Prescriptive versus descriptive English
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Paul B.Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Prescriptive versus descriptive English
I read the Q&A for this lesson on collective nouns and the discussion at https://french.kwiziq.com/is-this-english-correct and I see where Kwiziq is coming from. However, it would clearer for many Engliish speakers if you left out the "how it is in English" versus "how it is in French" comparisons. There are too many interpretations of collective nouns in different forms of English, and many of us haven't learnt the English prescriptions, so we are probably making frequent mistakes in English. In other words, just give teach the French grammar.
This question relates to:French lesson "Some French nouns have different meanings depending on whether they're masculine or feminine"
Asked 6 years ago
GruffNative French expert teacher in Kwiziq
Hi Paul - thanks for the feedback. I'm not sure if you posted this here but meant a different lesson? I can't see anything on collective nouns here. We constantly strive to make things clearer so if any part of a lesson is confusing, if you could quote the specific part under the lesson where it occurs we can take a look at it. Merci!
Paul B.Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
That's right, it should be in Nouns that are plural in English but singular in French, and vice versaI have reposted it.Thanks.
Paul B. asked:View original
Prescriptive versus descriptive English
I read the Q&A for this lesson on collective nouns and the discussion at https://french.kwiziq.com/is-this-english-correct and I see where Kwiziq is coming from. However, it would clearer for many Engliish speakers if you left out the "how it is in English" versus "how it is in French" comparisons. There are too many interpretations of collective nouns in different forms of English, and many of us haven't learnt the English prescriptions, so we are probably making frequent mistakes in English. In other words, just give teach the French grammar.
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