Job Discussion Forums

johnslat · Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 12:16 pm Post subject:

Regarding that overlap, I find it simpler/more simple to tell students that there are some adjectives that can be compared using either rule, but that rather than memorizing those exceptions, they should just follow the rule (i.e. more polite instead of politer) since the rule works all the time.

By the way, those two syllable adjectives on the list that end in "y" have their own rule:

Change the "y" to "i" and add "er," "est" - happy, happier, happiest.

It's "easier" that way Very Happy

.

Regards,
John

lucia79 · Joined: 18 Jun 2011 Posts: 156

Here's a post about the usage of more bitter vs. bitterer and also bitterest.

http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/003794.html

GMark · Joined: 02 Apr 2010 Posts: 46 Location: China

IMHO 'most bitter' not only sounds better, but using it would help English learners avoid the grammar police outside the classroom. This is important to many non-native speakers who want to fly under the radar.

judoka · Joined: 28 Jan 2009 Posts: 53 Location: North Pole

That grammar site recommended is awesome. http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/ . I am now looking into ordering some of the books recommended. I'll probably order them through amazon.

microbabe · Joined: 03 Feb 2010 Posts: 115

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

fourth, fifth, and sixth for MURPHY! Cool

(wish I got a slice of the royalties on this one - I've been recommending it for ages). Hey, Raymond, if you're listening.....

MotherF · Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 4:35 pm Post subject:

If you're having trouble explaining grammar, you might want to try changing the way you think about grammar's role in second language learning. I recommend reading the works of Michael Lewis.

fluffyhamster · Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 12:26 pm Post subject:

The "problem" with Lewis is that he's concentrated mainly on just the verb system (in his primary work The English Verb), wants to shake up the terminology a bit (probably too much for most people's tastes), and above all stresses that his explanations are more to aid teacher understanding at a deeper level than anything that can be applied in any reasonably straightforward way. So I'm always a little wary of recommending him too unreservedly to practising classroom teachers. That being said, his ideas certainly offer an alternative to the catalogues of "rules and exceptions" that can abound in standard approaches.

sainthood · Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 6:27 am Post subject:

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Ah, heavens, someone's going to trot out that tired old 'have vs. have got' thing about now....

johnslat · Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 2:52 pm Post subject:

Dear spiral78,

Tee-hee - you just did.

Shall we present a few more examples?

Regards,
John

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Dear John:

I was hoping to at least circumvent its being presented as a new discovery or as something that's truly radically different about the grammatical structures used.
I hope I succeeded; my aims were modest.

Sure, fire away on the others.

Best,
spiral

Sashadroogie · Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 3:37 pm Post subject:

johnslat · Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 3:41 pm Post subject:

Dear Sasha,

Hmm, that's a bad case of the hiccups you've got. Perhaps you had better go to hospital. Is there one in your street? Very Happy

Ta,
John

Sashadroogie · Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 4:20 pm Post subject:

Dear Johnslat

Eh? Wha' tha'? Didn't quite catch ya, if ya get my drift, innit?

Hic, Sasha.

PS, there is a hospital on my street actually, but wouldn't want to be caught dead in it.