If you can read this, you are incredibly fortunate.
My Puerto Jimenez intermediate class working in pairs to solve the mystery of phrasal verbs
Not because it’s a one-of-a-kind Kent Green blog. The skill of understanding English is something people from countries like the United States, England and Australia simply grow up with. Most are oblivious that it’s something billions of people around the world are craving to learn.
It’s possible things will change in our lifetimes—Mandarin, anyone?—but for now, English is where it’s at. Every language has maddening quirks, but we overcome those of English simply by being raised in it. Here, then, are Seven Things You Should Be Thankful You Understand Without a Second Thought.
Irregular adjective forms: It’s “good, better, best,” not “good, gooder, goodest,” like almost every other one-syllable adjective (cold, hot, cute). Why did we have to invent a whole new word? Because it’s better, I guess.
Phrasal verbs: “Pick” means to choose. “Up” means moving to a more elevated position. Put them together, and you get pick up, which, somehow means: lift something from a surface, understand a concept, answer the phone, or score a date at a bar. That’s just one example.
The three “ed” endings in past simple. Say ‘em all: “Danced.” “Played.” “Wanted.” Only “wanted’s” ending sounds like “ed;” the other two are “danct” and “playd.” Never noticed that, did you? Now, figure out when you use each sound, and have fun with t and d. (While we’re at it, ever catch the three “oo” sounds: “wood,” “blood,” and “food”?) Maybe this is why we want 10 kinds of every product at the grocery store.
The apostrophe. The apostrophe’s used when it signals a contraction, like it’s doing now. But it’s rules also say it indicates possession, like this sentence’s apostrophes. You know what would’ve made people’s lives easier? Another punctuation mark.
Speaking of, how about another and other? First person to say what the difference is in the comments (no looking it up!), gets a bag of Costa Rican coffee, on me.
The helping verb “do.” Most languages don’t need a helper for yes/no questions. So when students finally understand the purpose, then there’s the chore of explaining that you don’t need it in most declarative sentences besides “yes, I do” and “no, I don’t.” Causes more confusion than a trick candle in a four-year old’s birthday cake.
Non-phonetic spelling: Lissen. Y? Becuz.
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Super great article! Truely.
Thanks for the comments – though, sad nobody won the coffee!
@roxanne – I think it’s a requirement for native English speakers to at some point declare yourself “embarrazada” in front of an audience. Been there. The LVI contributors could maybe do a group post on Spanish learning
@genalou – Thanks! You’re right, too – Spanish is generally easy enough to sound out. I often feel like I have to apologize for some of the spellings of our words. “Straight,” for example — seriously?
How fascinating, I loved reading this! I’d love to see the follow-up for Spanish learners. Like, for instance, the fact that some of us who shall rename unnamed to protect our dignity once stood up in front of an audience of 750 and confused the word for embarrassed with the word for pregnant (embarrazada), hence inadvertently reforming workshop participants of a false pregnancy.
Hehe I’m literally the only reply to your awesome read!?
Kent,
Well written article. Having taught English too many times to second-language learners, I find this article a good sum of my frustrations with our own language. I’d say another (not other) of the hardest things for say Spanish speakers is that pronunciation is word-by-word so they have to memorize every English word, whereas once you have the Spanish alphabet down (for the most part) you can say the words well, and with a little umph of an accent, say them like a native.
I can’t tell you the difference between another and other without looking it up, but I can tell you the difference between told and said … some Costa Rican coffee sounds great right now!
I’m going to go look up this another and other mystery …
Kent! This is extremely helpful. I will definitely keep these in mind when I head to Peru.
How fascinating, I loved reading this! I’d love to see the follow-up for Spanish learners. Like, for instance, the fact that some of us who shall rename unnamed to protect our dignity once stood up in front of an audience of 750 and confused the word for embarrassed with the word for pregnant (embarrazada), hence inadvertently reforming workshop participants of a false pregnancy.