To offer some grammar tips to anyone who might want them?

[UnaCorda]

I sincerely hope this doesn't come across as either rude or patronising - it genuinely isn't meant to. It's also not intended as a pedants' thread.

I just thought it might be useful to list a few common mistakes, with an explanation, so that anyone who isn't very confident with their written English might be able to correct errors which, for example, could perhaps count against them in a job application or when used in a professional context.

I'll start with three:

1. "Your" shows that what you're referring to (probably a person or object) belongs to whoever "you" is in the sentence; for example, "Your brother showed me your book". If you mean "you are" you need to write "you're".

2. "Non" is not a word on its own - it is negating something, such as in "non-stick" or "non-committal". ("None-stick" would be incorrect, as would "non of them".) "None" means there aren't any. "How many cakes are left?" "Sorry - none." Or, "How many of the children finished the test?" "None of them."

3. "Alot" is not a word and the same goes for "abit", "infront", "incase" and "inbetween". Instead use "a lot", etc., just like "a little".

Hope I haven't made any mistakes myself...

When should you use will and when should you use shall?

The one that bothers me the most is brought. I always see this on Argos reviews ie. 'I brought this lawnmower last week' it's bought not brought!

Yes you come across as rude and patronising

Bear with me, not bare with me

@WindowsSmindows

When should you use will and when should you use shall?

Use shall if you are 103. Language evolves.

I was thinking, ‘how patronising,’ but then, inbetween isn’t one word?

Okurrrr

@Shimy

Good thread! English is my second language and I’m seeing a trend that is rather confusing. Lots of posters saying, “I was sat”, “I was took for granted”, “When he shouted at me, I was shook” etc etc there are plenty more that I can’t remember right now.. I thought it was ‘I was siting’, ‘I was taken for granted’, “I was shaken”. I seem to be seeing the past participle less and less in use and even I’m now starting to change how I speak. Am I wrong or is this just a new way of speaking?

Thank you. I think these particular conjugations have a lot to do with regional dialects, but they would definitely be considered incorrect in a formal or written context (although some, such as "I was sat", have become extremely common).

Correct versions:

I saw / I have seen
I did / I have done
I was sitting / I sat / I have been sitting
I was standing / I stood / I have been standing
I was lying / I lay / I have lain / I have been lying
I was laying the table / I laid the table / I have laid the table
I was taken / I have taken / I took
I was shaken / I shook
I have shrunk the jumper / I shrank the jumper

OP this is a lovely worded thread. I hope those who want it can gain some knowledge.
However I think posters need to understand it isn't a thread to mock bad grammar or mistakes of others they notice that grind their teeth otherwise
It will go down hill quickly.

If an error is undetectable in speech, it's generally a spelling or punctuation error, not really a grammatical error.

Grammar is to do with the actual structure of a language, not just how to write it down correctly.

That's an example of a commonly misused word (though not a common grammatical error as a completely nonsensical sentence may still be grammatical).

@MillicentMartha

I was thinking, ‘how patronising,’ but then, inbetween isn’t one word?

Well there you go! No, it's two words.

@Crongle

Is it

If I were you

or
If I was you
?

Both are correct. The former is more formal.

The “non/none” one is something that only seems to have emerged recently.

Easy way to remember: you could always replace “none” with “one” in a sentence.

@PuffinShop

If an error is undetectable in speech, it's generally a spelling or punctuation error, not really a grammatical error.

Grammar is to do with the actual structure of a language, not just how to write it down correctly.

That's an example of a commonly misused word (though not a common grammatical error as a completely nonsensical sentence may still be grammatical).

I completely agree - I thought "grammar" wasn't quite the precise meaning, but it was succinct and easily understood in a thread title.

It is if I were you , not if I was you-.

I keep seeing confusion between lent and borrow on here, but have not heard it in RL..
If I lend you something, you borrow it from me.
So, she lent me a book, not she borrowed me a book.

@Emeraldshamrock

OP this is a lovely worded thread. I hope those who want it can gain some knowledge. However I think posters need to understand it isn't a thread to mock bad grammar or mistakes of others they notice that grind their teeth otherwise It will go down hill quickly.

Thank you. I tried hard to word the OP carefully. I hope it will prove useful to people.

@Procne @UnaCorda Thank you. Those examples Procne gave are exactly the type of phrases I was thinking of. It’s hard sticking to the correct versions because you hear the incorrect ones so often they are starting to sound normal. My eye always do a funny thing when I read effect/affect mixed up too? Regional variations apart, how is it that native Brits don’t understand their own language?

Use shall if you are 103. Language evolves.

Ditto pronouncing "where" differently from "wear".

Use shall if you are 103. Language evolves
Well, I'm not 103 but I would still use shall for a suggestion e.g Shall we go to the pub? Will is used in some regions here especially Irish English, I think.

[quote Shimy]**@Procne* @UnaCorda* Thank you. Those examples Procne gave are exactly the type of phrases I was thinking of. It’s hard sticking to the correct versions because you hear the incorrect ones so often they are starting to sound normal. My eye always do a funny thing when I read effect/affect mixed up too? Regional variations apart, how is it that native Brits don’t understand their own language?[/quote]
Usually "affect" is the verb - "The film affected me deeply" and "effect" is the noun - "I felt the effect of cutting sugar out of my diet."

"Affect" is also a noun and "effect" is a verb, but they are far less common words.

I guess it would be a shame to waste that GCSE revision.

Plurals don’t have apostrophes.

“On Monday’s I eat pasta” is not right.

Also, there are not 3 Oliver’s in the class.

Me and DP agree that the laundry needs done. Me and him would of done it yesterday except his sister-in-laws both come to see the new chest of draw's. SIL was mortified because I only had instant coffee so we gone to the coffeeshop. I said, 'Can I get a cappuccino?' They said no, I'd have to be patient because there's no room behind the counter.
AIBU or would you of known what they were talking about?

Elder brother? Eldest brother? Youngest sister? Younger sister?
I never get this right.
Will someone kindly explain?