[Discussion] 3 Words That Drive English Language Learners Bonkers

[WhistleBlower]

English language is a confusing language because so many different languages (from different language families) have played a role in what we speak today. Here are three words and phrases that aren’t consistent or are just plain strange that can drive people learning the language to madness.

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1. Teachers taught, but preachers don’t “praught.”
The past simple of teach is taught, but the past simple of preach is preached.

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2. Feet smell. Noses run.
To smell in English has two meanings. One is the act of detecting a smell, and the other is the act of producing an unpleasant smell. “Feet smell” is using the second definition and is a common collocation. A runny nose is a nose that is stuffed up and is producing a lot of mucus, usually during a cold or allergies. Feet can also run, but in that case it means to literally run.

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3. An alarm goes off by going on.
This one is strange because, like many phrasal verbs, the combination of the verb go and the preposition completely changes the meaning of the written phrase. In this case “to go off” means to start working or go into action. It is often used when describing a sound, e.g. “The timer is going off. The food is done!”


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Which funny examples can you think of? Please share in the comments!​

 

[xxsasukex]

You Know What.........................................................................Thats None Of My Business

 

[Jɑégar]

They are actually easy. The 3rd one is a little confusing tho.

 

[BlacLord™]

How about the fact that English is one of the few languages where you can jumble up the words and although it can still be coherent, it's not good English or really correct.

"The cat sat on the mat."
"Mat the cat sat on the."

It's stumbling block of many learners, they end up omitting words, adding them unnecessarily or using poor word order.

 

[NineSNS]

Only 3? I always assumed that vowel pronunciation be the biggest hurdle.

 

[βeeCee]

Most native English speakers don't even use "their, there, and they're" correctly. My biggest pet peeve is when people use "good" instead of "well."

Ex. "How are you doing today?"
"I'm doing good."

I hate it. What type of good are you doing? Did you save a stray animal? Heal a dying person? No. You're not doing any good by speaking poorly.

Okay. I'm off my soapbox.

 

[Multiply]

Most native English speakers don't even use "their, there, and they're" correctly. My biggest pet peeve is when people use "good" instead of "well."

Ex. "How are you doing today?"
"I'm doing good."

I hate it. What type of good are you doing? Did you save a stray animal? Heal a dying person? No. You're not doing any good by speaking poorly.

Okay. I'm off my soapbox.

Woah their Doctar Dictionarey