Personally,I don't like the way English went.I mean only the basics are still germanic...I think that's just a shame ;(
Give examples of words that English is missing
It looks more like a romance language than a Germanic one ...That's why I don't get the French and the Spanish 'problems with English influence' I mean they only get back what they gave.... :)
Sander, couldn't agree more! I'm always amazed when I look at a text in, say, Spanish or Italian and can understand quite a lot of it. How does English sound to you - like a Romance language? Or not like anything else?
English sounds like a Romance language ,well more of a romance language than a Germanic one.
But realy, English grammer is a laugh compared to other languages ;) (!no offence!)
I mean no gramatical gender,plural is adding an 's' (except with archaic/strange words like 'oxen') and no special features ;)
I mean no gramatical gender,plural is adding an 's' (except with archaic/strange words like 'oxen') and no special features ;)
OK, I keep flicking over between here and my Word document - Sander, stop posting!! You're ruining my concentration!! ;)
(!no offence!) >> None taken! I know basic English grammar is dead simple. But seriously, what do you think of all the English tenses? These are definitely the biggest problem my students have with English - the difference between 'I have lived' and 'I have been living', 'I am going to fly to London next month' and 'I am flying to London next month' for example. Even Germans at a very advanced level can't use all the tenses that I can, at least not when speaking.
(!no offence!) >> None taken! I know basic English grammar is dead simple. But seriously, what do you think of all the English tenses? These are definitely the biggest problem my students have with English - the difference between 'I have lived' and 'I have been living', 'I am going to fly to London next month' and 'I am flying to London next month' for example. Even Germans at a very advanced level can't use all the tenses that I can, at least not when speaking.
Tenses are difficult, but a peace of cake when you finally get it.
My biggest problem was the English word order which is very different from Dutch. (SOVv2 and English is SVO) ;)
My biggest problem was the English word order which is very different from Dutch. (SOVv2 and English is SVO) ;)
I'm afraid I don't have the habit of checking my posts before sending them ...
I always do, but then I'm paranoid about making spelling mistakes - both my parents were English teachers too...spelling was VERY IMPORTANT in our household!
I trust more on my ability of speaking English than writing it ;) (not much more though)
Same with me in German. I don't write it very well at all.
I feel that most of my job is giving my students the confidence to speak in English. Most of them are terrified to open their mouths when they first come to me (usually they haven't learnt any English for many years)
I feel that most of my job is giving my students the confidence to speak in English. Most of them are terrified to open their mouths when they first come to me (usually they haven't learnt any English for many years)