Hi Swiss Gill,
Since you speak German, you might have heard the following odd exception to the normally strict German grammar. Our 6th form German teacher once explained to us the difficulty with the phrase 'he says he is older than I' when expressed in German. [I think that's the correct English version, since the 'am' is understood.] To be correct, the German version should be: 'er sagt das er alter als ich ist' (sorry I don't know how to do umlauts on here!), thus putting the verb at the end and separating it from its subject. However, 'ich ist' ('I is') sounds very strange in German, so they normally say 'er sagt das er alter als ich bin' - not grammatically correct but sounds better. Mind you, I've never been in a situation where I've heard a German say this ...
Another pet hate of mine (in English), and now I'm being really fuddy duddy, as this had definitely crept firmly into the language, is people saying 'different to' when in fact it should be 'different from'. It is rare to hear the latter these days yet it was something drummed into me at school.
I think I must be a pedant of the first order, as I was once working as a temporary secretary and I got my marching orders for correcting a sales rep's grammar. He'd dictated 'I shall write to Mr X, suggesting that he comes and sees us' and I typed it up as '..suggesting that he come and see us'. The rep complained that I had left off the 's's and I explained I had applied the subjunctive. He turned bright red, called me a smart alec and sacked me!
I agree with you though that we all tend to cut corners when we type on these forums (fora?) and I would never presume to correct anyone's posts, as I make lots of typos and silly errors myself. I'm just enjoying airing the things that irritate me, especially in official communications.
Hi Cheetham Girl,
Firstly, as I understand it, it is "Er ist älter als ich (es bin)".
The trouble is, I came to the German part of Switzerland without a word of German. The Swiss speak a dialect. One has to remember that the Germans produced monarchs and their courts refined the old German language whereas the Swiss could never boast of a monarch. I like to learn a language by reading (not only) but what is spoken here on the streets is not to be found in the newspapers.
I never learned German at school, only French and Latin as German was still considered a "nasty" language, not to be encouraged. P.G. Wodehouse disappeared from our libraries as he was suspected of fraternising with the Germans.
I also hate "different than" and I've heard moderators in UK TV use it.
The First Certificate in English judging rules states that the content is more important than the grammar because they are looking to see if the contestant has understood the content and can reply, indicating her / his (nowdays "their") grasp of the language.
I think we will have to accept this. Communication is more important than grammatically correct messages in the long run. It hurts but one (I) have had to adapt.
Remember "knock, knock" "who is it?" It's me!!
It's a tremendously interesting thread and although I prefer the correct grammar, I see the need to teach students the art of "Give me a beer, please" and it's successful outcome. It doesn't have to be "Giv us a beer luv" or maybe that would work better.
I see I am rambling and will finish for now!! Keep this up - it's interesting!!
