0
Believer Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
how do they conceptualize these?
Hi,
I don't know if the word 'conceptualize' is the right word to use but since I cannot come up with any other suitable words that seem to fit the meaning of the sentence I am trying to form, I think I will use it to ask this question?
How do native speakers learn to embrace or conceptualize the notion of variability in variable or mass nouns?
Lately, what I seem to be doing when I am in a situation when I think I am seeing a variable noun is going to a dictionary to check whether or not that word is variable (or is a mass noun) as the case might be, and the process is getting tedious and laborsome. Does a native speaker look up a dictionary to find out whether a possible noun is a variable or mass noun or not before using it in writing, or does he/she only conceptualize it in terms of type (or instance) and general distinctions? Is looking up a dictionary and knowing what category or categories they fit into is the only way and tediousness is a natural part of the process?
I don't know if the word 'conceptualize' is the right word to use but since I cannot come up with any other suitable words that seem to fit the meaning of the sentence I am trying to form, I think I will use it to ask this question?
How do native speakers learn to embrace or conceptualize the notion of variability in variable or mass nouns?
Lately, what I seem to be doing when I am in a situation when I think I am seeing a variable noun is going to a dictionary to check whether or not that word is variable (or is a mass noun) as the case might be, and the process is getting tedious and laborsome. Does a native speaker look up a dictionary to find out whether a possible noun is a variable or mass noun or not before using it in writing, or does he/she only conceptualize it in terms of type (or instance) and general distinctions? Is looking up a dictionary and knowing what category or categories they fit into is the only way and tediousness is a natural part of the process?
Top answer
Native speakers of any language soak up all the rules and grammar as young children and apply them instinctively. We don't go running to a dictionary all the time to check out words before we use them - but of course not all of us have perfect grammar and there are always words that are not familiar to us. I think that the more you use these types of words, the more you will 'absorb' the rules behind them and eventually you won't need your dictionary so often.
- Native speakers of any language soak up all the rules and grammar as young children and apply them instinctively.
- We don't go running to a dictionary all the time to check out words before we use them - but of course not all of us have perfect grammar and there are always words that are not familiar to us.
- I think that the more you use these types of words, the more you will 'absorb' the rules behind them and eventually you won't need your dictionary so often.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
2 Answers
0
Native speakers of any language soak up all the rules and grammar as young children and apply them instinctively. We don't go running to a dictionary all the time to check out words before we use them - but of course not all of us have perfect grammar and there are always words that are not familiar to us.
I think that the more you use these types of words, the more you will 'absorb' the
I think that the more you use these types of words, the more you will 'absorb' the
00
Believer Is *looking up a dictionary and knowing what category or categories they fit into is the only way and tediousness is a natural part of the process?Consulting a dictionary or looking up words in a dictionary.
0
Related Questions