a little help with language needed

[skw]

I've posted the same request somewhere at this board, but nobody has answered me, only Pablo - it's too little though, I think. I'm copying its text and adding a few new words:

One of the reasons, why I've decided to sing-in and join this community is to improving my English skills, so... If you have a time and alacrity, please correct my utterances (it might be the best as quotes), where it's necessary. I wish you do that with every post, that I will write, but it's probably impossible...

I always strive as best as I can when it comes to English, but... you can't win 'em all.

Anyway, I don't want impose this upon you, so I count only on your good will.

Hope you answer,
Skurwy.

[Redwall]

Wow, you're actually asking us to be grammar Nazis?

Okay. *Cackles gleefully*

"Only Pablo" just sticks out on the end of your first sentence; a better construction would be "nobody has answered me but Pablo".
The hyphen ("-") should be a dash ("--").
The comma after "reasons" in the second paragraph shouldn't be there.
"To improving" should be "to improve".
The comma after "every post" shouldn't be there.
In the last sentence, there should be a "to" between "want" and "impose".

I might post some more later.

[monkey0506]

"I've posted the same request some where in this board, but no one has answered me except Pablo - but I think it's too little though. I'm copying its text and adding a few new words:

"One of the reasons why I've decided to sign-up and join this community is to improve my English skills, so... If you have a time and alacrity, please correct my utterances (it might be best as quotes), where it's necessary. I wish you do that with every post that I will write, but it's probably impossible...

"I always strive as best as I can when it comes to English, but... you can't win 'em all.

"Anyway, I don't want to impose upon you, so I count only on your good will.

"Hope you answer,
"Skurwy."

I edited this and bolded some things that I would change.  Not all of them necessarily needed it, but I think it makes it more readable.

Glad to help.  I know I pull upon others often enough when trying to speak Spanish lol.

Edit:  Forgot quotes delete the boldness, so I put it in quotation marks!  And yes, there is only one set of closing quotation marks for a reason.

[MillsJROSS]

just wanted to point out that somewhere is one word...and it makes more sense that way. Other than that, there was nothing I could find wrong with your corrections. Skurwy, it seems to me, your use of grammar and vocabulary already is much better than some of the people here, with English as a first language. The best way to improve grammar, though, is to read.

-MillsJROSS

[Ubel]

only Pablo - it's too little though

Now what do you mean by that!?


Seriously, I'd suggest you to put that text in your signature: IF YOU HAVE A TIME AND ALACRITY, PLEASE CORRECT MY UTTERANCES WHERE IT'S NECESSARY.

[Babar]

Alacrity? Alacrity? Your utterances? Heh...You're using words like alacrity, and you want help with your english? The simplest way, as said, is to read. And write. And listen. And speak.

[skw]

Thanks a lot, buddies!

Yes, heh, heh.. I'm reading a lot, maybe not literature, but some websites with some articles, reviews in English and more. Anyway, I feel I should visit a libray and borrow some English books. What do you recommend for a beginning?

Returning to the main thread, I'm thinking of how to do that and don't make waves in an exemplary thread. Know what I mean? Maybe send a PM to me with the corrections / instructions.. or something? I'm open for some suggestions. It matters much to me and I'll be really thankful.

Seriously, I'd suggest you to put that text in your signature: IF YOU HAVE A TIME AND ALACRITY, PLEASE CORRECT MY UTTERANCES WHERE IT'S NECESSARY.

Good idea, Pablo. I've been thinking about it before, but probably not everyone will know what is the matter... (and that's why I started this topic).

Babar, heh, heh... to a great extend it's a merit (?) of the dictionary anyway.

[passer-by]

I'm not going to correct your english, as I need many corrections myself...I don't know what your level is, but all I have to say is "Read and listen!"
If you think of buyingÃ,  a book from an english-speaking author, buy it in english, notÃ,  translated. It works for me.
Listen to english - speaking radio stations. UseÃ,  english subtitles while watching DVDs . I usually have "Audio: english " on and english subtitles for the hearing impaired and I try to check the differences between spoken and written language.
Write down english phrases that seem funny or weird in your language. My house is stil full of those yellow 'post - it' papers with phrases like "fasten your seat belt" (here we say"tie it") . I also highlight phrases when I read books, but this tends to happen less often now...
Some people learn the grammar rules and then apply them, others just retain examples from texts or speech. I think you should plan and work accordingly.
Important: USE the language!!


PS. @the rest of you: If you think I make outrageous mistakes in english, you are welcome to PM me...

[Babar]

Hey Skurwy. To a great extent. However, that phrase doesn't really fit with the rest of the sentence. Good luck with the learning

[monkey0506]

just wanted to point out that somewhere is one word...and it makes more sense that way. Other than that, there was nothing I could find wrong with your corrections. Skurwy, it seems to me, your use of grammar and vocabulary already is much better than some of the people here, with English as a first language. The best way to improve grammar, though, is to read.

-MillsJROSS

Oops...That was a typo...

[TheYak]

Monkey, I'm not picking apart your corrections so much as adding a differing viewpoint.  Primarily, I'm toying with yours because I'm too damned lazy to start from scratch (not that there was all that much to correct).

"I've posted the same request some where in this board, but no one has answered me except Pablo - but I think it's too little though. I'm copying its text and adding a few new words:

Maybe a different person should jump on this for each thread.  The differences in correction can be confusing.  The second "but" is unnecessary in the above.  The dash designates an interjected (often emphasizing or contradicting the preceeding) statement.  So, it should be either 'except Pablo, but . . ." or, "except Pablo -- I think it's too little, though."   The sentence, overall, is clumsy due to it being a run-on.

"One of the reasons why I've decided to sign-up and join this community is to improve my English skills, so... If you have a time and alacrity, please correct my utterances (it might be best as quotes), where it's necessary. I wish you do that with every post that I will write, but it's probably impossible... "

"sign-up and" is redundant as common knowledge dictates it's prerequisite to joining, but -- in any case -- shouldn't have "sign-up" hyphenated.  I can understand your reasons for doing so, since it does clarify the term, but without the hyphen is the widely-used and acceptable term.  "I wish you do that" could be seen as correct only in more classical English.  In modern English, the phrase requires an infinitive: to do. "I wish" is overly classical as well.  It's correct, but "I'd like" or "I ask that you do".  The trailing dots are a common way of noting a pause, but are more comic-influenced or derived from elipses.  Also, the colon and left parenthesis are out of place.

"I always strive as best as I can when it comes to English, but... you can't win 'em all.

Again, overly poetic for spoken English.  "Trying the best that I can," or, "trying my hardest," would be more common but strive is seldom used and usually carries a strong connotation of physical effort and carries adverbs to emphasize that (e.g. I strive long and hard to accomplish my goal).

"Anyway, I don't want to impose upon you, so I count only on your good will.

Should be "count only upon your . . ." instead.

English evolves (or sinks back into the abyss, maybe) constantly so any person's corrections might be accurate.  Some are unanimous - others could be due to differences in opinion.  I heartily agree that Skurwy's English is outstanding.  It's better than about 90% of what I've read from my American peers (not exagerrating there).

[skw]

Okay, so if all of you say that my English is quite understandable, I think I can now sleep peacefully. Thanks for tips, I'm sure I'll find it useful.

Anyway, if I'll commit a blunder, I'd please to send me PM.

It's a real horror if you want to say something and you don't know *how* to do that. So when it comes to posting I usually open a Polish-English dictionary and check my utterance before. Sometimes it's the reason why my posts looks so huh.. poetic. Anyway, as I remember my English from the previous year, now I can see a little betterment!

Yes cp, I was thinking about the non-translated English books. BTW, I've read "Treasure Island" in English not so long time ago.. heh, heh.

[passer-by]

So when it comes to posting I usually open an Polish-English dictionary

Dictionnaries are useful , but you need to know how to use a word in context. They may have the same translation but different, or implicit, meaning and they may sound a little...pretentious. (?) I think you'd better try to remember words you've seen before or paraphrase and try to use the dictionary only for learning new vocabulary ...

Well, to be honest, what interests me more is whether you know enough english to read the help files and make a nice game...

[skw]

Well, to be honest, what interests me more is whether you know enough english to read the help files and make a nice game...

Hope you'll have a chance to see.