grammar rant
By TheCatLady
@TheCatLady (4691)
Israel
December 26, 2012 10:43am CST
Do you silently correct people grammar in your head? I was watching a reality show, Be the Boss, and I couldn't stop correcting the guys horrid grammar. It's not as if English is his second language. He was born and raised in America.
I have a pet a pet peeve when native born people can't get the tenses right in English. I don't have the same reaction if the person has an accent. I understand. It's not as if it's all that hard for a native born American to learn the basics. I am, he is, they are. grrr. How hard is it? Enough of my rant for today.
3 people like this
11 responses
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
26 Dec 12
Hey Catlady, how are you? It's been a while...
Yes I do correct people in my head and like you, if I know their mother tongue is not English, it doesn't bother me, but when I know they grew up in america, it totally annoys me...
But wait, you live in Israel, did you use to live in an English speaking country? I mean I know English is spoken there, but not as a primary language, is it?
1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
26 Dec 12
Ah, I see... We only have the most basic cable, (in other words, not worth watching) so I do most of my movie watching online too. I never hear of the site you shared, I will have to check it out...and yes, "We is" grates on my nerves...
@TheCatLady (4691)
• Israel
3 Jan 13
I don't even have cable. It's way to expensive.
1 person likes this
@TheCatLady (4691)
• Israel
26 Dec 12
I'm in Israel, but I grew up in California. I hightailed it out of there when I was in my 30's. I needed a change.
I was watching a reality show over the Internet on Project Free TV http://www.free-tv-video-online.me/ and someone said "we is" or something stupid like that. He wasn't stupid. He just never learned to speak properly.
By the way, I don't want to pay for cable so I watch TV on the Internet.
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
26 Dec 12
I used to be the same way as you because I loved English class in school and writing was my passion. So, it bothered me so much when someone would make mistakes with easy things.
Then I got with my husband who only went to school until he was 10 years old. So I had to get over it. My husband is just as intelligent as anyone else but his grammar skills are terrible and he cannot spell...
So, it does not bother me as much as it used to since I am used to my husband now. Lol.
1 person likes this
@TheCatLady (4691)
• Israel
26 Dec 12
How is that possible? There are laws in the United States that children must go to school.
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
26 Dec 12
Back then the state never checked up on if you were really schooling at home or not. His parents claimed they were Home Schooling him but they never did...
@TheCatLady (4691)
• Israel
3 Jan 13
That is horrid. His parents did him a huge disservice. Is he mad at them for that? I would be.
I was home-schooled for 6 months or so due to illness. It was easier than real school. The teacher gave me my assignments and I did all the work at home, turning it in once a week.
@BarBaraPrz (47313)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
26 Dec 12
Hey fellow CatLady! How have you been? Good to see you again.
As for your rant, I guess it all comes down to schooling, or lack thereof.
1 person likes this
@TheCatLady (4691)
• Israel
26 Dec 12
It does. I was lucky to have good schooling. I feel sorry for those who didn't.
1 person likes this
@911Ricki (13588)
• Canada
26 Dec 12
I think whether its your native language or not, it shows the lack of intelligent, and self right for yourself. I knew a girl I went to school with, she to this day cant spell CAT. Just shows deep down how you perceive yourself, and lack of goals for yourself, she never attempted to do anything about it.
1 person likes this
@TheCatLady (4691)
• Israel
26 Dec 12
Maybe there is something wrong with her. Some people can't spell due to dyslexia. They have a physical miss-wiring of their brain.
Speaking is different. I think people should have a basic grasp of their native language. Assuming that they are of normal intelligence, their parents and teachers didn't do their job right. Even if they are challenged they should have learned some grammar. I used to work with women who had very low IQ's. They couldn't read, but could speak properly.
@911Ricki (13588)
• Canada
26 Dec 12
We were actually tested at the same time for many things. I had a few learning disabilities, and such, she had nothing just pure laziness. She dropped out of high school because she thought it was too much work to get out of bed, and waste her time (maybe she should of stayed). Now in her mid 20s she cant go anywhere in life because she doesnt have an education, cant get a good job of it, and has no goals in life, I asked her and she said going to school is too much, and she just settled. I think it's rather sad, but she isn't will to help herself.
@Shavkat (139933)
• Philippines
26 Dec 12
English language is my second language. I had taught the language as a part time job before, basically I corrected the students the proper usage of the medium. I do think that not all have the passion to learn the basic rules of grammar.
@TheCatLady (4691)
• Israel
26 Dec 12
Learning rules isn't for everyone especially in a second language. Learning to speak properly in your mother tongue is another.
@vernaC (1491)
• Romania
26 Dec 12
That's the second thing in my head, the first one is figuring out about what the message. When you are trying to say something but the grammar is not good,the message can be mixed up and you might understand it wrong. I myself sometimes in this situation so I understand people who makes mistake like with grammar.
1 person likes this
@TheCatLady (4691)
• Israel
26 Dec 12
But do you make them in Romanian? I make mistakes in Hebrew, but rarely in English.
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
2 Jan 13
Personally I think a lot of it is how a person is raised, and where they are from. Sometimes a lot of it is what was stressed as importance as they were growing up as well. Also what type of family background etc as well. I know a lot of times when brought up in a poorer home and environment they never stop to think about what might be important later on and always expect things to always be this way.
@TheCatLady (4691)
• Israel
3 Jan 13
It is very important later on. That's why we were corrected an had proper grammar and pronunciation drilled into us. But I wasn't brought up in a poor area. Our parents and teachers knew that we would be judged on our grammar whether silently or not. Getting and education is one way out of the ghetto, but speaking properly in addition to an education is the way to be accepted in middle class society.
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
26 Dec 12
I am often appalled by the atrocious command of English of many British people. Like yourself I have no problem with a person speaking English as a second language no matter how poor the grammar or spelling is, but a native British citizen should ought to have at least a respectable command of their own language.
I work in an office and receive a lot of internal emails that would be inadequate in a classroom of 10 year old pupils.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
27 Dec 12
That's why I don't watch TV.. a bunch of ignorant people thinking they're smart or funny.. and the worst part is people actually do think it's funny.
@celticeagle (166956)
• Boise, Idaho
27 Dec 12
I do tend to do this. If it is really horrid and bugs me I may make a comment about it. I have a problem understanding some members use of the language in their discussions and comments on here. I do understand but still if I can't understand it then how can I relate and comment back. Now days people don't care. It really doesn't matter how they sound. It used to mean something to make a good impression and have respect for ourselves. Now days young people just don't. Some do I hope but not alot of them.
@celticeagle (166956)
• Boise, Idaho
3 Jan 13
Me too. And it is frustrating to try to relate to them.
@41CombedaleRoad (5952)
• Greece
26 Dec 12
I do correct people in my head all the time. Sometimes I tell them but it is not appreciated no matter how tactful I try to be. My biggest irritation is when people use 'I' instead of 'me' and it happens even on the television. How can anyone learn good grammar unless they read a grammar book - they certainly won't hear it from a high percentage of English speakers! You are not alone Catlady.
@TheCatLady (4691)
• Israel
26 Dec 12
Getting I and me confused is common. It bugs me, but it's not my biggest pet peeve. I hate hearing I is, they is, we was etc.
grrr When I was in school we were corrected if we made a mistake. If a kid was still making mistakes after 2nd grade they got put in the special class. I know they don't do that anymore. Kids who still haven't mastered The Cat in the Hat are graduating with honers.
grrr When I was in school we were corrected if we made a mistake. If a kid was still making mistakes after 2nd grade they got put in the special class. I know they don't do that anymore. Kids who still haven't mastered The Cat in the Hat are graduating with honers.