On 6-12-2017 18:06, Stephen wrote:
> On 06/12/2017 15:31, Bald Eagle wrote:
>> Stephen <mca### [at] aolcom> wrote:
>>> On 06/12/2017 08:03, Thomas de Groot wrote:
>>
>>>> LOL. Not being a native speaker, I have a hard time to formulate 
>>>> them in
>>>> such a way that it may puzzle you... ;-)
>>
>> No - your English (British, American, or otherwise) is excellent, and 
>> probably
>> exceeds the level of mastery of most of the semi-erect hominids that 
>> occupy
>> space on the North American continent.
> 
> Well Nederlanders are born speaking at least four languages, or so I 
> suspect. ;)

Unfortunately, that is long past... :-/

[snip]


>> where it

>> is beside

>>
> 
> I'm guilty of over using the definitive article.

We all just need something to grumble about I suspect. ;-)

I don't really know about "the". I /know/ that I frown when I hear 
native speaking Dutch or French misusing their own language/grammar, 
particularly on radio or TV. In daily conversation I do not really care 
(and I am sloppy too).

> 
>>> English isn't a very good language to describe such things. You need to
>>> use clauses and sub clause that exceeds common usage. Making the
>>> statements hard to read without deliberately parsing it.
>>
>> German has always seemed to be a much better language with which to 
>> express

>> I strongly
>> suspect Mandarin, Cantonese, and Japanese may be excellent as well.
>>

My own German is abysmal, as a collateral consequence of WW2, but I 
believe you are right.

[snip]
> 
>> over copious (excessive?) quantities of excellent Scotch, etc.
>>
> 
> 1/ What do you mean by excessive? ;)

I wonder too...

> 
> 2/ If you can put up with my low taste in whisky (The famous Grouse) I 
> would certainly split a bottle with you. I would even drink your Sipping 
> Whiskey and enjoy the education. :D
> 

Nothing wrong with the Grouse...

-- 
Thomas

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