Absolutely barking...

Thank you Dan, I was thinking about that and "from a native speaker" but couldn't edit it any more.

Now that we're talking about it, can you give me a good tip how to know when to use then or than?
I'm dyslectic and always struggling with that one.

Then - is a time - "We can do it then" or "we did it then"
Than - is an alternative - "3 is smaller than 4" or "I like Pentax more than Nikon"

...and you still manage 2 (or more?) languages!

I only speak English (badly) so you deserve a lot of respect from me Stefan.

That is a very useful website. I think I'll pass this one on to my students. Thanks! K.

Thank you Barrie, I might still be able to perfect my English. Quite stupid from me though, it was that simple

Thank you HG, I can also understand German but writing and reading is a problem and I did had French on school but that never helped me

Kris, there might be hope for English yet

Stefan ...

If people do not understand your English, just use the same method as most English tourists. Raise your voice! and if they still do not understand then SHOUT.

wir können ja auch noch Deutsch schreiben falls notwendig ...

Sometimes the ability of 'native' speakers to express themselves really does worry me.

Bret

Is this an English class or a photography forum?

It's a helpful forum.

every single forum I know regularly bitches about the number of users who are unable to write complete sentences and ask questions in a coherent manner. Doesn't matter what it's about or what language even, it's a regular complaint.

Bret

Well we had a really good discussion about beer and a dull one about ipads...

Personally, I like the way these fora are more like conversations in the pub than an academic conference. I attend enough of those already!

K.

Bret, I think it's either something that one notices or something that one doesn't.

English is a wonderful language in which to express oneself: it is possible to play all kinds of linguistic games and break numerous grammatical rules for particular effect. With the advent of "text speak" and its virtual abadonment of spelling and punctuation rules, the language will inevitably change, as it has done over the years.

I'm constantly amazed by the number of people on this Forum for whom English is a second, or possibly even a third, language (e.g.: yourself, Stefan, Aiki and Prieni) and yet they manage not only to make themselves understood but can discuss, in detail, technical aspects of our hobby.

I can ask the way and order food (sometimes not the right food) in German and Spanish. My French is of the conversational variety but I couldn't contribute to a site like this one in another language as you chaps do.

And wouldn't this Forum be all the poorer for your silence?

Best wishes,

Andrew

I will correct a native English speaker - if they are wrong, but for someone for whom English is a second language, I will try to work out what they mean and will only correct them if it is a error which could be understood in more than one way especially if one way could get them in to trouble.

It's true that slow, loud English can be understood by anyone on the planet...or it would appear that way having watched a number of Brits abroad.

On my one and only trip abroad (so far) I was embarrassed by the volume of fellow English who still take that attitude. I thought that was something out of 1970's comedies.