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Do you know the difference... (pg. 7)
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| paulandrews |
| 'know've' instead of 'know of' is the worst grammar abomination I've seen in a while. |
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| DJ Shibby |
| which difference? |
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| Xan_2v2 |
my lecturer is insisting that we say "the data are showing" instead of "the data is showing..."
Sounds completely wrong to me but hes adamant that its the right way |
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| kr00t0n |
| quote: | Originally posted by Renzo
My biggest pet peeve is the correct usage of their, there, and they're. It's not that difficult. |
Their their, don't let no mistakes like that effect you're mood to much, you might loose you're temper. |
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| Lira |
| quote: | Originally posted by Xan_2v2
my lecturer is insisting that we say "the data are showing" instead of "the data is showing..."
Sounds completely wrong to me but hes adamant that its the right way |
He's probably saying that because "data" is the plural form of "datum" in Latin. But, without the plural marker we all grew up to love (-s), it tends to be interpreted as a singular noun now, and I wouldn't be surprised to hear someone say "datas" (reason why you think "the data is showing" sounds more natural). |
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| Domesticated |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lira
He's probably saying that because "data" is the plural form of "datum" in Latin. But, without the plural marker we all grew up to love (-s), it tends to be interpreted as a singular noun now, and I wouldn't be surprised to hear someone say "datas" (reason why you think "the data is showing" sounds more natural). |
Whatever it meant in Latin, "data" has since come to represent both the singular and plural form now, and as all languages are evolving and changing rules (English more than most), I'd say that "data is showing" is currently correct. |
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| Noisician |
| "currently correct" lol. ing prescriptivists... |
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| Domesticated |
| quote: | Originally posted by Noisician
"currently correct" lol. ing prescriptivists... |
Well, would you still spell shop as "shoppe" or connection as "connexion"? You cannot deny that the English language changes rapidly and things that were correct fifty years ago may no longer be, and vice versa. |
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| Noisician |
| quote: | Originally posted by Domesticated
You cannot deny that the English language changes rapidly and things that were correct fifty years ago may no longer be, and vice versa. |
that's fine. but the point is, if a native speaker says it that way, it's correct. period. this is in regard to "data is" vs. "data are". many people prefer the latter version, therefore it's equally grammatical.
descriptive grammar vs. prescriptive grammar |
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| CranberryJuice |
are you saying it would be correct to say "i have learned " instead of i have learnt?i think its only in american english .
we are taught mainly british english and i dont think they would ever use "learned" at all
i think most of the times , american english is a mix of slang, sayings and proper english though:stongue:
what is funny is that most of english native speakers seem to know grammar for no particular reason....like if they were born knowing it already.So it was always hard for our british teachers to explain us while it was like this and not like that.
on the contrary in france , we had to learn all these rules and exceptions to memorize , maybe am i wrong but ive heard you guys dont really learnt grammar at school?:conf: |
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| kr00t0n |
| quote: | Originally posted by CranberryJuice
are you saying it would be correct to say "i have learned " instead of i have learnt?i think its only in american english .
we are taught mainly british english and i dont think they would ever use "learned" at all
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I was taught:
He learned about god.
The subject of god was learnt by him.
He burned the food.
The food was burnt by him. |
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| Noisician |
| quote: | Originally posted by CranberryJuice
we are taught mainly british english and i dont think they would ever use "learned" at all. |
1. you're not a native speaker. the way you construe/produce english sentences is radically different.
2. the prescriptive rules are employed to teach foreigners a nonnative language (or rather, a version thereof). they do not describe the way that native speakers actually use the language.
| quote: | Originally posted by CranberryJuice
what is funny is that most of english native speakers seem to know grammar for no particular reason.... |
native speakers in general do not learn grammar. we are already born predisposed to produce a human language. what we don't yet know we acquire, unconsciously. nobody teaches a child how to speak his/her native tongue. it's a myth. and contrary to popular opinion, young children do not simply immitate their parents/adults. it's been shown time and time again that would be virtually impossible due to poverty of such stimuli (and the presence of uniform acquisition patterns in children).
| quote: | Originally posted by CranberryJuice
on the contrary in france , we had to learn all these rules and exceptions to memorize , maybe am i wrong but ive heard you guys dont really learnt grammar at school?:conf: |
you learn (a) prescriptive grammar. you do not learn to speak french. |
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