In the end only kindness matters...

Do you know what it is? I notice it frequently in comments, and communications with foreign friends. Even the most intelligent and proficient speakers of English as a second language often spell the term wrong. The word is "DEFINITELY", and the most common error is to spell it "definAtely", where an "a" is used instead of an "i". Phonetically, this makes sense, and even native English speakers periodically spell the word wrong.

I was reminded of this today when I began to read a post about studying English via Skype lessons. The blogger mentioned all kinds of tenses - present perfect progressive, past perfect, past perfect simple. I must have learned these tenses in school over 20 years ago, but what the hell do they mean? :) I don't even think about them now as a native English speaker, although the tenses are self-explanatory if you contemplate the basic essence of the words. When I studied Russian for a short time, I wasn't concerned about proper grammar or spelling, because the goal was simply to be able to speak basic phrases during travels and communicate with locals in their native tongue. Some things that still confuse me about Russian:( Read more... )

I see a constant mistake on Facebook and in comments to posts, when Russians are trying to refer to something as delicious or tasty. They use the term "yAmmy," when the correct word is "yUmmy." I'm not sure if this is a teaching error from Soviet times, but I'm offering a rare English lesson because this mistake is so widespread. A "yam" is a vegetable, similar to a sweet potato.



Also, many people ask me the correct way to refer to black people in the U.S. I simply call them "black," although African-American is also commonly used. NEVER use the word "nigger." This seems to be an acceptable term in Russia, but in the U.S. it's very offensive and derogatory. Also, you will look like a fool if you call them "Negroes." This term is outdated.( lesson continued )