ESL Students Reveal The Most Confusing Things About Learning English
[rebelmouse-image 18348904 is_animated_gif=Learning a second language as an adult is never easy, but learning English is especially confusing. Most English speaking people are not even sure about proper grammar half of the time. It is one of the most awkward languages in the world, take it from ESL learners.
jackandsomefrogs asks:
People who speak English as a second language, what is the most annoying thing about the English language?
When you sound like a cartoon character
[rebelmouse-image 18348905 is_animated_gif=Whoever invented the word 'rural' is a horrible person. Whenever I try to pronounce this word I sound like scooby-doo.
How long will it take?
[rebelmouse-image 18348906 is_animated_gif=Hour and a half
Two and a half hours
I usually slip and say "Two hours and a half" because it's the structure I'd use in Spanish.
They are the same, but different?
[rebelmouse-image 18348547 is_animated_gif=Same combinations of vowels being pronounced differently.
On and in have big differences
[rebelmouse-image 18348907 is_animated_gif=Why am I "on" the bus when I'm actually inside the bus, and why am I "in the car" and not "on the car" then? I walked through a door and sat down inside in both cases, so why is one "on" and one "in"? It makes no f***ing sense.
Just these specific letters
[rebelmouse-image 18348908 is_animated_gif=Most words with a "t", "h" or "r" together [through and tight, for example] are really hard for me to pronounce, and I usually mess up on the writing as well
Be careful where you look
[rebelmouse-image 18348909 is_animated_gif=Phrasal verbs. All of the permutations and combinations of using a verb with prepositions afterwards can be mind-bending. For example:
1) Look down
2) Look up
3) Look down on
4) Look up to
5) Look after
6) Look through
7) Look into
8) Look for
9) Look over
10) Look over at, etc.
This can be mind bending
[rebelmouse-image 18348910 is_animated_gif=Pronouncing words that end in 'ough'. Cough, bough, rough, dough, through, though....
sometimes minimalism is not always convenient
[rebelmouse-image 18348911 is_animated_gif=Too many words sounds the same but means different things.
The same word can mean different things.
are y'all sure about that?
[rebelmouse-image 18346734 is_animated_gif=It blows my mind that English has no plural for "you"
English sounds terrible
[rebelmouse-image 18348912 is_animated_gif=When my (non-English-speaking) boyfriend imitates us, he always makes this "RrRrRrRrRr" sound like he's grinding his teeth and talking from his throat. There are languages that are pleasant to listen to even if you don't speak them, but his impression of English speakers is grating.
Can anyone explain this!?
[rebelmouse-image 18348913 is_animated_gif=What about Kansas and Arkansas. I am confusion!
Tenses are important
[rebelmouse-image 18348914 is_animated_gif=Native English speaker here, but a lot of my students really struggle with tenses - FORMING tenses in English is easy, but using them correctly is difficult, even for quite advanced students.
The only accents we get are twang and British
[rebelmouse-image 18348915 is_animated_gif=It still annoys me that there's basically no rule for where to put the stress in a word.
Is it happening or did it already happen?
[rebelmouse-image 18348916 is_animated_gif=English is my only language and I'm still pissed over read and read.
Did it sound of did it turn off?
[rebelmouse-image 18348917 is_animated_gif=I've lived in America for 3 years and I had English in school but I still don't get how to correctly use "a" and "the" and why would alarm go off? Shouldn't it go on because doesn't off mean to turn something off? It just confuses me.
Native English speakers still can't get it correct
[rebelmouse-image 18348918 is_animated_gif=Native speakers writing 'your' instead of 'you're' and 'then' instead of 'than'
How do you ever learn!?
[rebelmouse-image 18347332 is_animated_gif=Talk up Check in Check out
They'd be ok if they made sense, but why do
I got up with my wife this morning
And
I got down with my wife this morning
Mean such completely different things? No pattern at all! How do you ever learn them?
Spellings!
[rebelmouse-image 18346098 is_animated_gif=Ocurring
Occuring
Occurring
The numbers!
[rebelmouse-image 18348549 is_animated_gif=I usually get the numbers wrong in my own language because of English. In Dutch you say zevenendertig (37) which would directly translate to seven-thirty, while in English you say the thirthy-seven leading to me often writing down the wrong number when told in Dutch where I would write down 73 when someone says zevenendertig.
Game set and match...I mean really
[rebelmouse-image 18345132 is_animated_gif=Wednesday
It's very popular to create rumors about certain historical figures to which there is no concrete evidence.
Such as the sexual orientation of Abraham Lincoln or the alleged illicit behavior of Lewis Carroll and Hans Christian Andersen.
Understandably, these mostly baseless, though not necessarily false, theories are left out of history books.
However, there are facts about legends of history which have, indeed, been proven true, but are also left out of history books.
Namely, because it's not the sort of information many would consider in polite conversation, let alone be talked about in schools.
Even if it is no less fascinating than anything else we might learn.
"What’s a NSFW detail about a historical figure that’s normally left out of the history books?"
Dubious Contributions To The War Effort...
"During WW1, sex workers in Britain were more expensive if they had STD's."
"This was because if a soldier hired them and got infected, the soldier could be honorably discharged, and not have to fight in war."- KaleBrew
Talk About A Huge Relief...
"Ancient Egyptians believed the god Atum created the universe by pleasuring himself to ejaculation, and that the ebb and flow of the Nile corresponded to how much."
"To honor this, the pharaohs ceremonially pleasured themselves into the river."- -weef
lets go luna fun GIF by PBS KIDSGiphyThe Downside Of Their Journey...
"Lewis and Clark described the screaming sh*ts that they got from eating unfamiliar food (camas) in detail in their journals."- ayriana
Shameful Thanks For A Hero
"After Alan Turing cracked the enigma code, essentially ending WW2 years earlier than expected and saving countless lives, he was thanked by the British government in the form of chemical castration."
"All because he was a gay man."- Dangerjayne
Talk About Man About Town...
"Probably said here elsewhere, but Victor Hugo, author of The Hunchback of Notre Dame among other tales, was a notorious philanderer who had affairs on top of affairs with sex workers throughout his life."
"When he died, ALL of the brothels in Paris had to close because so many attended his funeral."- JLWilco
classic film vintage GIF by FilmStruckGiphyNone Of Our Business What They Got Up To In Private...
"Pyotr Tchaikovsky was a submissive bottom."
"In one note, never before published in Russian or English, Tchaikovsky wrote of a young servant 'with whom I am more in love than ever', adding: 'My God, what an angelic creature and how I long to be his slave, his plaything, his property!'". Reddit
The Secret Lives Of The Founding Fathers
"Patrick Henry, the American founding father better known for his quote, 'give me liberty or give me death', kept his wife imprisoned in a cellar because of her frequent outbursts due to postpartum depression."
"His wife had eventually died in that cellar, and he had buried her in an unmarked grave."
"10/10 quote but the wife killing part always seems to get left out of history texts."- sortatoxic
"Ben Franklin was a notorious flirt, and hit on and/or ploughed just about every woman he ever met."
"Single women, married women, young women, old women, women of title, women of the royal line."
"Protestant women, Catholic women."
"All of them."- TheLastIronMan
GiphyTaken To Heaven... Just Not Back...
"French President Félix Faure died during oral sex"- Wiesterfeler
His Bubble Was Bound To Burst Eventually...
"It's said that Henry VIII 'exploded' in his coffin."
"Dogs then licked up the Henry juice."- B1LMAN
It's understandable why most of this information is left out of history books.
Particularly those used in schools.
Even if it might make students' attention might be a bit more attentive...
We've sure been hearing the term "conspiracy theory" a lot lately.
And if history has taught us anything, it's that it would do us all good to avoid them altogether as they are rooted in falsehoods tied to clandestine government plans and sinister plots–which, yeah, doesn't sound good.
But like anyone spinning a rumor, people tend to latch on to spurious information that cannot be verified by science or fact because it's just easy to go along with it without taking the time for research.
But there are some conspiracy theories that do make us wonder if there is something to them.
Curious to hear examples of these, Redditor BipolarSkeleton asked:
"What conspiracy theory do you completely believe is true?"
A majority of extremely wealthy people or organizations tend to be very secretive. What must they be hiding? These Redditors have a few ideas.
Money And Violence
"a lot of rich people help terrorism and movements to destabilise a nation or a region to make money from its resources or people."
– leleloy
The Pawn
"In my home city (in the UK) a heroin dealer was convicted of lacing his product with poison and causing the deaths of homeless people."
"In court he claimed that the local council payed him off to get rid of some of the homeless people in that way."
"His defense was 'why would I kill my customers.'"
"I have met one person that worked with the council and believes the story to be true, and years later I met some people that had worked with a homeless charity at the time. They claimed they knew it was the case but there was nothing they could do to prove it expose it."
– Big-Bad-Boris
In-Person Learning
"This one pertains to my university, but some people may have the same experiences with theirs."
"So students who choose my university send applications in by December. The entire COVID shutdown happens in March, around the same time university acceptances are starting to be sent out. Each first year student has guaranteed residence."
"Everyone is wondering what the new teaching model will be, and it’s announced that it’s mixed. 30% in person, 70% online."
"At this point, if you’re in first year, and all your courses are online, why pay for residence? You can do class online. But the university sees these discussions, and know they’ll lose A LOT of money if they don’t have students in residence."
"So what is announced? Almost EVERY first year has at least 1 person class. Meaning? They have to be on campus. MEANING, they have to live in residence."
"Idk if this makes sense to anyone but I thought it was interesting."
– Annoyingdragonvoid
All About Appearances
"Everyone I tell about this tells me I'm overreacting and it's just a conspiracy. But I strongly believe large companies who use eco friendly products around customers only do it to make themselves look good, and to make the customer feel like pollution is their fault when they use for example, plastic straws. When in reality using eco friendly straws barely dents the amount of pollution the company itself makes behind the scenes."
– Foohberry
People have speculations about high-profile individuals.
Slave 4 U
"That Britney Spears is either being held hostage or otherwise in a very compromised situation."
– _ellgee
Captured Or Deceased?
"Shelly Miscavige is either dead or being held prisoner by the Church of Scientology."
– anon
Shady FBI Director
"J. Edgar Hoover had ties to the mob and gave preferential treatment to certain crime families/organizations while crushing others."
"Also, his stranglehold on American intelligence made him a figure presidents feared."
– mindfeces
Failed predictions led to last-minute detours.
Change In Plans
"Disney absolutely believed that Hillary Clinton was going to win the 2016 election, so they started building her animatronic for the Hall of Presidents well in advance, and after trump pulled off a victory, instead of starting from scratch they just kinda made a couple half-a**ed adjustments to the Hillary model and put it up on stage."
– Unique_Unorque
Script Re-Write
"Trump winning literally ruined the season of South Park that year because they wrote it with the intention that trump/garrison would lose."
– chaamp33
While people are free to believe anything they firmly know to be true, it's wise to do a background check before another Pizzagate happens.
Don't be that person who goes down a dark rabbit hole and becomes confused about what is or isn't reality.
Because news flash: the earth is not flat.
Hate to break it to ya.
You don't have to be acquainted with someone to know enough about the kind of person they are.
Observing their attitude around people or what clothes they wear can easily give away a stranger's temperament that identifies them as either superficial or genuine.
Of course, being judgmental based on one's appearance is not an unfair assessment. However, you know deep down inside, we all have the predisposition to do exactly that.
Redditor Expwar was curious to hear about how a certain demographic gets around and asked:
"What vehicle is only driven by a**holes?"
Car accessories really are a dead giveaway about the person behind the wheel.
Lewd Graphic
"Any truck with a sticker of Calvin peeing on the logo of the other model truck."
– DocWednesday
Marvel Madness
"Any vehicle with a Punisher sticker."
– Tagpub1
Altimate Jerk
"Nissan Altima with expired paper plates."
– i_like_cheese_fries
Dongles In Motion
"Anything that truck nuts have been installed on."
– Fjc562
A vehicle's condition says a lot about its owner like what a front lawn says about the homeowner.
Worn Aesthetic
"With a faded gold paint job and sh**ty, bubbled window tint. Alternately going 95 in the right lane, or 45 in the passing lane."
– carl-swagan
Misguided Priorities
"Failing engine, $500 paint job, and $10,000 rims..."
– Krepitis
These might be the worst of the bunch.
The Rest
"Every vehicle that I’m not driving. You’re all a**holes."
– DoctorSneak
The Speed Spectrum
"Everyone faster than me is a maniac and everyone slower than me is a moron."
"Edit: oh my GOD I've gotten a dozen notifications that really want to make sure George Carlin gets credit. You guys can stop replying with that now."
– Altruistic-Pop6696 ·
Amateur Little Drivers
"These red and yellow cars from Little Tikes. They're all bad drivers. Pretty sure they don't even have their licence."
– Face-latte
How They Roll
"Around here (South Alabama), the same guys who you would label as 'A**holes' are the guys who drive trucks with the front suspension lifted to the sky and the rear suspension is dropped to the street, and they slap on rims that look like a regular rim was put through a paper shredder, then stretch paper-thin tires on them, not to mention they either cut their exhausts down or put exhausts on that have no catalytic converters, and as such, they're louder than a machine gun."
"They're really a**holes."
– FrostyFox45
Intensity
"Whoever has unnecessarily super bright lights at night. I wonder where I can apply for my blindness allowance."
– TheYellowSprout
To me, it doesn't matter what car you have. Just be a good driver and respect the road and others who share it with you.
Tailgaters or drivers who cut in front of me without signaling are all jerks regardless of whether they're driving a Tesla or an old station wagon.
How People Would React To Catching Their Best Friend Sleeping With Their Significant Other
Affairs and infidelity are sadly a more common part of life than we care to admit.
People cheat. it seems to be part of the human condition.
Are we meant to be monogamous?
That's a story for a different article.
I say though, if you're going to cheat... have some basic human decency.
Don't cheat with people you all know.
And how are BFFs not automatically off limits?
Redditor Gifwii wanted to hear all the ways we'd all react when betrayed by the ones we love.
So they asked:
"If you caught your best friend having sex with your wife, what would you do?"
How can people betray one another like that?
Gross
Say Word Lol GIF by Desus & MeroGiphy"Be weirded out because they are brother and sister."
roadkilled_skunk
"Haha... I'm also dating my best friend’s sister."
Alcoholic__Engineer
Ok Dateline...
"I'm more concerned on how he found her body."
Smiddy3663
"If he's really your best friend, he helped bury it."
Inside-Effective-353
Hey Bestie
"I don't think he would. I had him neutered as a puppy."
a5redwing
"This reply was made extremely funny (or concerning) by the fact that I took it as someone neutering an actual person when they became friends."
DuCKDisguise
Never Cry Wolf...
"Take his car keys and drive to his place. It's all yours now buddy."
gerbageman
"Hol' up, remember to make it official. You have to p*ss a border around your new acquisition like in Never Cry Wolf, and if any relatives of the former owner are present you need to mark the ones you can't mate with, and you know, mate with the others."
SuboptimalButHopeful
"With that logic, I guess his house and and family are mine now? That's okay with me, his wife is pleasant to be around."
Savageturtles
Betrayal...
Julio Cesar Rome GIF by Luis RicardoGiphy"That happened to me 30 years ago and I haven’t been able to fall in love since."
TalboGold
"I'd be more unwilling to make best friends than rather than unable to develop a crush."
Equivalent_End5
The rudeness of it all.
An Assist?
Season 4 Flirting GIF by FriendsGiphy"Ask if she wants help..."
"Since they're the same person."
null640
Revenge
"Have sex with his wife. It’s only fair."
ami2weird4u
"My ex fiancée had an affair with a married man. Talked to his wife, she and I made a sex video and sent it to them."
Solid-Acanthisitta86
"I'm not a vengeful nor petty person but this kind of turned me on."
dipstyx
Evidence
"Record it for evidence then talk to a divorce lawyer on how to get a divorce without losing anything."
"Thank them both and move on with my life."
Wraisted
"In most states, the fault isn't a thing that matters beyond the reason. It just may waive the cooling off period... at fault divorces mattering in regards to separation of property ended in the 70's for the vast majority of the country."
"Apparently they discovered that people lie, and it is rarely a clear cut 'this person is the only one guilty.'"
Dredly
GO!
"I'd have to leave, or else I'd commit murder. I would then leave forever, I think I would just leave everything behind and become a nomad at that point and never look back."
AlavarTheBlue
"Also my first thought. Never a more compelling moment to finally hit the road and live every day like it's my last."
yes_yup_uh_huh
"Maybe tomorrow I'll wanna settle down..."
Lost to Me
"Well, it is an extreme level of cheating. One thing is to find your wife in bed with a lover but whole other to find her with your best friend. It is multi-level betrayal and that would leave a huge impact on my future life. Not that I would be sorry for losing that person but because it would make me hard to trust anyone after that. Hope that never happens to me or anyone I know."
Didytz
LOL
bill murray nw GIFGiphy"Exclaim, 'Bob! What the hell? I HAVE to sleep with her, but you??!!'"
Slartytempest
This is more common than you think. Watch Dateline.
How would you react in this situation? Let us know in the comments.