For today's English lessons - Why do we speak the way we do? [View all]

[packman]

It can be shocking to realize that we are able to follow rules that no one ever taught us explicitly. But that’s what most of language is: Not the little things that textbooks tell us we’re getting wrong, but the solid ones we always get right. Non-native speakers, however, might get them wrong, and that gives us a good opportunity to get a peek at the rules we don’t otherwise notice.


1. WHY “MY BROTHER’S CAR” AND NOT “THE CAR OF MY BROTHER”
2. WHY ABSO-FREAKIN’-LUTELY AND NOT ABSOLUTE-FREAKIN’-LY
3. WHY “WHAT DID YOU SAY THAT HE ATE?” AND NOT “WHAT DID YOU MUMBLE THAT HE ATE?”
4. WHY “I CHEERED UP MY FRIEND” AND NOT “I CHEERED UP HER”

Open up your textbooks to the following lessons:

http://extragoodshit.phlap.net/4-more-unofficial-rules-native-english-speakers-dont-realize-they-know/#more-517700