http://www.englishforums.com/English/EslGeneralEnglishGrammar-Questions/Forum12.htmAsk your questions on grammar and get your sentence checked. We answer lots of different types of general English grammar questions here. <font color=red>DO NOT post paragraphs and compositions here. Post them in our <a href="http://www.englishforums.com/English/EssayReportCompositionWriting/Forum9.htm"><b>Essay, Report and Composition Writing Forum</b></a>.</font>enXMOD (Build: 3615.29165)http://www.englishforums.com/English/FeelingAnnoyingEnglish/jxkr/post.htm#48546Sat, 24 Jan 2009 15:44:04 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:48546CalifJim0http://www.englishforums.com/English/FeelingAnnoyingEnglish/jxkr/post.htm#48546http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-48546.xmlWai Wai, Why don't you tell us how you really feel?!!! This was a very funny series of posts. I was laughing out loud! You may have been serious, and I think you were. Nevertheless, it's important for you to realize that such a diatribe comes across as comic, especially to those of us who also have been frustrated in learning a foreign language! We all have to learn to laugh at ourselves or we'd all go crazy! Learning a foreign language is certainly one of life's most frustrating experiences. I think we can all share in those frustrations. If you turn it around, you'll have to admit that if an English speaker tried to learn your native language, he would also find certain aspects of it illogical and frustrating. I don't...http://www.englishforums.com/English/FeelingAnnoyingEnglish/jxkr/post.htm#48457Sun, 24 May 2009 14:44:04 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:48457nona the brit1http://www.englishforums.com/English/FeelingAnnoyingEnglish/jxkr/post.htm#48457http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-48457.xmlYes I agree that English is a difficult language to learn and we have many rules and irregular rules at that! And yes, you will find that some Brits do not have 100% perfect formal grammar or spelling. People under 45 may have more problems than older people as there was an education experiment in the 1960s -1980s and little formal grammar/spelling/structure was taught in schools as it was considered better for children to be creative and that they would learn naturally. At one point reading was 'taught' by surrounding children with books and assuming they would somehow absorb reading skills, with teaching of phonics banned. So we have a generation with some serious literacy problems. Luckily the education establishment has come to...http://www.englishforums.com/English/FeelingAnnoyingEnglish/jxkr/post.htm#48439Sun, 24 May 2009 14:44:04 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:48439Wai_Wai2http://www.englishforums.com/English/FeelingAnnoyingEnglish/jxkr/post.htm#48439http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-48439.xmlunreasonable classification of count/uncount noun When I was in primary school, my teacher first told me how to classify nouns as count or uncount. My teacher explained to me some of the strange cases. Eg: bread (uncount noun) It is because bread has a lot of different sizes, say, a slice, a loaf, a lumb; so it is countable. As I grow up, this kind of explanation cannot hold water anymore. The only reason I can explain to you about this phenomenon is "English says it is!" Now uncount and count noun is abbreviated to un; cn Weird examples and why Why mail is (un)? Letter and parcel are (cn). Reason: "English says it is! Just follow, man!" Why when mail simply means letter, it is (un); when mail means letter/parcel...http://www.englishforums.com/English/FeelingAnnoyingEnglish/jxkr/post.htm#48438Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:44:04 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:48438Wai_Wai3http://www.englishforums.com/English/FeelingAnnoyingEnglish/jxkr/post.htm#48438http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-48438.xmlComplex rules with tons of exceptions don't help, but simple rules do! If rules become much simpler, a lot of questions in English forum will vanish. Much much more spare efforts can be spent on more meaningful things (eg helping people who are suffering) Finally, I would like to list some counter-arguments: - respect the culture - if different people follows different rules (as you say), confusion will be made. - people will not be able to read past articles if changes is made. - it will be difficult for people to get used to the new system - it makes English unnatural - English is English. No one person can change it manually.http://www.englishforums.com/English/FeelingAnnoyingEnglish/jxkr/post.htm#48437Sun, 24 May 2009 14:44:04 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:48437Wai_Wai4http://www.englishforums.com/English/FeelingAnnoyingEnglish/jxkr/post.htm#48437http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-48437.xmlMake-it-Complex comparatives There're 2 kinds of comparatives: 1 "-er, -est" comparatives 2 "more, most" comparatives I read the annual report (I forgot exactly where and in which paragraph) from the exam authority relating to the performance of students in an English public exam. It is written something like the following: It is disappointing that (Hong Kong) students who have learnt English for 11 years still made such a mistake in the exam - "more easy" . "More easy" does not make any sense… I sometimes ask myself, "Is it really non-sense if I use 'more easy'?". Read the following passage to see if you will understand the passage with great difficulty: ================================================= I meeted a...http://www.englishforums.com/English/FeelingAnnoyingEnglish/jxkr/post.htm#48436Sat, 24 Jan 2009 15:44:04 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:48436Wai_Wai5http://www.englishforums.com/English/FeelingAnnoyingEnglish/jxkr/post.htm#48436http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-48436.xml- Irregular plurals (noun); Irregular tense form (verb) "Regular-ise them, please!" It is my wish when I was in my school time. I will simply call "irregular noun of plural form" "irregular noun", vice versa I will simply call "irregular verb of different tense form" "irregular verb", vice versa I see no points why "regular nouns/verbs" cannot be right. The birth of them gives severe burdens on learners. The only ways learners can do is to remember it by rote: Irregular nouns: -o irregulars - heroes, echoes, potatoes, tomatoes But: commandos, kilos, solos, photos Good news (either adding -es or -s is acceptable): - buffalo(e)s, volcano(e)s, mosquito(e)s -f, -fe irregulars - calf, calves - knife, knives - turf,...http://www.englishforums.com/English/FeelingAnnoyingEnglish/jxkr/post.htm#48434Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:44:04 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:48434Wai_Wai6http://www.englishforums.com/English/FeelingAnnoyingEnglish/jxkr/post.htm#48434http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-48434.xml- singular noun; singular verb, vice versa Don't think it is as easy as you can imagine like the following One person is... Two persons are... I am… You are… Try the following. Fill in the blanks (how "be" is changed for the following?): Either of 2 people __ Either you or I __ Either I or you __ Neither of the children __ Neither parent or children __ Neither parents or child __ Neither parents or children __ Every person __ Every person and association __ A series of three bombs __ A team __ Teams __ More than 1 cat __ More than 2 cats __ Less than 1 cat __ Less than 2 cats __ Many people __ Many a person __ ... It is just the tip of the iceberg. There are much more difficult...http://www.englishforums.com/English/FeelingAnnoyingEnglish/jxkr/post.htmSat, 24 Jan 2009 15:44:04 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:48433Wai_Wai7http://www.englishforums.com/English/FeelingAnnoyingEnglish/jxkr/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-48433.xmlAnnoying English I have learnt English for a long and long time. Today I would like to express my crazy two cents again... (I may offend some people unknowingly...) Whenever I say such ridiculous things, a lot of people will point the finger at me. So be prepared! 8) Q: What is the use of English? What are the uses of rules/usage in English? A: Once in a while, I ask this question to people all over the world. Most of them says: - to communicate, to facilitate communication. - it is used to avoid confusion. - Rules/Usage (I simply say "rules" afterward) are necessary because if different people use English(Eng) differently, it can be a trouble! No one will understand what you are talking about. - Without rule, you...