hooked 0 #1 July 3, 2003 WHY IS ENGLISH SO DIFFICULT? Let's begin with a box, and the plural is boxes; but the plural of ox became oxen not oxes. One fowl is a goose, but two are called geese, yet the plural of moose should never be meese. You may find a lone mouse or a nest full of mice; yet the plural of house is houses, not hice. If the plural of man is always called men, why shouldn't the plural of pan be called pen? If I spoke of my foot and show you my feet, and I give you a boot, would a pair be called beet? If one is a tooth and a whole set are teeth, why shouldn't the plural of booth be called beeth? Then one may be that, and three would be those, yet hat in the plural would never be hose, and the plural of cat is cats, not cose. We speak of a brother and also of brethren, but though we say mother we never say methren. Then the masculine pronouns are he, his and him, but imagine the feminine, she, shis and shim. Some reasons to be grateful if you grew up speaking English; 1) The bandage was wound around the wound. 2) The farm was used to produce produce. 3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse. 4) We must polish the Polish furniture. 5) He could lead if he would get the lead out. 6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert. 7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present. 8) At the Army base, a bass was painted on the head of a bass drum. 9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes. 10) I did not object to the object. 11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid. 12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row. 13) They were too close to the door to close it. 14) The buck does funny things when the does are present. 15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line. 16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow. 17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail. 18) After a number of Novocain injections, my jaw got number. 19) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear. 20) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests. 21) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend? Jan -------------------------------------- Sometimes we're just being Humans.....But we're always Human Beings. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #2 July 3, 2003 That's pretty good..but found an error Quote18) After a number of Novocain injections, my jaw got number. number should be more numb. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CrazyIvan 0 #3 July 3, 2003 I raise my right hand and say you are right.__________________________________________ Blue Skies and May the Force be with you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeemax 0 #4 July 3, 2003 you forgot one.. what is the ratio of the patio?Phoenix Fly - High performance wingsuits for skydiving and BASE Performance Designs - Simply brilliant canopies Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hooked 0 #5 July 3, 2003 QuoteThat's pretty good..but found an error Quote18) After a number of Novocain injections, my jaw got number. number should be more numb. Hey, I didn't write it. There were more, but I saved you all from the rest of it! Jan -------------------------------------- Sometimes we're just being Humans.....But we're always Human Beings. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bch7773 0 #6 July 4, 2003 its true, english is a very difficult langauge to learn... but at least it doesn't have those stupid "masculine", "feminine", and "neuter" forms of "the". I'm learning german, and I still can't figure out why a leg is "masculine", and a neck is "feminine" MB 3528, RB 1182 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #7 July 4, 2003 Its simple.. because everyone in the area wanted a piece of those damn little islands. The Celtic peoples were invaders from the mainland as well as the Romans and they all added bits. My ancestors got there in the 10th century and added their genes and Danish bits to the language. Then there was that whole Norman thing..... inserting French words into the mix, the supposedly proper words like defecation used by the upper classes instead of just calling shite ........shit. Amazon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 4 #8 July 4, 2003 If it was easy everyone would speak it! SparkyMy idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
racer42 0 #9 July 4, 2003 Jeez, have you gotten to the "da" and "wo" compounds. And those articles. On the other hand..Finnish has 26 different cases. Still you can buy a beer out of a vending machine with your cell phone. That's pretty slick.L.A.S.T. #24 Co-Founder Biscuit Brothers Freefly Team Electric Toaster #3 Co-Founder Team Non Sequitor Co-Founder Team Happy Sock Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tbrown 26 #10 July 4, 2003 English is also hosed up as a classic example of technology outpacing the language. In particular the printing press. When printing presses first came along in Europe, like in Germany, there was already a standard for the written language. It was Martin Luther's translation of the Bible in the German language. Luther's Bible became the standard for the written language. In England, for mostly political reasons, there really wasn't an approved Bible until the king James version in 1611. And the plays of Wm Shakespeare. Willie the Shakes and the King Jim are the standards of the modern English language, yet both came a looong time after the printing press. In the meantime, English printers ran riot, using the local speeling conventions of whatever city they happened to live in. By the time the English tried to impoise London English as a standard, it was already too late. That's why our written language is so damned weird. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Unstable 9 #11 July 4, 2003 In the Words of my great Mentor "Me and F in English!! Thats Unpossible!!!"=========Shaun ========== Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lurking 0 #12 July 4, 2003 QuoteI'm learning german, and I still can't figure out why a leg is "masculine", and a neck is "feminine" I´m sorry to say that, but that´s not right... The leg "das Bein" is neutre and the neck (der Hals) is masculin. Good luck; I´m so happy that I didn´t have to learn that in school.. Thomas Germany Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 30 #13 July 4, 2003 QuoteThe leg "das Bein" is neutre and the neck (der Hals) is masculin. Non non non... c'est UNE jambe - leg (F) et UN cou - neck (M)Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeemax 0 #14 July 4, 2003 just say neck or leg. If you repeate it many times and get louder each time, you soon get understood. Failing that, use very over exagerated pointing...Phoenix Fly - High performance wingsuits for skydiving and BASE Performance Designs - Simply brilliant canopies Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bch7773 0 #15 July 5, 2003 actually, you are correct. I got mixed up and switched the words, but then screwed up again. shoulda checked before I posted. yet, my point is still valid... why is leg neuter, and the neck masculine ?!?!?!?! Who decided this stuff, the german literary god?? MB 3528, RB 1182 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
