2016.
I was back home in Virginia.
And just for fun, I decided to give my family a grammar quiz.
I asked them, “What’s a phrasal verb?” “What’s an example of the past perfect?” “What’s a conditional?”
They didn’t know.
No clue.
Nadda.
Yet, they use phrasal verbs.
They use the past perfect.
They use conditionals.
And they use them correctly!
Think about this:
You already know more English grammar than most native speakers.
But, you make more mistakes.
And your plan to fix this is…
More Grammar?!
“Oh, really,” says Mr. Vig while stroking his chin.
If what you’re doing now isn’t working, your solution is to do more of it?
Wake up early and do it?
Perhaps do it with more caffeine?
I call this, “Riding a dead horse.”
And here’s everything I know about horses: If the horse you’re on is not taking you where you want to go, it’s time to find a new horse.
Thanks mr Vig for this nice lesson.
You’re welcome!
I do, indeed, completely agree with your point of view!
Hello,
So shattered the roles grammar !
Tank you Mr. Vig
Cheers
Alina
If you always do what you always did you will always get what you always got…
Yes, of course you’re right Ryan, but what a strange metaphor is this “riding a dead horse”…
However, I hope ” my horse is alive”….
Hi Mr.Vig,
thank you for your new ideas and advice.
You are right. It is difficult for me to understand simple words, phrases and their meaning.
Cheers
Anna
If a person is hungry, does he need a recipe? If he wants to understand an Englishman, does he need grammar?
Cheers.
Time to find a new horse!
Hmm, I don’t know grammar rules so far, only really basic, but sometimes I think that I should to know. When I started to learn English from scratch, during maybe 3-4 years I did only one book with my English teacher from England „ Elementary”, only one because we talked and the book was just like background, sometimes we/ I read one/ two sentences and we talked, he always was saying to me „ try, try” and from this trying after 6-7 years of break I clicked the button of your course , and I still have been trying …
I think Ryan that your American family probably attended at American Schools and they watched/ have been watching American TV and had/ have been reading American press and books and they know English from life.. contact with people, literature, TV, I suppose
Even a small child does’nt know the rules of grammar, yet he or she can speak correctly. But we don’t live English speaking world.For us the ” chat rooms ” are the English environment.
I always learned the grammar rules, but I forgot it due to little use and exercises.
Yes I think as you said right ” it’s time to find a new horse. ”
I read your story about how you become “The Most Dangerous English Teacher.” It’s fantastic and you are right. Your perseverance to be a good teacher gives strength and enthusiasm to the students.
I know and love this Native American proverb “If you’re riding a dead horse, get off it”.
I was very lucky to meet you, Ryan, online at the right time. Then I wondered what I could do to improve my English.
I really like your teaching method and it’s just what I needed. Thanks so much!
You’re welcome!
Yeah! 100% true and garanteed….listen listen listen as a baby, as we all of us did when we were babies!
Yes you are right. But this dead horse is our only support. We know something, sometimes better than native people. Good for our egos.