OK dudes. This is what some on this board have wanted.

Yes all the regulars know who the natives are but I thought I would create this thread for anyone that would like to speak to native engliish speaking people.

One of the conditions of this thread is that we (the natives) may correct the grammar of anything non natives type so you can learn.

native english speaker = someone from a country whose main langauage is English.

I am sure some here will ridiule what I wrote but I wrote it this way so beginners could understand it.

So guys. Get talking to the natives.

I am a native Englishman.

Cliff

How do you do, Cliff?
May I ask you? Is it possible to correct the grammar of the natives here, I wonder?

You can if you want. I am sure there may be many mistakes in my intital post, however I wanted to make it easy for non natives/begtinners to understand.

Cliff
I am curious is it possible chez vous (how to say that in BE?) to correct smb you are speaking with? Is it common?

I am not against correcting me or smb else here, just have you ever met so obsessed with correctivness as... (may be you know yourself as who... as me...)?

BTW sorry when I said "Speak" i meant "wrote". Again to make it easy to understand.

Elsewhere on this board natives have corrected the English of non natives if the non natives asked them to. I thought I would change the board rules in this thread that anyone that posts in it will, (or might) depending on what the natives want, correct it.

That is the idea here, not to try and nit-pick the natives.

I thought there are often people on here asking for natives to talk to and this would be a one stop shop.

BTW chez vous = in your house in english.

Often the non-natives want correcting but forget to ask.

This was somewhere where non natives could ask a native things and learn.

That is the idea. If nobody wants to use it, it was the thought that counted.

Cliff
I do want. Please, tell me the meaning of "the word that counted" as it is in your house.
Once more. I like the idea.

As it is in your house.

I think you mean IN YOUR COUNTRY.

Yes you could refer to OUR HOUSE.

House = where someone lives (sleeps, watches tv etc).

Country (e.g. Russia)

It's the thought that counts = Good intentions, etc.

Suppose someone bought someone something as a present but they already had it. Upon finding this out the person receiveing the gift might say "Never mind. It's the thought that counts" - Never mind, you had good intentions.

Cliff
The only reason I've asked is: niko was obsessed himself with the idea that descriptivness in grammar could cause intolerance. I tried to explain my idea, but some posh countesses advised not to "expose yourself this way" (BTW in this way or this way here?). After that niko was as drunk as a count for a couple of days. He looks for smb who wills to hear.

Cliff
So it was the thought that was counted? Or the thought that counted?

Cliff
Do you know any expression for "chez vous"="in your country"?

She possibly said "do not EXPRESS yourself that way"

If someone said "He exposed himself" it has negative connotations, and it could even mean he showed his genitals.


It is the thought that counts. = General discussions about things.
It was the thought that counted. = Specific past event.

By the way, I am a native, not a Grammar expert.

Cliff


What a terrible thing! I now need some drink. These were her exact words. -showed his genitals? Terrific.

In fairness IN CONTEXT it can also mean other things like revealing more than you want to.

E.g. if someone admitted more than they should in a political arguemnt their opponent may destroy them.

Or if someone admitted they did not have relevant qualificaitons they might be exposing themselves.

For example, if you were filling in a job application form there may be some things best left unsaid.

Cliff
It sounds better. Though not good either. I don't like to show off. But to speak or not to speak, that is the question. So they speak in english, don't they?

Often when explaining what was said or written, context, (i.e. a lot of words) are needed so that the true meaning can be determined.

E.g. "I told him to shut it".

What does that mean?

It can mean, to close a particular item that has previously been mentioned.

Or it can mean "not mentions something/stop talking" (slang)

Cliff
As for me, the meaning is the same. Or nearly the same.

Often the non-natives want correcting but forget to ask.

If everybody asked for corrections and then got them, then almost every thread would be a complete mess. No matter how correct the correction were, there would be a good chance of somebody disagreeing. You have no idea (or have you?) how passionate people here can be about correctness of English. They are capable of arguing about a single article in a single phrase for days, if not weeks. In some cases - for years. And this is an optimistic, and impossible, scenario. I mean, people with good English are scarce, and they are mostly busy people, and those who aren't busy would very soon be fed up with that torrent of requests, the necessity of arguing, etc.
So, in reality every thread would be cluttered by corrections made by folks like me or tourist, corrections of corrections, seeking the truth and so on.

If nobody wants to use it, it was the thought that counted.

You won't get off that easy. Do I need to submit a formal request for correction here? I hope I don't. :)

Not necessarily, I will explain what I mean...

"What's je said to her? I told him to shut it. He only makes things worse"

Teacher to student:(after abuse)
Shut it. I won't take any more of your lip.

this thread was intended for beginners not experts. It was a thread which allowed newcomers to quickly communicate with natives and practice communicating not with GrammarGurus but "Real" English speaking natives.

That was what I meant.

I see. These are different. Thanks.

the last post was for cat.

What's je
should be What's he

Cliff
Those tips are clear enough to correct them.

Anything else you'd like to ask a native? Want to know anything about England?

Cliff
What do you like best in England?

Cliff, what's the difference between 'spin' 'whirl' 'twirl' and 'swirl'?

Gosh that is difficult. I suppose these might not make sense compared to Russia or some other countries, but :

The BBC.
The National Health Service (not the quality, but the true Universal Health Care)
The variety of weather. In some parts of the world they don't have snow. In others they never have grass. The weather here is varied. For example (quite rare for February) it has snowed in England a lot lately.
Ethnic diversity and tolerance (comparitively).
Indian Takaways also known as Kebabs.
Fish & Chips
(Comparitbively) Reliable electricity
It uses the English Language which is the most popular international language (i think)
Comparative lack of corruption amongst politicians and officials (note I said COMPARATIVELY)


I konw that is pathetic but I suppose some things you take for granted.

BTW You might have mentioned in another thread, where are you from niko? (country)

What do you like about your country?

Cliff
No, I havn't. I'll tell you. I will. But first try to guess yourself. I can tell you that looking out from my window I can see a sea. They do flying kites there. Sometimes I see a hovercraft there. My wife even bought a telescope. There is a river. What do I like? I like kicksledding. It's not the only thing I like, but it was the first that came across my mind.

I used to live by the sea :)
Kites are flown here too, or they used to be, haven't seen any for a while
Hovercrafts go from England to France
And there are lots of rivers in England.

So wow. Do you live in the UK?
:))))))

I would say Russia, but it could be Ukraine, or any of them. It could be anywhere I am not an Eastern Bloc expert.