Grammar is a big part of our family life. We have two young Africans with atrocious grammar skills. (Daniel doesn't count. His grammar is age-appropriate.) You see, Liberian English is better described as Liberian Creole. It only vaguely resembles proper English. (Not that we Americans can boast of excellent grammar skills. Thanks, public schools.) So, helping Maya and Isaac learn English grammar is a constant focus for us around here. For instance:
"How many do everyone get?"
"What does generic means?"
"Did you went to the store already?"
"You did saw it!"
"Yes, it do."
"Can I have a chips?"
These are just a few phrases I heard over an hour period. For those of you who know me and affectionately refer to me as the Grammar Police or worse, Grammar Nazi, you know this must certainly be one of the ways God is teaching me compassion. ;)
P.S. I just have to get this off my chest: "Should of" doesn't make sense. "Should have" is correct. This is my newest grammatical pet peeve. Thanks for bearing with my weaknesses. And no, I don't judge you by your grammar. I judge the school you attended. :D
10 comments:
Well, I should of not done that, huh? God sure does like to hit us where we are weakest, doesn't he? All those phrases sound very much like a second language learner to me.
Sad to say, some of my homegrown kiddos use similar phrases. Right now I am focusing on the proper usage of 'much' and 'many'. They seem to be interchangeable to at least some of my children.
Did you go on your vacation yet?
LOL. I think a lot of people say "should've", making a contraction from should and have but it comes out of their mouths sounding like "should of". Now, whether or not most people understand the difference I can't say.
Crystal
Considering how many people write: "should of", I don't think they understand the difference. ;)
"Should've" is correct.
"Between you and I" is still my biggest grammar pet peeve, although there are many! It's so sad to me that the majority of people just don't care if they say it correctly or not. I received an email from a sales rep who wrote, "I and my associate Bill will be happy to help..." What will we sound like in 10 years??
Ok, pet peeve here. What about the word "probably" written as "prolly"? Argh!!
RobinC aka delightx7
Oh, I second 'prolly' and add li-bary.
I agree with Crystal. However, my pet peeve is "Where is it at?" I always explain it is between the "A" and the "T".
my pet peeve HAS to be when people say, "I could care less." That doesn't make sense when you are trying to express how LITTLE you care- how about, "I COULDN'T care less." ???
I second that Rachel Marie. Drives me crazy. And all the others mentioned plus a few more.
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