English is a funny language
@allknowing (153529)
India
May 16, 2023 1:16am CST
Off and on I come across words that baffle me Here is the verb 'read' In the present tense and the past tense 'read' is used but in the past tense it is pronounced as 'red'
On the other hand words like breed. feed, have bred, and fed as past tense respectively.
Whoever invented the language must be having some explanation somewhere why such creations that have no basis came into existence
Can you think of any such words that have no basis nor explanation?
Image credit: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5a/Dictionary.jpg
15 people like this
12 responses
@marguicha (230349)
• Chile
16 May 23
As English is not my native language I always have to check all the words that have two consonants. Why is it effect instead of efect, for instance? I could name thousands.
4 people like this
@allknowing (153529)
• India
16 May 23
When it comes to spellings there are countless. Same spelling but pronounced as red - is it not funny?
2 people like this
@allknowing (153529)
• India
16 May 23
(lol) English language is packed with such creations.
2 people like this
@allknowing (153529)
• India
16 May 23
I wonder as @LadyDuck says expressions such as these have been accepted over a period of time used by those who are not really literate.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502657)
• Italy
16 May 23
@allknowing I have read more than once people here writing "I did the dishes"... English speaking for the majority.
2 people like this
@psanasangma (7910)
• India
16 May 23
I find English weird and confusing sometimes 
3 people like this
@allknowing (153529)
• India
16 May 23
You are not the only one. It is one's constant exposure alone that one can 'mug' the language.
Can you think of words that you find odd?
2 people like this
@psanasangma (7910)
• India
17 May 23
@allknowing
Find # Fine (well being)
bow # bow (dog's bark or bowing down)
fare # fair
minutes # minute (Mynute)
1 person likes this
@allknowing (153529)
• India
16 May 23
That is quite logical - mistakes being accepted with constant use.
Dust is both a noun and a verb
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (502657)
• Italy
16 May 23
@allknowing - I know that this is what happened to the Italian language, from Latin to "Italian vulgar" vulgar meaning "non educated people"
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (98026)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
17 May 23
One of the most important things I reminded the people to whom I gave English lessons too was that if they just learn a few simple basic rules and take grammar as it comes they will realize that English is a very easy language to learn. Latvian is so much harder and I certainly struggled when I was learning it. You should take a look at some of the ESL or English as a second language sites. They are free to use and doing the exercises and things there is a lot of un like putting puzzles together,
1 person likes this
@allknowing (153529)
• India
17 May 23
I have no problem at all with the language but noticed some words that have no basis at all and that I have mentioned in my post. What matters is exposure and I have had that in my life all through I worked for a multi national and started there as a Secretary and a Secretary needs to have a good command of the language.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (44560)
• United States
16 May 23
I've always said it's a wonder any non English speaking people ever learn how to speak or spell English.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (35065)
• United Kingdom
16 May 23
'Live' is the one that always gets me. Often I will pass a pub with a sign outside saying 'Live football here!' and I think 'why would I want to live football?' and then I realise that it means watch the matches live (I don't even know how to explain the difference between 'live' - pronounced starting with lie I suppose - and 'live' - pronounced starting with li as in lip - in text!)
1 person likes this
@allknowing (153529)
• India
16 May 23
Good exampole. I feel whoever invented this must have been drunk at the time (lol)
1 person likes this
@allknowing (153529)
• India
17 May 23
Even native speakers have issues with it. I see that here.
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