Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Bunnymonster]

Remember American to be a superior language to English because you can make mistakes in neither spelling, grammar nor punctuation. I find if you just shuffle up the words at random you'll make perfect americanised sentences. Phonetic pronunciation, uneeded, everyone knows the weather is hat and that babies sleep in cats and the letters d and t make no sound at the ends of words................

[Qinella]

[Ya-ta Boy]

I find Canadian vs US threads highly entertaining but repetitive, so I'm hoping this thread descends into a US vs the snooty owners of English thread. We haven't had one of those in a couple of months. Bunnymonster is on the right track.

[kimchikowboy]

[ilovebdt]

[joe_doufu]

Informally, yes, maybe. But, the conjunction should be followed a comma. Because, this type of writing is simply approximating speech. And, it might make sense to put quotation marks around it.

In formal or even polite writing, one never starts a sentence with "and" or "but". However, there are synonyms for "but", such as "however" and "nevertheless" which can be used at the beginning of sentences. In addition, one could replace "and" with a word or phrase such as "in addition" or "moreover". Nevertheless, I doubt your hagwon kids know about these words.

[kermo]

Guys guys guys. This is not an American vs. British question. This is a case of the "Lurking Konglish."

Koreans love to begin sentences with words like "however," "therefore," "nevertheless," and so on. If you listen, you'll hear these words in Korean, like "koronikka," "korumyun," "kurigo," etc., etc.

Your students need to know that English style doesn't require these sorts of words, and hopefully they'll lay off a little. Personally, I try not to begin sentences with "but," "and" and certainly not "because."

[Ya-ta Boy]

[quote]
If they start a sentence with a conjunction (in a dependent clause, followed up with an independent clause), I give them an English dollar.

[mindmetoo]

I've noticed Korean kids begin every with "because". I show them if you remove the because the sentence still makes perfect sense. Next time around they start their sentence with because...

Anyway, you can start a sentence with "and" or "but". It is, however, considered weak or informal. I would avoid using and or but if writing an academic paper or an objective news report. However, for literary effect, it has its place.

[ddeubel]

And, why aren't we talkin bout Canadian English? Always use and for emphasis at the begining of a sentence! As in ---- AND, why aren't we .........

My two sentence worth.

DD

"Language is going to hell, right where it came from. In the begining were only god and silence."

[joe_doufu]

[babtangee]

[Qinella]

[sheba]

[joe_doufu]