- #1
SW VandeCarr
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For non native speakers here. For example, the spelling, the grammar (be specific please), the sentence structure, the vocabulary, etc.
One specific example that comes to mind: the way the word "over" is used. It can mean "above" contrasted with "below"; or as contrasted with "under". It can also be used in the sense of "over there", which is not contrasted with "below there" or "under there". Then there's "It ain't over 'tll it's over." Here it means something like "finished" or "completed" which are not prepositions, but past participles used as predicate adjectives. Then there are phrases like "Over and out." or "Over to you, Joe." Here "over" does not mean "above" or "completed" but may mean something like "Over there." except that Joe isn't over there, but here, sitting right next to you.
Anyway, I thought it would be interesting to hear what, if anything, bugs you about English. Also feel free to praise the language and say why you like it better than some other language(s).
EDIT: I just had to add that famous British quip from WWII about the Yanks being "Overpaid, oversexed and over here!" Here it means "excessively" in the first two uses.
One specific example that comes to mind: the way the word "over" is used. It can mean "above" contrasted with "below"; or as contrasted with "under". It can also be used in the sense of "over there", which is not contrasted with "below there" or "under there". Then there's "It ain't over 'tll it's over." Here it means something like "finished" or "completed" which are not prepositions, but past participles used as predicate adjectives. Then there are phrases like "Over and out." or "Over to you, Joe." Here "over" does not mean "above" or "completed" but may mean something like "Over there." except that Joe isn't over there, but here, sitting right next to you.
Anyway, I thought it would be interesting to hear what, if anything, bugs you about English. Also feel free to praise the language and say why you like it better than some other language(s).
EDIT: I just had to add that famous British quip from WWII about the Yanks being "Overpaid, oversexed and over here!" Here it means "excessively" in the first two uses.
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