Job Discussion Forums

[Freddie Miles]

I like phrasal verbs too but they can be incredibly difficult to teach and to learn since the neither the verb or the prepostion is necessarily helpful in understanding the meaning.
Granted, using phrasal verbs produced a more natural sounding language.
Also when teaching those little devils, never try to teach them using the verb and various prepositions. For example,
Take on
Take out
Take over
Take up

I have done this and you can practically see the heads of your students melting. Better to mix up the verbs and learn about 12 at time.

[newtefler]

apart from until I get the answer right I have sworn I will live the life of a nun........ I know its split but i'm only allowed to give to, bare or none.. answers on a postcard.. preferably on this post... first gets pint of their choice... I'll pick up tab when I get there :0)

[Freddie Miles]

what a silly question to be asked.My heart goes out to you. Hard to even understand what they really mean.

But my best guess then would be: to-infinitive
My reasons are this: it is not " to boldly" it is " to go"
A bare infinitive is merely "go" without the "to" added to it.
I think in this case, the infinitive shows purpose as it often does. I can't recall all of what Cpt. Kirk says but .. wait.. "it's five year mission.. to blah blah ... to blah blah .. to boldly go where no man has gone before." Then the operatic music. Yes, that is showing purpose.

Now do I win some booze? Hopefully you can re-consider the nunnery.

[FGT]

It's infinitive + to,
viz TO GO BOLDLY. It isn't Going boldly or go boldly. It's split by the adverb hence the expression "split infinitive".

[newtefler]

thought "to" myself... wasn't sure if it was trick question and should be none as not true "to" due to split? Sooner I complete this darned Grammar the sooner I can return to normal... and get my @ss down the pub :0) On that note Freddie.. you win the pint... venue of choice.. new thread... venues of choice for TEFLERs?.. cos I always found it quite pricey there even compared to home?

[Baba Alex]

"to go bodly"

to be or to not be ? That is the question.
I'd agree with the others on this one, I don't split infinitives myself, but I have no problems with others doing it. There are lots of presciptive grammar rules that are published in grammar books written in Turkey that you will find yourself coming up against. Some of them are correct, but there are also a few wrong ones.

"needn't have" and "didn't need to" for one. Most grammar books published in Turkey state that "didn't need to" is not used for things that have been done. This is incorrect.

My advice is that the first port of call should be yourself. Ask yourself "how would I say it" or "what does this mean to me" but make sure you are thinking in terms of standard English. "You was wrong" is not acceptable because they say it on Eastenders.

If you are unsure of anything the BBC learning English site is a great reference point.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish

It's the BBC so it can be taken as a standard and authority over most other Grammar books.

Try not to think (to not think?) in terms of Grammar and Rules, but in terms of Meaning and Function. And be prepared to admit there is no difference in meaning between. "I ate today" and "I've eaten today" but that the student should use the present perfect because they ARE learning British English.

And be carefull not to fall into bad habits that might rub of on the stuıdents. (Close the air conditioner is NOT acceptable, and take and get are not interchagable in most circumstances)

Remember, grammar isn't everything, for a start, it isn't elephants.

[newtefler]

cheers chaps - thanks for your help. Think I got myself in a bit of a rut yesterday. I'm brimming with cheeriness today though... it is Friday after all!

[dmb]

Just be happy there are only 2 tenses in English

[Baba Alex]