So yeah, I have not written much because well, not a lot has been happening. Classes started. My classes should be good. My schedule is good. The students said funny things. Whatever
( Read more... )
Koreans love to break everything down to a science. hahaha
... I don't understand how there's 12 tenses :v I tried with "to go" but all I got was "go", "went", and "going". I'm not sure if "gone" counts. Oh yeah, and "goes". I'm still seven short of reaching the magic number of 12.
There are two tenses in English: present and past. "gone" is the past participle form and "going" is present participle. Perfect (to have + past participle) and progressive (to be + present participle) are manifestations of aspect not tense. Tense is only concerned with whether an action is happening at the moment at which an utterance occurs or before it. Aspect indicates the completeness or continuation of an action (usually in relation to another act.) But Korean doesn't like using aspect (했었다 is an example of aspect in Korean) so Koreans just lump everything together.
It frustrates me because it makes something that is already vague, confusing, and difficult, almost impossible. Why make it harder?
Can't blame the Koreans for this one--we were taught the traditional twelve-tense system in grade school. In fact, we had double that number, because passive conjugations were taught as "tenses" as well (even though "passive" is neither a tense nor an aspect but a mood). My favourite was always the future perfect progressive passive, "I will have been being shot". One predicate, five verbs!
I realize that it is not a Korean problem but the 12-tense system makes things SO much more confusing. For native speakers it is not a problem because grammar usually just is a matter of describing a system they already intuitively know, but separating aspect and tense (and mood) makes it so much easier to understand, functionally, how to use the language. What is frustrating is that Korean English teachers are most resistant to separating aspect from tense because "that's not what we were taught."
I LOVE future perfect progressive passive. I like to write those sentences on the board in advanced classes and ask, "Is this sentence correct?" The students usually just stare as they try and parse it.
yes, that killed me. I mean it. A little bit of my patriotism died when I heard that.
It bothers me that everything still-President bush says is either, so ironic, or so at odds with reality, that he should hire someone to make air-quotes whenever he speaks. And here is McCain, a guy I WANTED to vote for in the 2000 primary, ALREADY needing air-quotes around everything he says. The only things he says that are not lies are totally illogical. "Sarah Palin is totes ready to be president because she is so experienced, strong and powerful (she guts moose!) but nobody can interview her because they are big meanies!" huh? logic? In Korea this stuff is normal; BUT SHE'S NOT IN KOREA!
Comments 10
... I don't understand how there's 12 tenses :v
I tried with "to go" but all I got was "go", "went", and "going".
I'm not sure if "gone" counts. Oh yeah, and "goes".
I'm still seven short of reaching the magic number of 12.
Reply
It frustrates me because it makes something that is already vague, confusing, and difficult, almost impossible. Why make it harder?
Reply
Reply
I LOVE future perfect progressive passive. I like to write those sentences on the board in advanced classes and ask, "Is this sentence correct?" The students usually just stare as they try and parse it.
Reply
Had to think about that one for a minute...
Reply
Reply
Reply
It bothers me that everything still-President bush says is either, so ironic, or so at odds with reality, that he should hire someone to make air-quotes whenever he speaks. And here is McCain, a guy I WANTED to vote for in the 2000 primary, ALREADY needing air-quotes around everything he says. The only things he says that are not lies are totally illogical. "Sarah Palin is totes ready to be president because she is so experienced, strong and powerful (she guts moose!) but nobody can interview her because they are big meanies!" huh? logic? In Korea this stuff is normal; BUT SHE'S NOT IN KOREA!
Reply
Leave a comment