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As a former teacher, and aficionado of all things related to the English language, I proffer this thread in the hopes of helping us all to become better users of the lingua franca used on this site.
This is not an effort to berate, but to educate. All useful contributions are welcome.
There: location. The cat is there.
Their: belonging to them. That's their cat.
They're: contraction of They + Are. They're playing with the cat.
Put it all together now!
They're there with their cat. A useful sentence to help you remember!
More later. I gotta rewatch "Sons of Anarchy."
I love you guys...
A little more elucidation on the proper use of apostrophes would also be appreciated.
You do not add one to a pluralization. For instance, a forest full of bears is NOT a forest full of bear's.
A thing could belong to the bear. It would be the bear's thing.
The bear could be doing something in the present tense. For instance, it could be that the bear's driving the car. The bear might even be driving the bear's car. Or a car belonging to all the bears, which would be the bears' car.
The bear is definitely not filling his car with other bear's.
And don't even get me started on than and then. I will make this clear as simply as I can: the bear would rather drive his car THAN yours, and only when he is finished will he THEN park it.
That's just the kind of helpful contribution I wanted!
Mods: Could we change the title to "Free English Lessons," instead? That would better reflect the intent.
My spelling is perfectly fine according to MS Word 2007 but our grammar may be off for both of us.
Me's english is most good. Me no need stupid lessons for takling or speeling. You's had angerd I.
Also, the class is not "rouge", but "rogue". Seriously, I think this is the most common spelling mistake directly related to the game. Funnily enough, in 2nd edition, it was "theif"...
That's also my beleif!
Accept: I accept the fact that I'm not rich and handsome.
Except: I like all the classes, except the gunslinger.
Affect: Verb. How does alcohol affect your driving skills?
Effect: Noun. The effect of alcohol is bad for your driving skills.
Alcohol affects you. It has an effect on you.
I tend to use spelling/grammar as a litmus test to determine if I continue reading the poster's comments.
Nothing says "I revel in my ignorance" like failing second-grade grammar class.
As a caveat, I'll note that most of the nonnative English speakers tend to get things right. Which makes the plight of the grammar-challenged even worse.
Semicolons! We hates them!
When to use them, when not to.
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I'll note that most of the nonnative English speakers tend to get things right.
As long as you don't hear us speak...
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Am I famous or infamous?
Yes
Semicolons! We hates them!
When to use them, when not to.
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Allow me to be of some assistance:
The adventurers had some trouble at the cliff. The cleric, especially. He died.
The adventurers had some trouble at the cliff: The cleric, especially; he died.
The adventurers had some trouble at the cliff; the cleric, especially. He died.
All of these are punctuated correctly for modern usage.
Colons are like periods. The next word should be capitalized. Semicolons are like commas, and, like colons, are used to separate and emphasize ideas, but not as strongly.
Colon: Capitalize the next word and make a sentence. Semicolon; nah...
I'm sure someone can explain it better than I did.
As a former teacher, and aficionado of all things related to the English language, I proffer this thread in the hopes of helping us all to become better users of the lingua franca used on this site.If they're English lessons, shouldn't that be the lingua anglica?
You mean something "for all intents and purposes," not "for all intensive purposes."
"It's" and "its" explained:
"It's" is used only as a contraction of it + is:
It's time to go. It's loud in here.
All other uses don't have the apostrophe:
The dragon lifts its head and breathes fire at you. Its scales are a deep red.
This is an exception to the normal use of apostrophe + s to indicate possession.
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Common errors.
I knew someone would one day write a book about me. I just did not know it would come so soon and have such an apt title.
A red mantis would be rouge, I guess.
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You follow the tenets of your faith. Not the tenants.
Well, if people live in your places of worship, they might be said to be tenants of the faith. And all you have to do is stalk them. Therefore: When someone says this, call the police.
This comic may be of interest. There are also a couple of links in the news section.
Opinions on media/medium? I used to think usage should triumph in this debate, but after a couple years with a high school politics teacher who used "media" in the historical fashion, I have switched.
Me's engrish are the best. Y'all be wrong wit you're atempt's two fix me's speling 'n gammer. Youse guys shood be ashameded of youseself's.
I ain't ashamed of my English usage in the slightest. Especially since I know the appropriate usage of the contraction "ain't," whether it is popularly accepted or not.
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Colon: Capitalize the next word and make a sentence.
That's not true.
They were assaulted by lots of different bears: bears that eat honey, bears that talk funny and bears that make money.
John is a terrible driver: he never uses his wing mirrors.
Colons are used to expand on or further explain a point you have already made. The second half of my first example makes no sense as an independent clause but I have used the colon accurately.
I am an English Teacher in a British, state-run, secondary school.
You're right.
Affect: Verb. How does alcohol affect your driving skills?
Effect: Noun. The effect of alcohol is bad for your driving skills.
Affect: Verb. "He affects a knowledge of antiques, but hasn't any." --Chandler.
Affect: Noun. "Years of abuse had left him with blunted affect, unreactive to all but the most violent stimuli."
Effect: Verb. "Undaunted, he effected a solution."
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No, you did not "literally die" when you heard that.
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... unless what you heard was a Power Work: Kill.
Affect: Verb. How does alcohol affect your driving skills?
Effect: Noun. The effect of alcohol is bad for your driving skills.
Affect: Verb. "He affects a knowledge of antiques, but hasn't any." --Chandler.
Affect: Noun. "Years of abuse had left him with blunted affect, unreactive to all but the most violent stimuli."
Effect: Verb. "Undaunted, he effected a solution."
Also correct, but these examples are not the same usage of the words I was talking about. Let's walk before we run.
All of the above plus proper enunciation of certain words
I live in Atlanta. I like Espresso. Note, it's eSpresso not eXpresso.
Fun fact; vodka has a "D" in it. Meaning it's voDka, not Voka. I'm looking at you P-diddy on the Ciroc commercials.
I'm going to the store. Not "I be going to the store." Also see "Imma goin."
"y'allgetonouttahere" ~translation~ You all get on out of here. ~ grammatically correct translation, "Get out of here."
That's all that come to mind right now.
Note: This is not a cultural thing. It's simply poor use of the english language that nobody bothered to correct. Spin it however you want, but it boils down to making the speaker sound ignorant, even if they're not.
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Blah blah blah.
Oh, I'm sorry, I meant "Blah, blah, blah."
After the 11th edition of the Dictionary of Newspeak comes out, all of these words will be doubleplusungood anyway.
Blah blah blah.
Oh, I'm sorry, I meant "Blah, blah, blah."
After the 11th edition of the Dictionary of Newspeak comes out, all of these words will be doubleplusungood anyway.
QFT
Why are there words that sound alike? e.g. To, too, two.
Let's make each word sound different from now on, and stop all this
silly confusion.
Inb4tehloc. Wait, this is bunping, isnot it.
You either work here, or you're insane. Maybe both. I<3uman!
I have a grammar lesson.
Spelling is the practice of correctly placing letters in sequence to form words. Grammar is the practice of correctly choosing words and composing sentences. A discussion of the different definitions of a homophone and how to use them in a sentence is a grammar lesson.
And, concomitantly, a spelling lesson. How is it not?
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You mean something "for all intents and purposes," not "for all intensive purposes."
That’s one that I hear often, it makes me grit me teeth.
The worst part is, my boss says it all the time. I never know whether I should correct him (and reveal to him that he’s been sounding like a bit of an idiot for years) or not (and let him continue).
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You mean something "for all intents and purposes," not "for all intensive purposes."That’s one that I hear often, it makes me grit me teeth.
The worst part is, my boss says it all the time. I never know whether I should correct him (and reveal to him that he’s been sounding like a bit of an idiot for years) or not (and let him continue).
Be like a tiger and wait for the perfect time and POUNCE!
You mean something "for all intents and purposes," not "for all intensive purposes."That’s one that I hear often, it makes me grit me teeth.
The worst part is, my boss says it all the time. I never know whether I should correct him (and reveal to him that he’s been sounding like a bit of an idiot for years) or not (and let him continue).
I hear a lot of people say: "Not worth arguing about, it's a mute point anyway," using "mute" instead of "moot." That one gets a tooth-grinding from me.
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I hear a lot of people say: "Not worth arguing about, it's a mute point anyway," using "mute" instead of "moot." That one gets a tooth-grinding from me.You mean something "for all intents and purposes," not "for all intensive purposes."That’s one that I hear often, it makes me grit me teeth.
The worst part is, my boss says it all the time. I never know whether I should correct him (and reveal to him that he’s been sounding like a bit of an idiot for years) or not (and let him continue).
I have written that one on purpose just to mess with Sebastian.
Director of Narrative
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I have written that one on purpose just to mess with Sebastian.I hear a lot of people say: "Not worth arguing about, it's a mute point anyway," using "mute" instead of "moot." That one gets a tooth-grinding from me.You mean something "for all intents and purposes," not "for all intensive purposes."That’s one that I hear often, it makes me grit me teeth.
The worst part is, my boss says it all the time. I never know whether I should correct him (and reveal to him that he’s been sounding like a bit of an idiot for years) or not (and let him continue).
To literally mess with Sebastian, of course.
I am an English Teacher in a British, state-run, secondary school.
Ouch. Commas, mate.
Zo