"Grammar 101" by BJ Minnich, Site Owner (5/4/05)

[msbeejay]

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Since the English language is very complex, it may take time for somebody from another country to learn…so, you might hear visitors chatting away in their native language everywhere you go, which is a sure way to keep others from listening in on their conversation...

However, English isn’t always easy for those of us born in the USA either.

One reason is the different dialects[1] (http://www.nvo.com/bjmenterprises/newsarticles2/editarticle.nhtml?x=1#_ftn1) throughout our country depending on where you’re living and of course the various colloquialisms[2] (http://www.nvo.com/bjmenterprises/newsarticles2/editarticle.nhtml?x=1#_ftn2) you’ll hear while traveling.

Another reason might be that you have forgotten all those English lessons…so let me refresh your memory.

I will begin with “words that sound alike but have different meanings” that’s the definition of a homonym…Here's some examples:

base, bottom of anything; military station......bass, lowest male voice; (also a fish)
bare, reveal; uncover; naked......bear, a large 4-legged animal with coarse hair
beat, strike repeatedly; mix by stirring; police patrol area......beet, a red edible root
Ben, name for boys…been, the past tense of be......bin, enclosed space used for storing things
boar, a male swine; wild hog......bore, make a hole; monotonous tiresome person or thing
clause, group of words with subject & predicate[3] (http://www.nvo.com/bjmenterprises/newsarticles2/editarticle.nhtml?x=1#_ftn3)......claws, curved nails on animals paws
coarse, rough surface or texture of something......course, direction taken; educational program
dew, moisture deposited on cool surfaces at night......due, owed or payable as an obligation
fair, clear and sunny; impartial......fare, price of transportation; food; paying customer
for, a preposition[4] (http://www.nvo.com/bjmenterprises/newsarticles2/editarticle.nhtml?x=1#_ftn4) since; because…fore, front; forward......four, (4) a number
gait, manner of moving; pattern of stepping......gate, a movable barrier in a fence or wall
hail, call out to; precipitation of small snow or ice pellets......hale, free from disease; robust
hair, threadlike outgrowth from the skin or mass of such fibers on the head......hare, a rabbit
hear, perceive by ear; learn......here, an adverb[5] (http://www.nvo.com/bjmenterprises/newsarticles2/editarticle.nhtml?x=1#_ftn5) now; at this point; this place
hoarse, (voice) sounding husky or harsh......horse, a 4-legged animal for riding & racing
load, burden; cargo; quantity carried......lode, ore deposit; vein
mail, system used to send letters & packages......male, a man
Mary, a girl’s name…marry, join as husband or wife......merry, full of fun
pail, a bucket......pale, lose color; faded
poor, needy…pore, minute opening......pour, cause to flow from package or container
pray, beg; entreat; implore......prey, animal seized as food
sail, move over water or in the air by wind action......sale, offering of goods at reduced prices
seam, line formed by the junction of any two edges......seem, appear to be; feel as if
soar, float aloft......sore, injured area; angry
tail, follow closely; a flexible appendage......tale, a brief story; a lie
their, a pronoun[6] (http://www.nvo.com/bjmenterprises/newsarticles2/editarticle.nhtml?x=1#_ftn6) possessive case of they......there, in that place
vain, conceited…vane, device that shows wind direction......vein, blood vessel to heart; marking in wood
vial, a small glass bottle or tube......vile, corrupt; offensive
weather, atmospheric conditions such as sunny, cloudy......whether, a conjunction[7] (http://www.nvo.com/bjmenterprises/newsarticles2/editarticle.nhtml?x=1#_ftn7) either

To be continued...The Rest of the Article can be found at
http://www.nvo.com/bjmenterprises/newsarticles2/emailarticle.nhtml?UID=10005 (http://www.nvo.com/bjmenterprises/newsarticles2/emailarticle.nhtml?UID=10005)

Footnotes:
[1] (http://www.nvo.com/bjmenterprises/newsarticles2/editarticle.nhtml?x=1#_ftnref1) Local characteristics of speech
[2] (http://www.nvo.com/bjmenterprises/newsarticles2/editarticle.nhtml?x=1#_ftnref2) Informal conversation or word usage
[3] (http://www.nvo.com/bjmenterprises/newsarticles2/editarticle.nhtml?x=1#_ftnref3) Word or words that make a statement about the subject
[4] (http://www.nvo.com/bjmenterprises/newsarticles2/editarticle.nhtml?x=1#_ftnref4) Word used to show the relationship between noun or pronoun and other words
[5] (http://www.nvo.com/bjmenterprises/newsarticles2/editarticle.nhtml?x=1#_ftnref5) Words that modifies a verb, adjective or adverb
[6] (http://www.nvo.com/bjmenterprises/newsarticles2/editarticle.nhtml?x=1#_ftnref6) Word used instead of a noun, as he – she – it
[7] (http://www.nvo.com/bjmenterprises/newsarticles2/editarticle.nhtml?x=1#_ftnref7) Word that links words

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[teddyrux98]

Don't you just love the English language with all its rules and exceptions to the rules?! :-)

[revjoybunny]

As an English person ie from the UK

I was always being told to speak the kings English but we have so many regional dialects and accents its hard to keep up

one example is an alley (small dead end at the back of houses) to some is a snicket to another

bits and pieces to one is bits and bats to another

this not to mention shortened words and words pronounced differently.

In medieval times the language was totally different again and many of the words that are the Kings English have faded from usage altogether.

[vprinn1955]

This is so true. It is mind boggling.

[blastpast]

and then we also have synonym,acronym,and it goes on and on,but theres a language that is suppose to be our own dialect ..but i smile everytime i think about my grandmother bless her soul.she use to speak a kind of pigeon ,french ,english that i believe you had to be from the swamps in louisiana to understand ,yet she'd look at you like "whats the matter with you didnt you hear me?'' she was precious but it just goes to show you that we can speak differently within our own language ....from just across the street..lol