I think you are taking grammar too seriously. Learn from examples and stop overthinking it. It's literally impossible to construct sentences like this at a reasonable speed.
It's depressing how accurate this is. The amount of second-guessing I do with reflexive verbs and conjugations kills my conversational flow sometimes. (Apart from the time it takes to actually find the words I need.)
Articles also trip me up, but I usually end up resorting to saying "duhhhhh" instead of "der," "die," "das," "dem," or "den."
Not really, but for me it's most prevalent with German because I find the grammar in Italian and French much easier to just remember as you're going along. In German you have to have it all figured out before you start your sentence!
German rarely used the past perfect, in fact, many speakers may just say " Yesterday, present tense/perfect" in colloquial speech. You just need to let it come instinctively. Assuming English is your native tongue, how do you know whether to use a gerund or infinitive following a certain verb? Or which verbs allow you to raise subjects or object in a sentence? You just remember it like a gender. Chinese can be bad. You have to say all the who/what/when etc before the first verb! Luckily there are no tenses, genders, word agreement, or plurals though.
I think you are taking grammar too seriously. Learn from examples and stop overthinking it. It's literally impossible to construct sentences like this at a reasonable speed.
ReplyDeleteI agree, this is too serious! This comic should take things lightly for a change!
DeleteExactly! When you start worrying about such convoluted forms as the present perfect perpendicular, you're obviously taking things too seriously!
DeleteI meant to type imperfect, although the same thing goes for the "PPP" - only incorrigible pedants bother to use that one correctly!
DeleteAlmost as dangerous as the Conjunctive Missive Arboreal Contemplative!
DeleteIt's depressing how accurate this is. The amount of second-guessing I do with reflexive verbs and conjugations kills my conversational flow sometimes. (Apart from the time it takes to actually find the words I need.)
ReplyDeleteArticles also trip me up, but I usually end up resorting to saying "duhhhhh" instead of "der," "die," "das," "dem," or "den."
Yeah that's the best way. Luckily they all start with "d"!
DeleteHaha, Reflexive Pronoun Zubats!
ReplyDeleteMalachi, you undersell yourself, I am sure your language skills are a lot whole better than most immigrants!
I don't know about that ... maybe better than most American immigrants!
DeleteI just read through your comic archive. <3ed it. Is there an update schedule or whenever you like?
ReplyDeleteThanks! Yeah I update every single Sunday. Put your email in the box on the top of the page if you want them sent direct to you!
DeleteLove it. Any particular language refers to?
ReplyDeleteNot really, but for me it's most prevalent with German because I find the grammar in Italian and French much easier to just remember as you're going along. In German you have to have it all figured out before you start your sentence!
DeleteTrue true! I suspected German...i'm studying it at uni. Love it but it's very tricky. Keep the fab comics coming!
DeleteGerman rarely used the past perfect, in fact, many speakers may just say " Yesterday, present tense/perfect" in colloquial speech. You just need to let it come instinctively. Assuming English is your native tongue, how do you know whether to use a gerund or infinitive following a certain verb? Or which verbs allow you to raise subjects or object in a sentence? You just remember it like a gender. Chinese can be bad. You have to say all the who/what/when etc before the first verb! Luckily there are no tenses, genders, word agreement, or plurals though.
DeleteMalachi, your comic strip is AMAZING. It's like you're inside my head and you aren't even American! Kudos to you and keep up the great work!
ReplyDeleteNow if I could figure out this darn reflexive imperfect subjunctive in Spanish, I'll be good :-)
Thanks Tim! Believe it or not, I AM American. What didn't give me away?
Delete