Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[peterli11105]

I am a third grade undergraduate and major in English.
Since I start to have composition class, I have found that the grammar my composition lecturer teach in my university now is different from my senior high school English teacher!
It has really confused me for a long time.
I think the American English is much better for my career in the future, so is there anyone can tell me what kind of grammar should I learn or follow?
And is there any organization for standard American English grammar in the world ?
It is a serious problem that impact on my coposition score intensely!
Thank you a lot.

[Mister Micawber]

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I don't think it is as serious as all that, Peter. There are many bones of contention among grammarians (and most points do not reflect a BrE vs AmE dichotomy), but overall, the differences are relatively minor.

There is no single standardized, universally-acceptable English grammar authority online or off. The major differences in regional Englishes are in the spoken language, not the written grammar.

Would you like to give us some examples of these significant differences you have found?
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_________________
"I really do not know that anything has ever been more exciting than diagramming sentences." � Gertrude Stein
...............
Canadian-American who teaches English for a living at Mr Micawber's

[peterli11105]

The different usages of comma.
My senior high school English teacher who is Taiwanese and never studied abroad taught me the sentence that is"When you are on the way home, please buy me a dozen of beer".
And my university composition lecturer who comes from New York taught me the sentence that is "When you are on the way home please buy me a dozen of beer".
Which one is right ? And what's the difference between them?

[Mister Micawber]

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Good heavens, Peter-- relax! There is absolutely no difference in meaning between your sentences: the comma use here is trivial-- the meaning is clear with or without it. (I would include it, but then I am picky.)

And in my view, both of your teachers were terribly remiss in failing to correct your sentences to 'a dozen beer'-- nobody really says 'a dozen of'!

If this is the level of confusion you are meeting, then it is nothing at all to worry about-- it only reflects the personal opinions of each teacher, and as in every subject, we soon (if we are bright students) learn to satisfy our teacher's druthers while keeping our true opinions to ourselves.
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_________________
"I really do not know that anything has ever been more exciting than diagramming sentences." � Gertrude Stein
...............
Canadian-American who teaches English for a living at Mr Micawber's