See K. See K write. See how poorly K writes. See K write so poorly that K cannot ask a comprehensible question.
As an example, you have read what I've written. If you heard me speaking, you would assume I don't understand English... well, except as longshoreman and sailors do
I began learning so late in life (30's), that with reading/writing being new to me, took hold for
the most part, not entirely. When I speak, though I understand English fully when I hear it, I cannot speak it myself (except as a mimic). Typically, I speak my own unique form of pidgin made up of
numerous languages, dialects and slang. English--brain to mouth--doesn't work,
no savvy talk same hear.
Have you considered simply typing sentences into MSWord to see if it highlights or not?
Yes, and Grammarly, and Prowriting Aide, and Slickwrite, and etc..
Besides: Tom kicks the ball. Tom the ball kicks. The ball kicks Tom. Tom the kicks ball. : Check those out and see how it corrects them.
Have you picked up Strunk’s Elements of Grammar? Helped me no end and it’s a small book.
I wonder if there’s a Dummies Guide to... ? theyte normally very good, too.
Thanks for the suggestion, but as I noted, traditional lesson plans do not make the information take hold in my mind, in such a way that I can apply that knowledge.
I've mentioned elsewhere that a good way to learn English grammar is by trying to learn a foreign language - if you're able to take a short course it can give you a good insight on English from the outside, especially in terms of sentence structure and verb tenses.
I actually (for a while) was teaching myself to read, write, and speak German, later Japanese, and Cantonese (which I had some practical experience with)... Quite successfully for that matter, as long as stuck to just that. Only fragments remain. My mind tends to either dump or shift that information somewhere not easily accessible if I don't stay focused upon it. In contrast, I've developed three 'logical' languages... rather extensively, including rules and so on. Not just nonsense, languages that impress linguists. They stick, but, it's because I created them. So, learning an existing language hasn't helped.
I feel your pain. I struggle with the technicalities of English . There are loads of grammar improvement sites , But I have found them hard to use , the subject seems too big . You actuly don't need to be an expert in grammar to write well , but knowing that doesn't quench the anxiety. One approach I have found useful, is using work books. English Grammar Workbook For Dummies. I think the for Dummies bit is a marketing mistake , but that is another subject . I'm sure there are other versions of the same thing. You work through at your own pace . I fill in the answers on paper , instead of the book . The first try , you might get 50% correct. So when you do it agine and it goes up to say 80 %. The positive feed back loop is very encouraging.
Thanks for the suggestion. The trouble, however, is how I tend to learn things. Unfortunately, it's not the same as it is for most people. Though I might learn it (via a lesson), I don't retain it and quickly have difficulty applying it. So, instead of fighting it gaining no ground, I accept that 'A is the way that works, and quit fighting to learn it via X,Y,Z methods.'
In other words ... this is exactly the place to do it!
It's not a question of generosity. Everyone here has been helped by someone else here, so we're simply paying back into the forum part of what we've already received. And we know that, in turn, you will help someone else here (though preferably not with their grammar concerns
).
Start a thread "K2's Elementary Grammar Lessons" put up a sentence or two that you think might need help, and take it from there.
Nope... I value here too much for other things. A casual discussion here or correcting me there is one thing... and deeply appreciated. Devoting an area to my specific learning is too much--for me--if that helps. This forum's areas of discussion are just fine as they are. I don't mind on occasion asking (as can be seen in this forum section, as I dominate the new threads), but otherwise, it is too much.
I will ask this though since it inspired this thread. Is this wrong?:
The people would glance at Pogue, nod and smile, then trace their gaze... (as written)
The people would glance at Pogue, nod and smile
at her, then trace their gaze... (I believe correct, but feels clumsy to me. So much so, I'd almost just assume leave it wrong if it reads better, to the reader, proper be-- Ahem, but, if I want X published...)
Things like that work at me, mostly in that proper doesn't make it read/speak easily.
Thanks everyone for the kind assistance... but mules learned stubborn from me
K2
