

I read the headline to say that BA had sacked the pilot, before taking another look.

Sorry should be on the grammar thread but in summary, na! it's an English form of useage for the verb 'finish' to use the verb 'to be' rather than 'to have' , like the Shakespearean use for past tense of the verb 'to go, as 'I am gone'. There's a difference between 'I am finished flying' and "I have finished flying". The first implies an end of a personal behaviour while the second implies the end of an action.

but now I am back drinking my Friday night Chardonnay!

 

[opusman]

Re: BA 777 on fire at LAS

but now I am back drinking to my Friday night Chardonnay!

I am finished. Drinking.

 

[JessicaTam]

Re: BA 777 on fire at LAS

Sorry should be on the grammar thread but in summary, na! it's an English form of useage for the verb 'finish' to use the verb 'to be' rather than 'to have' , like the Shakespearean use for past tense of the verb 'to go, as 'I am gone'. There's a difference between 'I am finished flying' and "I have finished flying". The first implies an end of a personal behaviour while the second implies the end of an action.

but now I am back drinking my Friday night Chardonnay!

I wasn't referring to the second half of the headline, just the first.

"British Airways fire pilot".

 

[TheRealTMA]

Re: BA 777 on fire at LAS

I wasn't referring to the second half of the headline, just the first.

"British Airways fire pilot".

Missing comma?

You of all should realise that you have to be specific on this social media thread.

 

[JessicaTam]

Re: BA 777 on fire at LAS

Missing comma?

You of all should realise that you have to be specific on this social media thread.

Indeed.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Re: BA 777 on fire at LAS

I am finished. Drinking.

Too late, Bru. Pity.

 

[defurax]

In the DAA lounge at DUB. We all know kids prefer vegatable soup...

 

[Deleted member]

Found this on reddit.

As well vs Aswell. I'm seeing that a lot. Mostly from school teachers !!!

 

[anat0l]

As well vs Aswell. I'm seeing that a lot. Mostly from school teachers !!!

I have never seen that one before. I thought this must be a joke.

 

[SeatBackForward]

I have never seen that one before. I thought this must be a joke.

It's just inflammation, nothing to be concerned about.

 

[Deleted member]

I have never seen that one before. I thought this must be a joke.

I pulled my sister up on it a while ago. She should have known better. !!!

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

...if the teacher's aren't teaching it correctly, how can the students be expected to excel?

*teachers (plural)

Or teacher's not (teacher is not)

 

[JohnK]

As well vs Aswell. I'm seeing that a lot. Mostly from school teachers !!!

Maybe and may be can be confusing at times.