I remember having to conjugate the verb "to be" in Mrs. Robinson's English class in eighth grade. We couldn't leave for lunch until we had conjugated the verb correctly. I whipped out my #2 pencil and jotted down I am, you are, he/she/it is, etc. Then I left, fully expecting my classmates to follow. Even my friends, the OTHER smart, nerdy girls who weren't cool enough to hang with Ronnie Wilkerson at dances, did not follow. I waited and waited and waited. No one left Mrs. Robinson's room. That was one of my defining moments; I realized how dumb so many people are.
Do the hairs on your neck stand at attention in the grocery check out line with the sign that reads " 10 items or less?" Argh, I shudder just typing that. Do you use "none" with a singular verb? Do you answer "well" when someone asks how you're feeling (assuming you're not fighting a nasty case of dengue fever or anything)? If you have even one shred of appreciation for proper grammar, then check out http://nationalgrammarday.com/.
My boys' use of adverbs makes me prouder than a horny male peacock in mating season. In fact, Deal, who is just 2 1/2, tries so hard to use adverbs properly that he ends up saying things like "I am trying very hardly." I don't sit around with grammar flash cards at home, we simply talk properly. I even change the grammar in books we read if something is written incorrectly. All those nut jobs are worried about sinful books being removed from our school libraries, but no one gives a hoot about all those books that say "Johnny and me went to the circus." (by the way, I abhor the circus...another post, another day).
One time a babysitter read a book to the kids that I had previously edited in my rendition. She, of course, had no way of knowing my little grammar practices, so she read the book as it was printed. Bird apparently freaked out about it (because that's what 4-year olds do, and they do it so well) and corrected the babysitter. He told her that whatever word she flubbed, rather, the word she did not edit, was not the right adverb. ADVERB! He actually said that. Needless to say, she was not happy. Then again, would you be if a kid who can't read or write had just corrected your use of your native tongue that has served you well for 50-some years? Admittedly, I gave Bird a mental high five for catching the error.
Lolly Lolly Lolly Get Your Adverbs Here!
http://www.school-house-rock.com/soundfiles/adv.wav
http://youtube.com/watch?v=FWYmEICNgOQ
1 comment:
Amen, sister! I know it feels like you're shouting into the wilderness, but you're not alone.
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