Irish people and possessive pronouns...

Phlann

...don't appear to mix very well, I've noticed.

I'm not a grammar nazi and I'd never correct somebody who says 'your' instead of 'you're' in an email but it never ceases to amaze me how often I see it.

I've found it's common even with intelligent, educated people in this country to mix up 'they're', 'there' and 'their'! 'Its' and 'it's' is another common one.

It's really not that complicated... is there a problem with our primary schools or something?

copacetic

ahem, the bold bits below and entire red bit have atrocious grammar, so it's just as well you aren't a nazi about it..

Phlann wrote: »

...don't appear to mix very well, I've noticed.

I'm not a grammar nazi and I'd never correct somebody who says 'your' instead of 'you're' in an email but it never ceases to amaze me how often I see it.

I've found it's common even with intelligent, educated people in this country to mix up 'they're', 'there' and 'their'! 'Its' and 'it's' is another common one.

It's really not that complicated... is there a problem with our primary schools or something?

Smyth

the pronouns?

they're mine

THEY'RE ALL MINE!!!!!!

Phlann

I knew some smartass would come in and do that.

I think the bits you've highlighted are perfectly acceptable in informal language, tbh. But feel free to criticise me if ever I write an essay in that style

Doesn't really detract from my point.

beautiation

you're ma.

brianthebard

Phlann wrote: »

It's really not that complicated... is there a problem with our primary schools or something?

Yes they are quite shoite.Plus grammar is basically ignored after first year in secondary,when it should be studied right through school.

Smyth

Phlann wrote: »

I knew some smartass would come in and do that.

Grammatically correct smartass!

Phlann

Smyth wrote: »

Grammatically correct smartass!

No he's not!

The first part of his statement is clumsy and uneconomical and - wait for this - the ellipsis at the end of his post contains just two full stops!

I think he's a disgrace and should be ashamed of himself, quite frankly.

Shall we make this the official grammar nazi thread?

Smyth

:D

Kold

I don't think it's limited to Ireland. I think that some people are just very bad when it comes to English.

MissHoneyBun

De Saussure was my hero in college. Now back to school the lot of ye!

dr.bollocko

MissHoneyBun wrote: »

De Saussure was my hero in college. Now back to school the lot of ye!

I like de sausseres n'all. Great for putting me teacups on and da'.

Fighting Irish

Phlann wrote: »

...don't appear to mix very well, I've noticed.

I'm not a grammar nazi and I'd never correct somebody who says 'your' instead of 'you're' in an email but it never ceases to amaze me how often I see it.

I've found it's common even with intelligent, educated people in this country to mix up 'they're', 'there' and 'their'! 'Its' and 'it's' is another common one.

It's really not that complicated... is there a problem with our primary schools or something?

internetz :pac:

ejmaztec

Fair enough, people can slip into bad habits and forget what they were taught. Some others never got it in the first place.

You'd expect sign-writers not to slip up and have these permanent displays of their ignorance bolted to the front of a shop or attached to a post.

A guy in the local town opened a shop. He sold antiques, so to avoid any confusion, he named the shop "Antiques". A local sign-writer attached a large fancy-looking wooden board above the window. The board said "Antique's". I tried to explain to the shop-owner that the sign-writer had screwed up by sticking the apostrophe on it, but he didn't know what the fucking hell I was talking about.

The sign was never changed, but remained there until the shop eventually closed down and was demolished (probably by the grammar nazis).

biko

Test yourself http://www.better-english.com/easier/theyre.htm
I got 100%

MissHoneyBun

dr.bollocko wrote: »

I like de sausseres n'all. Great for putting me teacups on and da'.

dsmythy

I say we just change the rules and use one of the words. Language is supposed to evolve anyway. That's how it begins, with a variation or mistake of a word or group of words.

Phlann

ejmaztec wrote: »

The sign was never changed, but remained there until the shop eventually closed down and was demolished (probably by the grammar nazis).

Did they smash his windows? Damn nazis.

Funny you said that though, I saw something similar in either Phibsborough or Drumcondra recently... I can't recall the name of the shop but I couldn't believe it when I saw it. I'll have to keep an eye out for it next time I'm in the area.

It's one thing to do it on the internet but to put a sign like that on the front of your business and never notice that there's something wrong with it is pretty unbelievable :pac:

ejmaztec

biko wrote: »

Test yourself http://www.better-english.com/easier/theyre.htm
I got 100%

I got 150%, so there.:P

dr.bollocko

Bwahaha

genericgoon

ejmaztec wrote: »

Fair enough, people can slip into bad habits and forget what they were taught. Some others never got it in the first place.

You'd expect sign-writers not to slip up and have these permanent displays of their ignorance bolted to the front of a shop or attached to a post.

A guy in the local town opened a shop. He sold antiques, so to avoid any confusion, he named the shop "Antiques". A local sign-writer attached a large fancy-looking wooden board above the window. The board said "Antique's". I tried to explain to the shop-owner that the sign-writer had screwed up by sticking the apostrophe on it, but he didn't know what the fucking hell I was talking about.

The sign was never changed, but remained there until the shop eventually closed down and was demolished (probably by the grammar nazis).

How do you know the shop didn't belong to a Mr. Antique? :P (Although that is still gramatically incorrect, it would differentiate it from being just an antiques shop but rather that it was under the ownership of a Mr. Antique)

Phlann

dsmythy wrote: »

I say we just change the rules and use one of the words. Language is supposed to evolve anyway. That's how it begins, with a variation or mistake of a word or group of words.

I'm going to bring back words like 'thy' and 'thine', just to shake things up. Old skool :cool:

ejmaztec

genericgoon wrote: »

How do you know the shop didn't belong to a Mr. Antique? :P

That was how I tried to explain it to him. I told him to pretend that his name was Antique and not Murphy, but gave up when his eyes glazed over. :eek:

FlutterinBantam

Listen sunshine, when the great unwashed out there cannot differentiate between "saw" and "seen" , "did" and "done" "gone " and "went", how do you expect them to know the correct use of the apostrophe??.

there is an underclass out there whose grammatical ignorance will always mark them down as chavs and skangers.

When was the last time a dentist said " I done your teeth last week"??


Go figure guys.

Kold

dsmythy wrote: »

I say we just change the rules and use one of the words. Language is supposed to evolve anyway. That's how it begins, with a variation or mistake of a word or group of words.

I say that people should simply learn how to write and speak.

dr.bollocko

Kold wrote:

shoul

I saw it.

FruitLover

What really does my head in is misuse of apostrophe's.

...

But seriously folks, what really pisses me off is inconsistency. For example: I recently saw an ad some moron had put up in a shop advertising "Books, DVD's and record's". Jesus, like, if you're going to subject people to such headwrecking grammar, you could at least be consistent!

jaffa20

I agree with the OP and i do think it is because of the education system. i have just completed uni and since I've left school my grammar and spelling have become atrocious. However, i still managed to get an honors degree and why? Spell check

FlutterinBantam

Must be the US version.:rolleyes:

5starpool

biko wrote: »

Test yourself http://www.better-english.com/easier/theyre.htm
I got 100%

Easy peasy. In number 17 what would the yanks say different that they feel the need to point it out?

Tar.Aldarion

Phlann wrote: »

No he's not!

The first part of his statement is clumsy and uneconomical and - wait for this - the ellipsis at the end of his post contains just two full stops!

I think he's a disgrace and should be ashamed of himself, quite frankly.

Shall we make this the official grammar nazi thread?

There is a grammar nzi forum, spell czechs.
You have to PM hullaballu or me to get in... as its private.

ziggy

This post has been deleted.

ixoy

5starpool wrote: »

Easy peasy. In number 17 what would the yanks say different that they feel the need to point it out?

I think they'd say:

IBM have increased profits by 20%.

and leave out the possessive pronoun.

Phlann

Tara Le d'Arion wrote: »

There is a grammar nzi forum, spell czechs.
You have to PM hullaballu or me to get in... as it is private.

Haha, I honestly thought you were joking until I saw it in the list under your name.

Tar.Aldarion

No joke, this is serious business.

Kold

dr.bollocko wrote: »

I saw it.

Bastard. Stiff 'D' key clearly.

mental07

The basic grammar that people are talking about here is the stuff that was drilled into me in primary school. I've never had a problem with the use of apostrophes, it's/its, they're/their/there etc. because I was taught it all at a young age and it's stuck with me ever since. The things we learn in primary school are so important; we just don't realise it at the time.

Terry

FlutterinBantam wrote: »

Listen sunshine, when the great unwashed out there cannot differentiate between "saw" and "seen" , "did" and "done" "gone " and "went", how do you expect them to know the correct use of the apostrophe??.

there is an underclass out there whose grammatical ignorance will always mark them down as chavs and skangers.

When was the last time a dentist said " I done your teeth last week"??


Go figure guys.

I done seen what you meant.

jaffa20 wrote: »

I agree with the OP and i do think it is because of the education system. i have just completed uni and since I've left school my grammar and spelling have become atrocious. However, i still managed to get an honors degree and why? Spell check

FlutterinBantam wrote: »

Must be the US version.:rolleyes:

Well spotted.

Someone mentioned the American thing.
Listen out for them talking about bands or generally groups of people as a whole.
the Smashing Pumpins is going on tour this year as opposed to are.
It has something to do with a business law passed in the late 19th century which recognises all groups as a single entity. That's all I can remember about it.

genericgoon

Huzzah! I got 100% in that 'there/their/they're' quiz. Although, not much of an achievement in retrospect. 'Twas fairly simple.

ixoy

genericgoon wrote: »

Who the hell are the Smashing Pumpins?

They released an album - Sesime Dream - a few years ago..

Terry

genericgoon wrote: »

Who the hell are the Smashing Pumpins?

Wow. You noticed that I left out a letter.
How embarrassing for me.
I'll go and edit my post and then edit the quote in yours, so that no-one else will see it.

genericgoon wrote: »

Is this the changing or the guard thread where all of us whom have now completed the LC for good say fareweel to this board at least as an LC student and into the realm of being finished with this board or stay on as a assisstant to the new crowd of hopeful LC students? Or should we make a proper thread for that?

Oh noes.

Terry

ixoy wrote: »

They released an album - Sesime Dream - a few years ago..

He gone done edited his post.

Mod powers activate....

genericgoon

Terry wrote: »

Oh noes.

That's quite an old quote. I was so young and foolish back then. *reminisces

Anyways, I forgot the most the important part of that question. The :P at the end. Apologies for any offence caused.

Phlann

ixoy wrote: »

They released an album - Sesime Dream - a few years ago..

And what a good album it was. Shame it was mostly downhill from that point.

ejmaztec

Thanks to the Grammar Nazis Easy-payment Plan, I've taken out a contract on one boardsie so far, who insists on using "there" for "their", "they're" and "there". They're coming there to get their target (see what I did there (and there))

Now that I've checked my grammar and spelling, I'm posting this.

Terry

Phlann wrote: »

And what a good album it was. Shame it was mostly downhill from that point.

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055335286

Phlann

Terry wrote: »

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055335286

Ah, I didn't realise the sesime thing was a running joke.

Bloody hell that thread is unbelievably anal, haha

Yazacoo

My grammer is awful, along with my spelling... I suppose thats why I'm not a writer. It also means I have to pay more attention to my lettering in my drawings and buisness documents. I have a basic grasp of grammer but where can I learn it all? I have the oxford book of grammer but even when I read it, I'm terrified that I'll get something wrong. That's why I get people who know more to check it out for me before it's used.

But that does not mean I'm "an underclass" of society.
I'm just not good with grammer all the time.

genericgoon

Yazacoo wrote: »

My grammer is awful, along with my spelling... I suppose thats why I'm not a writer. It also means I have to pay more attention to my lettering in my drawings and buisness documents. I have a basic grasp of grammer but where can I learn it all? I have the oxford book of grammer but even when I read it, I'm terrified that I'll get something wrong. That's why I get people who know more to check it out for me before it's used.

But that does not mean I'm "an underclass" of society.
I'm just not good with grammer all the time.

MUST RESIST TEMPTATION!

Yazacoo

genericgoon wrote: »

MUST RESIST TEMPTATION!

meanie!

psh...IM GOIN BACK TO LURKING.

Wishbone Ash

Businesses who use a combination of '€' and 'c' in one price, (e.g. €1.99c).

How retarded can you get?

Another example is the price list in my work dining area:

"Soup 0.50c"

I joked with the catering manager that the soup was great value but he hadn't a clue what was wrong with it. :rolleyes: