English Gramma

Discussion in 'Bulletin Board ARCHIVE' started by Jax, Jun 2, 2008.

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  1. fir

    fired Administrator Staff Member Admin

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    RE: Thanks and good luck

    Well, there's a small matter of the AGM to attend straight after the event (bad timing, but hey). Staff live all over Yorks, so the latest plan (not that the boss knows YET) is to kip at work on airbeds, after a night out ... just happens that work is in Ossett. I'm sure they have pubs in Ossett. At least we won't be late to work the next day!!
     
    fired, Jun 4, 2008
    #61
  2. budmustang

    budmustang Well-Known Member

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    My missus taught English as a foriegn language

    in Germany and she's not that fluent in German. When asked how she managed that she just said that she spoke English and the students picked it up. WTF??? If a German came to England and started speaking entirely in German, we'd all up and leave the class. It shows the differences in attitude.
     
    budmustang, Jun 5, 2008
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  3. Tomi

    Tomi Well-Known Member

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    RE: English Grammar

    Could you explain that to me?
    I mean, yeah, I would say "I am going out tonight" as well, it just feels more natural, and I think there is a small difference between those two, but surely there's nothing wrong with "I will go" either? :eek: Hmm, it does sound a bit weird now that I think about it, but I still can't find anything wrong in it.

    One of the difficult things for non-English speakers is to get used to the different intonations that the native speakers use when they speak.
    Oh, and the strange pronunciation rules... eg. photograph -- photographer
     
    Tomi, Jun 5, 2008
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  4. Tor

    Toronto Tyke New Member

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    RE: English Grammar

    It helps to look at future forms in context. In isolation, all forms are possible.

    Context 1

    Speaker A: "Fancy going out later?"
    Speaker B: "I have nothing planned. Sure, I'll go out tonight."

    (I'm going out tonight/I'm going to go out tonight/I'll be going out tonight would all sound a bit odd. Arguably, they are acceptable, but that's another debate.)

    Context 2

    Later...
    Speaker C: "So, got any plans?"
    Speaker B: "Yeah, I'm going out tonight with Speaker A."

    (I'll go out tonight with Speaker A would again sound odd.)

    Future forms are complex in English. We make our largely unconscious choices based on all kinds of reasons: New decisions / planned arrangements / offers / degree of certainty / promises / self-motivating statements etc.

    Possible examples:

    I think Barnsley'll win the Championship next season. (Mindless prediction based on wishful thinking)
    Barnsley are going to win the Championship next season. (Firmer prediction possibly based on some kind of flimsy evidence)
    Barnsley are winning the Championship next season. (Mafia-style match-fixing arrangements are in place)
    Barnsley'll be winning the Championship next season. (We just have to turn up and let the season run its natural course.)
    Barnsley are to win the Championship next season. (By royal decree)
    Barnsley WILL win the Championship next season. (Self-delusional mantra)
    Barnsley. 2008/2009 Championship winners! Fact!! (BBS wisdom fountain)
     
    Toronto Tyke, Jun 5, 2008
    #64
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