Let's talk about a grammar mistake a lot of people make when they speak English. If you want to speak English clearly and effectively, try not to make it! Daily Newsletter: http://doingenglish.com/join-the-doing-english-daily-newsletter/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_content=gram-mistake&utm_campaign=ppt
Today's lesson will help you improve you English writing skills and improve your English speaking skills.
A mistake people learning English often make, is to think that they must use high level English.
(A lot of native speakers do this too, though.)
So English learners try to learn a lot of advanced English grammar. Learning grammar is important. So is understanding English grammar. But to speak English well you have to consider the person you are having a conversation with. You have to make your English easy for them to understand.
People often say to me "i want to speak English", "how can i speak English well?" or "How can I stop making mistakes in English?"
I always tell them "speak clear English".
This is because English learners often mistakenly think "complicated grammar and difficult vocabulary = native speaker English", but actually this is not true. Effective English conversation is clear conversation.
Think about it like this. If you are listening to someone speak English, do you want them to speak in complex confusing sentences. As someone learning English as a second language, do you want them speaking English that you can't understand, which lots of hard grammar and vocabulary? Of course not!
You want to understand.
You want to be able to speak easily
It doesn't matter if it's business English conversation or daily English conversation—the best English conversation is always EASY English conversation!
This is really important for English language learning. And it makes things much easier for you. Complicated grammar is hard to use without making English mistakes. Easy English grammar is practical English grammar.
In conclusion, practice speaking English clearly and simply. Practice writing English that is clear and simple. Write short sentences. Keep your spoken sentences short.
Just remember, the English language is a tool for communication. It should be understood. So communicate clearly and effectively.
TRANSCRIPT
Here's a 'grammar mistake' you probably make.
Lots of so-called "native speakers" make it too.
And *especially* advanced level English learners make it. Particularly if they study science.
What do you think it is?
I does have something to do with grammar. But It has nothing to do with grammar *mistakes*.
The answer?
Looooong sentences.
OK, so actually it's not a 'mistake'. But it isn't good if you want to communicate easily.
Sometimes we have to make long sentences. But most of the time we don't. Most things can be said in a simple way. An easy to understand way.
Long sentences are much harder to process than short ones. Because they use complex grammar.
So if you want to be listened to, you need to be understood. If you're not understood EASILY, people will stop listening.
It doesn't matter whether it's speaking or writing. If you use complex, hard to understand language people won't listen.
This is especially important when giving speeches or presentations. Of course. That is, speaking to people.
But it's also important in conversation. People who talk for a long time without stopping are boring. And unless there is a special reason, people will stop listening.
In summary ...
This is great news for you. Short simple sentences are much easier to say than long ones! And they are much easier to learn.
So use simple English.
Use English that is easy to understand.
Communicate concisely and effectively.
Over to you ...
What do you think?
Do you try to keep your English simple? Do you know anybody who speaks in really long, complex, hard to understand sentences?
Tell us about it in the comments!
