I really worry. (quarter infinitive?)

[Kitosdad]

I really do, because I fear that in some university somewhere a grammar genius is trying to split the split infinitive.

If they are successful will they then call it the "quarter infinitive?"

Seriously though, just why are you here?

Is it to simply learn to speak English correctly, and by correctly I mean in an understandable fashion, or is it your intention to write grammatically correct texts for other students to study and lose sleep over?

Of course you have the obligation to absorb the basic essentials of English grammar, but as for knowing what follows or goes before what in a sentence is just totally unnecessary.( In my opinion of course.)

It grieves me to see posters asking questions about grammar which are way above my head, but in doing this they cannot even string the questioning sentence together correctly.

Stop beating yourselves up. Keep it simple. Learn the basics and learn them well.
Trust me, you won't go far wrong.

Kitos.
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Keep it simple ... Keep it interesting.

[Prezbucky]

I'm here to help as best I can as a native speaker (and Journalism major) of the best way to speak this glorious English tongue: the American Way.

I'm also here to talk to people from... everywhere. It's cool to be able to converse with (or talk at, but that's at least a communicative foray...) someone who's neither in my country nor on my continent.

It's cool. This here forum is cool. God bless it and God bless y'all. (you all, Southern form of the plural "you")
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Billie Jean is not my lover. Hee.

[Kiprida]

Sometimes it becomes necessary to learn other languages.I was 7 when my father bought me a book , named "ABS". I don't understand persons who waste their time without learning anything. What they live for? We are social animals. Socialized we become different. Just imagine little countries, where you will never find wold classic literature books in your own language, where there is no interesting TV channels.But you want to read them!! You want to watch them!!You want to understand the world! And in that country to become to the worker of BP, intermediate level English is not enaugh!!! You will never speak English at work, but you have to pass that exam.And if you do something, you should to the best. I'm 21, and I know in years my memory will become weak, and it will be difficult to learn something. that is why I'm here:to learn the language, to communicate and to read funny stories written by You!!
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[Kitosdad]

Phoebe, I am not disagreeing with your enthusiasm regarding the extent to which you are willing to go to conquer our difficult language.

It appears to me that when scholastic grammar experts find it necessary to argue over an already accepted definition of a simple sentence, then it is time to call it a day.

There are two schools of objective on all English Forums, and I feel that it would be of benefit to all concerned that the Forum had two distinct sections.

One for those simply wishing to learn how to talk and write an "acceptable" level of English, and another for those who aspire to greater levels of learning.

Personally, I have never read one of "the books" that the world hails as masterpieces.
I have however seen them converted into films, and this medium has entertained and furthered my education, in much the same fashion as most of the learners here have done.

Reading brings the story to you for your personal translation, but a film, in my opinion, allows you to become embroiled in the action. I've never in my lifetime read a famous author's work. I've never felt the need to do so. I certainly don't intend to do so now.

Kitos.
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Keep it simple ... Keep it interesting.

[Kiprida]

Kitos,

I don't know why, but I like reading. I also like movies, and last months I watch them in English. But literature is something different for me. I've read many books, but most of them I've read in Russian. It is not my native language, but in my country we all speak Russian as native spaeakers, as Azerbaijan used to belong to USSR. You will never enjoy the movie as much as you enjoyed the book. for example, the famous "The Da Vinci Code". The book is very interesting because of explanation of sysmbols. The movie has lost the intellectual part of the book.And I'm not reading books/ watching movies to learn English, English is like an instrument to understand them :)

I don't think the forum should be separated. Everybody will find sections interesting for himher. Sometimes I want my posts to be checked grammatically. There is no worse if you will correct something. Everybody learns making mistakes :)
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