Common grammar mistakes: correcting errors politely
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Think about these questions before watching. Share your ideas with a partner.
- Think about a time someone corrected your English. How did it make you feel, and did the way they corrected you affect your reaction?
- In what situations, if any, do you think it's appropriate to correct someone's language errors? Consider different contexts, like with a friend, a colleague, or a stranger.
- To what extent is perfect grammar necessary for effective communication? Can you think of an example where a small grammar mistake completely changed the meaning of a sentence?
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Watch the video carefully. Pay attention to the main ideas and key details.
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Answer these questions in your own words. Support your answers with evidence from the video.
01What is the first grammatical mistake Mr. Lapit makes, and what reason does Colonel Landa give for being so particular about it?
Sample answerMr. Lapit uses a double negative when he says, 'there haven't been no Jews'. Colonel Landa points this out and claims that grammar is very important to the Nazi party, which makes the situation feel very strange and threatening.
02According to Colonel Landa, what is the simple trick to check if you should use 'she and I' or 'me and her'?
Sample answerHe explains that you should mentally remove the other person from the sentence to see if it still sounds correct. For instance, you would say 'I buy milk', not 'Me buy milk', so the correct phrase is 'She and I buy milk'.
03In what way does Colonel Landa use grammar correction as an interrogation tool?
Sample answerHe uses the grammar corrections to make Mr. Lapit feel nervous, confused, and intellectually inferior. By constantly interrupting and correcting him on small details, he asserts his power and puts Mr. Lapit under pressure, hoping he will make a mistake and reveal the truth.
04What is ironic about Colonel Landa's final question regarding the 'dangling participle'?
Sample answerThe irony is that he has just found the person he was searching for, which should be the climax of his mission. However, instead of arresting her, he gets completely distracted by a final grammar point. It shows his obsession with grammar is more important than the life-or-death situation, which is absurd.
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Vocabulary
Vocabulary
These expressions will help you communicate more naturally about this topic.
Examples
A stickler for the rules — someone who believes in strictly following rules and insists that others do too.
Usage note: This can be used to describe someone who is very precise about grammar. Common collocations include 'a stickler for detail' or 'a stickler for punctuality'.
To point something out — to draw attention to a particular piece of information or a mistake.
Usage note: This is a neutral phrasal verb. To use it politely, you could say, 'Do you mind if I point something out?'
Nitpicking — finding fault with small, insignificant details, often in an annoying way.
Usage note: This word has a negative connotation. You might say, 'He wasn't offering helpful feedback, he was just nitpicking.'
For the sake of clarity — a phrase used to explain that you are saying something to make it easier to understand.
Usage note: This is a formal and polite way to introduce a correction. For example: 'Just for the sake of clarity, we should use the past tense here.'
A common pitfall — a frequent mistake or problem that often traps people.
Usage note: This is a useful, impersonal way to talk about common errors. For example: 'Confusing 'its' and 'it's' is a common pitfall for English learners.'
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Decide if each statement is true or false. Correct the false ones.
01Colonel Landa points out a subject-verb agreement error when Mr. Lapit says 'there was no Jews'.
02Mr. Lapit's run-on sentence described a time he saw Mademoiselle Dreyfus at the local market.
03The colonel takes issue with Mr. Lapit ending a sentence with the preposition 'at'.
04The final question that determines Mr. Lapit's fate is related to the use of a comma in a list.
05Mr. Lapit corrects the colonel's use of the pronoun 'who' instead of 'whom'.
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Discuss these questions with a partner. Try to use vocabulary from the lesson.
- The video uses grammar correction as a tool for intimidation. In what professional situations could pointing out someone's language errors be seen as a power move rather than a helpful gesture? Is it ever acceptable to be a 'stickler for the rules' at work, or is it usually just nitpicking?
- Think about your native language and culture. Are people generally sticklers for the rules when it comes to grammar, or are they more relaxed? How does this cultural attitude affect how you feel when someone points out a mistake you've made in English?
- Imagine you're a manager and a team member sends an important client email with several grammar mistakes. How would you handle it? Would you point out every error, or focus only on the most common pitfalls for the sake of clarity without discouraging them?