Why do americans make easy grammar mistakes?

They can't understand adverbs. They say "you're walking real slow," instead of "you're walking really slowly." They also say "I could care less" which doesn't make sense, it should be "I couldn't care less." The idea is you care so little it isn't possible to care any less than you do. They also cannot pronounce "aluminium" and say "aluminum." Do scientists say this too? They can't understand it is incorrect to say "he speaks good, " it should be "he speaks well." "Good" is and adjective, and adjectives describe nouns, but you need an adverb to describe a verb (to speak). But they are more likely to say "he talks good." Then there's prollaby, pecifically, reary good, "I'm waiting on" (which means to serve someone) instead of "I'm waiting for," "he should of done it" instead of "he should have done it."

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48% Normal
Based on 27 votes (13 yes)
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Comments ( 45 )
  • dirtybirdy

    Ohhhh, you think you're sooooo more smarterest.

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    • EccentricWeird

      Spot on, Soiled Avian.

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  • anti-hero

    You think this is strictly an American problem?

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  • WhiteStallion

    I know its not just Americans...

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  • wistfulmaiden

    Americans? Pssh ever hear a Cockney speak?

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    • disthing

      It weren't me what done it, guv!

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      • wistfulmaiden

        har har har :P

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  • Freedom_

    I could care less about this post. It's real irrelevant. I'm waiting on it to get reported.

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  • sega31098

    It's people on the internet in general, not just Americans.

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  • Who_Fan4Life

    Alright Shakespeare, let's calm down...

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  • Couman

    Because the mistakes are easy, obviously.

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  • Darkoil

    I absolutely hate the saying 'could care less'.

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  • handsignals

    "I'd like to explore a reef"

    "what kind of reef Dad"

    "Coral"

    "Yes Dad"

    "No Coral"

    "what kind of reef Dad!!"

    "CORAL!!!"

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  • handsignals

    Australia: Yeah yooz Mericans can't talk proper or nothin.

    Uk: checkmeright, Mericans say da speak English bot aarm English and da sarnd nottin like me.

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    • wistfulmaiden

      Yo wes Mexicanas speak perfect English fools!

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  • Ace09

    hey guys,can someone please help me?if i say it's normal,does it mean that i'm saying it's normal to make grammar mistakes?or does it mean that it's normal to be a pussy about grammar mistakes?(no offence bro)

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  • green_boogers

    Firstly, why did you say, "Why do Americans make easy grammar mistakes?" You should have said, "Why do Americans make easy grammatical mistakes?".

    Secondly, look up "Aluminum" in an American dictionary; notice the pronunciation.

    http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aluminum

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    • True, I made a mistake there. The pronunciation was ah loo min um. Sounds dumb.

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  • Hugh*Janus

    I say "I could care less" when someone says something mildly interesting.

    Or:

    "Hey bro, you want the last beer?"

    "I could care less" (I kind of want it but it's no big deal) That way there's no conflict and I'm not technically lying.

    So there, you butt-sniff. I'm smarter than you!

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    • Shackleford96

      No, if someone offers you the last beer then you fucking take it no questions asked :P

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      • Hugh*Janus

        Not with some of my friends. It can cause more trouble than it's worth.

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        • Shackleford96

          Maybe they shouldn't even offer it then. Lol

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    • wistfulmaiden

      Should that not be " I couldn't care less"? Cause if you could care less, you care somewhat.

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      • Hugh*Janus

        No. Read what I said.

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        • wistfulmaiden

          Im confused. Or maybe tired.

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          • Hugh*Janus

            I say "I could care less" when I actually mean it. I'm basically being a smartass but nobody knows except me. Everyone either thinks I'm a dumbass for misusing the phrase *wink wink OP* or takes it as me saying I don't care which is exactly what I want.

            I also say "I couldn't care less" when I mean it.

            Why? Because I do this type of shit a lot. It's a hobby, you might say. It's real fun when holier than thou people like OP think they're so smart and I'm so dumb. They are blinded by their illusion of superiority and it's very funny to me.

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  • reminiscent

    Sure uneducated people...what a ridiculous generalization. I dont know about other people but I say really slow.
    "I couldnt care less." Originated in Britain. Its a saying thst means you couldnt possibly care any less then you already do because you Dont care at all...its sarcastic. And JJM19 informed you on Aluminum.

    Really with these examples and sterotype who is the one making mistakes???

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    • reminiscent

      Its early I see you have(I just woke up lol) "could care less." Idk anyone in my life that says could instead of couldnt. Could would change it to they could indeed care less ...sounds weird to me. As the other way is sarcastic.
      ether way dont throw around stereotypes... I can assure you as an American we have both intelligent and stupid people just like any other country.

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  • thegypsysailor

    I don't think we can blame the individual young Americans entirely. Their whole school system, through 12 grade is nothing more than a state run child care system and the only children who get anything more from it than basic R&R&R are those who choose to do so, mainly by doing more than asked by the babysitters (teachers).
    This coupled with their belief that they are 'entitled' to act in any fashion they please because those who came before them worked their asses off to create this country, leads them to be sloppy and uncaring for convention. They have almost no self restraint or self respect, not caring that they might seem like total morons because they can't even take even a few seconds to proofread something before they push the post button.
    We are producing whole generations of Dubyas (George W's) and nobody seems to be noticing or care.

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    • shuggy-chan

      I don't know how many kids actually know how to read though

      I mean my generation grew up in the analog age or end of it, but not very many people my age still seem to read books.

      We live in a world of instant gratification with television and Internet on your phone and everything else. As a product of the public school system I don't graduating I am really feel like I knew anything and I went to a technical school and I at least had some skills

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      • thegypsysailor

        I used to run a vessel on which I employed 17 college kids. I was absolutely SHOCKED at the level of the majority of these college students' ignorance.
        Some evenings we'd go out and play darts and most could not subtract 19 from 301 (for instance) in their heads. They had to use their phone or fingers. These were students in international business, finance or premed, preparing to go out into the real world. These weren't stupid kids, they were just let down by the system.
        Sad, truly sad.

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        • wistfulmaiden

          hey I still cant subtract. I can barely do my sons 3rd grade math!
          But, I make up for it in other ways :D

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          • thegypsysailor

            Are you a college grad?

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            • wistfulmaiden

              No college. I went to Catholic school so as long as we knew our Hail Marys we were fine.
              I went to cosmetology school. Im an artsy type..I am a very good speed reader though, I can read a novel in a day and I write stories. But sadly, the maths are still eluding me.
              Whats 3 and 3? 33 of course!

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        • shuggy-chan

          Got a love the millennial generation

          282 by the way

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  • pastor_of_muppets

    What I don't understand is how people, who speak English as a first language, confuse the words:

    Were, where, wear, we're
    Your, you're
    There, they're, their

    English is my third language and I don't ever mix up or confuse those words. So what the hell, man?

    I won't call Americans stupid because that's generalising. I would definitely call them lazy ass monkeys

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    • reminiscent

      Lazy ass monkeys is still a sterotype lol

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      • pastor_of_muppets

        My post got -2 likes.. I feel like a stereotype now

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        • thegypsysailor

          I have found that honesty and the truth are often only worthy of thumbs down on IIN. If something is even slightly offensive to someone, even if it is the truth, many will thumb it down, then bury their heads in the sand, hoping against hope that the truth will go away.
          It seems to be way too much trouble to do a bit of googling and find out that there may be actual information out there upon which they came base their opinions, rather than something they overheard some stoned out idiot say.

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          • iEatZombies_

            Define truth.

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  • JJM19

    Aluminum is not only American but Canadian
    It is an accepted spelling and has been around longer. Aluminium came around later literally just because it sounded more 'classical'.

    Americans are incredibly stupid, don't get me wrong. That's just not a good example. I'll give you a platinium star for effort though.

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    • GiveMeAFuckingNameAlready!

      Ever hear a Nigel say "aluminum"... hilarious.

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  • howaminotmyself

    Why? There are many levels to that answer. Although I don't think you really want one.

    But only some make these mistakes, don't worry. There are plenty of people who get it right.

    But feel free to continue making an arse of yourself.

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  • myownopinions

    It's because most American schools no longer teach grammar as a strict, separated course from English. Even when grammar is taught, it is only the tip of the iceberg that we learn from. I know this because I learned more about English grammar in a French class than in an English class. Sadly, though, I have since forgotten most of it.

    Also, I'm pretty sure people used to know that they were purposefully making some mistakes (such as "should of" instead of "should have") because it's easier to speak and the message still gets across the same either way, but, now, people are being raised on incorrect grammar without being taught the difference.

    Instead of correcting this, however, it seems that the English language just makes this the new, "correct" system. For example, because people have been using the word "literally" incorrectly, it has now become an informal definition (seriously, you can look this up).

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  • missy911

    Almost every Scotsman worth his kilt can tell you that no one obliterates the English language so completely as the British.

    About 10 years ago I read that most linguist, who study grammar in the spoken word geographically, agree that per capita, the British violate spoken English most frequently.

    The chief complaint was the lack by the British to speak in complete sentences. This may not be true, my own experience, as a listener, is that the British speak too softly to be understood.

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