Native English Speakers Follow Unexplained Rules

Many native English speakers intuitively follow certain language rules without explicitly knowing them. These rules shape their command of the language, making it natural and fluid. Let's delve into some of these rules and further explore the nuances of native-language usage.

1. Subject-Verb Agreement

Native speakers automatically adjust verbs to match the grammatical subject in terms of number (singular/plural) and person (first, second, third). For example, they say She works hard but The students work hard.

2. Use of Articles

Correct article usage is often intuitive for native speakers. For instance, The cat or A beautiful day.

3. Preposition Usage

While the choice of prepositions can be tricky, native speakers commonly use them correctly, such as at the party, in the morning, or on the door.

4. Word Order in Questions

Native speakers instinctively know to invert the subject and auxiliary verb when forming questions, such as Have you eaten? or Are they coming?

5. Contractions and Informal Speech

Contractions like don’t, can’t, and won’t are frequently used and understood by native speakers. This flexibility in language use is a hallmark of spoken English.

6. Pronoun Case

Native speakers use subjective I, he, she and objective me, him, her pronouns correctly. For example, He gave the book to me.

7. Ellipsis and Implication

Often, native speakers omit parts of sentences that are clear from the context, relying on implied meaning. For example, We had dinner at eight, then went to the movies. The second part of the sentence is implied by the context.

8. Countable vs. Uncountable Nouns

Using countable and uncountable nouns correctly is a fundamental grammatical skill. Examples include three apples (countable) and a bit of sugar (uncountable).

9. Adjective Order

There is a conventional order for adjectives in English: opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material, purpose. Native speakers tend to adopt this order intuitively. For instance, a big, red, round apple.

10. Using Double Negatives

While standard English typically avoids double negatives, native speakers often use them informally. This can lead to phrases like I didn’t go with nobody, although it’s not formally correct.

The Pluperfect and the Subjunctive Mood

The pluperfect is not often used when not required. For example, you might say:

When I saw that movie, I had already read the book.

However, many Americans would still say:

When I saw the movie, I already read the book.

The second sentence, while technically incorrect, is understood in context, signifying that the book was read before the movie. The pluperfect is often left out in such cases for simplicity.

The Subjunctive Mood: A Rare Timing

The subjunctive mood is not frequently used but is common in certain constructions. Examples include:

If I were a rich man… It is imperative that you be on time for this meeting.

These sentences convey a sense of hypothesis or strong emphasis that wouldn’t be achieved with standard was/were.

Register and Cultural Influence

One of the most interesting differences between English and many other languages is the lack of a formal and informal register. English speakers are equally likely to use the same expression with friends as with professionals. This is in contrast to languages like Italian, Spanish, German, or French, where there are distinct forms for formal and informal speech.

In American culture, proper speech is often seen as pedantic and condescending. There is an inclination to avoid or frown upon overly formal language in everyday settings, which is a cultural norm.

Understanding these nuances can provide valuable insights into the natural patterns of native language use and help improve language acquisition and teaching methods.