A quick English question.

[Sancho]

If you're American, it could be 'It's a quarter OF four'

Which makes no sense whatsover.

It does if it's one.

I would write 'a quarter past four', for what it's worth.

[Calos]

English syntax is difficult to learn for a non-English person, in fact it's hard for some of us English speaking people, I think most other lanaguage books try to simplify how English is written and teach how it is spoken, ie far more contractions it's, can't, wont (used to be will not).

I speak reasonabley good English, but I do type very badley and a lot of people treat a forum as they would a text messege, I don't even own a mobile.

Oh and like the new sig/forum title Albannach ..

peace
cal

[fatfires]

Yeah, I think so, all it lacks is porn, but I keep getting overuled at Mod meetings....

Oi Mr Mod....behave

[John h]

[TonyN]

Still think this is the best info site going for all things Surflike and noteworthy

Yeah, I think so, all it lacks is porn, but I keep getting overuled at Mod meetings....

[John h]

He knew I was thick any way so I suppose he made allowances for me ? Mind you I did get berated on occasions, but I guess I deserved it

But emails can be read in a number of ways I for one have mis-interpreted comments made and taken offence to them but now I have mellowed and go with the flow...still thick as two short planks

Still think this is the best info site going for all things Surflike and noteworthy

[TonyN]

It is times like these that I really miss Mattf for his accuracy and pedantry !

I think he should be 'un-banned' as well.

And rudeness and intolance of perceived 'lesser' members?

Actually he only has to offically ask. But there are pedants aplenty here still!

[slobodan]

It is times like these that I really miss Mattf for his accuracy and pedantry !

I think he should be 'un-banned' as well.

[John h]

It is times like these that I really miss Mattf for his accuracy and pedantry !

[_cj_]

Nope, all foreign English books use 'It's'
There are apostrophes everywhere. 'My name's John, etc.

i agree - a long long long time ago i went on an italian exchange while studying for a GCSE - certainly the italian books for learning english abbreviated much more than we (english) would normally use

oh ...and i would say "it's A quarter past four"

Regards,

alex

[cabbage]

its 12:31 here, the older generation would call that "half one" - just to confuse matters further!

[che2318]

Or am I being naive with the current education system?

[che2318]

Nah, all that's OK here. Also, it's much safer to dumb onesself down to the level of the idiots who talk (type) like that, than it is to attempt to educate them...

Bad spelling, punctuation and syntax still does my head in...

Indeed.

I make mistakes, as does everyone, but surely exams and school course work should address these issues?

[slobodan]

If you're American, it could be 'It's a quarter OF four'

Which makes no sense whatsover.

But at least they put the 'a' in the sentence

[Albannach]

If you're American, it could be 'It's a quarter OF four'

Which makes no sense whatsover.

And you expected more?