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Julielai Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
The approach to learn/learning???
I got into a discussion with my friend from California about this.
He asked four native speakers at work (in California) and they said this was more correct:
Xyz is the wrong approach to learn English.
My other friend and I thought this was better:
XYZ is the wrong approach to *** English.
I think gerunds often follow "approach to". My Californian friend thinks "approach to" is followed by a verb. Do you mind clearing this up? Is his version the Californian equivalent, or the widely accepted spoken version, or what? Or are both acceptable?
And what's acceptable in British English?
Please help me or my friend and I will get into a fist fight!
He asked four native speakers at work (in California) and they said this was more correct:
Xyz is the wrong approach to learn English.
My other friend and I thought this was better:
XYZ is the wrong approach to *** English.
I think gerunds often follow "approach to". My Californian friend thinks "approach to" is followed by a verb. Do you mind clearing this up? Is his version the Californian equivalent, or the widely accepted spoken version, or what? Or are both acceptable?
And what's acceptable in British English?
Please help me or my friend and I will get into a fist fight!
Top answer
Hello Julielai I would say: 1. XYZ is the wrong approach to learning English. 2.
- Hello Julielai I would say: 1.
- XYZ is the wrong approach to learning English.
- 2.
- XYZ is the wrong way to learn English.
- 'approach to' requires a noun (here, verbal): you have to 'approach' an object of some kind.
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5 Answers
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Hello Julielai
I would say:
1. XYZ is the wrong approach to learning English.
2. XYZ is the wrong way to learn English.
'approach to' requires a noun (here, verbal): you have to 'approach' an object of some kind.
MrP
I would say:
1. XYZ is the wrong approach to learning English.
2. XYZ is the wrong way to learn English.
'approach to' requires a noun (here, verbal): you have to 'approach' an object of some kind.
MrP
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There's no such thing as the Californian version of this.
It's "approach to learning English".
It's "approach to learning English".
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hmmm...now I wonder why my friend's colleagues (who are native speakers) told him otherwise. Either they don't speak very good English, or they said this to please him.
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I can see how I can get a native speaker to NOT tell me the truth.
Julie (asking CalifJim): My friend told me this....but I think that instead....I AM right, right?
CalifJim: uhhhhmm, yeah.......
Julie (asking CalifJim): My friend told me this....but I think that instead....I AM right, right?
CalifJim: uhhhhmm, yeah.......
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